Depending on how you like to travel, your best weekender bag may look very different from someone else’s—which is why there are so many types to choose from. There are hefty duffels for the buy-it-for-lifers; minimalist backpacks for the overnighters; and cleverly organized bags for the strategic packers. We love options, but the range of weekenders on the market means there’s an equally wide range of quality out there (and it just takes one trip spent fumbling with a broken shoulder strap to know that only the best will do).
Luckily, SELF staffers are a well-traveled bunch—and have some very strong opinions about their gear. To make your next journey a little less painless, we’ve highlighted our favorite weekend bags for every type of quick trip below.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Patagonia Black Hole Duffel, $159
- Most Stylish: Béis The Weekender, $108
- Most Comfortable: Calpak Luka Duffel, $138
- Best Internal Organization: Solgaard Venture Backpack, $245
- Best for Light Packers: Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack, $230
- Best for Outdoor Weekend Trips: Gregory Jade 53L, $260
- Best Budget Pick: Baggu Cloud Carry-On, $78
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Best Overall: Patagonia Black Hole Duffel
Patagonia
Black Hole Duffel
Patagonia’s Black Hole line is basically everything I dream of when I imagine my ideal travel gear. These bags are durable, weather-resistant, spacious, and pretty nice looking too. I’m partial to the 25-liter pack—but for trips that last a few days, you’re better off with the roomier duffel.
With a 40-liter capacity, it easily holds your stuff (with room for a souvenir or two), but still meets most airlines’ carry-on requirements. Its bottom is padded for extra protection and the sides of the bag feature tough daisy chains for any gear you need to attach at the last minute. The latest version of the Black Hole Duffel doesn’t have the line’s signature shiny finish, which may be a little disappointing if you’re a Patagucci diehard. But the new matte material helps the bag look a little less technical.
Type: Duffel with detachable backpack straps | Dimensions: 19.70 x 12.50 x 8.50 inches | Storage: Main compartment, internal zippered side pocket, internal zippered mesh lid pocket
Most Stylish: Béis The Weekender
Before SELF’s commerce writer moved in with her boyfriend, she used this chic, high-quality duffel on a regular basis to haul her weekend essentials over to his apartment. It didn’t just hold up over those many quick trips—it excelled. “It’s just the right amount of space for everything I, a sorta-over-packer, need for a weekend,” she says. She successfully stuffed a pair of jeans, multiple pairs of leggings, several shirts, and a toiletry bag inside.
Add to all that this bag’s timeless colors (olive green, pale pink, deep brown—the gang’s all here) and overall classic look, and we highly doubt she minded toting it around NYC for all to see.
Type: Duffel | Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 10 inches | Storage: Main compartment, internal laptop sleeve, zippered bottom compartment, zippered exterior pocket | Trolley sleeve
Most Comfortable: Calpak Luka Duffel
SELF’s lifestyle writer highly recommends Calpak’s weekender travel bags—and it’s easy to see why the Luka is a bestseller among them. It looks plush, almost pillow-like, but it’s made of durable, water-resistant material and holds its structure well. Where it’s truly cushy is its shoulder strap—it’s comfortable and makes the entire bag easy to carry through security.
Type: Duffel | Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 8 inches | Storage: Main compartment, shoe compartment, nine internal and external pockets | Trolley sleeve
Best Internal Organization: Solgaard Venture Backpack
Folks who shove everything in their bag and hope for the best, keep moving. This roomy, staffer-approved backpack is for those who believe every item has its place. The Venture has pockets for all your devices and valuables, a pull-through hole for important cords, easy-access compartments for frequently used essentials, and expandable pockets along the sides of the bag. And those are just the highlights.
However, most exciting of all (in my, an overpacker’s, opinion) is Solgaard’s compressible FlowCloset container, which holds a week’s worth of clothes. Plus, you can lift out of the main bag and hang it up when you arrive at your destination. It’s like a packing cube, but better.
