A detailed review of the Dakine Descent Duffel 70L bag, a functional and versatile mountain bike and snowboard bag that helps organize and protect your gear.

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Dakine Descent Duffle Details:

Features:

Four main compartments: large zippered side pocket, main gear compartment, helmet pocket, front zippered pocket

Specs:

600D Polyester Material

70 Liters

25 x 15 x 14 in.

2.2 lbs

Colors: Tabor, Field Camo

First Impressions:

It seems that there is a designated bag for everything these days, which is why I was surprised that I hadn’t encountered a bag dedicated to hauling around biking gear in any of my bike store excursions. But a bag that is equally as functional as a snowboard gear bag?

Dakine, you have my attention!

Dakine Descent Duffle Review

Weighing in at just over two pounds, the Dakine Descent mountain bike and snowboard gear bag is light, portable and doesn’t take up much space when not in use.

Before this bag, my normal process for storing and transporting my gear was keeping it all in one area of the garage and then tossing all my stuff in the trunk of my car, only to find out when I get to the trailhead that I’ve forgotten something. I have even been so preoccupied with putting everything together that I have forgotten the second most important piece of gear-my helmet. (My bike being numero uno, of course.)

If you’re traveling with multiple people who pack the same way, good grief. I traveled with a few friends this summer to the Downhill Mountain Bike Park in Big Bear and it looked like a bike store threw up in the trunk of the car. It was a mess! If this sounds like you, this Dakine gear bag is definitely a great option to help you get organized especially with the four different compartments.

Dakine Gear Bag Compartments

Main Gear Compartment – The main compartment has plenty of room to fit my riding fanny pack, a light jacket, knee and elbow pads and my mini bike pump comfortably. When used for snowboarding, it can fit gloves, snow pants, a beanie and a thick sweater. I didn’t put my heavy snow jacket in there, but I’m sure it’s possible depending on how many items you decide to pack and how bulky your jacket is.

One highlight of this bag is the U-shaped opening for easy loading and a clear view of what’s inside the bag. In this main compartment, there are internal mesh pockets under the opening flap that are perfect for sunglasses, goggles and gloves. Fragile items in these pockets are ideal since nothing can be packed on top of them.

Large Zippered Side Pocket for Shoes or Boots – At first glance, my favorite part of the bag was the shoe and boot pocket. If you’re carrying shoes only, you can keep the inside bag area small so it doesn’t encroach on the main compartment space. If you’re carrying snowboard boots, the pocket unbuttons inside and expands to accommodate the larger pieces of gear. This is awesome for the obvious reason: you don’t have to put your muddy shoes or boots in the same compartments you carry anything else.

Helmet Side Pocket – The other side pocket fits a standard snowboard helmet or even a full face mountain bike helmet. If you’re not carrying a helmet, the interior pocket stays out of the way and you end up with more space in the main gear storage area.

Front Zippered Pocket – The front zippered pocket is for smaller items and great for quick access. I use it for my Clif Bars, cell phone, GoPro accessories, car keys and my multi-function bike tool.

Drawbacks:

This bag is extremely functional for what it was created for, and I don’t have any major critiques. There isn’t a ton of mountain bike or snowboard gear bags on the market at the moment to compare it to. That being said, if I could suggest improvements on a future model, the bag could be improved with a micro fiber interior pocket designated for sunglasses or goggles. It would be nice to be able to toss them in a safe pocket when they are outside of their respective drawstring pouches, and you could store additional lenses in there when not in use so you don’t have to worry about scratching them.

Otherwise, the Descent Duffle does not come with a shoulder strap and sometimes that’s a more convenient way to carry bags of this size, especially if you were to use this when traveling at an airport.

The retail cost of the bag is $85.00 (unless you can catch it on sale). That may be on the high side for this type of bag, but with the Limited Lifetime Warranty offered by Dakine, let’s hope that this is a one-time expense for years of convenience.

Final Thoughts

The days of missing and forgotten gear are over. Grab your well-equipped Descent Duffle and keep shredding, in more stylish and composed fashion. Plenty of room and functionality for the mtb gear or snowboard gear you need for your day on the mountain-whether you’re rolling or sliding on it.

Pick up the Dakine Descent Duffel 70L Bag