I was struggling to get my 1650 Peli case into a press car for a couple of nights away camping.  It wasn’t that it was a tiny car, either, it’s just that I had a lot of kit that I wanted to test, like the Ecoflow Glacier and Wave 2, plus a couple of tents.  It was one of those serendipitous moments when I’d just taken delivery of the Chasm so I thought I would put it to good use.

Available in 4 sizes and a variety of colours, the Thule Chasm duffel bag is not only rugged, but the first thing that jumps out is the build quality; like other Thule products, you really do get the sense that it’s made to last.  Thick to the touch, they’re made from Phthalate-free TPE laminate with a 840D nylon base along with large YKK zips and incredibly tough webbing throughout.

The Chasm can be carried in many ways.  Using neat clips and toggles, it can be easily converted into a backpack using its removable, lightly padded yet strong shoulder straps.  Fitting and removing the straps is incredibly simple as there are two clips at the base of the Chasm that are protected by an overlay of material.

On the other end of the straps you’ll find a couple of neat metal bars that you thread through two tapered webbed tabs.  It’s a really neat, thoughtful and practical way of attaching the straps. To prevent your belongings from falling to the bottom of the bag whilst in backpack mode there are four external compression straps, two on each side.  Another clever addition is when in backpack mode, the two standard side carry handles can be secured at the side of the Chasm using a couple of popper-fastened tabs. This is a great idea allowing the straps to be secured when not in use, and they stop the handles from getting caught on roof racks, seating and all manner of obstacles.

And there’s more, on either end there are a couple of sturdy handles that are great for snatching up the Chasm from a conveyor belt, or pulling from a roof rack.

Each Chasm has an oversized, wide-mouth, two-way lockable, zip opening that makes it incredibly easy to pack in all your gear.  To aid weather resistance it includes a good-sized storm flap over the full length of the zip.  Along with 70 litres of space in the main compartment, you will also find 3 mesh zip-fastening pockets, 2 on the underside of the lid and one which hangs freely to one side.

Another clever design feature is that the smaller of the lid pockets can be easily accessed from the outside of the bag by slightly unzipping the lid a little and is handy for items such as chargers, passports, keys and snacks!

If that wasn’t enough there’s another external zipped pocked at the other end of the bag, and when not in use the Chasm also comes supplied with its own draw-string mesh storage bag that can also double as a shoe bag, if the need arises.

This is an epic duffle with Tardis-like qualities.  Not only is it well thought out and put together, but using weather-resistant materials mean that it can secured on the top of a roof rack, in a pick up bed or left outside in the rain, snow and hail.

Not only is it excellent for clothing and travel accessories, it also shined at keeping my camping kit together, from stoves, sleeping bags and mattresses to my Helinox foldable chairs and table, and in Autumnal Orange, as I have, you’re not going to forget it at camp or lose it at an airport! If you are not an orange fan, there are 3 more subtle colours to choose from. - Black, Green & Blue

For peace of mind, the Chasm is also covered by a 2 year guarantee which even takes into account damage caused by normal wear and tear, and natural discolouration of materials.

Also available in 3 other sizes - 40, 90, 130 litres

70L size - 69x 40 x 31cm / weight: 1.8kg

price: £130

more at » www.thule.com

Reviewed in Issue 51 - September 2023