Duffel bags can be a fantastic alternative to backpacks and suitcases.
Duffel bags tend to come in various sizes, which means you’ll be well catered for whether you need a large item with wheels or a very small bag to transport with you on the plane.
You do need to make sure your duffel bag gives you enough space for any clothes that you want to carry and has enough capacity for any small bits and pieces you like to carry with you.
In this guide, we'll go over our top picks for a travel duffel bag in 2023, as well as features to look out for.
Top Picks
Want a quick breakdown? Here are our top picks:
- Best Leather Weekend Bag: Weekender (click to view) - a leather weekender that's both professional and practical, with a dedicated laptop compartment and detachable shoulder strap. Made from high quality full grain leather.
- Best Professional Garment Bag: Grand Leather Garment Bag (click to view) - a stylish and professional travel bag with a built in garment bag for your suit. Full grain leather, detachable shoulder strap.
- Best Professional Tote Bag: Elegance Tote Bag (click to view) - a stylish zipped tote bag that's ideal for work or travel. The full grain leather looks impeccable, and the detachable shoulder strap makes it versatile for multiple uses.
Best Travel Duffel Bags for 2023
Weekender Leather Weekend Bag
Best for a stylish weekend getaway with friends, the Weekender leather bag is spacious and durable, perfect for packing all your essentials.
Weekender Product Highlights:
Material | Certified Italian vegetable-tanned leather |
Design | Spacious design perfect for gym and travel with a dedicated sleeve for up to a 16" laptop |
Interior | Durable cotton lining with compartments for organization |
Zipper | Japanese YKK zipper for reliable access |
Compliance | Meets airline size standards for carry-on luggage |
Craftsmanship | Handcrafted in Florence, Italy by experienced craftsmen |
Additional Features | Adjustable and removable leather shoulder strap, studs on the base for protection, solid brass hardware |
Personalized | Option for custom laser engraving |
Use Cases | Travel, gym, sports, weekend getaways |
Sustainability | Supports local communities and eco-friendly practices |
Watch the Weekender product video below:
Browse more images of the Weekender:
Our review:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Made of full grain leather | May have a slightly higher cost compared to other materials |
Stylish and sophisticated design | Not completely waterproof |
Ample storage space for essentials | Not ideal for extremely heavy items |
Comfortable to carry and handle | |
Durable and long-lasting construction | |
Develops a unique patina over time | |
Easy to clean and maintain | |
Multiple compartments for organized packing | |
Suitable for weekend trips and overnight stays |
Weekender Leather Weekend Bag
Best for a luxurious weekend getaway with your partner, the Weekender Leather Bag is spacious, stylish, and effortlessly chic.
Weekender Travel Bag for Women Product Highlights:
Product | Weekender Travel Bag for Women |
Material | Full Grain Leather - Certified Vegetable Tanned |
Laptop Size | up to 16 inch |
Lining | Durable Cotton Canvas |
Zippers | YKK Zippers - Italian-Made |
Handmade? | Handmade in Florence, Italy |
Straps | Detachable and Adjustable Shoulder Strap |
Carry-on Compliant? | Yes |
Width | 55 cm (22 in) |
Height | 30 cm (12 in) |
Depth | 23.5 cm (9 in) |
Weight | 1.9 kg (0.9 lbs) |
Personalization? | Custom Laser Engraving |
Watch the Weekender product video below:
Browse more images of the Weekender:
Our review:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Made of full grain leather | May have a slightly higher cost compared to other materials |
Stylish and sophisticated design | Not completely waterproof |
Ample storage space for essentials | Not ideal for extremely heavy items |
Comfortable to carry and handle | |
Durable and long-lasting construction | |
Develops a unique patina over time | |
Easy to clean and maintain | |
Multiple compartments for organized packing | |
Suitable for weekend trips and overnight stays |
Grand Leather Garment Bag
Best for business travelers who want to arrive in style with wrinkle-free clothing, the Grand Leather Garment Bag is a must-have.
