The 13 Very Best Weekend Bags

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Materials: Nylon | Capacity: 30 liters | Weight: 11 ounces | Method of carry: Shoulder strap

I’ve been recommending Baggu’s Cloud Carry-On bag for years, but a recent airport transit experience convinced me to place it at the very top of this list, toppling our previous best overall pick, Patagonia’s Black Hole duffel.It was 2 a.m. and I’d been making my way home to Brooklyn from JFK after a quickie trip to London. This bag was my only luggage. The escalators down to the subway had all stopped working, naturally, but I swung this bag over my shoulders without a care in the world as fellow passengers huffed and puffed with their suitcases.As I sat down on the A train, I noticed another passenger across from me who was also staying calm amid chaos. Then I saw that he, too, was traveling Cloud-Carry-On-only. No conversation was needed, but eye contact and nodding confirmed that we were both extremely satisfied with our choices.

This is the perfect short-trip bag. Puffy shoulder straps make it much comfier than your average tote or duffel, and generous external pockets are handy for stashing a book, sweater, and water bottle. Because it is made from very thin fabric, this bag’s weight and bulkiness really depends on how much stuff you pack inside. I can fit three or four packing cubes full of clothes into it, alongside toiletries, a laptop, and other small essentials. On its own, the bag is perfect for weekend or weeklong trips. On longer vacations, I have also slipped it over the handle of a carry-on suitcase using the attached luggage sleeve. Baggu has introduced a smaller size that adheres to personal-item restrictions on budget flights. I’ve tested this out, too, and was able to fit a laptop, a book, and a change of clothes. If you can only buy one bag, though, go for the bigger size. It can always squish down smaller.

Materials: Nylon | Capacity: 44 liters | Weight: 1.25 lbs | Method of carry: Shoulder strap

Another nylon bag worth considering is Loeffler Randall’s slightly more elegant-looking Dina tote. I first heard about this travel bag from writer and Strategist contributor Erika Veurink, who told me that although “comically large,” it somehow still slides underneath the seat on every flight. “The compartments are expertly designed, separating my water bottle from my laptop from my keys,” she adds. There’s also a discreet luggage sleeve on the back so you can more easily balance the bag on top of your carry-on. Made of nylon and available in four colors, it’s a nice, slightly more grown-up alternative to the trusty Baggu totes above. And, says Veurink, it’s “a breeze to wipe off and wash.” Strategist contributor Katie Stone is also a fan of the Dina, recently calling it the “tote bag to end all tote bags,” although she uses it more for everyday purposes than travel. She likes that it looks sleek enough to take out to lunch but contains lots of interior organization: “No more mixing up your sweaty gym clothes with your work lunch; no more praying your kombucha doesn’t fall sideways and spill on your laptop.” So if you’re looking to invest in one big shoulder bag that can be taken to work as well as getaways upstate, here’s a great option.

Materials: Recycled polyester | Capacity: 25 liters | Weight: 2.47 lbs | Method of carry: Backpack or duffel

Away’s backpacks sometimes get overlooked in favor of the DTC brand’s famous suitcases, but we really like them. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo takes this convertible one (that has removable shoulder straps and a wraparound suitcase-style zip) on “non-car weekend trips” involving trains and ferries.She recently took it to her parents’ house in Connecticut on Metro North with a toddler and a stroller. “It fit in the undercarriage of the stroller, which is key,” she says. “I was able to pack my and my son’s clothes in there, and there was more than enough for a summer weekend trip, although it would be harder with a winter coat and multiple pairs of shoes.” She also likes that there are ample organizational pockets both on the inside and outside of the bag.

Materials: Recycled polyester ripstop with weather-resistant TPU-film laminate | Capacity: 40 liters | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Method of carry: Top handles, backpack straps, and sling strap

Thanks to its durability, impressive capacity, and multiple methods of carry (it can be used as a duffel or backpack), the Patagonia Black Hole has become a go-to for myself and multiple fellow Strategist staffers. True to its name, the bag fits a lot of stuff, and it packs down easily for storage when not in use. Pruzan Running co-founder Lexy Copithorne told us that inside her duffel there’s more than enough space to pack for a weekend away. In fact, she can actually pack everything she needs for a two-week trip. “That includes two sweaters, several fitted tanks and running sets, two pairs of sneakers, boots, a few swimsuits, and my toiletry bag,” she says.

