A Truly Organized Companion for Camping and Adventure**
Have you ever stood in front of a messy pile of gear before a trip, wondering how everything ended up so chaotic? Muddy shoes mixed with clean clothes, damp towels stuck between jackets, and cables tangled somewhere at the bottom of your bag. If that sounds familiar, this review is for you.
I recently had the chance to experience The Cape, a camping duffle bag from Voortrekka Australia, and in this article, I’ll walk you through my real user experience—from discovering the brand, unboxing the bag, using it on actual trips, to breaking down every feature that matters in real-life outdoor use.
This is not a quick specs overview. This is a long, honest, user-focused review written from the perspective of someone who actually cares about organization, durability, and stress-free travel.
1. Getting to Know Voortrekka Australia
Before buying any outdoor gear, I always look into the brand behind it. Voortrekka Australia immediately stood out—not because of flashy marketing, but because of their story.
Voortrekka was founded by an Australian couple: one with a military background and the other a nurse. Their idea for The Cape came from a very practical frustration—constantly dealing with disorganized, dirty, hard-to-manage gear during camping and road trips.
Their philosophy is simple:
Everything should have its place. Gear should be tough. And packing should never be stressful.
This mindset shows clearly in how The Cape is designed. It doesn’t feel like a product created by a large corporation guessing what campers want. It feels like something built by people who actually live outdoors and got tired of bad bags.
2. Unboxing The Cape – First Impressions Matter
When The Cape arrived, the first thing I noticed was its size. With a capacity of around 71 liters, it’s clearly designed for serious trips—but it doesn’t feel unnecessarily bulky.
What’s included in the box:
- The Cape Duffle Bag
- A dedicated laundry bag for dirty clothes
- A reflective Velcro patch
- Warranty and brand tags
That laundry bag may sound like a small bonus, but in practice, it’s incredibly useful. Separating dirty clothes from clean ones is something you don’t truly appreciate until you’ve traveled without that option.
The exterior material immediately feels rugged and premium. The 900D HD polyester fabric doesn’t feel thin or flimsy. Instead, it gives you confidence that it can handle rain, dirt, rough ground, and frequent use.
3. Interior Design – Where The Cape Really Shines
This is where The Cape starts to separate itself from regular duffle bags.
3.1 A Proper Shoe Compartment
One of my biggest travel frustrations has always been shoes. Dirty boots or sandy sneakers almost always end up contaminating the rest of your bag.
The Cape solves this perfectly with a fully separated, waterproof shoe compartment located at the bottom of the bag. Shoes go in, dirt stays out. No compromise.
It’s simple, but extremely effective.
3.2 Modular Compartments and Smart Organization
Inside the main compartment, you’ll find adjustable dividers that allow you to customize the layout depending on your trip. This flexibility is a big deal.
For example:
- One trip, I used sections for clothes, cooking gear, and electronics.
- Another trip, I organized items by day.
- On a beach trip, I separated wet gear from dry essentials.
Small internal pockets make it easy to store items like headlamps, power banks, toiletries, and tools—things that normally disappear into the abyss of a large bag.
Everything is visible. Everything is reachable.
4. Build Quality and Durability in Real Use
4.1 Weather Resistance
I’ve used The Cape in rain, damp environments, and early-morning dew. The bag handled it all very well.
Water stayed out. Mud stayed outside. The internal contents remained dry and clean.
Zippers feel solid and smooth, not cheap or stiff. Stitching is tight and consistent, which is often where cheaper bags fail over time.
4.2 Capacity vs. Comfort
Even fully packed, the bag doesn’t feel awkward to handle. The handles are well-padded, and the overall structure keeps the bag balanced.
That said, when fully loaded, it is heavy—which is expected for a 71L bag. This isn’t meant to replace a hiking backpack. It’s designed for car camping, base camps, road trips, and organized travel.
5. Real-World Testing: Three Types of Trips
I tested The Cape across three different travel scenarios.
5.1 Dusty Trails and Bush Camping
Dust is unavoidable on outdoor trips. What impressed me was how easy the bag was to clean afterward. A quick wipe, and it looked nearly new.
5.2 Beach Travel
Beach trips are brutal on gear. Sand, water, salt—it all finds its way into everything.
With The Cape, wet towels and sandy items stayed separate from dry clothes. This alone made the bag worth it for me.
5.3 Long Road Trips
This is where The Cape truly excels. Opening the bag mid-trip to grab something is effortless. No digging. No repacking. Everything stays exactly where you put it.
6. What I Loved (and What Could Be Better)
Pros
- Extremely well-organized interior
- Separate waterproof shoe compartment
- Durable, weather-resistant materials
- Flexible layout for different trip styles
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- Too large for short overnight trips
- Fully packed weight may be too much for long walks
These aren’t deal-breakers, but they’re worth mentioning so expectations stay realistic.
7. Price vs. Value
At the time of writing, The Cape is priced around AUD $289.95 during sales, down from its original price.
Is it cheap? No.
Is it worth it? Absolutely—if you actually camp, travel, or adventure regularly.
You’re paying for:
- Thoughtful design
- High-quality materials
- A stress-free packing system
- Longevity
In my experience, buying cheaper bags often means replacing them sooner. The Cape feels like a long-term investment.
8. Customer Support and Return Policy
Voortrekka offers a 30-day return policy, provided the product is unused and in new condition. They also offer support for manufacturing defects.
Knowing this adds peace of mind, especially when purchasing premium gear online.
9. Community Feedback and Brand Trust
While Voortrekka isn’t a massive brand yet, customer feedback on their site consistently highlights the same strengths I experienced:
- Organization
- Durability
- Practical design
Sometimes, smaller brands simply care more—and it shows.
10. Final Verdict – Is The Cape Worth Buying?
Yes, if you:
- Camp or travel frequently
- Hate disorganized gear
- Want everything to have its place
- Prefer durability over cheap pricing
Maybe not, if you:
- Only take short weekend trips
- Travel extremely light
- Need a bag for long-distance hiking
11. Tips to Get the Most Out of The Cape
- Use the laundry bag from day one
- Organize by activity or by day
- Clean the bag after each trip
- Pair it with a small backpack for walking trips
Final Thoughts
The Cape by Voortrekka Australia is one of the most thoughtfully designed duffle bags I’ve used. It doesn’t just carry your gear—it organizes your entire trip.
If you value efficiency, cleanliness, and durability in outdoor travel, this bag is genuinely worth conside
