You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I’ve an old duffel bag that I got as a freebie with an aftershave and I’m trying to find a more durable alternative.
Must be
Plain black with no or very small branding
U shaped opening
Zipped mesh pocket under the lid
40-50 litres
Under £100
The best I can find is this from Thule but the branding puts me off
https://www.thule.com/en-gb/luggage/thule-chasm-collection/thule-chasm-40l-_-3204413
Decathlon
Aiguille Alpine make great Duffle bags in the UK
https://www.aiguillealpine.co.uk/products/rucksacks-bags/travel-bags/
Not sure if they do a black one but the rab ones are quite nice without being a full on heavyweight.
The colours are pretty muted if they don't do black.
My other duffel is a polaris one which is a roll top so doesn't meet your specification but its beefy.
That Patagonia one 👆 is fantastic - I have it in blue
Available in black, not sure about the mesh pocket...
https://www.montrosebag.com/product/jura-family/
That Patagonia one 👆 is fantastic – I have it in blue
I have the 55l in blue, they have that cheap too.
This one appears to open in a ‘U’-shape, don’t know about a mesh pocket, but it does have wheels and a telescopic handle, which appeals to me, at least.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07SQQZYG8?pf_rd_r=WEXA5J5CPFXY9B4FB1Z5&pf_rd_p=e632fea2-678f-4848-9a97-bcecda59cb4e
Cheaper options at GoOutdoors.
I have two of the Rab ones.
They are pretty pants compared to an old North face duffel I got as a hand me down.
I wouldn't buy the Rab again now.
Eagle creek also do some tough no frills bags . Had mine for 15 years now and its been literally all over the world .
Alpkit? They make them themselves, could ask for one without a logo.
https://alpkit.com/collections/duffle-bags/products/kitbag-50
I've A North Face one in black with black logo.
Meets all your requirements and can be carried as a back pack.
Thanks all. Montrose option looks good. I’ve emailed to see if they can stick a mesh pocket under the lid.
I've got a North Face one that has been thrown all over the place for about 10 years. It sill works.
Mine is bright green but they're available in tonnes of colours.
I've both mountain equipment and mountain warehouse Duffle bags, the equipment bags are much better made I think, I reckon they are worth a look.
I have a 20 odd year old North face which is indestructible compared to the new ones. Been on loads of expeditions even survived a 100m fall down a river bank strapped to a donkey without a mark to it or the donkey.
Have a smaller patagucci one which I use as a kit bag to work and has survived been thrown in the back of a helicopter for 3 years without any blemish.
Bought myself a alpkit dry Dock last year for a trip to Peru needed a smaller bag than the nf but bigger than patagucci. Must say I was impressed carry system is good not u shaped opening but it opens big and wide and will buy more
The TNF and Patagonia bags fail the no big logos requirement
Osprey transporter
black, subtle logo, u shaped opening, mesh pocket inside lid, less than £100.
The backpack straps disappear into a pocket if you want to use the single shoulder strap.
I bought a pair of them for a trip around costa rica and they survived a lot of rough handling on some ropey looking boats through the jungle and a lot of epic rain. They both look brand new still
Mountain Equipment duffels are absolutely fantastic. Really rugged and can be left out all day in the rain without the contents getting wet. Internal mesh end and lid pockets plus large waterproof pocket for wet/dry separation.
Come with removable backpack straps/shoulder strap and permanent carry handles.
Tatonka Barrel? Got two (in yellow) and ace bags
Have 5 mountain equipment bags and two montane transition H2O bags for the family ranging from 40L to 120L. We've travelled all over the globe with them. The montane bags are superb, really light weight but strong and totally waterproof, they can be expensive unless you find somewhere with a deal on. They're ideal for folding up and shoving inside the ME bags on the outbound legs as spares for when we go shopping / outlet raiding.
The Mountain Equipment bags are bombproof. Far more resilient than you'd give them credit for considering their bargain basement price. Never had one leak and one of ours is always stuffed full of clean nappies so we'd soon notice. I've thrown them down stairs, dragged a few of them along various airport floors and even run one over and you'd never know. you could gaffa tape the logos as they're pretty small, or even sharpie them out. We've a few Osprey bags too that the in-laws use. Really well made, but at well over twice the price of the ME bags I can't see the value. They're certainly not waterproof.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
I have the 40l ME duffel bag!
I like it very well made and is the right size for a carry on bag.
Just beware though it doesn't have the shoulder straps that the larger bags have!
Bought it at Cotswold, confusingly the online price was different from the in store price....
montrose ones are not "waterproof" the zips and seams are shit . They are robust but cheaply made
they are fairly resistant though , Mines have been laid out on deck in some horrid weather for short periods kits stayed dry. or left in my pickup bed for a week and only got damp on top around the zip ...... oops
i have about 6 of those their cubic shape stores well in the van.
The Rab ones are not waterproof at all , my biggest gripe with them.
The north face one certainly does a good job at trying to be waterproof , much higher quality zip and proper taped seams ive never had wet stuff in it .... dont think its sold as waterproof though
The eaglecreek ones also not waterproof
Osprey ones reduced on sportspusuit
not black & unlogoed tho
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/2061429
One of these and sharpie on the logo, otherwise meets all your reuqirements and less than half the budget?
I have the older version and in grey/blue, very waterproof, has survived the abuse of many many airports.
I have found the mountain equipment ones to be bombproof. Used mine for 2x12 month holidays in Afghanistan, a huge number of trips hauling camera shit, climbing trips, a long stint in Yemen rolling around in the back of a pickup truck, attached to yaks, and the rest. Recommended.
I'm also a fan of ME ones and that's a good price on the link up there
Tatonka Barrel? Got two (in yellow) and ace bags
👍 A Tatonka fan also in yellow colour 😀
I have:
One large Tatonka Barrel (yellow)
One Tatonka Flight Barrel (yellow)
One Tatonka Check-in shoulder small bag (blue)
Mountain Equipment large(yellow)
North Face large(white)
Tatonka seems to have better quality and thicker material but all the brands are strong.
I tend to travel with all my Tatonka for at least the past 10 years. Never clean them and just throw them around when travelling abroad. Very tough. I used to put cast iron stove in the large Tatonka barrel while travelling back from the far east. Two years ago I had rice cooker and other cookware. I tried to keep the weight at 30kg. 😆
p/s: my yellow Tatonka is full of conveyor belt rubber skid marks all over ...
Mountain Equipment. Mine has been smashed around several countries, carrying diving kit and normal holiday stuff. I even lived out of it for a month while working in a dry sandy place.
It's my go to bag.