ABOUT THE THULE ROUNDTRIP MTB DUFFEL 70L
The Thule RoundTrip MTB Duffel provides 70-liters of organizable storage for the everyday cyclist, enduro racer, weekend warrior, or, in our case, the longer missions out of state or country. This 70L duffel is adequately sized to carry a full-face helmet inside the main compartment, accompanied by all your gear and another kit, and your shoes go in an external pocket.
The RoundTrip 70L measures in at 28.1 x 15.9 x 12.4 inches and can be carried by a single hand with the two center handles, over the shoulder, or like a backpack. There are two shoulder straps that tuck away neatly, which is nice when checking in the bag at the airport. Each strap connects through small loops near the bottom, with a t-style fixture that slips through easily, which we’ve objectively found preferable over a carabiner-style clasp.
While it is similar to the 55L version of the Thule RoundTrip Duffel that we’ve reviewed in the past, this 70L version boosts the internal storage space and organization features. There are three internal dividers provided, which can be locked into place on either side of the long edge of the bag, creating three separate main storage areas. Each divider has a series of mesh pockets, with one of the dividers having two padded pockets that are intended for your goggles or glasses. The dividers have a firm inner material to maintain shape, similar to the outside of the bag. Although it’s a soft bag, the inner plastic pieces aid in keeping its shape and preventing the bag from collapsing when stacking things on top. When opening the bag with the single large lengthwise zipper, a spring wire aids in keeping the bag wide open, making it easier to put gear in and out.
On the outside of the bag, there are three separate storage areas. On the end is the aforementioned pocket for your shoes. This has a tarpaulin liner for ease of washing. A size 10.5 pair of riding shoes fits easily, with ample room still left in the compartment. On the sides, are the other two storage compartments. One has a series of mesh pockets, making it a great place for snacks, gels, tools, and lube. The other has two long mesh pockets, with a fold-out flap to provide a standing mat for changing in and out of your riding gear.
THE DIRT
It didn’t take us long to fall in love with the Thule RoundTrip MTB Duffel. We have lots of bags – it’s a bit of a problem, admittedly – but when they’re as useful and cool as this, how can we say no?
It’s a rare occasion that gear shows up and we are able to start using it within minutes, let alone gear bags. While we have plenty of bags to choose from, the RoundTrip MTB Duffel showed up just in time for a trip, and I immediately put it to use. After this round-trip flight (pun intended) and a few days of riding, I was sold. A few trips later, with many hours logged as a checked bag, the RoundTrip MTB Duffel has done a fantastic job at keeping my gear organized and my helmet safe.
Drew once commented on the RoundTrip 55L not being large enough for a full-face, and the shoe compartment not being as roomy as he would like. Those problems are non-existent on the 70L version of the MTB Duffel. However, I would like the ability to remove the standing mat. It’s not something we think will be used all the time, and it would free up that pocket for more storage space on the longer trips. Additionally, for long “hikes” from one terminal to the next, the shoulder straps are a little thin and were slightly uncomfortable, especially fully loaded.
With the negative points out the way, it’s important to share the plentiful highlights that have made the RoundTrip MTB Duffel 70L a go-to. The organization cells make it easy to stuff your day or trip essentials in an easy-to-view way, and they’re very easily accessible. We rolled up jerseys, stuffed gloves, tossed in GoPros and mounting accessories, inner tubes, sealant bottles, rain shells and chamois into the compartments, with no issues to report. The optics cell can hold glasses or goggles, which is a definite plus in our opinion, and ensured they were safe throughout testing.
The option to move around the internal dividers to dial in the right organization for your gear – whether that be for a day or week-long trip – was much appreciated. They snap into place easily, and can be moved around to suit the preferences in no time. Unlike the RoundTrip 55L that has a grid-like internal pattern to roll up jerseys or stuff socks into individual pockets, the RoundTrip 70L is more of a standard duffel at heart. You can fold your pants, jerseys and socks, and just plop them right in. Gloves and other miscellaneous necessities then go into the mesh pockets. I tend to throw the action camera and accessories into the internal mesh pockets, and leave the external pockets on the bag for tools, plug kit, shock pump, and a mini electric pump. It’s been nice to create a separate loadout of gear that just stays in that bag now, meaning it’s always ready to hit the road (or air) for the next adventure.
The Wolf’s Last Word
There aren’t many things to critique on this bag, and we think Thule has executed it well. It’s durable, stylish, and has more organization options than our MTB brains can comprehend. We found ourselves almost looking for things to put in the bag at times, just to make it seem better packed.
The Thule RoundTrip 70L is a bag that’s equally as useful for long missions or single-day outings. Although it has a solid 70L capacity, its presence can have you assuming that it would be too cumbersome to be your everyday bag. I talk a lot about the storage and organization as that’s a major feature, but the tarpaulin-lined shoe compartment and ability to hold a full-face are the major highlights for me. In the past, if I wanted a bag to have those features, I was using a +100L roller bag for travel, which was not something I would want to lug around for a day trip.
If you’re looking to upgrade your gear bag, and the need for full-face storage and an external shoe compartment is on that list, we would definitely recommend this bag. As for the price? Given its durability, we’d consider it a solid investment to haul your gear for many years to come. 
Price: $179.95 / £129.99 / €149.95
Website: Thule.com
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