The eBags Mother Lode Duffel bag offers travelers ample internal organization in a small footprint that fits under most airline seats. If you are looking for a small duffel bag for overnight trips, or a purpose-built personal item to complement your carry-on bag, the Mother Lode Duffel may be for you. The sub-$50 price tag and trusted eBags name are enough grab most travelers’ attention, so let’s dive into some of the details.
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| Pros | Cons |
| + Lightweight & sturdy materials | – Shoulder strap carry option felt awkward for some testers |
| + Pass-through sleeve to easily connect with wheeled carry-on bags | – Not a practical daypack alternative |
| + Well thought out internal organization |
Who is eBags?
In case you have been living under a rock, eBags has become one of the largest online retailers of luggage & bags. eBags produces a huge variety of bags & travel accessories that cater to every type of consumer. There is a good chance that eBags has something that you are looking for, and their line of Mother Lode bags have been one of their greatest successes.
The company sells direct-to-consumers via eBags.com or from eBag’s Amazon storefront. Travelers have been trusting eBags to make quality luggage at affordable prices for over 20 years.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 19″ × 11″ × 11″ (L x W x H)
- Weight: 1 pound
- Material: Polyester
- Price: $75 MSRP (but often available for as low as $30)
- Check the latest price on Amazon or eBags’ website
How does the eBags Mother Lode Duffel look & feel?
The eBags Mother Lode Duffel bag is compact without feeling small. Its size is comparable to a gym duffel bag but with much more internal organization. The bag appears slightly bloated when packed to the brim, though it is fairly balanced when full.
The exterior polyester construction is identical to eBags’ other durable bags (if you don’t believe me, check out what my eBags Mother Lode Travel Backpack looks like after 10 years of traveling). The black exterior is nondescript and will serve most travelers well. If you want to add some personality to your travel gear, eBags offers a handful of more exciting colors (army green & garnet are my favorites).
How does the eBags Mother Lode Duffel fit?
The 19”x11”x11” dimensions of this bag make it the perfect personal item to carry onto an aircraft. The compact eBags Mother Lode Duffel bag easily fits underneath most airlines’ seats.
To transport the versatile bag, eBags has built a few carrying options:
Zippered Pass-Through Sleeve
Passengers who travel with a larger rollaboard carry-on bag will find the zippered pass-through sleeve useful. This sleeve can be deployed by unzipping an exterior pocket and sliding it over your rolling carry-on bag’s handle. This allows you to secure the Mother Lode Duffel bag directly onto your rollaboard so you can carry them together with one hand.
When not in use, this pass-through sleeve can be zipped up and used as an additional exterior pocket. Talk about versatility!
Tote Handles
The two separate tote handles can be joined by a velcro strap to form a single carrying handle. By and far, this is the best way to carry the eBags Mother Lode Duffel. The handles are sturdy and comfortable to carry. The small size of the bag will limit how heavy this bag can be, so the overall weight should not be unmanageable.
Removable Shoulder/Crossbody Strap
eBags added a hidden shoulder/crossbody strap option to this duffel bag. The strap connects to a set of plastic buckles that can be hidden inside the bag when not in use. I have had exposed plastic buckles broken when not in use (external buckles can be caught or crushed when not mated), so this feature is appreciated.
However, this shoulder strap can be awkward to use: the bag can sag when packed lightly or it can swing around in an unwieldy fashion when packed heavy. In our travels, the tote handles get used far more often than the body strap.
Features of the eBags Mother Lode Duffel
The multiple carrying methods are great, but eBags has packed a number of features into this little bag.
Spacious Main Compartment
The main compartment of the eBags Mother Lode Duffel is large enough to fit 2-3 days worth of clothes.If you choose not to load up this bag with clothing, this pocket is just roomy enough to fit a pair of shoes & some travel accessories (e.g. a book, noise-canceling headphones, or a travel steamer). Additionally, there is a zippered mesh pocket in this pocket to keep small items organized.
Multiple Exterior Pockets with Internal Organization
In addition to the pass-through sleeve playing a role as an extra pocket, the Mother Lode Duffel bag includes two zippered pockets on either end of the bag (where the shoulder strap buckles hide) as well as another pocket that runs parallel to the pass-through sleeve. This longer pocket includes a stash pocket and a second internal zipper pocket that are great for storing toiletries or charging cables.
Lockable Zippers
While many carry-on bags offer zippers that allow for a lock, some smaller personal item-size bags lack this feature. I was glad to see that eBags included this feature on both the main compartment and side pocket zippers. I highly doubt this bag will ever need to be checked given its small stature, but having the ability to lock the zippers adds peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
I don’t think this bag is a must-have for everyone, but i think any frequent traveler who flies with a wheeled carry-on bag should give this bag some serious consideration. Which would you rather have in the airport: a backpack plus a rollaboard, or a bag that straps directly onto your rollaboard’s handle as you wheel it through the terminal?
Personally, I prefer backpacks over duffel bags. I enjoy re-purposing my backpacks when I get to my destination to support daily adventures. However, travelers who simply need a bag to carry stuff to & from their lodging may feel differently. This small duffel bag helps fill that niche.
With similar dimensions and more organization than many backpacks on the market, the eBags Mother Lode Duffel bag offers a lot of bag for a very reasonable price. The pass-through strap is a great feature for travelers with wheeled carry-on bags.
Recommended For: the frequent traveler who travels with a wheeled carry-on bag and is ready to ditch their backpack in favor of a more capable personal item.
