Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag

Cy Whitling reviews the Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag for Blister Gear Review
Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag

Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag

Stated Features:

  • Integrated tip and tail reinforcement with durable, waterproof tarpaulin material and extra thick padding
  • Padded cinch-top sleeves slide over ski tips and tails for enhanced protection and also keep outerwear and layers safe from sharp ski edges
  • Built in loops let you quickly connect the Thule Boot Backpack for easy transport when traveling
  • Integrated wheels for easy transport

Specs:

Depth: 32cm / 12.6”

Height: 19.05cm / 7.5””

Length: 193cm / 67”

Volume: 7232 cubic inches

Stated Weight: 8 lbs

Blister’s Measured Weight: 8.63 lbs

MSRP: $239.95

Test Duration: ~20 days in New Zealand, Idaho, and Montana

[Editor’s Note: We reviewed the 14/15 RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag, and it gets a cosmetic update and few small changes for 15/16, which are covered in the review.]

 

Many of us are familiar with Thule’s ski and bike racks, but what about their ski carry bags? I’ve used the Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag down in New Zealand this summer and more recently around Idaho and Montana, here’s what I’ve found.

Features

The RoundTrip is set up to carry two pairs of skis (although we’ve managed to make 3 pairs fit pretty easily, with bindings). It has four buckled straps on the floor of the bag to keep skis secure, and a flap down the middle third of the bag that sticks between skis to keep the bindings from rubbing.

Cy Whitling reviews the Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag for Blister Gear Review
Thule RoundTrip Double interior

In the top “lid” there is a sleeve for poles and a long zippered mesh pocket. (Unlike the Dakine Concourse Double ski bag, there is no way to access any of the pockets without undoing the main zipper.)

On the outside of the bag, there are: two compression straps; four loops to attach Thule’s separate boot bag; three handles (one on each end, and one on the front); a shoulder strap; the wheels; and two skid rails.

The handles are not as padded and structured as those on the Dakine Concourse or the Douchebag ski bag. So while they aren’t quite as comfortable as those bags, they still get the job done.

The RoundTrip’s shoulder strap is a nice thought, but I quickly learned that trying to carry the ski bag on my shoulder, along with my 50lb backpack of camera gear, and another 50lb duffel of clothes and ski gear, is a foolhardy task. The Douchebag’s strap is a little more functional here since it makes dragging the bag easier.

Cy Whitling reviews the Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag for Blister Gear Review
Cy Whitling with the Thule RoundTrip Double, Christchurch, NZ.

The compression straps on the RoundTrip have functioned well, and helped keep the bag from sagging. They survived the trip to and from New Zealand, but one did fail at the junction between strap and bag when I used the bag to move my skis from Bozeman to Driggs. Admittedly, I put those straps through a lot of abuse, and when one did fail I was using it to secure the bag to the roof bars of my car on the highway—not the sort of situation the compression straps were probably designed for.

The skid rails at the base of the bag probably help durability since they protect the bag from curbs or other abrasive surfaces but I found that sometimes with the bag heavily loaded, they dragged if I didn’t keep the front end of the bag high. Of course this is problem with many ski bags.

Finally, the RoundTrip comes with two compression sacks with built-in sleeves that fit over the tips of your skis. These serve a double purpose: they protect the rest of your gear from sharp ski edges, and they provide a convenient place to store stinky ski clothing.

Thule RoundTrip Double stuff sack
Thule RoundTrip Double stuff sack

Initially, I thought this was a bit gimmicky, but my opinion drastically changed by day 8 of our New Zealand trip where I realized that isolation my smelly socks was imperative. (Of course that all backfired when I forgot about that smelly stuff sack for three weeks until I found it in my closet, but that’s not Thule’s fault.)

NEXT: In Use, Comparisons, Etc.

5 comments on “Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag”

  1. Hey guys,

    While I haven’t personally used the Patagonia bag, I can comment on a few things. As I mentioned in the review, the Patagonia bag is a little lighter (just a hair over 8 lbs as opposed to 8.63 lbs for the Thule), and the Patagonia has slightly better options to attach other bags to it. It’s not quite as universal as the daisy chain on the Douchebag, but it should prove to be a little more flexible than the Thule. However, the Patagonia bag costs $90 more.

    Personally, the light weight, daisy chain, and competitive cost of the Douchebag would make it my first choice—every ounce counts, and I really like being able to clip my other bag and backpack to my ski bag, especially on long airport terminal hikes. However, if you don’t like the DB and are instead torn between the Patagonia and Thule, I would go with the Thule and save that $90.

    Hope that helps!

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