The Best Weekender Bags for Your Next Trip, Tested by Us

Best Overall

Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L

$189 at Amazon $189 at Nordstrom View on Bellroy.com

Balancing size and weight is the central challenge of buying a weekender bag. You want something that’s big enough to hold your stuff but not too heavy or bulky to comfortably carry. Bellroy’s Classic Weekender perfectly threads the needle. 

This 45-liter weekender bag housed our four-day packing list with room to spare, and its wide mouth allowed for easy packing. The bag has four storage compartments—fewer than other weekenders but enough to keep things organized. Even when filled to the brim, it proved comfortable to carry. The bag has two rolled-edge handles, a padded crossbody strap you can adjust or remove, and a unique barrel shape that keeps it from feeling bulky. It’s also made of polyester, so it weighs a mere 2.2 pounds when empty.

Though lightweight, the bag is deceptively sturdy. It showed no signs of wear during our durability tests, and its zippers moved smoothly, even when the bag was packed full. The bag comes in four colors, and it’s available in a smaller (35-liter) size for those who pack light. Our only qualm? The bag’s crossbody strap connects to plastic clips, which feel flimsier and of a lower quality than the rest of the bag. 

Dimensions: 25.6 by 15 by 15.7 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 2.2 pounds

Best Budget

Etronik Large Overnight Weekender

Orig. $50 $43 at Amazon

Great weekender bags typically cost between $100 and $300, but Etronik’s Duffel Bag costs just a fraction of that, and it outperformed pricier bags on storage capacity, carrying comfort, and organizational features. 

The 55-liter bag easily held everything on our four-day packing list, and its numerous compartments helped us keep things organized. The bag has four outer pockets, two inner pockets, and one bottom compartment that holds two pairs of shoes. It also comes with two shoe bags, a packing cube, and a built-in USB port for good measure. Shockingly, the bag doesn’t have a laptop sleeve—an unfortunate oversight that makes it hard to use without other luggage. 

The bag is remarkably soft and lightweight. It’s made of nylon, weighs 2.2 pounds when empty, and has a flexible soft-shell construction. The bag has so little structure we had to hold it closed with two hands to zip it up, which is great from a comfort perspective. The bag’s sturdy top handles and padded crossbody strap make it even easier to carry, but it does feel flimsy. While it withstood our durability tests without damage, we wouldn’t trust it to protect a laptop when subjected to the same wear and tear.

Dimensions: 21.7 by 9.4 by 16.5 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 2.2 pounds

Best Tote

Cotopaxi Viaje Weekender Bag

$130 at Amazon View on Cotopaxi.com

If you’re in the market for a smaller weekender bag, Cotopaxi’s Viaje Weekender Bag is a great pick. The 35-liter tote proved to be lightweight, durable, and spacious enough for a two-day trip, holding its own against the bigger duffels we tested.

The weekender is appropriately marketed as a two-day bag. It held our two-day packing list with a little leftover space, and it has several handy compartments, including a large internal pocket, two mid-size outer pockets, and a bottom compartment for shoes or dirty clothes. During our durability tests, the bag felt almost indestructible. While its zipper came slightly open, the bag incurred no wear and tear. The tote is also packed with quality features, like sturdy handles and smooth zippers that don’t stick.

Because the bag is a tote, it’s easier to carry than the average duffel. It has two pairs of handles—one short and one long—and it doesn’t bump into you or get in the way when you walk. We like that you can take the bag anywhere—the gym, the office, or an outdoor getaway. We just wish it looked more versatile. While the bag comes in three colorways, all of them are eye catching and vibrant.

Dimensions: 21 by 12 by 15 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 1.5 pounds

Best Compact

July Carry All Weekender

View on July.com

At 18 inches wide, 10.5 inches tall, and 8.5 inches deep, July’s Carry All Weekender is dramatically smaller than our other favorites. That said, it passed all our tests and proved to be durable, comfortable, and spacious enough for a two-day trip.

Made of heavy-duty nylon, the bag is water resistant and incredibly sturdy. It showed no signs of damage during our wear-and-tear tests, and it weighs 2.2 pounds when empty—so it’s as heavy as our overall favorite despite being much smaller. The bag has supportive leather handles, a detachable padded shoulder strap, and sturdy metal hardware. Even when filled to the brim, it felt lightweight and comfortable to carry.

Though compact, the bag is the perfect size for a quick trip. With some effort from us, it managed to hold everything on our two-day packing list—plus a laptop. The bag has several pockets, but we wouldn’t mind a few more. The interior pockets are small, and the front pocket was hard to use when the bag was full. The bag also comes in several sleek colors. And though it seems pricey given its size, it felt high quality and built to last—well worth the investment.

