The origin of the word “duffel” dates back to 1677. The word was originally used to describe ‘a
coarse woollen cloth having a thick nap or frieze’. The cloth was produced in the Belgian town of
Duffel, situated not far from Antwerp, it was exported to Spain and Portugal and because of its
durable qualities it was used as a covering material on ships. It is suggested that Spanish and
Portuguese sailors used offcuts of the material to fashion crude bags for their belongings. By the
late Nineteenth Century the material was in circulation in Britain and America. The O.E.D cites the
poet Wordsworth’s line of 1884 ‘let it be duffel grey’ and, at the same time, in America, the word
was used to describe ‘a sportsman’s outfit’. In the 1890’s the British Royal Navy used the material
to produce coats for an Antarctic expedition, initiating the use of a garment that was to become
popular with Field Marshal Montgomery, CND protest marchers of the late fifties and Paddington
Bear.
In the Second World War it was used extensively by British and American servicemen and was
produced in a variety of sizes and designs. At the end of the war the duffel bag, like much other
military equipment, found its way into army surplus stores, where it was appropriated as a style
accessory by surfers in California and Australia.
In it’s original form the duffel bag is a cylindrical bag made of cloth, with a draw string closure at the
top but the term is now used to describe a variety of soft sided bags which are sometimes referred
to as an “Overnighter” or “weekender”.
A good duffel bag will have strong stitching and be made from a durable material such as Canvas or
leather. Traditional duffel bags are carried by their draw string, but this is an uncomfortable way to
carry a heavy bag and modern bags tend to use carrying handles. A good quality duffel bag will use
sturdy fittings and strong zips.
In some ways a duffel bag is the ideal bag to use as a carry-on, because of its supple exterior it can
be part filled and squashed to fit particular airline baggage restrictions. It’s probably not the best
choice if you require your ironed garments to arrive absolutely crease free, but if you want a bag
which will accommodate all those last-minute items or holiday purchases then you need a duffel, a
bag where you can always squeeze in something else. The duffel is a versatile and timelessly stylish
travel companion, quick to pack and easy to carry.
