REASONS TO BUY
Well-made handle
Wheels made to last
Easy packing
Dependable protection
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier than many
Doesn't meet carry-on restrictions for some airlines
The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 Review
A trustworthy travel companion whether flying across the world or rolling to the local coffee shop
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ April 7, 2026
RELATED: The Best Duffel Bags of 2026
Our Verdict
The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 should be heavily considered if you're wanting a roller duffel on the smaller side that's particularly durable. This robust bag is made with 1000‑denier polyester — and no, that extra zero isn't a typo – and utilizes a shell exterior to protect your bag's contents. With ample pockets for organizing and even a laptop sleeve, this is a feature-rich model that stood out in the review's lineup and is our favorite to use as carry-on luggage for airline travel. Before purchasing, however, it's crucial for you to investigate your primary airline's carry-on restrictions to ensure the Thunder 22 will be allowed onboard. If the hefty 8.2-pound weight of this model doesn't scare you off, keep the Rolling Thunder on your finals list.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Wheeled Duffel for Air Travel |  Best All-Around Duffel | Best for Staying Organized on the Go |  Best $100 Duffle | Best Value Weekender Bag |
| Price | $320 List Check Price at REI | $179 List Check Price at REI | $170 List Check Price at REI | $105 List Check Price at REI | $35 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A trustworthy travel companion whether flying across the world or rolling to the local coffee shop | A do-it-all duffel that’s ready for airplanes, expeditions, or car camping | This bag is one of our favorites across the board thanks to well designed organization features, and durable craftsmanship to protect our gear on the go | A wallet-friendly duffel bag that’s both lightweight and spacious | If price is your main concern, this duffel has just enough oomph to handle weekend getaways and routine gym visits |
| Rating Categories | The North Face Base... | Patagonia Black Hole | The North Face Base... | Osprey Daylite 60 | BAGSMART Weekender |
| Storage and Ease of Packing (30%) | |||||
| Ease of Transport (25%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (25%) | |||||
| Weight & Size (20%) | |||||
| Specifications | The North Face Base... | Patagonia Black Hole | The North Face Base... | Osprey Daylite 60 | BAGSMART Weekender |
| Sizes Available | 40, 95, 160 L | 40, 55, 70, 100 L | 32L, 42L, 62L | 30, 45, 60 L | 24L |
| Packs into own pocket? | N | Y | N | N | N |
| Backpack Straps | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Laundry Compartment | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Measured Weight | 8.2 lb (40L model) | 2.6 lb (55L model) | 2.9 lb (62L model) | 1.6 lb (60L model) | 1.07 lb (24L model) |
| Calculated Weight-to-Volume Ratio | 3.24 oz/L | 0.77 oz/L | 0.75 oz/L | .44 oz/L | .71 oz/L |
| D or I-Shaped Opening | D | D | D | D | I |
| Number of Pockets (Excludes Main Compartment) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| Material (Main Body) | Body: 1000D recycled polyester with phthalate-free PVC coating | 900D polyester ripstop (100% postconsumer recycled) with TPU-film laminate | Body: 300D recycled polyester tarpaulin with TPU laminate Bottom: 840D recycled ballistic nylon with PFC-free DWR coating |
Main: recycled 300D polyester w/ ripstop, DWR treatment made without PFAS Lining: recycled 200d polyester, DWR treatment made without PFAS Bottom: recycled 600D polyester packcloth, DWR treatment made without PFAS |
Taslon fabric |
Our Analysis and Test Results
We towed The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 across the country and the world. From airport sprints to the cobbled stone streets of Europe, we found this roller bag to be a perfect addition to the bag quiver when needing a smaller duffel that still offers wheels.
We became big fans of the Rolling Thunder 22 for travel and as a computer/commuter bag. Credit: Zach Lovell
Storage and Ease of Packing
The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 comes in with 40 liters of volume and a D-shaped opening with compartments on both the top and bottom of the bag. Overall, the Rolling Thunder is very easy to pack and offers more internal organization than most standard duffles, even if it's not as roomy.
This duffel uses a hard-sided shell construction that makes packing a breeze. While other models are a bit more floppy, the rigid sides of The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 don't require you to prop up the bag while stuffing it with clothing and gear. We loved where The North Face decided to split the main compartment and the lid, allowing us to easily load up both sides, while the netting retainer on the lid helped with organization. This style of bag isn't ideal for larger, bulkier items, but as a carry-on and/or a commuter bag with wheels, the Rolling Thunder is very packing-friendly.
