Best travel bags for 2023

best travel bags

The best travel bag will be made from durable materials, look stylish, and be comfortable to carry on long journeys.

Browse our top picks and best prices for carry-on bags, rolling luggage, travel backpacks, underseat bags, personal items, and weekender bags below:

Here we go over our top picks for travel bags by style and size:

Best Plane Carry-on Bag with Wheels

Winner: Voyager Leather Carry-on with Wheels

The Voyager leather rolling carry-on bag is perfect for casual and business travel. It's made from the highest quality full grain leather, which remains looking smart after many years of use (unlike cheaper materials like canvas). It has an easy access laptop compartment, so you can easily grab it as you sit down on the plane.

Pros:

Full grain leather
Hand luggage compliant.
16 inch laptop sleeve.
Luggage tag included.
Two exterior pockets for easy-to-reach items.
Durable cotton lining and YKK zippers.
Handmade in Italy
Designer travel bag.
Can be personalized

Click here to check the price

Best Duffel Weekender Bag

Winner: Weekender Leather Travel Bag

This is a classic weekender bag, offering a holdall style to fit lots of your travel essentials. It's made from full grain leather, the highest quality you can buy, and is available in black, brown, tan, and red leather. It has a dedicated laptop compartment, making it great for work travel too.

Pros:

Full grain leather
16 inch internal padded laptop sleeve.
Internal zipped pocket for travel essentials like your passport.
Plenty of space for all your gear.
Adjustable shoulder strap.
Durable cotton lining and YKK zippers.
Perfect overnight bag.
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized

Click here to check the price

Best Travel Backpack

Winner: 10X Leather Laptop Backpack

If you can't decide between a messenger bag and a backpack, then the 10X is perfect for you. It's a convertible bag, which means it has both backpack straps and a shoulder strap (both detachable), so it's a versatile bag for all occasions. The laptop compartment makes it convenient for work travel, and the internal pocket has several compartments to keep things organized on your journey.

Pros:

Full grain leather
Can convert from backpack to shoulder bag
Top and side handles.
Backpack straps hide in zip compartments.
Fits up to 15.6 inch laptop or tablet.
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized
Available in brown, tan, black, or red leather.
Unisex.

Click here to check the price

Best Travel Garment Bag

Winner: Grand Leather Garment Bag

Traveling with a suit or dress to a formal gathering or wedding abroad can be stressful, which is the problem the Grand bag solves. Your suit or other garment is stored within the bag itself, preventing any hard creases, so it comes out at your destination in a wearable condition. It's made from premium quality full grain leather, which ensures it ages well with leather patina.

Pros:

Full grain leather
Dedicated garment carrier.
Carry a suit and shirt without creasing.
Large main compartment for other items.
16 inch laptop compartment.
Adjustable shoulder strap.
Durable cotton lining and YKK zippers.
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized

Click here to check the price

Best Small Laptop Travel Bag

Winner: CITY Leather Laptop Bag

The CITY laptop bag is an ideal carry-on or personal item, conveniently sized for all of your essentials, while still fitting underneath a plane seat. It can hold a 15inch laptop (or a 17inch for the larger size), and has several dedicated zipped compartments that make it ideal for travel documents.

Pros:

Full grain leather
Detachable shoulder strap
Fits up to a 15.6 inch laptop (also a 17 inch version here)
Handmade in Italy
Dedicated laptop compartment
Additional zipper pockets

Click here to check the price

Best Business Personal Item 2023

Winner: Exquisite Slim Leather Laptop Briefcase

If you want a very lightweight personal item bag, then the Exquisite is a great option. The detachable shoulder strap allows you to use it as both a messenger bag and briefcase, and the full grain leather makes it look and feel high quality.

Pros:

Full grain leather
Slim profile
Detachable shoulder strap
14 inch laptop compartment
Mobile and tablet slip pockets
Large internal zipped pocket
Three pen slots
Fits A4 size paper
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized
Available in black, brown, red, or tan

Click here to check the price

Best Women's Crossbody Travel Purse

Winner: Isabella Shoulder Bag

The Isabella is ideal as a small shoulder bag for your personal item. It's great for travel, as you can store all essentials like your passport right by your side, so they're there when you need them during the airport dash. Available in a range of colours (the red is our favorite), and made from full grain leather.

Pros:

Full grain leather
Magnetic snap closure.
Two large internal pockets.
Internal zipped pocket.
Perfect for travel.
Detachable and adjustable shoulder strap.
Durable cotton lining and YKK zippers.
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized
Available in brown, tan, black, or red leather.

Click here to check the price

Best Small Travel Toiletry Bag

Winner: Superior Leather Wash Bag

Pros:

Full grain leather
Durable waterproof lining
Handmade in Italy
Strong YKK zippers
Available in brown, tan, red, or black leather
Internal zipped pocket for small accessories
Handles on both sides
2 main compartments
23cm wide, 13cm high, 8cm deep
Can be personalized

Click here to check the price

Best Small Travel Backpack

Winner: Liberty Leather Backpack

Pros:

Full grain leather
14 inch laptop sleeve.
Multiple front zipped compartments.
Adjustable shoulder straps
Durable cotton lining and YKK zippers.
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized

Click here to check the price

Best Travel Tote Bag

Winner: Elegance Leather Tote Bag

Pros:

Full grain leather
14 inch laptop sleeve.
2 spacious inner compartments.
Perfect for travel.
Personal item size for flying.
Detachable shoulder strap.
Extra internal pockets.
Durable cotton lining and YKK zippers.
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized
Available in brown, tan, black, or red leather.

