Thule Chasm 70l duffel bag review

Thule Chasm 70l duffel bag review

Bright, tough, spacious and easy-to-carry bag for travel and trips

Our rating

4

90.00

Aoife Glass / Immediate Media Co

Published: May 5, 2017 at 5:00 pm

Our review
Tough, spacious and bright duffel for travelling near and far Buy if, You want a do-it-all bag for keeping your kit together whether it's for day trips to the trails or international travel

Pros:

Tough, spacious enough for plenty of kit and the wide opening makes access easy, carry straps are very comfortable

Cons:

Zip is hard to do up on the curved section when the bag is very full, and there's no wet kit section

Plenty of room for bike kit, tough, and easy to spot on the baggage carousel; the Thule Chasm duffel bag is a simple but sturdy piece of kit for the cyclist who likes to travel.

The 70 litre option tested has plenty of room for shoes, a helmet and several changes of kit and clothes. The opening at the top is wide and rather than a lateral single zip, the top is a flap that opens a little like a lid on the bag, which makes getting stuff in and out without rummaging is easy.

Mesh pockets in the main compartment plus a zipped and lockable end pocket keep things organised and secure
Mesh pockets in the main compartment plus a zipped and lockable end pocket keep things organised and secure Aoife Glass / Immediate Media Co

There's a zip compartment at one end of the bag, which is handy for keeping essential bits and pieces in that you need to access quickly when travelling. The bulk of the bag is made up of one large compartment, with two mesh pockets on the top flap and one inside on one side, which are handing for keeping things organised. I tend to use one for keeping cables and things together.

I've been using the Thule Chasm for several months now for both general to-and-fro from UK trail-based adventures and also for several international trips.

Tough outer

The bottom of the bag is a tough woven nylon and it's also padded, which is particularly handy if you tend to just throw your bag to the floor. The rest of the outer is a waterproof nylon TPE laminate that's also phthalate-free.

While I wouldn't recommend a long hike with it on and full, the Chasm is the most comfy bag for long walks I've used
While I wouldn't recommend a long hike with it on and full, the Chasm is the most comfy bag for long walks I've used Aoife Glass / Immediate Media Co

While I've not tried dropping the bag in puddles or walking miles through downpours, it has hung about in a lot of wet forest car parks and wet airport car parks, and so far I've not had any issues with my gear inside getting wet.

There are also a few neat little compression straps, so if the bag isn't completely filled you can pack it down so your stuff doesn't move all over the place during transit.

Easy to carry

The side straps are kept out of the way with a strap and popper system
The side straps are kept out of the way with a strap and popper system Aoife Glass / Immediate Media Co

One of the big selling points of the Chasm are the shoulder straps. These are padded like proper rucksack straps, which is much more comfortable on the shoulders should you need to carry the bag any kind of distance.

The straps are both adjustable to fit and removable, so you can take them off and stow them during transit or if you just don't want them on. Alternatively, set one strap up crossways across the bag and you've got a shoulder strap.

The shoulder straps can be easily adjusted or removed
The shoulder straps can be easily adjusted or removed Aoife Glass / Immediate Media Co

The Chasm also has more traditional duffel handles, made from very strong woven nylon, and these can be clipped down out of the way on the sides of the bag with the integrated strap and popper system. There are a further two sturdy handles at either end — perfect for a quick grab off the baggage carousel.

However you prefer to carry this type of load, you'll be covered, and it's certainly one of the easiest and comfiest to carry duffels I've used.

Stands up to rough treatment

Tough handles on either end of the bag are great for grabbing and going
Tough handles on either end of the bag are great for grabbing and going Aoife Glass / Immediate Media Co

After several months of use, including a fair amount of being thrown in the back of a van with bike bits in and aggressive treatment from baggage handlers, I'm pleased to confirm that the Chasm has stood up to the test. No cuts, bare patches, holes, just the odd bit of scuffing, which to be honest is expected.

One niggle I do have is that the zipped upper flap dips down lower on one end of the bag, following the curved outer contour over one of the sides. When the bag is full to the brim it's hard to get the zip to close. Personally, I'd prefer the flap to open along the top surface of the bag only.

The padded shoulder straps are much comfier on the shoulders and body than traditional nylon straps
The padded shoulder straps are much comfier on the shoulders and body than traditional nylon straps Aoife Glass / Immediate Media Co

Another feature that's handy to have but not included with this bag is a waterproof section to stow wet kit after a ride. Since this is a bag designed for general travel and outdoors, I can't fault it for not having one included, but it is something I miss.

Thule Chasm pricing and availability

The Chasm is available from a number of retailers and is priced at £90, which is a comparable price to other products of this size and for this purpose.

In the UK, you can find it on sale at Sherwood Leisure for a bargain £79.97 at time of publishing.

I tested the 'Bluegrass' colourway which is a striking green and orange colour. This stands out a mile on the baggage carousel which is a major pluspoint in my opinion, but if you don't fancy a bag as loud as that, Thule also offers the Chasm in a blue, black or orange/red colour. It also comes in a range of sizes: 40L, 70L, 90L and 130L.

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