Military Duffel Bags are GreatFor Youth Baseball & Softball

Nothing performs better than the tried and true military duffel bag for lugging balls, bats, gloves, bases, tees, whistles and other gear to a baseball or softball field.

Coaches in youth leagues have relied on these bags for decades because they're durable and reliable -- even when they're used.

Here are the typical features of a genuine military duffel bag:

• It's about 37 in. tall and 12 1/2 in.wide.
  
• It features single-wall duck and nylon construction.
  
• It has two long, padded shoulder straps, so you can carry it like a giant backpack.
  
• It has a durable handle for maneuvering, and an outside pocket for easy-access items (like rags, replacement cleats, whistles or penalty flags).
  
• It has a sturdy belt fastener at its top.
  

When considering the purchase of a military duffel bag, be sure it's the real deal. Ask if it's genuine military issue.

Reputable dealers usually identify military duffel bags or any other government surplus goods by their so-called "NSN numbers" -- the numbers the government uses to catalog its massive array of products. For military duffel bags, that number is 8465-01-117-8699.

Introduced by the U.S. Army in 1943, the military duffel bag has an interesting history, which is detailed nicely at olive-drab.com.

If you'd like to buy one online, you can find many options by searching for "military duffel bag" on Google.

Do you know of any other good uses for the tried and true military duffel bag? If so, post a reply.