Customer Reviews Eagle Creek Load Hauler Expandable

Love this bag!!! I am a minimalist traveler and try to pack light (main bag under 25 lbs), even for long trips, because I know I'll be hauling my own bags through the airport as well as on/off trains, subways, buses, ferries and pretty much every other mode of transport you can think of. The bag itself is really light -- less than 2 pounds, I think -- which means the weight I'm carrying is coming from the things I pack, not the bag itself (unlike with spinners or hard luggage where the bag itself might be 7+ pounds). It is the same size volume-wise of a carry on suitcase, something like 50 liters, but will fit where a more structured suitcase will not because it is soft-sided. I love that it opens like a suitcase, not top-loading like a backpack, which makes it must easier to get at your things without having to unpack the entire bag. I like that this bag is convertible. One removable long strap can be used to carry bag messenger style or cross body, and two backpack straps can be pulled out for longer or more awkward treks to get to your destination (and zipped away when you don't need them or for checked baggage). I've had this bag for two years now. It's been on the road for 9+ months cumulatively and it is holding up great. I've spot cleaned when needed and tossed it into the washer after longer, dustier trips (cold water, hang dry). NOTE: This bag does not have internal compression straps but does have four compression straps on the outside. Accordingly, it's best to use this bag in combination with packing cubes.

Excellent bag. Can be used as a duffel, with shoulder strap or as a rucksack. Its even expanable. Weighs nothing itself, but appears well made and rugged. Perfect casual carry-on for 3-4 days.

Really love this bag! Same dimensions and fits as much as a roll-aboard suitcase, but so much lighter, more convenient and versatile! Bag itself is maybe 1.5 pounds, which is at least 5 pounds lighter than my "featherweight" wheeled suitcase. Love the multiple carry options. I used it most with the shoulder strap as a shoulder-type or messenger-type bag (strap is long enough to use cross body if you want), but I like the option of backpack straps (which are good to get from train station to hotel, but not hours of hiking/hauling as a backpack). I used this as my only luggage for a 5-week trip (granted, I am a light packer who hates lugging heavy bags through multiple countries, so most people would probably use this bag in place of other carry-on size bag), along with a small day bag for camera, wallet, water bottle, etc. I never once got tired of hauling my bag around, after countless airports, boats, buses, taxis, etc. I checked the bag and it held up great, despite being soft-sided. I also used it as a carry-on and it fit easily into bins. There are no internal straps, but there are external compression straps. I use packing cubes, and would recommend, given that main compartment is just one big space without dividers. Could be a jumble without cubes or other organization. Bag comes with recommendations for Eagle Creek packing cubes that would work best, but I just used the ones I already had and they worked great. Bag expands by about 2-3 inches for additional capacity. Given shape of bag, likely even the expanded configuration would fit into overhead bins on regular flights (maybe not on regional jets or foreign budget airlines though).

This bag made my 3 weeks in Europe a breeze! 7 hotels, countless trains, tons of walking ... and I couldn't have enjoyed it more thanks to the best travel bag / backpack I have ever used. Lots of room - not too many compartments- which I actually prefer, so I don't have to go searching. Just the right size and weight!

I just finished traveling to Alaska and Load hauler was awesome to have. The ability to convert it to a back pack and amount of space for use was exceptional! I am very pleased that I purchased this item.

I bought this last June in preparation for backpacking weekends while I studied abroad in Europe. It worked beautifully- it for a lot and it fit into airline overhead compartments perfectly fine. I bought this one again for my brother who is going to Europe. It's the perfect "Carr-on" size and is worth the price. I got it for around $100 with an Eagle Creek email coupon.

I have traveled domestically three times with this bag, and internationally four times, two of which for two weeks. I travel with this bag and a small backpack for my computer. This bag is great. It easily fits enough clothes for 7 days (work wear, causal wear, and work out clothes), it is light, and comfortable enough wear wearing over the shoulder as a duffel. Its not as easy to carry around as one of the wheeled bags, but the extra stuff you can fit is great. A wheeled bag wasn't an option for me because one of my planned trips was to Iceland, and I was going to be hiking around carrying this bag. I spent a lot of time researching before I bought this bag. I don't like checking bags. Its not that I think something will happen, its just that after a long week of traveling, I don't want to wait at the baggage claim for a bag. I didnt want a bag with wheels, because some of the smaller domestic planes will check wheeled bags at the gate. Another minor inconvenience that I just want to avoid when I get to a new place. The bag is cheap, stylish enough, water resistant, can fit a ton of stuff, and has a lifetime warranty. One last note, the two compartments on top of the bag are useful when going through security. I can take everything out of my pockets and put it in those compartments (which are sitting waist high when using the bag in duffle form) right before security, and there is no worry of misplacing anything in the bins.