Dimensions: 18 by 8.5 by 10.5 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 2.2 pounds

Best Large

Lo & Sons Catalina Supreme

View on Loandsons.com

Lo & Sons’ The Catalina Supreme weekender is one of the biggest bags on our list—a great option for long trips and heavy packers. The bag held everything on our four-day packing list with room to spare. Plus, it’s loaded with compartments that help you organize your stuff.

The 37.5-liter bag impressed us with its storage capacity and organizational features. Its spacious main compartment is lined with small pockets, and its expandable base compartment is great for shoes or dirty clothes. The weekender also comes with a laptop sleeve, cushioned dividers, and adjustable outer straps that can carry extra stuff. Though big, the bag is made of polyester, so it weighs just 4 pounds when empty. It survived our durability tests without any signs of damage.

Unsurprisingly, the bag is a little awkward to carry. It’s as comfortable as it can be, thanks to its light weight and adjustable, padded straps. But it’s still bulky and boxy. It’s also too big to use as a carry on, unless you leave part of it empty. Those are real tradeoffs, but they’re worth taking for the extra storage space. They’re also hard tradeoffs to avoid with any big weekender bag.

Dimensions: 19.7 by 9.5 by 15.5 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 4 pounds

Best Durable

Aer Travel Weekender

View on Aersf.com

Every weekender bag on this list passed our durability test, surviving several falls off a counter without much (or any) damage. Aer’s Travel Weekender stands out as a particularly durable option, thanks to its heavy-duty fabric, padded laptop sleeve, and top-notch hardware.

The 35-liter bag is made of ballistic nylon, a rugged material designed to withstand wear and tear. That said, the inside of the bag has a soft woven lining that can safely hold delicate clothing. The bag also has sturdy plastic hardware and heavy-duty zippers you can lock for added security. It features three main compartments as well as several smaller pockets, which keep your stuff organized and secure as you travel. 

The bag also ticks some basic boxes. It housed our four-day packing list with space to spare, and it comes in two versatile colors. At 2.7 pounds, the bag is heavier than other options—and we felt the weight. But the bag’s cushioned handles and shoulder straps keep it comfortable to carry, and its luggage pass-through sleeve lets you store it on top of a roller bag. Plus, we’re happy to carry a few extra ounces if it means keeping our stuff safe from wear and tear.

Dimensions: 19.5 by 9 by 12 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 2.7 pounds

Best Leather

Monos Metro Carry-All Duffel

View on Monos.com

During our tests, Monos’s Metro Carry-All Duffel stood out as a favorite. It’s sleek, sturdy, spacious, and easy to carry anywhere. It’s also the only bag on our list made of vegan leather rather than polyester or nylon.

The bag is small but spacious—handily housing our four-day packing list with enough space for another sweatshirt or pair of shoes. The bag’s wide mouth and two-way zipper make it easy to pack, and its vegan leather exterior feels thick but flexible, offering just enough give for overpackers. The material is also scratch resistant, water resistant, and incredibly durable, surviving several falls off a countertop with no signs of damage.

The bag is heavy (4.14 pounds), and it maintains its shape when empty, meaning it doesn’t get smaller, even when you pack light. Despite this, the bag is still comfortable to carry. Its round shape isn’t cumbersome, its thick handles feel nice, and its padded shoulder strap never slips out of place. The shoulder strap did seem to fray during our tests, and we wish it was made of nicer fabric, but the rest of the weekender screams quality. At $260, the bag may be an investment, but it feels more like a steal.

Dimensions: 20 by 10.4 by 12 inches | Material: Vegan leather | Weight: 4.14 pounds

Most Stylish

Béis The Commuter Duffel

View on Beistravel.com View on Lyst.com $138 at Revolve

If you want a weekender that looks great carrying your stuff, The Commuter Duffel by BÉIS is a perfect choice. The bag has a sleek silhouette and stylish vegan leather detailing. And it doesn’t skimp on durability, storage space, or organizational features.

The 24.2-liter bag feels spacious and well organized. It has six interior compartments and four exterior compartments, including a laptop sleeve and a zipper compartment for shoes or dirty clothes. The bag felt a little snug holding our four-day packing list, but it’s the perfect size for weekend trips. Plus, it comes with handles, a shoulder strap, and a luggage sleeve, so you can easily use it as a carry on.

What impressed us most about this bag is how heavy duty it is. Everything—from its nylon exterior to its mesh interior pockets—feels high-quality and made to last. The bag incurred no damage during our wear-and-tear tests. Its base is lined with metal feet that keep it from slumping over, and the bag is heavier than other weekenders, weighing 3.15 pounds (but it never felt uncomfortable to carry). It’s also one of the more affordable bags on our list—a deal worth snapping up.

