Buying a Military Duffle Bag? Vintage Is the Way to Go

It’s natural to want things that are shiny and new, but at the same time, sometimes it really is better to stick to the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Beyond that, you’re not alone if you’ve noticed that the quality of new production merchandise has gone down the tubes in recent years - and prices have gone up.

If that isn’t reason enough to want things that stand to a higher level of quality, even if they aren’t technically new, nothing will convince you.

To be more specific, if you’re in the market for a military duffle bag, vintage is like your best bet.

Yes, new production military surplus is still great, but there is still a time and a place for vintage field gear, specifically duffle bags. Here are just a few arguments in favor.

High-Quality Materials

First things first, as stated, newer things often just can’t hold a candle to what was produced yesteryear. There is a place for ballistic nylon and all that synthetic stuff that military duffles are made of nowadays, but can you really take over tough cotton canvas so easily?

We think not, and that’s just what a lot of military vintage duffle bags are made with. The fabric may be weak in wet environments, but it is extraordinarily tough (probably tougher than nylon, honestly) and if you’re so worried about water, you can wax it, which makes it even tougher than nails.

Plus, if you’re into military duffle bags, vintage ones are usually made with really tough, heavy straps and hardware that modern milsurp rarely outperforms. It’s possible but you know you’re getting quality with the old stuff.

Time-Tested Designs

If you’re going to buy field gear, why not put your money into models and designs that you know have actually performed - in the field, not just on paper or in a production facility, or during trials.

Vintage military duffle bags may be plain, but they’re tough, and you know that, in some cases, these designs mirror those that were actually carried by soldiers all over the world, sometimes perhaps even in active combat zones.

What better testament to enduring quality is there than that?

Plenty of Room, Well Organized

This is one area where, perhaps (keyword) modern military surplus has the edge, but ultimately it all comes down to what you’re looking for.

MOLLE systems are designed to be modular and expandable, and in some cases, to store essential gear outside of the main compartments of the bag.

In vintage military duffle bags, organization mostly occurs within the bag, but all the same, despite the fact that it might take marginally more time to access your gear, they are very secure and still well-organized.

You Can’t Beat the Aesthetic

Some people love modern military gear - others love a vintage look. For better or for worse, you can’t duplicate the image of authentic, vintage military gear. It has a singular look. If it’s what appeals to you, no modern field gear is going to cut it.

The Price Is Often Very Attractive

Just like with other official military gear and military surplus, the price of vintage field gear is often very low and therefore commensurately attractive, with the exception of fringe cases involving very rare, in-demand items and collectibles.

For run of the mill vintage duffle bags, you can often save quite a bit when you compare them to new field gear, which can actually be surprisingly expensive.

Uses for Military Duffle Bags (Vintage Editions)

On top of all else mentioned here, there are still a number of utilitarian applications for vintage military duffle bags, including but not limited to:

• Creating bug-out bags or trunk bags
• Organizing field gear
• Camping and hunting
• Travel
• Organizing loose items around your home
• Disaster preparedness

And much more - this list is far from complete.

Why Milsurp?

Just as there are many reasons to invest in vintage military gear, there are plenty of good reasons to buy military surplus, whether it’s relatively recent or not. Here are some of the best of them:

• Low cost
• High durability
• Proven quality
• Proven and tested designs
• Rugged appeal and authenticity
• It’s the only way to get some items
• Sometimes you stumble across a gem
• Wide availability
• There’s milsurp for a wide range of needs

As with the reasons to invest in vintage military gear, this list is just cursory; it is not complete.

Shop Military Duffle Bags, Field Gear and Other Military Surplus Here

In the market for a new duffle bag? Maybe it shouldn’t be new, but vintage. Shop our full collection here, and if you are looking for something specific or have questions about product specifications, get in touch with us and we would be more than happy to help.