I have about a dozen of these things I store winter quilts and extra clothes in, but I noticed some of them have backpack straps. I think I could do a bit of work and make a decent bug-out bag out of one. Do you have any opinions/ideas?
A boy and his duffel bag.
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Once upon a time I hiked 20 miles using the the handles of a duffel bag for backpack straps. I was alot smaller back then- but it works just fine as long as you can get em on and the balance isn't too horrific.
There are a few companies that make duffel bags with straps that stow away- iirc maxpedition made an "adventure duffel" with that kinda feature.
My opinion though is that the capacity of a duffel bag doesn't lend itself well to be carried long distances- generally you want some sort of frame and hip support fit to the torso length of the user. Just much more efficient.
But yeah, if you are in a jam you can rig something up in a pinch, you could tie a couple lines around the bag horizontally and make straps from whatever you have on hand easily enough. If you're handy with a thread an needle the sky is the limit.
There are a few companies that make duffel bags with straps that stow away- iirc maxpedition made an "adventure duffel" with that kinda feature.
My opinion though is that the capacity of a duffel bag doesn't lend itself well to be carried long distances- generally you want some sort of frame and hip support fit to the torso length of the user. Just much more efficient.
But yeah, if you are in a jam you can rig something up in a pinch, you could tie a couple lines around the bag horizontally and make straps from whatever you have on hand easily enough. If you're handy with a thread an needle the sky is the limit.
You could make a very effective BOB with a duffel bag, but would you be able to carry it? I have one I keep in my car. It has almost everything I need, but I surely couldn't carry it very far. The car bag has things like tools, jumper cables, an inverter, spare clothes and shoes, things that you normally wouldn't carry. I have a few duffels that all have specific purposes, camping gear, a dry bag with clothing and bedding. These are grab-and-go bags to throw in the car if need be.
You could certainly use one as a BOB. I would just caution you to watch the weight.
The one I'm looking at actually has shoulder straps, it would hold a broken down weapon and a few goodies quite nicely! The trouble is, with my bad back, I'll be doing the luggage carry a lot anyway!
Mine all have shoulder straps, but you get so tempted with all the room you start filling it up. By the time I'm done it takes three men and a boy to carry it. Put a few things in one of them, and test it. See what you want to carry, vs. how much you can carry, and strike a happy medium.
I had this goofy idea once of using slightly modified hand trucks to pack a GHB/BOB but I couldn't get the right wheels.
They make game carts that will do what you want.
Carrying a duffel bag with any real weight in it an appreciable distance would suck. From my time in the Marines I can say the straps are made for walking short distances while allowing your hands the ability to carry other things.
My original duffel bag had no shoulder straps but as time went on and we were issued more and more things, straps began to appear on issue duffel bags. Heck we would often be carrying TWO duffel bags as we loaded up for deployments.. Plus a clothing bag and an AWOL bag and our rifle.
I keep one of these lightweight carts in my car and a couple in the house. I use them for moving so many things that are too heavy for me to carry. The bag can be lifted off the little trolly and replaced with other things if wished. The folding trolly is lightweight aluminum but it holds around 50 pounds (I guess - maybe more than 50 pounds). The wheels are big enough they will roll over obstructions easily. So if necessary if I have to depend on walking I could wear a backpack and pull two of these little carts alongside of me.
https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/mainst...rawstring-bag-with-back-zipper-/6000195942911
I tried using a duffel with shoulder straps as a back pack once. Money was tight and I didn't have a choice... I'll say this... If you think you have back problems now? The duffel will give you more of them @Steve_In_29 said it right. They weren't designed for long distances!!!
At my age... I bought a game cart from cabela's. Rated for 400lbs and designed for cross country, solid tires. Best part, it fits behind my truck seat. It's easy to assemble, I keep a zip up ammo pouch tie wrapped to the frame with the pins/parts and pliers to put it together. Only a couple bolts for the tires held on by cotter pins.
At my age... I bought a game cart from cabela's. Rated for 400lbs and designed for cross country, solid tires. Best part, it fits behind my truck seat. It's easy to assemble, I keep a zip up ammo pouch tie wrapped to the frame with the pins/parts and pliers to put it together. Only a couple bolts for the tires held on by cotter pins.
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Here's the current version at cabela's. It's rated for 300lbs. They are common on the net, lots of people sell them. Most are in the $100 range. My normal ghb is a light backpack Thats always in my truck.
If I go play music on the mtn or more than 40miles from home I take more gear. No way I could carry it home in a disaster, food, weather gear, maybe a long gun. The only solution was a game cart. It's made to pull through the woods already, easy to assemble.
If I go play music on the mtn or more than 40miles from home I take more gear. No way I could carry it home in a disaster, food, weather gear, maybe a long gun. The only solution was a game cart. It's made to pull through the woods already, easy to assemble.
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SOLD! I wonder if Academy sells them?
Yep, they have one, I'm leery of the price though. This cheap may mean its a piece of junk. Claim its rate for 500lbs. I'd have to see one before I'd buy it.
They had another for $119 but had the same photo for both. So buyer beware... I've never associated quality with academy anyway so...
