Patagonia’s Famed Black Hole Bag Line Is Adding a Versatile New Piece

This 3-in-1 bag will solve a whole lot of travel woes. Plus, it still has the same legendary pedigree.

Patagonia Black Hole MLC Wheelie closeup

Published 15 hours ago

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As far as EDC and travel bags are concerned, few are as revered and beloved as Patagonia’s Black Hole lineup. A part of why this pack catalog has had such impressive staying power — besides its association with one of the most important, significant outdoor brands — is that it is always evolving.

Case in point: the upcoming Patagonia Black Hole MLC Wheelie. This 3-in-1 bag was created specifically to meet travelers’ ever-changing needs and the standards of the vehicles in which they travel.

Pop a wheelie

As you might’ve ascertained, this is another addition to the Black Hole line’s wheeled offerings. At present, the brand offers three different sizes of wheeled Black Hole Bags: 40L, 70L and 100L.

At 45L, this upcoming version is a bit larger than the smallest option. However, it’s a lot more versatile.

Patagonia Black Hole MLC Wheelie with handle extended and as backpack — This bag’s carry versatility gives it a major edge over the competition.

Unlike its smaller sibling, this pack eschews the external rails on the handle side. In their place, you’ll find a pair of hideaway backpack straps. Yet, it still has the telescoping handle. Furthermore, it has a removable shoulder strap.

For those keeping score, that means you can carry this bag four different ways: on its wheels with the handle extended, on your back like a regular backpack, or by its suitcase-style carry handles. (Okay, five ways, since there are two carry handles.)

Patagonia Black Hole MLC Wheelie two colorways — Along with the all-black version, the MLC Wheelie boasts two other colorways.

Black Hole, son!

The 45L size of the MLC Wheelie was chosen for a particular reason: travel. More specifically, it was chosen because it means this bag meets the carry-on standards of even smaller aircraft.

In fact, that’s what MLC stands for: Maximum Legal Carry-on.

To combat its potential limitations, it has daisy chain webbing on the outside, so you can attach a few smaller accessory packs or other pieces of gear — like a snap-back hat, bladeless multi-tool, travel pillow or whatever else.

Stored within its frame are backup wheel axles so you can repair busted wheels on the go.

It also sports a water-resistant TPU-coated recycled polyester ripstop exterior, a longtime staple of the Black Hole lineup, that’s lightweight and marvelously durable. And it has internal compression straps so you can cinch down your gear.

Patagonia has uniquely included a feature to combat one of the most significant risks posed to wheeled bags. Stored within its frame are backup wheel axles so you can repair busted wheels on the go.

Patagonia Black Hole MLC Wheelie daisy chain closeup — The external daisy chains make great attachment points for additional gear and accessories.

Coming soon

Unfortunately, the Patagonia Black Hole MLC Wheelie isn’t yet available. The brand has slated it for a release after August 1, 2025. Keep your eye on the brand’s New Arrivals page for more info.

Editor’s Note: We’ll update this article once the bag is available on the brand’s site (and elsewhere).