Will be using this on an African Safari where there's a luggage restriction. It will be perfect as a backpack to carry thru the airport and carry on.

Used on a 10 day trip to South Africa and everything fit nicely into bag. Used it as a backpack while transitioning hotels and it was awesome!!

Awesome quality and excellent usability I highly recommended this product to anybody

I love all the room this bag has, especially with the expansion. The straps for carrying as a backpack are comfortable. I like that it has multiple handles. It fits easily, if not overstuffed, in the overhead bin of the airplane. Airline did not hassle me about it's size. This is a great backpack. Only thing I wish it had was an outside pocket to hold a water bottle.

Bought this to replace a very well worn backpack that I used for air travel. Matched this bag up with a set of compression cubes and the original set of travel bags and it's easy to get a weeks worth of clothing in the overhead compartment. Now I travel with one carry on instead of two.

backpacking Europe with this and couldn't feel more prepared or excited

I love this back pack! It is perfect for a weekend trip or carry on. It is not only light weight but durable and expandable.

Use this bag on ski trips to carry-on essentials I don't want to check. I can fit my shell pants, helmet, googles, layers, and ski boots in this without expanding it. Wear my ski jacket or strap it to the side of the bag. If i don't have my skis, this and a day pack are all I need for a long weekend on the slopes. No checked bags means no chance of gear getting lost in transit and having to rent. This bag is more than enough for 7-10 day trip to warmer climates for me.

This pack is perfect. It's super versatile. My husband and I will be wearing matching packs through Europe and we are so happy with how much these backpacks carry. Excellent product!

Purchased this as the first of my new luggage. The old military duffel was good for a time, but I needed something more manageable. This bag is everything Eagle Creek says it is. Perfect size for a long weekend trip, comfortable on the back, and sturdy as can be.

Very well made. Comfortable when carrying a full load. And I received more than a couple complements on my bag... seriously. Ample room for all of my gear without even having to expand the bottom. I've found my one and only stop for all my luggage needs.

This bag fits a lot of stuff, and I'm not the smallest person on earth. I fit 4 days worth of clothes ( 4 pr. socks, 4 pr. underwear, 4 t-shirts, 5 shirts, 2 pr. jeans, 2 pr. pants), toiletries, laptop and power cord. All this fit without unzipping the bag extension. It fit into the airplane overhead compartment very nicely. If you want to dump your bigger carry-on luggage, this is the bag to take its place.

I'm a very frequent business traveler. This bag fits a lot of stuff, and I'm not the smallest person on earth (5'8", 240lbs). I fit 4 days worth of clothes ( 4 pr. socks, 4 pr. underwear, 4 t-shirts, 5 shirts, 2 pr. jeans, 2 pr. pants), toiletries, laptop and power cord. All this fit without unzipping the bag extension. It fit into the airplane overhead compartment very nicely. If you want to dump your bigger carry-on luggage, this bag can take its place very nicely.

No interior compression straps as indicated in the details & features otherwise looks like a great duffel/backpack

Used the first Load Hauler on African safari trip with 5 small plane flights requiring minimal luggage wts. It was perfect for this 9 day trip. Used another Eagle creek light weight backpack to handle camera gear. Use this for week end trips and got the second one for organizing and storing a camping gear to-go bag.

I bought this bag as one of two. I also bought a much larger duffel bag. My plan is to use this bag as a carry-on bag that I can store some clothes and a few other things, so if my main bag (the duffel bag) gets on another plain I have some clothes in my carry-on. I used this bag for a long weekend trip and it worked beautifully. I got three days worth of clothes, toiletries, my chargers, my iPad, and two books in the bag with ease. I also packed a bathing suit, a rash guard, and a sweatshirt. I felt like there was still some room left. I also like that it is a backpack as that is my preferred style of bag. When I use the duffel bag with it on a more extended trip then my hands can be free when carrying both bags. :-)

open loading, easy to toss in luggage bins. would prefer full depth without zipper closure use straps to compress load as needed.

Excellent bag. This has become my go-to for trips that I term fly-in and fly-out; quick, last minute business trips where I need to be able to grab a few things and be on a plane within a few hours. Honestly in my ten years of traveling I haven't found a better one for that yet.