Lightweight but Burly: Traveling with the New Mission Wheelie Roller Luggage

Thrown Into the Fight

And damned if it didn’t surprise. At one point, I’d been picked up by a fishing boat in the small fishing village of Bahía Solano along the Colombian coast and was rigging rods on the rolling deck. The Mission’s clamshell mouth and many interior pockets made it possible to stay organized even on the boat; then the bag tucked away under the deck for the six-hour run up to camp. The duffel proved to be roomy, easy to work from, and gloriously impervious to salt spray, mud, grit, and the general grime of travel.

Three Sizes

The new Mission Wheelie, released in early July to replace the brand’s old version of the bags, comes in three sizes:

• 110 liters, weighing in at 8.62 lbs.
• 65 liters, weighing in at 7.5 lbs.
• 45 liters, weighing in at 6.35 lbs.

An Exterior Made to Hold Up to Luggage Handlers

Mystery Ranch crafted the Mission Wheelie series from recycled 840 denier ballistic carbonate-coated nylon for both weather resistance and durability. The back half of the duffel is a polycarbonate shell, which helps the bag hold its shape without adding undue weight. The retractable handle feels sturdy, and the wheels are protected with aluminum.

Interior Features Which Make Travel Easier

The massive clamshell lid is a favorite feature—no blind deep dives into this duffel. I loved the two boot bag/laundry compartments, one on each side of the bag; they proved ideal not only for shoes but also for dirty clothes, damp towels, and more. There are several zippered pockets on the inside of the lid for small items, and one interior zippered wall pocket. Two sets of internal compression straps are well-placed to prevent loads from shifting even when the bag isn’t full.

Unexpected Little Features

The bag also brought a few features I didn’t expect but learned to appreciate. Sturdy web handles on every side and on the top of the bag made it easy to wrangle the bag into cars, boats, and more. On the top of the bag, a removable bag attachment strap let me either attach my carry-on or tether a smaller bag once on public transportation. And after having one too many ID tags come off luggage when their straps broke, the TPU card holder proved a simple but appreciated feature.

Overall, the Mission Wheelie 110 was a champ on several rough-travel international trips. I look forward to keeping it on the road and putting it through its paces—it’s already survived longer than many bags I’ve tested in years past. I expect we’ll be seeing many more countries together in the future.

^{The gear reviewed in this article was provided to me at no cost for evaluation. The views and assessments presented are my own.}