Customer Reviews The North Face Rolling Thunder 30"

Very roomy, easy to roll around water resistant!

Took this to Florida from Vermont. Found in one of the smaller planes it was very important not to over fill this bag. Overhead storage is very selective. I didn't have to check the bag made it all the way so A + on that aspect. But add one shirt to much and you'll have a problem. Best to underfill. Rolls good seems very rugged frame is plastic and metal. Lots of handles makes it easy to toss tens of feet in the air. Zippers seem to be great construction with lockable junktion at the close. Lugage lock sold separately. Overall I would rate it a 4 star with that one star saved due to the quick and ease of the handle for pulling it is a little awkward. Button is on the side, perhaps in the middle would be easier to find. But it might be more durable to have the button on the side. That being said there wasnt a strap to hold the handle if the button fails. Attachment points that are higher on the roller for accessory bags that are large would be nice. Also while pulling the bag makes sense socially, I would to prefer to push with a nutral grip. Like a hand cart for deliverys! Out side my OCD I would recommend the bag for airlines. I got the high viz. Shows marks more easily. Perhaps some other hi vis options lime, blue, red and purple, pink, white.

The 30" worked great for a week-long trip to Alaska for fishing. Fit all my gear...waders, wading boots, another pair of boots and all the clothes needed. It rolls nicely and appears to be pretty well made. After 1 trip the bad definitely shows some wear, and I'm kinda interested to see how it will look as it goes on more trips, but at the same time, the airlines are the issue really.

Awesome for gear and traveling heavy! 4 rolly wheels can always be a great upgrade! Been using for a month now and have taken 3 trips and has done more then the job every time! Love my bag fits me!

This is an awesome bag that will last FOREVER. Enough said. My only gripe would be that the pocket layout is good but not amazing like the rest of the bag.

I travel to rougher conditions and I never worry about my luggage because I know it will withstand any airport handler, cobblestone street, and getting tossed off trains. But I want to order another one for my boyfriend because he's trying to claim mine, and I see the handle has changed from the metal one that is still on the Longhual to a plastic handle. The outside fabric on the Thunder has stood up to 20 trips overseas and 200+ ski trips, and the clam opening is super convenient. Disappointed to see the change in a key feature, and has stalled me reorde, looking for other options.

Bought this for my son. Very stylish and great quality. Love the bright yellow color!

My wife and I both purchased this bag for a 12 day trip to England. The larger wheels were great for the brick roads and uneven walkways. We had to roll them for about a half mile from the bus station to our cottage in Bath, and it was fairly easy. One of my only complaint thus far is the weight. These bags can easily be overpacked, so be cautious of airline maximum weights. The side straps do a great job of compressing the bag to hold everything in place, I just wish there was one around the middle as it tends to bulge out around the straps. Time will tell, but so far I am very pleased with this purchase.

Can you please add some feminine colors? Wheels run so smoothly compared to any luggage ive ever had. Sturdy and very clean looking. I just wish I had a color that seperated my bag from the rest of the world's.

This bag is very functional. I use it for family trips, fishing excursions, business and road trips. For the airline 50-lb. limits, this bag is just about the right size. I can fit fishing gear, dirty / clean laundry, computer equipment or business supplies. The wheels are very smooth and help in getting the bag around when it is fully packed. I've owned a very version model of the bag (before the extendable handle existed). Eventually, the bag wore out and broke down. One design flaw that the bag has is the internal metal support bar. Over time, the bottom of the support bar pushes through the base of the bag which is some sort of cardboard composite. With the metal bars pushing through the bottom and fabric of the bag, it gets stuck on baggage handling equipment and can tear out the upholstery in your car. Fortunately, North Face provides a lifetime warranty and replaced my worn-out bag with a brand new rolling thunder bag. Unfortunately, the same design flaw exists with the support bar. North Face should consider riveting some additional metal support plates above and below the support bars to keep them from puncturing the bag. Otherwise, a great bag.