Type: Backpack | Dimensions: 10.60 x 16.90 x 7.10 inches | Storage: Main compartment, removable compression bag, two padded internal pockets, zippered sunglasses pocket, internal organizational panel for small personal items, two internal zippered pockets, two expandable side pockets, zippered lumbar pockets | Suitcase seatbelt
Best for Light Packers: Dagne Dover Dakota Neoprene Backpack
Dagne Dover
Dakota Neoprene Backpack
Maybe you’re just staying overnight—or, unlike me, you don’t pack every pair of underwear you own every time you go away. Whatever the reason, sometimes all you need is a sleek travel backpack for your journey. Multiple SELF staffers love Dagne Dover’s Dakota for those little there-and-back day trips. It’s easy on the shoulders and doesn’t hog legroom like a standard suitcase.
While it isn’t the roomiest option on our list, it still holds a sneaky amount of stuff for a standard backpack. “I usually stash my liquids and toiletries, a change of clothes (or two), snacks, a Kindle, laptop, and more inside when I travel,” one SELF editor says.
“I think the neoprene material is a big part of why it can hold so much stuff: The bag has some stretch to it, so I can really cram everything in.”
Type: Backpack | Dimensions: 17.50 x 13.25 x 5.25 inches | Storage: Main compartment, removable shoe bag, removable zippered pouch, laptop sleeve, top panel pocket, three internal front panel pockets | Trolley sleeve
Best for Outdoor Weekend Trips: Gregory Jade 53L
I have a higher-capacity version of Gregory’s Jade backpack and absolutely love it. The lid pocket (sometimes known as the “brain”) is huge; the front-loading main compartment makes it easy to pack and find your items; and, most importantly, it’s designed to lighten the load while you carry it. The wide hip belt doesn’t dig in, the sternum strap takes some weight off my shoulders, and the mesh panel along the back of the pack keeps air flowing, so I don’t end up with a totally swampy back.
While my 63-liter pack is slightly larger than needed for weekend getaways, the 53-liter model featured here is the just-right size and has all the same trail-ready features.
Type: Hiking backpack | Dimensions: 28 x 14 x 13 inches (for size XS/S); 29 x 14 x 13 inches (for size SM/MD) | Storage: Main compartment, hydration sleeve, zippered lid compartment with zippered underside pocket, bottom sleeping bag compartment, two external mesh water bottle pockets, mesh front pocket
Best Budget Pick: Baggu Cloud Carry-on
Here’s another stellar option for lighter packers—or those who come home with so much stuff that they need an extra backup bag. Baggu’s Cloud Carry-On is the size of a standard weekender, but can stuff into its own pouch and pack away when not in use.
That’s one of the major reasons why SELF’s managing editor swears by it—you don’t get much more convenient than a bag that packs itself. We’d also count its heavyweight nylon material and sub-$100 price tag as key selling points.
Type: Duffel | Dimensions: 19.25 x 13.75 x 7.50 inches | Storage: Main compartment, removable zippered pouch, two external pockets | Trolley sleeve
What to look for when shopping for a weekender bag
Weekenders are most commonly duffel bags or backpacks—and which style you choose can come down to personal style. But, if you’re packing a heavier load, carrying your bag for a while, or dealing with shoulder or back pain, it’s a good idea to pick with your comfort in mind. Backpacks distribute the weight of your items more evenly than duffels, which usually hang off only one of your shoulders. They also tend to have more adjustable shoulder straps (if not hip belts and sternum straps too) that can further dial in how they fit and feel.
Whether it’s going in the trunk for a trip or an overhead bin for a flight, your bag needs to fit in its allotted space. Check its dimensions as well as its volume capacity (which is usually listed in liters) to make sure it’s the right size.
While some weekend bags come with pockets galore, others have little more than a main compartment. Even if you don’t consider yourself the most organized person, additional storage options can be extremely helpful when packing for a trip. They can protect delicate items like your tech, sunglasses, and jewelry; separate potential sources of leaks from the rest of your stuff; or section off dirty gear from clean items. Thinking about what’s on your packing list and the kind of trip you’re taking (say, a camping trip versus a casual visit with family) can help you determine how much storage you’ll need.
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