I’m a generally patient man, but I detest when packing becomes an instance of game theory. Strategizing where my shoes would most efficiently go in relation to my sweaters, or ensuring my tablet is far enough away from my flask makes me want to take a massive nap—or gulp a massive drink. All that to say, I’m not going to bury the lead here. The Halfday Garment Duffel is, with no exaggeration, a brilliantly-engineered travel solution. The only thing that would make it better? Nothing.
Having used this bag for the past year (and let me tell you, I travel a lot), I can confirm it suits every lifestyle. Halfday somehow took a specific, distinct, and unique design, and made it universal. Whether you travel for work or play, the composition will serve you well. So unless you like wrinkled clothes or the Tetris of packing, allow me to share my experiences with the Halfday Garment Duffel.
Spec-Forward and Durable
First, let’s get the specs out of the way. The Halfday Garment Duffel comes as a 40-liter, a 45-liter, and a 45-liter premium which is the one I received. The main difference between the classic and premium is that the former is made with a tear-resistant and water-resistant synthetic material. The premium is made with ballistic nylon.
Ballistic nylon boasts a thick weave which is highly tear- and abrasion-resistant. Quick history lesson: Ballistic nylon was developed to protect World War II soldiers from shrapnel. It came as no surprise to me how easily it handled air travel. It’s a tank. A lightweight tank, but a tank nonetheless.
So, here are the specs:
- 23 x 13 x 12 inches
- 3.4 lbs
- Water-resistant lining
- Lockable zippers
- Metal hardware throughout
I also want to mention that I traveled with this duffel on a day when there was basically monsoon weather outside. The exterior got quite wet, but nothing inside did. Moreover, it dried pretty quickly overnight.
Finally, this Garment Duffel is specified to hold three to five days of clothing. However, I could easily fit ten days in there as I often re-wear my neutral dress shirts. I say, as long as you haven’t sweated in it, you can re-wear dress shirts, dress pants, jeans, and chinos.
Design and Composition: A Genius Use of Space
This bag takes care of your clothes. As its name indicates, it’s a combination duffel bag and garment bag, and the way they combine both is masterful. Truly, the Garment Duffel Premium is like a Transformers robot.
The duffel’s main compartment zip travels around each side of the bag. When you unzip it, the entire front collapses, each side reveals itself as a shoe holder, and the entire composition rolls out into a strong, professional, and user-friendly garment bag.
Essentially, Halfday built a garment bag into the space between the exterior and interior of the duffel. There are three hanger loops within the garment compartment, allowing you to place a few items in there. But wait, you might be thinking, once you zip up your duffel again, won’t the suit or dress shirt crease? Au contraire. The garment wraps around softly when it turns back into a duffel. There are no hard folds. If I could nominate Halfday for a Nobel Prize, I would.
Since I’ve been using this bag, I’ve never, and I mean never, had to re-iron or re-steam a suit after travel. All of your clothes and accessories maintain their full integrity even after long flights. This is so much better than hanging your suit up in a hot hotel shower or traveling with a garment bag on your person.
Reliable Structure and Protection
Relatedly, I also love how easy it is to rezip the sides back in place. This means that even when you’ve collapsed the bag, you can use the shoe flaps to provide a bit of soft structure. This isn’t like one of those camping tents that are easy to unravel but difficult to efficiently reconsolidate. This makes packing the duffel section a breeze even after you’ve filled the garment bag.
This added structure allowed me to place items like baseball caps, straw hats, and glasses in there without worrying the bag would crush my items. If you’re the type of guy who likes the brim of your hat straight, this bag is for you. Instead of pulling your belongings out of the main compartment, you literally open the compartment up to you, with zero obstructions.
Plus, putting clothes in the garment section provides extra padding for your items in the duffel. Speaking of padding, the padded outer zip is built for technology, like laptops and tablets. It’s secure, soft, and water-resistant. I’ve also used it for magazines, cash, and other items I may want to be able to easily and quickly access.
Carrying Options: Easy Travels
There are a few ways to carry this bag, which adds to the convenience factor.
First, you can hand-carry it using the handles. The handles even velcro together for added security. This was my go-to when I was in a rush or whenever I was getting straight into a vehicle. It also has a more professional look to it, in the event you’re going straight from an airplane to a taxi to an office.
Second, you can wear it like a messenger bag. This was my choice format when wandering around airports. I also wear it this way when I’m walking up and down city streets. For extra safety, I do, in fact, wear the bag on the front of my person instead of the back. However, it’s so solidly built that I don’t think pickpockets would be able to get in without me feeling it. The zipper is lockable, and the strap is a durable seat belt like material. It’s so sturdy it feels like it’s part of your body when you wear it.
Even more, the hardware that clips the strap onto the bag is full metal. It has a matte, plastic look, but you can feel its weight and strength. The clang it makes every time my stainless steel watch hits it is proof of that.
And third, you can use the trolly strap to attach it to a rolling suitcase. There’s even a piece of velcro in the middle interior of the strap, so the bag isn’t flailing left and right as you’re rolling through the airport. You can lock it in place, so to speak. This is an excellent detail considering how long and substantial this duffel is. Despite that, it’s still carry-on friendly.
Bonus points for the reinforced hanger loops with a velcro flap included. Once you’ve unrolled your bag and removed your items from the main compartment, you can hang the garment bag in your closet, ensuring your suits and shirts are upright.
Practical and Breezy Style
I’m a big fan of Halfday’s brand aesthetic. It’s inspired by leaving work early on a Friday and getting into the weekend spirit. As such, it combines practicality with a lightness in feeling. Visually, you get the former via the serious materials, neutral colors, and solid hardware. You get the latter with its soft structure and the still expressive hues.
My two favorite colorways are the Pacific, which sits between a navy and a marine blue, and the Palm, a vivid green color. I have the Palm version. It looks almost army-adjacent when I wear it with workwear but palm-tree breezy when I’m in my vacation shorts. Overall, it’s design-forward and stylish but doesn’t take itself too seriously on the aesthetic front. I believe any gent can incorporate it into his personal style.
Price: $98-$168
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