Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller Bag

In Use

The RoundTrip did a great job of carrying all of my ski gear for New Zealand. I was very easily able to fit two pairs of skis with bindings, a pair of boots, my helmet, outerwear, avy gear and poles. Like the Dakine Concourse Double, the limiting factor of the RoundTrip is not capacity, but instead airline weight limits. I can easily fit three pairs of 189 cm skis with bindings, and a pair of boots, along with poles, outerwear and accessories into this bag. Having all that come in under 50lbs is a different story, though.

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

With a measured weight of 8.63 lbs, the RoundTrip is a bit heavier than the Douchebag (8.0 lbs) and the Patagonia Black Hole Snow Roller (just over 8 lbs), and significantly lighter than the Dakine Concourse (12.5 lbs). The weight difference over the Douchebag isn’t much, just over half a pound, but that does represent half a pound of New Zealand chocolate and Bumper Bars that you could be smuggling home.

The one thing I did find frustrating about the RoundTrips is the lack of a daisy chain or some other system to attach other luggage to the bag. I improvised with NRS straps, but that’s one place where the Black Hole and the Douchebag outshine Thule’s and Dakine’s bags—the more weight I can get off my back and on to those wheels the better, and a daisy chain on the bag really helps with that. It does have attachment points for Thule’s boot bag, but I found them to be pretty useless for any other bag.

Note: 2014-15 RoundTrip vs. 2015-16 RoundTrip

The RoundTrip gets a cosmetic update for 2016, the “Slate” colorway I tested is now blue, and the zipper has been beefed up and gets a protective flap. I now have the updated 15/16 bag and have used it for shorter trips but haven’t flown with it yet. The zipper does feel a little smoother and more durable, and the flap is a nice addition. I’ll update this review if I find any significant differences after traveling with the new RoundTrip.

Thule RoundTrip vs. Douchebag vs. Dakine Concourse Double

Out of the three the Douchebag is the lightest, packs down the smallest, and is the most expensive (by $1.05). If you’re looking to carry the most gear (by weight) and need a bag that can pack down well once you reach your destination it’s the clear choice.

However, if you’re looking for a more traditional ski bag with a very high capacity, the RoundTrip should definitely be on your radar. It costs only $15 more than the Dakine Concourse Double and weighs almost 4 lbs less. That’s a pretty significant number, especially since the Thule doesn’t really sacrifice anything else over the Concourse.

Bottom Line

The Thule RoundTrip Double Ski Roller bag is a solid option if you’re looking for a smooth-rolling bag that is able to hold a whole lot of gear—just make sure to have the scale handy to make sure you don’t get hit with excess baggage fees.

 

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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