You may recall that past versions of Patagonia’s Black Hole duffels and backpacks featured an instantly recognizable glossy exterior fabric that could be wiped down easily. Patagonia recently replaced this fabric with a recycled ripstop polyester webbing that it says is just as waterproof and durable — I’ve been testing it out for the past year and a half and am happy to report there is no visible wear and tear so far and water definitely beads off the bag’s surface.

Materials: Nylon | Capacity: 25 liters | Weight: 2.6 pounds| Method of carry: Shoulder strap, removable messenger strap

The separate shoe compartment in this bag is precisely the type of efficient organization that Griffiths looks for in a weekender. (“Who wants boots or sneakers rubbing up against freshly washed clothes?” she asks.) Its praise was echoed by travel journalist Maggie Espinosa, who’s used the duffel for over eight years as both a carry-on and weekend bag. With a capacity of 25 liters, it’s best for light packers, but Espinosa did once manage to squeeze a pottery planter from Oaxaca inside one of the bag’s abundant compartments. Another handy design feature, says travel writer and founder of WanderWomenRetreats Alexandra Baackes, is the fully unzipping side pocket, which allows the bag to slot over the handle of a carry-on. “The small carry-on goes in the overhead, and the Lo & Sons goes at my feet with all in-air essentials, from laptop to lavender pulse point,” she says.

Materials: Polyester | Capacity: 25 liters | Weight: 2 pounds| Method of carry: Shoulder strap, removable messenger strap

Priced more affordably, Calpak’s Luka shoulder bag also features a shoe compartment as well as useful external pockets that are big enough for a small water bottle or book. The bag’s rectangular shape is designed to slide snugly into baggage sizers, which makes it a great choice if you’re flying personal-item-only on a budget airline. Among travelers in the know, it’s “popular for good reason,” says travel creator Jessica Ufuoma. “It’s very roomy, and it just works.”

Materials: Nylon | Capacity: 24.5 liters (27.5 liters when expanded) | Weight: 2.6 pounds | Method of carry: Backpack straps and top handles

Griffiths likes this bag because it counts as a personal item on most European airlines and stows easily beneath the seat in front of her on planes and trains. But it’s still pretty roomy: “On a trip to Paris, I packed three days’ worth of clothes and toiletries without even having to expand it,” she says. “Thanks to the padded straps, it was hours and hours before I got an ache in my shoulder from traipsing around galleries.” The bag also has a lengthy top strap so you can carry it like a duffel to give your shoulders a break. Her favorite feature, though, is the padded laptop pocket at the back — which means you don’t have to fish through your bag for your electronics at security. “And when I’m having a proper break — i.e., not traveling with my laptop — I put my book and journal in there, so I can slide them out without fuss,” she adds.

Materials: Recycled nylon and polyester | Capacity: 28 liters | Weight: 2.8 pounds | Method of carry: Backpack straps, top and side handles

It’s no secret that Strategist writers love Cotopaxi’s Allpa backpacks, which open up suitcase-style to reveal two compartments that are further divided into zippered sections — they’re essentially built-in packing cubes. The 35-liter version is my favorite for a piece of carry-on luggage, but this smaller one is more ideal for weekend trips. All the different sections (there’s also an exterior pocket for small items as well as a hidden laptop sleeve) make this bag ideal for anybody who likes to keep super-organized on the road. I’ll use mine to separate underwear, tees, and pants, for example. I also love the stretchy water-bottle holder and comfortable padded straps.

