A backpack is for carrying on your back; a duffel bag is for throwing in the car, onto the roof rack or into the back of the ute. It needs to be tough, keep the weather out and swallow a decent load. The Adventure Kings 40L Duffel Bag is a no-frills bag in tarpaulin-grade PVC that we’ve used on a few trips, for clothes and camp gear. I paid $40 for it.
What’s in the box
A 40 litre duffel in black tarpaulin PVC and 600D polyester, with a big zip opening along the top, two webbing carry handles that wrap around the bag, a detachable shoulder strap with a shoulder pad, zip pockets on the outside and a mesh zip pocket inside the lid. D-rings at both ends give you somewhere to clip or tie it down.
What we like
- Tough tarpaulin PVC
- Keeps out dust and light rain
- Wide top opening
- Mesh pocket inside the lid
- Zip pockets on the outside
- Handles wrap around the bag
What we don’t
- Zips are stiff
- Thin shoulder pad
- Very rigid when new
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Adventure Kings |
| Model | AKBG-40DUF_01 |
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Material | Tarpaulin PVC600D polyester |
| Colour | Black |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Size | 52 × 31 × 31 cm |
| Features | Two handlesDetachable shoulder strap |
Material and weather
The tarpaulin PVC feels tough, almost like a waterproof roof bag, so the duffel doesn’t mind being dragged across a tray or thrown in with the recovery gear. It keeps out dust, and I’ve had it sitting in light rain and on wet ground with the gear inside staying dry. It’s water-resistant rather than waterproof: the zips aren’t sealed, so it’s not a dry bag. The stitching is clean and reinforced where the handles meet the bag. The one downside of the material is that it’s very rigid when new, so the bag holds its shape and takes a while to soften.
Pockets and packing
The big zip along the top opens the whole bag, so you can see into it instead of digging blind. Inside the lid there’s a mesh zip pocket, which I use for socks and underwear, and the zip pockets on the outside are handy for the small things you want quickly, like a head torch, a charger or keys. The main zips are heavy duty and feel like they’ll last, but they’re stiff and need a firm pull, especially when the bag is full. At 40 litres it takes a weekend of clothes for two people, or a load of camp kitchen gear or tools.
Carrying it
The two webbing handles wrap all the way around the bag and meet in a grip, so lifting a full bag in and out of the car is easy. The detachable shoulder strap clips onto the D-rings and has a shoulder pad, but the pad is thin, so a full bag isn’t comfortable over a long walk. At about 1 kg empty, the bag itself adds little weight.
40L or 80L?
Kings also makes this duffel in an 80 litre size, in the same tarpaulin PVC. It’s 63 × 40 × 40 cm against 52 × 31 × 31 cm for the 40 litre we tested. The 40 litre is the size for clothes, tools or a camp kitchen kit; the 80 litre suits bulky soft gear like sleeping bags, pillows and bedding, or clothes for a long trip.
| This reviewKings 40L Duffel | BiggerKings 80L Duffel | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 52 × 31 × 31 cm | 63 × 40 × 40 cm |
| Material | Tarpaulin PVC | Tarpaulin PVC |
| Suits | Clothes, tools, camp kitchen | Bedding, sleeping bags, long trips |
| Capacity | 40 L | 80 L |
| Shop | Check price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon |
Conclusion: Adventure Kings 40L Duffel BagConclusion
The Adventure Kings 40L Duffel Bag is a simple, tough bag for the car or the roof rack. The tarpaulin PVC keeps out dust and light rain, the top opening makes it easy to pack, and the pockets inside and out keep small things sorted. The zips are stiff, the shoulder pad is thin and the material is very rigid when new. I paid $40, and for a duffel you can throw around, it’s good value.
A simple, tough bag to throw in the car or onto the roof rack.
The tarpaulin PVC keeps out dust and light rain, the wide top opening makes packing easy, and 40 L takes a weekend of clothes for two. The zips are stiff, the shoulder pad is thin and it's very rigid when new.
- 4WD tourers
- Weekend trips
- Tradies & DIY
Yes. I paid $40 for a tough 40 L bag that takes a weekend of clothes for two, or camp gear and tools.