I travel all the time living out of hotels sometimes weeks at a time. I'm in construction so the bag takes abuse in the back of the truck. The only complaint I have is the ability to maneuver the bag on the wheels. The design is flawed. The two handles at the top are offset. It doesn't have a additional handle centered so your wheeling the bag off centered and unbalanced. Simple turns become complicated. With the intense capacity of the bag this will become a problem. Hopefully future designs will account for this.

The product was great, but a little smaller than advertised due to the handle bars on the back of the inside. Good quality, but the zippers were still a little sticky and a little expensive for the category.

I have a few North Face Base Camp duffels that I use for most of my personal trips. I bought the Rolling Thunder 30" since I'm traveling more for work and sometimes carrying a duffel bag with out wheels around hotels can be a pain. I'm happy with the purchase, just did a 7 day business trip and the bag did great. It seems to be built well and the storage is sufficient for my needs. I do, however, have a few things that bother me a little bit... not deal breakers but hopefully something they can fix in the future. 1.The telescoping handle needs to be a bit longer so it can be able to fit most messenger bags for laptops. From three that I have only one fits properly the others cover the handle once in place so I can't grab it. 2. It's a heavy bag, but I guess reducing weight will compromise durability/protection 3. Wish all the compartments came with double zippers so I can lock them if need it. Only the main compartment has this. 4. Going back to the handle, I wish it had a protective flap to cover it when not in use to avoid getting damage. Overall I'm happy with my purchase and hoping this bag will handle well on upcoming trips.

Have only used it once, but so far so good. I travel a lot, and have killer many roller bags along the way, so i know what I like and what features don't get used or don't survive. I never check a bag. This one is sturdy, stands and rolls well when packed, and has just enough organization without a lot of added weight. The handle feels like it will go the distance, and it won't get hard to open or close if the case is a little overstuffed like some brands (I'm talking to you, TravelPro). The zippers are massive, and there isn't anything sticking out which a baggage handler could rip off for sport. The gray color is also a nice background to write on with a sharpie - much better ID/ theft deterrent than a luggage tag. It's coming to Costa Rica soon where it will go on cars, buses, water taxis and small planes. I'm sure its not watertight, but I fully expect it will keep contents dry through rainshowers and muddy puddles. I also don't see any problem with it getting thrown, dragged, or strapped to the top of a bus. Hopefully it comes back with some character...

I travel all over the US and overseas. I needed a functional and durable bag, and it helps that it's good looking too. I know several of my friends who have had this bag for years and no complaints.

Just got my rolling duffle. Looked at quite a few before getting this one. The handle is much more substantial than duffles that cost more. The red interior makes it look sleeker and is supposed to make it easier to find the contents. It is such a sturdy looking bag. Can't wait to use it in my travels. This is going to be my go to bag instead of my various suitcases. Perfect size. Will hold everything I need. I also love that the wheels are red. It makes the bag easier to spot among a sea of black bags. I chose black so that dirt and smudges would not show. My lighter colored bag was a mess after only one trip. Only thing I wish is that the handles on bottom interior of bag were covered. Other bags had them covered with vinyl and a zipper for access to handles if need be.

This bag is definitely well made, and has plenty of room for a week long trip. One problem I have is that I also own the Overhaul 40 and I am unable to use the pass through slot, as the Rilling Thunder's handle is too short. Otherwise, it would have been 5 stars.

Great Airline Travel Bag

It's a great bag. It has all the elements I need - it's light, sleek, rugged yet beautiful, has great capacity and good organizational pockets.

A little more on the heavy side. Hopeully there wouldn't be an extra charge.

