Amabilis Dave Duffle: product test

WASHINGTON, USA-based Amabilis is a brand we’d been following since its early Kickstarter phase.

With a military heritage from a time when founder Brian Abrams designed and supplied specialised gear to US Special Forces, and a mission to bring that design skill to the recreational gear sector, the brand promised great things.

Amabilis’s first product was the Dave Duffle, named after Brian’s friend and US Marine Dave Ruiz. It’s a 46-litre, 63cm-tall duffle bag made of military-spec, 18-ounce waterproof tarpaulin, reinforced in key areas with SuperFabric – a hybrid slash-, stain- and abrasion-resistant material.

The mil-spec hardware continues with metal fasteners and heavy duty YKK zippers used throughout to make this one tough bag. If you find the idea of carrying clothes and kit in a tall duffle bag annoying – as you have to pull everything out to get something from the bottom – fear not.

The Dave Duffle features a lengthwise-running zipper to provide easy access to the fully lined interior. Add to this the reinforced handle and adjustable shoulder strap and the Dave becomes a functional, go-anywhere kit bag. I’ve been using the Dave Duffle for about six months now and it’s become my go-to bag for trips away.

It handles a week’s worth of clothes, it’s easy to access the insides, and it is rugged enough to be tossed in the back of a ute or on a roof rack. However, it’s not totally waterproof, as the top of the bag uses a traditional duffle-bag-style opening that isn’t sealed.

This isn’t a dry bag, but it stacks up perfectly well for regular use. Amabilis recently released the smaller Dave JR 2.0 Duffle, a 23-litre, 46cm-tall bag that carries over the same rugged qualities to a day-size, carry-on-friendly bag. There’s also a range of T-shirts and warm apparel to complement the duffles.

Amabilis means lovable, but Brian actually took the name from Amabilis Mountain located near Seattle, Washington. The mountain is known for its cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing trails, and it’s this harsh climate and environment that are reflected in the bag’s design and construction.

The bags are fully made in the USA using all US materials, and they are backed by a lifetime warranty. That sort of quality doesn’t come cheap, but these bags should last you a lifetime. With more products to come to the range, this is a brand worth watching and supporting. Only available online.

AVAILABLE FROM: www.amabilis-gear.com
RRP: US$189.00
WE SAY: A tough, good-looking and durable kit bag for everyday use.