Dimensions: 21.5 by 9 by 12 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 3.15 pounds

Best Lightweight

MZ Wallace Nik

View on Mzwallace.com

MZ Wallace’s Nik Duffel is one of the lightest weekenders we fell in love with. It weighs just 2.1 pounds when empty and was a breeze to carry when full.

While many weekenders are made of thick polyester or rugged nylon, this one is made of REC Oxford, a fabric made from recycled materials. That fabric is lightweight and flexible, but it isn’t flimsy: The bag got through our durability tests with no signs of damage. Plus, it’s quilted, so it provides protective padding without extra weight. It also boasts nine interior pockets and seven exterior pockets, making it easy to keep things secure, organized, and protected throughout your travels.

Though lightweight, the weekender offers plenty of storage space. It held our two-day packing list with so much ease that we’d feel comfortable bringing it on a longer trip. It felt genuinely comfortable to carry, even when full. The bag has two sturdy handles and an adjustable shoulder strap—one we wish was quilted and cushioned like the rest of the bag. The bag is also available in six colorways. While it’s expensive, it balances portability and durability better than any other weekender on our list.

Dimensions: 16.9 by 7.1 by 12.2 inches | Material: Recycled materials | Weight: 2.1 pounds

Best Convertible

Dagne Dover Lagos Convertible Duffel Bag

View on Dagnedover.com

Dagne’s Dover Lagos Convertible Duffle is a spacious duffel that doubles as a backpack, a unique feature that sets it apart from the other weekenders we tested. But even without the two-in-one design, it’s a great bag: It’s massive, durable, and absolutely loaded with pockets.

The 50-liter bag is so spacious we’d dare call it cavernous. It handily accommodated our four-day packing list, and you could likely bring it with you on a weeklong trip. The bag is laden with pockets, has two padded laptop sleeves, and comes with a removable shoe bag, a key leash, and two metal D rings. These storage features are great for organization, but there are so many we actually worried about losing things inside the bag.

The recycled polyester bag weighs 3.8 pounds when empty, and it gets heavy as you fill it with stuff. We’d be mindful of this weight when traveling. The bag’s rolled handles, padded shoulder strap, and padded backpack straps make carrying more manageable. The bag also proved durable, protecting everything inside it—including two laptops—during several drops. It’s also available in four colorways and a smaller size (32 liters) that still offers lots of storage space and pockets.

Dimensions: 19.5 by 12 by 12 inches | Material: Recycled polyester | Weight: 3.8 pounds

Best With a Shoe Compartment

Calpak Luka Duffel Bag

$128 at Nordstrom View on Calpaktravel.com $158 at The Container Store

Several of our favorite weekenders have shoe compartments, but Calpak’s Luka Duffel is one of the smallest bags that does. Though the weekender is sleek, compact, and perfect for short trips, its shoe compartment is big enough for two pairs of shoes or one pair of tall boots.

At 16 inches wide, 7 inches deep, and 12 inches tall, the bag is genuinely compact, but it easily held everything on our two-day packing list and could probably work for longer trips if you pack light. The bag has nine pockets—including that bottom shoe compartment—to help you keep things organized. Unfortunately, its laptop sleeve isn’t padded, though.

The bag is lightweight and comfortable to carry. It weighs just 2.1 pounds when empty and has two short handles and a long adjustable strap that makes a good shoulder strap but an uncomfortable crossbody strap. Made of water- and scratch-resistant polyester, the bag is surprisingly durable. It survived several falls without any damage, but due to its lack of cushioning, we wouldn’t trust it to protect electronics. The bag is also sleek, and it’s currently available in over a dozen pretty colors. Even Rice loves it. “This bag has accompanied me around the world,” she says.

Dimensions: 16 by 7 by 12 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 2.1 pounds

Best for Organization

Nomad Lane V4 Bento Bag

View on Nomadlane.com

Nomad Lane’s V4 Bento Bag is the ultimate small but mighty weekender. At 17 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 10 inches tall, the bag is one of the smallest on our list, but it’s loaded with pockets, offering a level of organization you rarely get with compact bags.

The 24-liter bag is deceptively spacious. It held everything on our two-day packing list with space to spare, and its plentiful pockets made it easy to keep everything organized. The bag has two main compartments, a padded laptop sleeve, and several inner and outer pockets. It even comes with a toiletry bag and a tech organizer. The weekender also folds open like a clamshell, giving you easy access to everything inside.

The bag is made of weather-resistant nylon and finished with leather details. It proved incredibly durable, surviving three falls without exterior scuffs or interior shifting. And all of its zippers ran smoothly, even when the bag was packed full. At 2.76 pounds, the bag is heavy for its size, but its rolled handles and adjustable shoulder strap make it comfortable to carry. The bag is also expensive, but it’s a worthy investment piece given its durable construction, handy features, and quality feel.

Dimensions: 17 by 8 by 10 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 2.76 pounds