Sizing Up the AWOL XL Diver Duffle Bag
This is a haul-size bag rather than something to carry through a day. Outside dimensions are 18 by 18 by 35 inches. That is close to 186 litres of gross internal volume. The shell is described by DL Wholesale as water resistant, with air tight zippers. That wording is worth reading carefully, because water resistant is not the same as waterproof. Rain and spray are covered, while submersion is not part of the specification. Carry is by a velcro neoprene padded handle rather than shoulder straps. Neoprene spreads the load across a hand instead of concentrating it on a strip of webbing. That matters at this volume, because a full XL is heavy enough to bite. Four buckles come fitted, two on the sides and two over the top. The side pair pulls the bag in on itself, and the top pair stops the load rising against the zip. Odour control here is the seal and the fabric rather than an adsorbing layer.
Why a Four Buckle Closure Matters on a Loaded Duffle
A four buckle closure is doing structural work rather than decoration. The failure point on any large duffle is the zip, and the failure mode is load pressing outward on it. Compression straps take that pressure off the slider and put it into webbing instead. Pull the side pair first, then the top pair, and the bag holds its shape in transit. Done the other way round the load settles and the side straps go slack. There is a loading sequence that helps too. Heavy items low and against the back face, light items at the top near the zip line. A bag packed heavy at the top rolls when it is set down and strains one buckle at a time. Keep the zipper track clean so the air tight claim stays true. A silicone lubricant on the track costs little and protects a lot at this volume. If adsorption is wanted inside, a 12 by 12 inch carbon pad insert is sold on its own for AWOL bags. Fabric and seal hold odour by blocking the path, and carbon holds it by binding to the molecule.
Key Features
- 18 x 18 x 35 inches: Close to 186 litres of gross internal volume.
- Air tight zippers: The sealing element on this bag, as specified by DL Wholesale.
- Water resistant shell: The wording DL Wholesale use for this bag, which is not waterproof.
- Four buckles: Two on the sides and two over the top, taking load off the zip.
- Velcro neoprene handle: Spreads the weight of a loaded bag across the hand.
- Sealed by fabric and zip: Odour is held by the shell and the airtight closure rather than by adsorption.
- Carbon pad available: A 12 by 12 inch insert is sold on its own for AWOL bags.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | AWOL, from DL Wholesale |
| Product | XL DIVER duffle bag |
| SKU | 886095 |
| Dimensions | 18 x 18 x 35 in |
| Gross volume | About 186 litres |
| Shell | Water resistant |
| Zippers | Air tight |
| Handle | Velcro neoprene padded |
| Buckles | Four: two on the sides, two over the top |
| Carbon option | 12 x 12 in carbon pad insert, sold on its own |