Rubberized duffle bags aimed at outdoor pursuits date back to the '70s, but it wasn’t until Patagonia launched its Black Hole version in 2004 that the durable duffel became a status symbol among modern adventure travelers. (For those of you rushing to the comments section to remind us that The North Face introduced its Base Camp Duffel years earlier in the 1970s, you’re right—but that bag didn’t rise to a level of mainstream ubiquity until Patagonia’s Black Hole paved the way.)
The latest addition to the Black Hole line is the revamped MLC collection, which is headlined by the Black Hole MLC 45L. It's a clamshell-style bag that can be carried either as a backpack or over the shoulder. The bag also features multiple grab handles, lots of organizational pockets, and a small strap that allows it to be slotted over the roller handle of any wheeled luggage. Conveniently, the MLC 45L is sized to meet most carry-on size requirements, too.