Blue Claw Co. Canvas Duffel

A while back I got this great canvas duffel from Bespoke Post. It’s made by Blue Claw and at $45 its a pretty good deal.

Features

Since I bought mine from Bespoke Post, they have updated the bag.

The old one claims:

nickel plated hardware, strong webbed handles, a thick canvas construction, and some subtle yet in-your-face lining

The new one claims:

heavy duty 15oz canvas, junior cord striped lining, nickel plated hardware, and cotton webbed handles. And we’ve amped the construction way up since our last run with a sturdier strap and handles, binded inner seams, new eye-grabbing lining, and multiple fresh colorways

So if you already have one, no need to upgrade to the new one as most of the changes are cosmetic.

Lets talk about organization features. There are none. That is not to say that this is a bad thing but there is only the main compartment. This allows you to fit large things but small things will certainly end up “in there somewhere”.

There is no water protection either. As soon as that canvas soaks through your stuff is getting wet. Seam quality is good but not great. Lastly, it is made in the USA.

Uses

Bespoke Post bills this as a gym bag and it excels at that. Infact they call the bundle it is in Sweat. It also makes a great weekend bag if you travel light. It’s biggest strength is that its main compartment can hold a lot. If you have large objects to tote it will likely fit. It’s understated style doesn’t scream “Look at me, I am going to the gym”.

Where it falls down is any activity where you are exposed to the elements. It’s not intended for outdoorsy adventure. Like all duffel bags it can be a pain to carry heavy things. Using the handles or the strap results in putting weight on one side of your body.

Alternatives

I tried to find alternative canvas duffels that had a similar style and price point. This turned out to be more difficult than I thought. Here is what I got:

The Fjallraven Duffel No.4 is a great alternative. It upgrades the handles to leather and is made from a waxed cotton poly blend making it more water resistant. It also has some pockets.

At an MSRP of $150 the Fjallraven duffel is quite a bit more expensive but very similarly priced to the canvas duffel offered directly from Blue Crab Co. the Hampton duffel. If you shop around you can find the No.4 Duffel on sale.

I want to be able to recommend the Herschel Supply Co. Novel as an option but its reviews list a lot of build quality issues. Still, it’s attractive and the cost is a lower than the Duffel No.4.

Conclusion – Blue Claw canvas duffel

For the cost I highly recommend this made in the USA canvas duffel. Sure, it’s a little Spartan but it’s got a lot of style and is well made. If you find yourself in need of a weekend or gym bag you could do a lot worse than this. Head over to Bespoke Post and subscribe or if you want to order without subscribing click here. Keep in mind that there is a $10 premium on non-club orders.