How big are the duffle bags your kids use for sleepaway camp? archived

One like that for clothes, and then a giant net laundry bag thing. The sheets, towels etc. get transported in the latter,and then it hangs on the bunk post for dirty laundry.

Have you tried TJ Maxx? I can't speak to duffel bags specifically but they typically have a large selection of bags for travel.

BTW, I think I got the giant net laundry bag think at a BedBathandBeyond, in the dorm/college section -- if you want one similar.

We send them with two bags -- one a 46" rectangular 'soft trunk' and one a 60" 'barrel duffle.' I have seen how the luggage gets handled, and you want something soft sided but very sturdy -- heavy nylon canvas. We pack clothes in the trunk, linens and everything else goes into the duffle, including a plastic tote (taped securely) that fits under the bunk.

Do not send a traditional trunk, there is no place to store them in modern bunks. Some girls will pack a four-drawer plastic drawer unit like you can get at walmart or target. If I sent one, I would wrap it in packing tape and put it inside a duffle.

Also, make sure the kid's name is written in sharpie (silver sharpie for black bags) on the luggage in big letters. All the bags look the same, and the tags get torn off easily. Do not write bunk or division information directly on the bag, you will be using it next year and the information will be different.

They want to take the camp bus this year, and they are only permitted two bags and a carryon, so I wanted to get the largest one I could. I ordered the campmor one, it's not like that long tube, it does have a zipper. We do have a few laundry bags as well...their laundry is done each week. The do say underbed bins are permitted, but the ones I got last year (which can actually be locked) did not fit under their (low) beds. I might suggest they just bring that on the bus to hold all their towlels...they need a lot!

I will label the bags with colorful paint pens...they are army green and black.

Thanks for the advice.

Posted By: shhThe do say underbed bins are permitted, but the ones I got last year (which can actually be locked) did not fit under their (low) beds

The one we send is only about 8" deep. I wouldn't send things that lock -- keys get lost and combinations forgotten, and they won't bother locking them anyway. The bin is more to control clutter than anything else.

Personally, I like the trunks better, but the barrel duffle (which does zip, the whole length) is popular with the kids and the spouse.

go to Costco's website (if you are a member) and type in prod #11525025, they sell 30" Rolling Duffel Bags which I have used for sleepaway camp. They hold alot and aren't as expensive as some of the stuff I've seen online.

Bill's Army-Navy store on Morris Ave. had a huge canvas duffel bag -- looked at least 6 feet long --last time I was there. They had one about 4 feet that was perfect for my 9-year-old son. They also had the rolling duffels, but the wheel and handle mechanism does add a lot of weight.

Max, I think the ones I bought were about 10 inches, and we didn't actually lock them but thought it was a nice feature to have. Bill's didn't have one so big, I called and asked. I am checking the costco website now, but 30 inches would not be big enough.

We have LLBean rolling duffels, the largest size available. They are about $99 and well worth it because they are very sturdy. Usually they fit everything in that bag except for sleeping bag/linens, which fit in an additional bag.

A day late and a dollar short, but there may be restrictions on how large the duffel can be. Double check the bus information since there often is a 'cannot exceed these dimensions' limit on bags.

My daughter misplaced that sheet! But she said there was a 70lb limit. it will be all clothes, so I don't think it will get THAT heavy!

Might there be someone on MOL with bags to sell? We bought a soft trunk and huge duffel (clearly made for camp--sturdy enough, but I'm not sure I'd want to check them) at a yard sale a month or two ago. They are much better than the hodgepodge of stuffed smaller bags we used to send our son with. Just packing them up now. . . .

The ones I ordered were really reasonable, only $30 or so each, so I can't complain. Figuring between camp and college, they will see tons of use!

Can't complain about that--good to know, in case both of mine (the kids, not the trunk and duffel) end up going away at the same time next summer.

Here it is...this brand (and I have no idea how well made it is, but I wanted to order ASAP) has the same style in many other sizes.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___78894

Maybe you should run up to Campmor on Route 17 and check it out (if it is in the store and not just on-line). I've had some experience with over-sized non-wheeled luggage and almost always regretted not bringing less in a smaller bag. After a certain point you risk physical injury. Also call the camp and have them define the term HUGE. You don't want your daughter to show up at the bus with a bag twice the size of everyone else's.

I love that it's called "Colossal."

Well, I know my husband and I could stand in it, probably together! My daughter told me that her friends have huge duffels that a bunch of them were able to climb into also. They do need to pack a lot, so I am hoping for the best. I do have an email in to the director.

Does the camp have a web site? The transportation forms and packing lists might be there.

I think our son's duffel is made by Eagle Creek. We bought it years ago at the AAA store, but you can get it on Amazon for a fair price. I'm quite certain we have the X-Large, and it holds all his stuff except for the extra junk (books, games, etc.) which we put in one of those Sterilite boxes to go under his bed. The duffel held up very well after several trips to New Zealand and a few years of camp, though we drive young J and his duffel up to camp, so it doesn't get the abuse test there.

Max, yes they do but there is NO info on it other than dates!

holy crap. Got the bags today. They are HUGE! They will definitely hold all their stuff. They do have handles on each end, so I may actually fold them in half and get some type of lobster-claw clasp to hook the two ends together. I wonder if I should have gotten just the XXL ones!