Stubble & Co Kit Bag vs. North Face Base Camp Duffel: Is Premium Worth It?
When shopping for a duffel bag, the price tags can vary wildly. That got us thinking—how does a premium option stack up against a more basic, best-selling duffel bag?
The North Face Base Camp Duffel Medium is a 71L workhorse known for its rugged durability and no-nonsense design. Meanwhile, the Stubble & Co Kit Bag 65L markets itself as an elevated duffel backpack with thoughtful upgrades, but it comes at almost double the price. Despite their slight difference in listed capacity, both bags are very similar in size and internal packing space, making them excellent candidates for a head-to-head comparison.
So, is spending more on a premium duffel bag really worth it? We put these two bags to the test in four key categories—organization, comfort, build quality, and water resistance—to help you decide.
Video Review
Quick Specs
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 71L | 65L |
| Materials | 1000D Recycled Polyester with PVC Coating 840D Recycled DWR Ballistic Nylon base |
910 Recycled PET 210D Recycled PET base |
| Dimensions | 25" x 14" x 14” | 26.6" x 15.3" x 11.4" |
| Weight | 3.57 lbs | 3.4 lbs |
| Laptop Storage | None | 16" Laptop Sleeve |
| Chest Strap | No | Yes |
| Removable Shoulder Straps | Yes | Yes |
| Price |
Duffel Bag Mode: The North Face Base Camp M vs Stubble & Co Kit Bag 65L
Category 1: Organization
Both bags offer an exterior compartment designed to keep shoes or dirty laundry separate from the rest of your gear. Although both bags can easily fit a size 12 men’s shoe (shown in photo), the Kit Bag offers a true shoe compartment that expands into the main compartment to accomodate larger shoes.
External compartment: The North Face Base Camp M vs Stubble & Co Kit Bag 65L
On the outside, the North Face Base Camp Duffel keeps things simple with no additional compartments, focusing on a minimalist design. In contrast, the Stubble & Co Kit Bag includes two extra exterior pockets: a top quick-access pocket for items like a phone, passport and wallet, plus a padded 16-inch laptop compartment against the back panel.
Extra compartments in the Stubble & Co Kit Bag 65L
Inside the main compartments, the difference in organization styles is even more apparent. The Base Camp Duffel features one large open space with a single mesh pocket for organization. It’s functional but basic. Meanwhile, the Kit Bag offers multiple slip pockets, a zippered mesh pocket, and even a dedicated water bottle pocket against the sides of the main compartment with bright orange lining to make them easy to spot.
The North Face Base Camp vs Stubble & Co Kit Bag pockets. The Kit Bag has multiple interior pockets.
Winner: If you value organization and don’t want to rely on packing cubes or pouches, the Kit Bag easily takes this round thanks to its interior and exterior pockets.
Category 2: Comfort
Both bags can be carried as a backpack, but there is a night and day difference when it comes to comfort.
Backpack mode: The North Face Base Camp Duffel M 71L vs Stubble & Co Kit Bag 65L. Model height is 5'6" in height
The Kit Bag stands out with thicker, mesh-padded shoulder straps that provide better cushioning for extended wear. Plus, its laptop sleeve doubles as back panel padding, offering extra support against your back.
In contrast, the Base Camp Duffel lacks back panel padding entirely, which can make heavier loads feel less comfortable over time. The Kit Bag also includes a sternum strap for added stability—an essential feature for a bag of this size—that the Base Camp simply doesn’t have.
The North Face Base Camp Duffel vs Stubble & Co Kit Bag backpack shoulder straps. The Base Camp is missing a chest strap.
As a duffel, both bags take different approaches. The Base Camp features traditional duffel handles, which are attached to the bag and cannot be removed. Meanwhile, the Kit Bag combines the shoulder straps and duffel handles into one clever design. A cut-out in the straps allows them to function as handles, reducing strap clutter. It’s a creative solution, though whether it’s better depends on personal preference.
For versatility, both bags feature removable shoulder straps, but the Kit Bag’s quick-release clips make removal much faster. The Base Camp’s straps require manual undoing, which takes extra time.
Winner: When it comes to overall comfort, the Kit Bag takes the lead with better padding, a sternum strap, and a more streamlined strap design.