Materials: Neoprene | Capacity: 18 liters | Weight: 2.8 pounds | Method of carry: Shoulder strap, removable messenger strap

Dagne Dover’s Landon bag is a great personal item for long-haul trips and also ideal as a weekender. Going’s travel spokesperson, Katy Nastro, uses hers for quick overnights. She likes that it has “all the pockets built in, so I can be very organized.” The pockets also make this bag ideal for trips where you’re bringing a laptop and stationery. The duffel comes in five sizes, but I’ve found that medium is the best option for most short trips, especially if you know you’ll be flying on budget carriers with strict rules. The capacity isn’t huge, but the flexible neoprene fabric allows for overpacking.

Materials: Nylon and polyester | Capacity: 24 liters | Weight: 3.15 lbs | Method of carry: Shoulder strap, removable messenger strap

My fellow Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen is an “overpacker and checked-bag person,” which I respect. She uses this bag, which she picked up in pink during Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale last year, as her only carry-on. It’s elegantly shaped yet roomy, with a padded laptop sleeve inside as well as assorted organizational pockets. And there’s a luggage pass-through sleeve so that it can sit atop her larger checked suitcase.

Materials: Water-resistant nylon | Capacity: 139 liters | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Method of carry: Padded strap and handles

Sometimes you just need a big ol’ bag that can hold a ton of stuff. But the bigger the bag, often, the flimsier it becomes. This L.L.Bean duffle is durable and an excellent price for what it is. Deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff was looking for something that she could use to pack up her entire family — herself, her husband, and two small kids — since putting everyone’s clothes in separate bags meant, well, that there were suddenly a lot of bags, and weekend trips were getting unwieldy. She landed on this L.L.Bean X-Large duffle and she thinks it’s the best thing she bought all year. “It fits so much stuff,” she says. For one weekend trip, not only was she able to pack in everyone’s bulky winter clothes, but she also stuffed in about two dozen diapers, a Tonie Box and its charger, and a noise machine. While the bag’s hefty-feeling, “it also can be folded down into basically nothing,” she says. “I store it in an oversize tote.” She’s also taken it on longer trips. On a recent flight to Colorado, she noticed not one but two other families with two kids who had the same bag. When she reported this to the rest of the team, fellow editor Simone Kitchens said she still uses the same enormous Adventure Duffles she’s had since high school. It can be monogrammed, which could make it a nice wedding or new-baby gift.

Materials: Nylon and leather | Capacity: 30 liters unexpanded, 50 liters expanded | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Method of carry: Shoulder strap, removable messenger strap

Many Strategist staffers stand by Longchamp’s Le Pliage range of totes for both travel and work. New York Magazine deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff says hers has withstood nearly two decades of wear and tear. These bags are so durable because they’re made of a waterproof nylon material and have sturdy leather straps. This expandable version is ideal for travel because it can accommodate any souvenirs if needed but otherwise remains compact and rather classy-looking.

Materials: Leather | Capacity: 37 liters | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Method of carry: Shoulder strap

Cuyana’s Classic Easy Zipper Tote is one of our favorite work bags, so when the brand announced this larger travel-friendly version, I immediately ordered one to test. Made from thick, slouchy leather, it’s a big bag (about the same size as the massive Baggu Cloud Carry-On, but a bit less flexible) that can truly fit four outfits plus all my tech stuff. The tote’s shoulder straps are long and thick enough to be comfortable for lengthy periods of time, which is crucial. While this bag is by no means cheap, I think it looks much more expensive than it is, particularly in the black leather. Not quiteThe Row but surprisingly close.

Materials: Water-resistant polyester | Capacity: 45 liters | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Method of carry: Shoulder strap, removable messenger strap

Sometimes, traveling with a portable steamer just isn’t an option. In those instances, a garment bag can help keep delicate items of clothing uncreased. Griffiths says Halfday’s clever garment duffel is particularly ideal for keeping satiny dresses and tops in perfect condition in transit. As she explains in her review, the bag lays flat, with two circular flaps sewn to the bottom end that form the oblong ends of the duffel once it’s zipped up. Inside the garment bag, there’s a Velcro hanger loop, so you can loop your hangers inside, and then just hang up the whole bag when you arrive.There’s also room for three or four additional outfits to be folded up inside. I think this bag is ideal for taking to destination weddings, for business travel, or for any other trips when you need to look your best.

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