A duffel bag, duffle bag,^[1][2] or kit bag is a large bag made of either natural or synthetic fabric (typically canvas), historically with a top closure using a drawstring.^[3] Generally a duffel bag is used by non-commissioned personnel in the military, and for travel, sports and recreation by civilians.^[4] When used by a sailor or marine a duffel is known as a seabag. A duffel's open structure and lack of rigidity makes it adaptable to carrying sports gear and similar bulky objects.

This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2022)

A duffel bag is often confused with a hoop-handled hard-bottomed zippered bag, generically also known as a gym bag.

The origin of the name is disputed. Most sources maintain the name comes from Duffel,^[5] a town in Flanders, Belgium, where the thick duffel cloth used to make the bag originated in the 17th century.^[6]

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word dates back to 1649, used to describe ‘a coarse woollen cloth having a thick nap or frieze’. The earliest reference of the word specifically referring to a duffel bag is 1768.^[7]

• Duffel Blog, a satirical military website
• Duffel coat
• Hockey bag
• Hold-all
• Rucksack