Acme MadeUnion Street Neoprene Tube Duffel, Black (AM20511)

Testing this as a free product from the Amazon Vine program.I always like to add to that, by saying my ratings are unbiased, despite what is generally said about the program.I can't help thinking about Wile E. Coyote when I see the word Acme, but was actually unaware that as a company they have been in business since 2002.They were taken over by 4EProject, Inc.in 2015.As that companies mainstay is computer and notebook sleeves and so forth, the company now has a range of backpacks, and carry cases as well as larger items like this duffel.Based in San Francisco, these are American made, clean and functional products that are reasonably priced in my opinion.The Neoprene Tube Duffel (as tested) is lightweight, and practical as stated on the website, with a no frills clean appearance.Easy to scrunch down and throw in a bigger bag while traveling is a plus when you need more space on the return journey.The 840 Denier fabric at the bottom of the bag is certainly showerproof (have not tested it in heavy rain) and no problem if set down in a wet area.I like the way the shoulder strap covers the zippered side pockets also making them less visible for would be thieves.Leather grib handles and sturdy construction, top off the simple but effective design.Don't be too put off by the $80 price tag, this is quality, and made in USA. That may or may not be important to you, but I do like to support home companies myself.A Tumi it may not be, but nonetheless impressive.

I've been using this sturdy and generously sized duffel bag mostly on weekend trips, and the bag provides ample room for my stuff. In addition to the roomy main compartment, there are two (also pretty roomy) side pockets. Although they aren't really easy to see from a distance, the side pocket zippers are definitely visible, so I wouldn't call them "hidden" enough to deter theft. The long zippers and somewhat flexible material made this bag easy to pack. The material is sleek, sturdy, and tear-resistant, and it seems like the bag will last a long time and easily withstand the kind of battering a heavy traveler might give it. I haven't yet had a chance to use it in the rain, but I wanted to test its weather resistance, so I packed it and ran it under the sink. Happily, my stuff stayed totally dry, and the material repelled the water so the bag itself dried right away. The bag has an adjustable, removable shoulder strap and two sleek and comfortable handles for carrying (the handles can't be connected). The shoulder strap is sleek, flat, and medium-width, and it's comfortable enough to carry significant weight without hurting. As a short person (5"2'), I find the handles to be on the long side; if I were maybe in inch or two shorter, my stuff would be dragging on the ground. If I use the handles and leave on the shoulder strap, the shoulder strap does drag. All in all, this is a spacious and durable bag that I look forward to using for a long time.

I would REALLY like to like this more-- it's a well-made, sturdy (expensive) bag with a beautiful neoprene outer cover - but WHY not neoprene on the BOTTOM? I've had more than enough problems with my other duffels in the rain, so much so that I've had to put my stuff inside large plastic bags, and even then, should it rain, everything has to be emptied so I can dry out the bag; I'd expect better with this bag -- So WHY no Neoprene on the BOTTOM of this otherwise GREAT waterproof bag?This bag is beautiful flexible-- the neoprene almost has a velvety feel. The carrying straps are generously sized.All I can do is take this with me on a rainy day, fill it with my "stuff" and see how it absorbs or repels water when I set it down an a wet surface. Then maybe I will add a star or two.UPDATE 1 -- TWO things that need to be added to this bag :1) a grip with a Velcro closure to keep those two carrying straps together.2) the bands on either end of the bag should be open in part, so that the bag can be grabbed on either end. I had a hard time trying to get this somewhat slippery (because of the neoprene) bag off the luggage rack on AMTRAK as it was very hard to grab. I finally ended up lifting it from its bottom, and let it slither over to me. Almost bonked someone on the head.UPDATE 2 -- The bottom is NOT waterproof. I put the (empty) bag in the water left over in the tub after the shower drained. The water leaked thru both the bottom and the inner bottom panel. That really kills this bag's usefulness to a good extent.This weekend I am using the bag to carry my gear to a friend's house-- we will fill the bathtub with about 1/4" of water to see what gets absorbed by the non-rubberized bottom of this bag

This is my new favorite duffel bag. It seems exceptionally well made and sturdy... the stitching is secure, the zippers are heavy duty and open/close smoothly, and the shoulder strap is equally sturdy and comfortable. According to the product description, the material is a combination of nylon and neoprene, or what they call "Stretch Shell" fabric. I can vouch that it is super smooth and looks/feels luxurious; I actually thought it was leather at first. The nylon parts are also water resistant; I think you would have to throw this in a swimming pool to get much leakage at all.The capacity is also impressive; at 18" x 16" x 10.5", it can easily hold a weekend's worth of clothes and more. (Note: I believe there's a typo in the product description on amazon at the time of writing this review--it shows the height as 1.5", but it's obviously not.). There is one big main compartment, and then two zippered side compartments. I'm not quite as sanguine as the manufacturer about these side zippers being "hidden" and would "keep valuables safe." Yeah, the zippers are not as obvious as the main compartment zipper but you can see them if you're looking closely.Another clarifying note... one of the other reviews for this duffel mentioned that it was made in America. Although Acme Made is a U.S. company, the tag on the duffel I received to review said it was made in China.I've had other duffels where the nylon is thin and/or the zippers broke after only a short while. As others have noted, this duffel is a bit on the pricey side ($79.99 at the time of writing this review), but I think this is a case where you get what you pay for, and the build quality of this duffel makes it worth the price tag, in my opinion.

One can tell instantly that this duffel is made for durability. The straps and bag material are super tough and water resistant.There are nice clean lines and a pretty decent amount of space for a small duffel. There is only one extra pocket aside from the large pocket, which is definitely a drawback.Unfortunately, we have already been using North Face base camp duffels for a few years now, and this is nothing in comparison to the North Face bags.For example, there is only one way to carry this- with the two handles. The North Face has backpack straps as well./Secondly, the material, while tough and resistant, is not going to be as tough as the North Face, which is basically indestructible.If you simply like the styling and lines of this one more than the North Face, go ahead and buy it. If you're looking for the best duffel in terms of durability and overall cost, look at the North Face ones for sure.