I travel a lot for work and work primarily on work-boats (though I stay in a lot of hotels). Since my bags get "tossed" a lot, those made of formed plastic tend to take a huge beating, so a durable cloth duffle-style bag was what I needed. Last year I bought a cheap bag of this type and ripped a handle clean off of it on my first go to the airport. A coworker on my last deployment had this bag (though I think that it was the 36") and I couldn't believe how much stronger this bag was than the one that I owned. Beyond everything else, this bag is strong. The material is dense, the stitching is heavy, the zippers are probably stronger than they need to be, the wheels are spaced so that the bag does not waddle when fully loaded (like my last bag), the handle is bullet-proof, and for these reasons I purchased the bag. I found others of this type for less money but, well, I went for the name in the end. Yes, there are certainly other makers out there making this type of bag for way more money (generally made of fully water-proof materials and stitching), so this was a solid compromise for my needs. I have two small issues with this piece, but both together were not enough to dissuade me from my purchase; the dry weight of the bag is on the heavy side and there is really only one carrying strap (though it is sturdily sewn into the bag). When I leave for a job my bad is FULLY packed and I don't really like paying more for my one free carry on. I will try not to focus on this because I do know that to make a sturdy product you need to use sturdy materials, so I get it. The carrying handle thing is a bit more risky. Since I broke a strap on my last bag I have an innate fear of doing it again. My other bag had two handles and a nice little strap, so I had options. If this strap breaks while on a trip (and yes, I know that it is guaranteed for life) I will be carrying my luggage on my shoulder. But I trusted that this would not be an issue and made my purchase.

I bought this bag to use on my cruise. Hoping it along with my carry on with be enough. I am taking mostly shorts so everything pretty much fits for a 7 day stay. I haven't tried stretching my limits but i feel i can fit in extra 2 days and a jacket no problem. However, it isn't as big as i expected. The material it is made of is way better then what i imagined. It has a tough almost nylon feel. The cart section of the bag is Very durable and the wheels are soft. I love the design. It sticks out as to be easier to find. Hands down, this is the best duffle ive owned. I am extremely pleased

We travel a lot to Europe. We do a lot of outdoor activities. This luggage will hold not only my gear but also my sons. I am very excited about my new luggage for I have never had luggage that would be long-lasting and my past experiences with Northface have been nothing but positive with work words to quality of product and standing behind the product. I recommend your products too many friends and family for I truly believe that Northface cares about their consumers .

Used it to pack my helmet, ski boots, and clothes. All fit very nicely.

I own two of The North Face Base Camp Duffel-Bags (Large & X-Large). These are great but I had to pack a folding hand truck to wheel the duffel-bags around the airport. This duffel-bag has the same capacity rating as the XL Base Camp Duffel-Bag, but I believe I can get more gear into this duffel-bag (see photo), and it has wheels! This bag does not have a telescoping handle. I'm ~5'7" and the handle height is perfect for me, albeit a little awkward because there are two handles on either side of the duffel-bag and it does not provide a straight pull of the bag. This duffel-bag is manufactured with high-quality, great zippers, well positioned lift-handles on both ends of the duffel-bag, functional compression straps inside and outside. There are three external zippered compartments in addition to the main compartment and one at the inside of the main compartment lid. Only the main-compartment zippers are lockable. This is cavernous duffel-bag; it is easy to go overweight quickly if you are checking the bag for a flight. I recommend you verify the weight of the duffel-bag prior to heading to the airport. Also, ensure that you understand the checked-bag weight limit for your particular airline because some are lower than the others. I have been on one deployment with the Rolling Thunder duffel-bag for a four-day, three-night camping trip and it has performed very well and shows only minor signs of 'scuffing' (see photo) after five opportunities by baggage-handlers to test its durability. Checked bag weight limit was 40-lbs. and the duffel-bag empty weighs ~11.5-lbs. The packed duffel-bag weighed in at ~40.5-lbs. and a bit over 41-lbs. at the airport. So, I had about 29-lbs. of gear, nothing particular heavy but I did have some large items and the duffel-bag was at about 75% of comfortable capacity. I purchased this directly from the North Face and I'm contemplating purchasing the 30" version of this duffel-bag for my non-camping travel luggage.