Category 3: Build Quality
When it comes to build quality, The North Face Base Camp Duffel might have the edge—at least in some areas. It’s constructed from 1000D recycled polyester with a PVC coating, making it incredibly tough and water-resistant. The bottom is reinforced with ballistic nylon, which provides better scuff resistance compared to the Kit Bag’s recycled PET base, although the Base Camp’s nylon does tend to show marks more easily on rough surfaces.
Materials: The North Face Base Camp Duffel vs Stubble & Co Kit Bag
Where the Stubble & Co Kit Bag shines is in the finer details. Its shoulder straps feature metal buckles for added durability, whereas the Base Camp sticks with plastic hardware. Inside, the Kit Bag boasts a high-quality, ripstop-like lining, while the Base Camp uses a no-frills plastic liner.
The North Face Base Camp Duffel has a plastic PVC lining while the Stubble & Co Kit Bag is lined with ripstop-like PET fabric
Another standout feature of the Kit Bag is its water-resistant zippers, which are smoother to use, especially around corners. In comparison, the Base Camp’s heavy-duty zippers feel rugged but lack the refinement and ease of use that the Kit Bag offers. As we’ll see in the water resistance test, these zippers make a big difference.
Overall, the Kit Bag offers a more refined experience, with premium touches that elevate its build quality. However, when you consider price, the Base Camp starts to pull ahead as the better value. Even without the extra upgrades, it’s built to withstand serious wear and tear. Add in The North Face’s limited lifetime warranty—compared to Stubble & Co’s 2-year warranty—and the Base Camp looks like an even better deal for those prioritizing durability on a budget.
Winner: For quality-to-price ratio, the Base Camp Duffel takes the win. But for those willing to invest in a more polished experience, the Kit Bag is a clear upgrade.
Category 4: Water Resistance
To test their water resistance, we lined the inside of both bags with brown paper to easily detect any leaks inside. The insides of the bags were lined with brown paper to easily spot leaks and subjected to a simulated heavy rain using a hose. Each bag was sprayed upright for a minute, sideways for another minute, and left on wet ground to see how water resistant the bottoms are.
The North Face Base Camp vs Stubble & Co Kit Bag - outdoor waterproof testing
When the test was over, the results were clear: the North Face Base Camp Duffel had severe visible wet spots inside, while the Stubble & Co Kit Bag kept the inside completely dry—but what surprised us most was how poorly the Base Camp performed.
The North Face Base Camp vs Stubble & Co Kit Bag - The brown paper inside the Base Camp duffel is stained with water while the Kit Bag has remained completely dry.
The Base Camp’s failure is mostly due to the materials and stitching. The North Face decided to use a ballistic nylon bottom with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish, instead of the waterproof material used on the bag’s body. Add in the stitching around this ballistic nylon base and you have a recipe for leaks when the bag is placed on wet ground. Instead, the Kit Bag uses more waterproof PET for their base which made a huge difference.
Also, the Base Camp relies on rain guards to shield its zippers, while the Kit Bag used water-resistant zippers. Believe it or not, the rain guards did an amazing job at keeping those zippers dry, but they did nothing to prevent leaks from forming around the bag’s stitched seams.
That’s not to say the Kit Bag is flawless. Moisture made its way into the top pocket (where water hit it directly), and there was a trace of dampness in the laptop compartment (again, water hit this spot directly). However, compared to the soaked paper inside the Base Camp, the Kit Bag’s performance was leaps and bounds ahead.
Winner: The Kit Bag proves to be the better option for those who prioritize water resistance. It’s not a fully waterproof backpack, but it’s far more reliable in wet conditions than the Base Camp.
Final Verdict: Is A Premium Duffel Worth It?
Stubble & Co Kit Bag 65L
The North Face Base Camp Duffel M
So, is the Stubble & Co Kit Bag worth the upgrade? It depends on your priorities.
If you’re looking for a rugged, reliable duffel at a great price, the North Face Base Camp Duffel is a fantastic choice. Its simple design, durability, and lifetime warranty make it a value-packed option.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who values better organization, improved comfort, and enhanced water resistance, the Stubble & Co Kit Bag justifies its premium price. It’s an investment, but for those who travel often and need a bag with better comfort, more organization, and impressive water resistance, it could be well worth the upgrade.
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