admin This was all a surprise. A Patagonia spokesperson told GQ that the new Black Hole bags weren’t supposed to be released until 2024, but the company dropped them ahead of schedule due to strong demand from Patagonia customers. We’re not mad about it.
Black Hole duffels are beloved by GQ editors—and everyone else, it seems. We’d say that they have a cult-following, except they’re much too popular to restrict them to cult status. You can find Black Hole bags on the backs of urban commuters, #vanlife diehards, and outdoors enthusiasts, SkyLounge regulars, and anyone else who needs a burly, easily-carried pack. Originally released in 2004, the bags’ famous silhouette and durability have never gone out of fashion, and the GQ Recommends team has named them some of the best bags, best carry-ons, and best duffel bags over the years.
The big Black Hole update is very much in line with the Patagonia’s earth-first ethos, which begins with making gear that’s made to last. Last week, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard took to The New York Times to pen an anti-fast fashion and Black Friday opinion piece, and he said it’s no mystery why Patagonia has proven so enduringly popular.
“The company I founded turns 50 this year. People ask me how it has managed to stick around so long when the average life span of a corporation is less than 20 years,” wrote Chouinard. “I tell them it’s been our unrelenting focus on quality, which includes making things that last and that cause the least amount of harm to our planet. Countless skeptics told me we’d never turn a profit. They thought we were crazy for repairing our own gear and urging our customers to buy less. They said our focus on quality would drive up prices and put our products out of reach. But the naysayers were wrong.”
Image: Colin Wiseman for Patagonia
We’d be lying if we didn’t admit to feeling some feelings around the end of the shiny Black Hole, but we’re 100% in on the 100% recycled TPU’s ecological benefits—and we’ll eventually take a shine (sorry) to this version, no doubt. (Though we found some stock for the outgoing version at REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Patagonia, if you think you’re going to miss the original, too.) We’re also planning to test out the new Black Hold duffel for ourselves; stay tuned for a full review.
The new Black Hole line is available now, starting at $159 for the 40L duffel at the Patagonia online store and outlets like REI.