The main compartment of the Rolling Thunder is fairly sizeable, and the lid is ideal for lighter clothes.
Ease of Transport
As a bag with wheels, The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 is about as easy to transport as it gets. The one caveat with bags like this is that you'll have to carry them if the pavement turns to gravel, dirt, or grass. If your travels primarily take you over smooth pavement or indoor tiles, put this at the top of your perspectives list for city commuting and airport travel.
The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 uses a hardshell chassis to make rolling it a breeze, even when fully loaded. The rigidity allowed us to push and pull it across long stretches during layovers, and the wheels performed very well throughout all of our testing season.
The handle was comfortable to grab and was a great length for a variety of testers. Credit: Zach Lovell
For those times when you need to carry the bag, there are decent padded handles at the top and sides, but there aren't any backpack straps if you need to go further. We were also able to add a backpack with a luggage pass-through strap to the Rolling Thunder quite easily, and simply rolled both bags together while in transit. The dimensions of this bag worked well for our team as a carry-on in the overhead bin on airplanes, but please double check that this bag's dimensions will work for you on your favorite airlines.
Even on smaller regional airplanes, we were able to fit the Rolling Thunder 22 in the overhead bin, but you must check the carry-on allowances on your preferred airlines. Credit: Zach Lovell
Protection
As a bag made with 1000 denier polyester and a clamshell design, the The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 is particularly trustworthy when it comes to protection. We would happily place a laptop, camera gear, and other electronics in here.
A hard-sided bag like the Rolling Thunder 22 is not always easy to come by in the duffel world, but this option kept its form after months of testing. Fragile electronics and even some delicate birthday presents were safely transported in the Thunder 22, though we did take extra care to pad such items. The handle suspension system runs along the back of this bag, making the main compartment ideal for your most precious items, which are then further protected by whatever clothes you put in the lid. This bag also includes a laptop sleeve and a glasses compartment, which we happily used. However, if you're planning to toss this duffel in the back of a truck or strap it to a roof rack, we suggest putting your laptop inside a separate sleeve and putting it inside the main compartment.
From the laptop sleeve to the hard-sided build of the Thunder 22, this is a particularly protective duffel.
Construction Quality
We've seen many roller bags across several categories here at GearLab and are happy to report that The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22 is made better than most. As previously mentioned, this bag doesn't skimp on materials, with 1000 denier fully recycled polyester and wheels that handle abrasive ground well.
The handle of the Rolling Thunder 22 uses a button system that's substantially easier to lock/unlock than others, and the sliding was consistent throughout testing. Even when fully extended, the handle didn't flex much, even with our personal item bag resting on it. All stitching and zippers held up well throughout our testing.
The Rolling Thunder 22 was built to last, with 1000 denier fabrics and a durable retractable handle.
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
This was the lowest-scoring metric for The North Face Base Camp Rolling Thunder 22, which is to be expected for roller bags.
At 8.2 pounds, the Rolling Thunder 22 weighs substantially more than most of the competition. Given its 40-liter capacity, the resulting weight-to-volume ratio is 3.24 ounces per liter, compared to the .77 ounces per liter of our Editors' Choice bag, the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel. Some of the other bags we tested even weigh as little as .5 ounces per liter, making them double the size of the Rolling Thunder and a quarter of the weight.
As much as we loved the transportability and organization of the Rolling Thunder, it doesn't offer a great weight-to-volume ratio. Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy The North Face Rolling Thunder 22?
If you want a protective roller duffel, the Rolling Thunder 22 should be put in your shopping cart, especially if you need it for commutes and air travel. You must make sure this bag meets your airline's carry-on allowances, and we also suggest double-checking that you're open to a bag that weighs over 8 pounds. Besides that, this is an incredible option that our testing team grew to love.
What Other Duffel Bags Should You Consider?
If you're needing more storage capacity from your wheeled duffel, look no further than the Osprey Sojourn Wheeled Travel Pack, which offers more space than the Rolling Thunder 22 and also boasts larger diameter wheels, allowing us to more easily roll big loads. The Thunder 22 is also quite expensive, so consider the Osprey Daylite 60 as a wallet-friendly alternative that offers a great volume-to-weight ratio.
—Zach Lovell
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