The North Face’s Vaunted Black Hole Rival Has Never Been This Affordable
Small and medium versions of the brand's excellent Base Camp Duffel are on sale right now for 30 percent off.
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When it comes to rugged duffel bags, Patagonia's Black Hole line is widely regarded as the gold standard.
However, The North Face's long-running response, the Base Camp , is arguably just as formidable.
Patagonia's Black Hole line may be the category benchmark, but The North Face Base Camp is pretty compelling, especially when it's 30 percent off. (Shown: Medium in TNF White/TNF Black/Elevation Red) - Credit: The North Face
The case for pulling the trigger on one gets even stronger when they go on sale, and right now two of the most popular sizes are 30 percent off in several colors.
That brings the 71-liter Medium down from $160 to $112 , while the 50-liter Small drops from $140 to just $98 .
Dominant duffel deals
Thanks to a number of admirable traits, Base Camp Duffels have become a fixture in overhead bins, on outdoor adventures and weekend road trips alike.
The bags are built around a welded TPE base and a durable, water-resistant exterior fabric capable of standing up to rough handling on the road, at the trailhead or in transit.
Padded, removable shoulder straps let the Base Camp convert from duffel to backpack carry in seconds. (Shown: Small in Fizz Lime/Lemon Mist/TNF Black) - Credit: The North Face
That hardwearing shell is one of the reasons the Base Camp line has retained its following: the bag is meant to absorb the kind of treatment that destroys cheaper nylon duffels.
Carry options are a consistent strong suit across the Base Camp family: padded, removable shoulder straps let them convert to a backpack carry, useful when you are navigating a crowded terminal or hiking a short stretch of trail to a campsite.
The Base Camp's removable padded shoulder straps make it work as a backpack — handy in crowded terminals or on a short hike to camp. (Shown: Medium in Anthracite Grey Conrad Topos Print/Summit Gold) - Credit: The North Face
Haul handles on the top and side give you quick grab-and-go access without committing to the full pack carry.
Meanwhile, the zippered horseshoe opening makes packing and unpacking straightforward, a practical detail when you are moving between locations quickly.
A zippered horseshoe opening gives the Base Camp wide-mouth access for fast packing and unpacking on the move. (Shown: Medium in Cedar/TNF Black/Lava Red) - Credit: The North Face
Inside, the main compartment is the story, with the Medium large enough to hold a week's worth of gear without becoming unwieldy to carry, while the Small can tackle an extended weekend easily.
With both sizes, a zippered internal pocket handles smaller items that would otherwise sink to the bottom, while the exterior carries an additional zip pocket for things you need before the bag hits the baggage carousel.
Both sizes include a zippered internal pocket for small items and an exterior zip pocket for things you need before baggage claim. (Shown: Small in Opal Frost TNF Postcard) - Credit: The North Face
The Base Camp Duffels have earned their longevity in a crowded category by staying honest about what they are: tough, versatile haulers that get the job done.
At these prices, there's never been a better time to score one, either.
Availability and pricing
The Base Camp Duffel M is available in five colorways at the discounted price of $112. The S has four colorways available at the discounted price of $98.
The North Face Base Camp Duffel—M
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$112 at The North Face $160 (30% off)
The North Face Base Camp Duffel—S
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$98 at The North Face $140 (30% off)
About the Author:
Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men's Health, Men's Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone's bike seat is at the proper height.
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Related Topics
Adventure and Exploration , Bags , Everyday Excellence , The North Face , Travel
