Many carry-on-only fans like me prefer a wheeled suitcase for the ease of getting around. When I’m traveling and have to check my bag because I’m carrying too much adventure gear, I’ve usually erred on the side of a wheeled duffel—both for that wheeled convenience as well as the flexibility of being able to cram in as much stuff as I need.
For a December trip into the Alaska interior, however, I couldn’t bring a bag on wheels. My basecamp was an off-grid cabin about a mile in from the road, and if I didn’t carry my bag on my back, I’d need to load it onto a snowmobile. For that reason, I tested out the Osprey Transporter Duffel 95.
Osprey recently updated its Transporter family for Spring 2025. The new duffel, travel, and lifestyle packs are made from 100% recycled and bluesign-approved NanoTough technology, using a fabric and coating process that offers increased strength, abrasion resistance, water resistance, and improved overall performance. The bluesign approval means that the product meets standards for materials and components that adhere to rigorous environmental and social criteria during production.
The Transporter Duffel 95 had ample space for my gear in its main compartment, which includes an internal zippered mesh pocket. The large, lockable U-zip access to the main compartment makes it easy to open up and find exactly what I’m looking for. When closed, the zip path is weather protected with an overlapping rain flap. There’s also a zippered end pocket for quick access to smaller items.
There are four burly webbing grab handles on the exterior of the bag, as well as a padded harness with a full yoke and adjustable sternum strap that packs into a separate stow pocket when not needed. If you prefer using a shoulder strap, the webbing loops on the duffel offer optional shoulder carry with the Travel Shoulder Strap (sold separately).
I’ll bring this workhorse duffel on future adventures, thanks to its comfortable carry system and lightweight, durable protection.
The Transporter Duffel 95 lists for $200 on the Osprey site and comes in pine leaf/Earl Grey (pictured), frosty mint/soundwave grey, blue flame/nocturnal blue, and raven black/black.
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