Click here to check the price

Best Messenger Travel Bag

Winner: 10X Leather Laptop Backpack

Pros:

Full grain leather
Can convert from backpack to shoulder bag
Top and side handles.
Backpack straps hide in zip compartments.
Fits up to 15.6 inch laptop or tablet.
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized
Available in brown, tan, black, or red leather.
Unisex.

Click here to check the price

Best Laptop Travel Backpack

Winner: Prime Leather Backpack

Pros:

Full grain leather
14 inch laptop sleeve.
Multiple front zipped compartments.
Adjustable shoulder straps
Durable cotton lining and YKK zippers.
Handmade in Italy
Can be personalized

Click here to check the price

How to Choose Your Bag

Size - Where Are You Traveling?

Each airline establishes its own dimensions for carry-on luggage and they are divided into two groups, domestic and international.

Domestic flights in the United States have standardized dimensions of 22 x 14 x 9 inches. International carry-on bag sizes are typically 21 inches tall and slightly thinner, although they do vary significantly.

It's difficult to give an exact size, since many international trips will measure your luggage at the airport and refuse anything that does not fit within their decided dimensions. If you regularly travel outside of the United States, you might want to consider investing in a backpack designed for international travel.

You should also factor in each airline's weight restrictions. Some international flights limit you to 15 or 20 pounds per backpack, including the weight of the bag itself, but this does vary. However, some East Asian airlines limit carry-on luggage to 11 pounds and this leaves very little room to pack things inside a backpack such as clothes or your charger. Small bags also tend to be easier to get through TSA.

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Style and Fashion

If you're looking to replace or update a travel bag, consider the style. It’s important to like the look and style of it, as you may be using it daily.

If you like the convenience of a duffel bag or wheelie suitcase, you should consider adding these styles of bag into the mix.

Choosing a leather bag will be more fashionable, but if you're price conscious, then a nylon bag will be cheaper.

You may also want to consider the colors of the bag, either a basic black color, a more robust brown or tan, or something louder like red.

The best bet is to choose a brand that focuses on high quality as opposed to price, as you'll likely get a more durable travel bag, especially the well-worn elements like the handle and zips.

You may be looking for a water-resistant option, and there are plenty out there, but you will likely have to sacrifice your style sense to carry one.

Related:

Weight & Comfort

If you will be transporting your bag over long distances, every ounce of extra weight counts. While wheelie suitcases and carry-ons are ideal for city travel, they add weight to the bag and are inconvenient if you plan to go off-road.

It’s also important to remember that weight, especially when it comes to the outdoors, as a lightweight bag is typically only possible with a reduction of durability. The more durable a bag is, the heavier it is likely to be. Before buying a lightweight or heavy backpack, think about how you plan to use it. And remember you’ll usually be lifting a bag into the overhead bin on your own.

Once your carry-on suitcase is loaded up with your toiletries, shoes, phone, wallet, water bottle, power bank, laptop, hardware, coat, and other tech gear and travel accessories, it'll often be quite a heavy bag to carry around with you.

Tech Compartments

Whether you are traveling for pleasure or business, you are almost certainly going to be taking some form of technology with you. It’s just how these things go nowadays.

Therefore, you need to consider whether you want a hard shell travel backpack that protects your belongings, or one that is padded with a compartment for your laptop. If this is the case, ensure the laptop sleeve is big enough to fit your device or tablet.

Travel luggage always focuses on space, so definitely make sure the laptop compartment in your new bag is large enough to fit your laptop, as otherwise you'll have to return it.

Related:

Wheels & Wheel Types

Another thing to think about is the number of wheels on a bag. Roll-aboard backpacks with two wheels are lighter than those with four spinning wheels. Plus, they have greater interior space and have larger and more robust wheels than spinners (bags with spinner wheels). That could come in handy if you're walking to your hotel on uneven roads.

However, a lot of people prefer roll-aboard bags for carry-on luggage. Any extra capacity in a carry-on is valuable, and these little bags are usually easy to manage without spinning wheels. The majority of the rolling bags on the market come in either arrangement, both spinners are more certainly slightly more expensive.

You may not want wheels at all, and prefer to carry your bag, which is a perfectly valid option too.

Soft Shell vs Hard Shell

Soft Shell

If you are a no-fuss traveler, a soft shell suitcase could be the right one for you. If you are someone who notices that your suitcases become damaged when you are traveling, a soft shell bag could be ideal. Whether you're going on a road trip or putting it in the overhead compartment, soft shell cases can endure a little more rough and tumble than hard shell options.

Plus, if you're a heavy packer, a soft shell should be your first choice because of its ability to be filled to full capacity. This is because thanks to the increased give of its fabric lining, you can fit more inside.

Hard Shell

A hard shell suitcase is recommended for items that require extra protection, such as designer goods or expensive accessories. Hard shell bags will provide extra protection to your belongings as you travel from A to B, ensuring that none of your valuables are damaged. This is particularly important if it's going to be a checked in bag.

FAQ's

What should I look for in a travel bag? - It depends on your destination and what you're doing. You can choose from duffels, sling backpacks, daypacks, and even wheeled backpacks for city travel. If you're going to be in more remote regions, you will need a professional and comfortable backpack.

Is carrying a backpack more professional? - No, it’s not more professional but, if you're going on an expedition, it's the most convenient way to transport all of your things.

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Final Thoughts

Whatever type of travel bag you choose, our comprehensive list of the finest travel bags has definitely brought the most top bags to your attention.

We have looked at everything from classic backpacks to laptop bags, and the ever popular wheelie suitcase.

Having read all of the information above, and taken a look at what is available on the market, you should have an idea of the best travel bags to consider.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email Von Baer at info@vonbaer.com.

Browse other travel articles here.

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