Battle of the bags: Comparing MEC and The North Face travel duffels
Everything to know about the MEC Outpost and The North Face Base Camp duffels
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Over the last year or so, I’ve been travelling more frequently. Whether it’s a business trip, vacation with my husband or a quick weekend getaway with friends, I’ve found myself reaching for my luggage again and again.
One travel essential that has stood the test of time is my North Face Base Camp Duffel – a versatile duffel-backpack hybrid that’s been with me on trips to multiple continents since 2011 or so. When I learned that Canadian outdoor brand MEC recently released the Outpost Duffle as a rival to The North Face’s version, I knew I had to see how it fared against the original.
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To compare the two, I brought both bags with me on a week-long trip to New Brunswick. Read the full review and see which one I’d recommend below.
Review: MEC Outpost vs. The North Face Base Camp duffel
To compare the two bags, it’s first worth noting some of their similarities and differences. Both bags are available in a range of different sizes, measured by their capacity in litres. I opted to compare both bags in the medium size, which comes in at 60L for MEC and 71L for The North Face.
I was able to fit a full week of summer clothes into the medium-sized MEC bag, plus a few extras like a beach towel, rain jacket and waterproof sandals. My husband did the same with the North Face bag, and since his clothes are larger than mine, the extra bag capacity came in handy.
Both duffels can be worn as a backpack or held and are made from durable materials that are designed to stand up to rugged adventures. Both of these bags were able to be used as carry-on luggage and fit comfortably in the overhead cabin on an Air Canada Rouge plane. Other airlines may have slightly different luggage dimension requirements, so be sure to check with your airline before travelling.
Duffel bag quick facts
MEC Outpost duffel best features
Price: Between the two brands, the MEC duffels are the more affordable option. At $130, the medium size is significantly cheaper than The North Face’s $200 bag.
Water resistance: If you plan on taking your duffel bag on plenty of wet outdoor adventures, the MEC Outpost has the edge. It has a waterproof polyurethane coating on the top fabric to keep out moisture, while The North Face’s duffel is only rated as water-resistant. It’s worth noting that this bag won’t give you the same protection as a waterproof dry bag, but for rainy hikes or camping trips, this duffel is a solid choice.
Packable: My favourite feature of the Outpost Duffel is that it’s foldable for easy storage and packing. It tucks into itself, becoming the size of a small packing cube once you turn the bag inside-out and fold it into its top pocket. This is great for taking up less space in your cupboards at home. You can even throw it into your suitcase on longer trips when you want more luggage to bring back all of your souvenirs.
Room for improvement: Unlike the North Face duffel, the MEC bag doesn’t have long duffel handles – only backpack straps. This made it a little awkward to hold while I was waiting in line for airport security, since I was already wearing a day pack on my back. Since I didn’t have an easy way to grab onto it, I ended up wearing one bag on my front and one bag on my back.
The North Face Base Camp duffel best features
Handles and straps: This bag features both padded back and duffel straps, which make it easy to carry as either a duffel bag or a backpack. It also has grab handles at the top and bottom of the bag when you need to push or pull it into place, and plenty of loops to clip carabiners onto.
Colour and size options: This bag comes in four sizes and a wide range of colours, making it easy to find the right bag for your travel needs and personal style. If you like variety in your luggage, The North Face is the clear winner between the two.
Durability: Given that I’ve owned a Base Camp Duffel for over a decade, I can confidently say that it stands the test of time despite plenty of use over the years. It hasn’t faded, warped or scratched yet, so I anticipate many more years of use.
Room for improvement: The only feature that I don’t like about this duffel is its storage bag. It isn’t attached, and the duffel doesn’t fold into one of its own pockets to shrink down when not in use like the one from MEC. Unless you stow it away immediately after unpacking, the storage bag can be easy to lose track of.
Which duffel bag should you choose?
If I had to choose between these two bags, I’d recommend The North Face over MEC for a couple of reasons. While I appreciate that the MEC Outpost bag is packable, the lack of duffel handles makes it tough to travel with more than just a single bag. The bag is duffel-shaped, but functionally it’s more useful as a backpack.
I’m also not the biggest fan of the way this duffel bag unzips like the letter U, as the edge that stays attached to the bag is at the top of your back. I haven’t had any issues so far, but this configuration worries me because if the zippers come undone, there’s a chance that your belongings could fall out of the bottom.
If price is your main consideration and you don’t mind that the MEC bag is only available in black, it’s still a solid choice. However, in terms of versatility, colour and size options, The North Face gets my vote.
What: The North Face Base Camp Duffel
Price: $180 – $240
Where to buy:The North Face | MEC
What: MEC Outpost Duffle
Price: $120 – $150
Where to buy:MEC
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