REVIEW – Traveling can be fun. It can also be a chore. Finding the right bag, especially for carrying on a plane, can make your experience better. It needs to be big but not too big. It needs to be strong, but not too heavy. It needs to have places to put things but not be too divided. It needs to fit in an overhead compartment or under the seat. And, if you take more exotic trips with smaller aircraft, it needs to be soft. Today, we’re going to check out just such a bag, the 60-liter duffle from Gonex.
What is it?
The Gonex 60L duffle bag is…well…a duffle bag. It has several external pockets, a few internal pockets, and a dedicated and ventilated shoe pocket.
What’s included?
- The duffle bag ships with a detachable shoulder strap
Tech specs
Click to expand
Dimensions: 25.1 (extendable to 27.5)L x 12.2W x 11H inches
Weight: 2.9 pounds
Capacity: 60 liters
Material: Canvas and microfiber material plus bronze tone hardware
Exterior storage: 2 side zipper pockets, 2 front zipper pockets, 1 back zipper pocket, 1 shoe compartment
Interior storage: 1 large main compartment, zipper pocket, and 2 wall pockets
Carry methods: Top handles, side handle, or included shoulder strap
Design and features
I’ll start the description at the bottom. It has four rubber, diamond-tipped feet that help keep the bag off the ground.
The main compartment is massive and lined with a smooth, microfiber cloth.
There are two tuck pockets on the back wall of the main compartment.
There is a zipper pocket on the front wall of the main compartment.
The right side of the Gonex 60L Duffle Bag is a dedicated shoe compartment. You can see the two ventilation holes sewn into the flap. That’s a good idea, especially if you use this as a gym bag.
When shoes are in the bag, it does steal some room from the right side of the main compartment. You can see it here on the right. You can store flat things under the shoe compartment so it isn’t a total loss of space.
The other side has a large side pocket. It can hold books or up to an 11″ iPad.
The right side also looks like it has a compartment, but it has a side access to the main compartment.
The front has two zippered compartments for smaller items.
The back has a slim zippered compartment. It looks like the right size for a passport.
That pocket is on a strap that can fit over luggage handles for easier toting.
The shoulder strap attaches with sturdy rings and clips. You can also see the side carry handle.
The top carry handle separates for easy packing and then secures with a velcro closure.
All the hardware is nicely finished.
If you need more room, both sides can expand with zippers, adding a total of 2.5 inches more room. Fully unzipping the right zipper expands this side of the bag about 1.25″.
Here, you can see the additional space between the opened zipper track.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
Other than attaching the optional shoulder strap, there isn’t any required setup.
Performance
The test of a bag is what it will hold and how long it will hold up. I’ll start with the second part. Based on the construction of this bag, I expect this will last for many years. The canvas feels sturdy. The hardware is rugged and feels durable. I have no doubts about the quality of the Gonex 60L Duffle Bag.
Here is it, loaded up with me holding it by the side carrying handle. The stitching and fabric are robust and feel like they will take some abuse.
Now, what about what it will hold? Let’s take another look at that image from the top of the page. Look at all those zippers! Let’s check out what they hide!
On the right are shoes. Those are size 12 and they fit easily.
I put toiletries in the left pocket.
I filled the front with tech accessories.
Here’s a look at the whole bag. You can see that I filled the main compartment with clothes. I pulled a couple of items out for this photo. Everything fits in with the zipper closed. Note that I did not expand the sides for this test.
And, here is everything I had in there.
- 1 fleece jacket
- 10 polo shirts
- 1 pair of pants
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 10 pairs of underwear
- 10 pairs of socks
- 1 pair of shoes
- 1 toothbrush in a travel case
- 1 electric razor in a travel case
- 1 box of dental floss
- 1 full-sized tube of toothpaste
- 1 deodorant
- 1 Washwow Cup2 Electrolyzed Water generator cup
- 1 bottle of pills
- 1 Chargeasap Zeus travel charger (review coming soon)
- 2 multi-end charging cords including 1 Spigen Essential 3-in-1 USB charge/sync cable
- 1 Einova 20,000mAh ultra fast power bank
I got all this into the Gonex 60L Duffle Bag without using the expandable sides, so there was room for more. I had everything for a week-and-a-half trip, all in one duffle with room to spare. I should mention that I wear XXL clothing, so none of my stuff is small.
What I like about the Gonex 60L duffle bag
- Great capacity
- Quality construction
- Durable hardware
- The ventilated shoe compartment is a nice touch
What needs to be improved?
- The heavy-duty construction and 2.9lb weight makes it a little heavy to include in another bag
Final thoughts
In the title, I asked if the Gonex 60L Duffle Bag was the perfect duffle bag. I’m having a hard time finding a reason not to call it that. It’s well-made and roomy, has a nice set of external and internal pockets, and can get larger if you need it to. It is even priced reasonably. If you’re looking for a quality large-capacity duffle, take a serious look at the Gonex 60L Duffle. Whether you want it for travel or the gym, you won’t be disappointed. The only complaint I can come up with is that it is a little heavy. That’s not too bad.
Price: $68.99
Where to buy: Gonexsport and Amazon ($62.09)
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Gonexsport. Gonexsport did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
