The Duffel Backpack

Before this bag, I would often carry two bags around with me; one for my gym gear and one for my work/lunch gear. With this duffel backpack, I can stick to just one bag to do everything. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now and I'm very happy with it. I primarily keep it in backpack mode because I find it more convenient for getting around by foot/transit/bike. I use it as a daily commuter bag AND as a weekend trip bag. The build quality is really good, the design is slick, the padding is comfortable, the removable straps are handy (despite my plastic clips not being as easy to use as I heard the old metal ones are), and the zippers have a durable feel and allow me to leave pockets partially but snugly open if I have something sticking out of the bag (like a squash racquet). Overall, this is a fantastic bag that I highly recommend for anyone looking for a bigger bag that is multifunctional.

My Biggest Haul So Far
-laptop and charger
-phone charger
-small external hard-drive
-eReader
-lock
-hair cream
-deodorant
-sweatband
-flip flops
-running shoes
-2 sets of gym clothes
-1.5 sets of everyday clothes
-lunchbag
-1L water bottle
-720mL water bottle
-umbrella

Minor Setbacks
-it can be a little tricky to use the plastic clips for removing the straps if you're interested in switching between the two modes of the bag regularly. This isn't a problem for me since I almost always have it in backpack mode
-in backpack mode, some of the mesh pockets aren't usable. It would be nice if they had zippers or velcro on them to counteract that
-even with lighter loads in the bag, it often sags down slowly while wearing it in backpack mode so I find myself pulling on the adjustable straps to lift it back up almost every time I wear it. Thankfully it doesn't sag down THAT much

i received the duffle and couldn’t believe how little space was inside. the back pack straps and the padding is way to thick and you lose pretty much lose all your space inside the bag..
anyways the bag is amazing as a duffle so i actually never returned it i just got scissors and cut the breathing padding and backpack straps out.
now it’s a real duffle now and i doubled the space inside and can fit all my gym gear and even a full protein tub if i wanted to.
honestly if monarc wants to keep the backpack attachments then the duffle needs to be much larger. trying to make this bag to practical ironically made it less practical
i’ll post the photos of the my bag now with the backpack part removed and with full space inside! cheers love the bag! but if i wanted a backpack i would just buy a backpack i bought this for a gym bag which i’m assuming most people are buying it for. so i’m speaking for the gym community!!

in the photos you can see the slice marks i circled where i cut the backpack straps and padding off and now the bag has a hugeeee amount of space and i love it,

10/10 as a true duffle!!!!!!

3/10 for whatever the backpack thing was taking up all the space inside the bag

Initially I had two issues.

(1) Its was disappointing that the strap clips for attachment were NOT metal as shown on the YT review videos. Check the photo below. They're a bit hard to use and plastic. If you look carefully at the photos online at their website as of the date of this review, they do not show this specific detail. I contacted the company and they explained to me that this is a new (literally most recent shipment) design change and was undertaken to enable the bag to hold more weight. They also explained that their website would be updated to show this. (2) my bag was shipped to Japan, I paid for fast delivery (it did not come on the dates promised- though it missed by only 2 days, but still...I paid more for it), and then there was an extra tack on fee of $35 charged by the carrier! It did not state this on the website. When engaging in international e-commerce, companies should make these details explicit. The company gave me $35 back - although its a straight hit to them as my $35 is now in the hands of the Government of Japan.

It was the right thing to do overall. I like this young company, and given the great design of their product - and it is really functional - they will do well ahead.

I got the Settra duffel bag as a weekender bag! I am a students pastor who takes students to camp a couple times a year, travel once a year or so with the family, and travel for work occasionally and this bag does it all! I can easily fit 4 to 5 days worth of clothes, shoes, and laptop/work gear all in one bag. The backpack straps are my favorite part for sure! Makes carrying the bag through the airport or on a bus full of students a breeze. Paired with the sling bag, my luggage game just go so much easier!

I really love my Settra duffel bag. I split my time between two cities at the moment and with the help of the packing cubes, I get a fortnight’s worth of stuff in there no problem, including all my tech so I can work remotely from whichever place I am in. I feel like for years now I have been playing around optimising my city bag solution and I have never found a better answer than this bag. The size of a duffel but with straps so I can carry weight on my shoulders like a backpack. Just perfect!