Material | Certified Italian Vegetable-Tanned Full-Grain Leather |
Garment Duffel Bag | Carry your suit in style and without creases |
Interior Lining | Durable Italian Cotton Lining |
Zipper Quality | Japanese YKK Zipper |
Carry-On Compliant | Meets airline size standards for carry-on luggage |
Origin | Made in Florence, Italy |
Sustainability | Supports local communities and eco-friendly |
Capacity | Can fit 2-3 suits, shirts, shoes, accessories, and a laptop |
Suit Carrier | Attached to the travel bag |
Personalized | It can be personalized with a custom laser engraving |
Watch the Grand product video below:
Browse more images of the Grand:
Our review:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Made of full grain leather | May have a slightly higher cost compared to other materials |
Stylish and elegant design | Not completely waterproof |
Ample storage space for clothes and accessories | |
Comfortable to carry and handle | |
Durable and long-lasting construction | |
Develops a unique patina over time | |
Features hanger hooks for easy storage of garments | |
Zippered compartments to keep clothes secure during transport |
Grand Leather Garment Bag
Best for business trips with a touch of luxury. The Grand Leather Garment Bag keeps your clothes wrinkle-free and stylishly organized.
Material | Certified Italian Vegetable-Tanned Full-Grain Leather |
Garment Duffel Bag | Carry your suit/dress in style and without creases |
Interior Lining | Durable Italian Cotton Lining |
Zipper Quality | Japanese YKK Zipper |
Carry-On Compliant | Meets airline size standards for carry-on luggage |
Origin | Made in Florence, Italy |
Sustainability | Supports local communities and eco-friendly |
Capacity | Can fit 2-3 suits, shirts, shoes, accessories, and a laptop |
Suit Carrier | Attached to the travel bag |
Personalized | It can be personalized with a custom laser engraving |
Watch the Grand product video below:
Browse more images of the Grand:
Our review:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Made of full grain leather | May have a slightly higher cost compared to other materials |
Stylish and elegant design | Not completely waterproof |
Ample storage space for clothes and accessories | |
Comfortable to carry and handle | |
Durable and long-lasting construction | |
Develops a unique patina over time | |
Features hanger hooks for easy storage of garments | |
Zippered compartments to keep clothes secure during transport |
Elegance Leather Tote Bag
Best for business trips with a touch of sophistication. The Elegance Leather Tote Bag is perfect for carrying your laptop and documents in style.
Elegance Tote Bag Product Highlights:
Material Origin | Certified Italian vegetable-tanned leather from Tuscany |
Laptop Sleeve | Specifically designed slot for up to a 14" laptop |
Interior Quality | Robust Italian cotton canvas lining, pleasant to touch |
Zipper Durability | Renowned Japanese YKK zippers ensuring longevity |
Craftsmanship | Handcrafted in family-owned studios in Florence, Italy |
Sustainability Commitment | Supports traditional craftsmanship and eco-friendly practices |
Leather Treatment | Leather treated with sustainable methods, ensuring quality and origin |
Wear Resistance | Designed for frequent use without excessive wear and tear |
Handle Strength | Handles crafted to carry laptops, documents, and books securely |
Watch the Elegance product video below:
Browse more images of the Elegance:
Our review:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Made of full grain leather | Price point may be considered a worthwhile investment |
Durable and long-lasting | Weight adds to its overall quality and strength |
Spacious and versatile | Proper care and maintenance will ensure its longevity |
Suitable for both professional and casual use | |
Multiple compartments for organized storage | |
Stylish design |
How to Choose a Travel Duffel Bag
Size and Capacity
Size and capacity are very important things to think about when you want to purchase a duffel bag.
If you’re planning on travelling by plane with your duffel bag, make sure it complies with the requirements of the airline I question. If the bag is small enough, you’ll always have your personal belongings to hand and you won’t need to check your bag into the hold.
Small duffel bags tend to provide you with 25 to 50 liters of space. The vast majority of them meet the requirements of most US airlines. Smaller duffer bags are also great for weekends away as well as those that like to travel alone. If you do want to carry more and are happy to check your luggage in, you could consider opting for a 50 to 75-liter capacity bag. Perhaps you need to carry even more with you? If so, it could be wise to opt for a large duffel bag that comes with at least 75 liters of space. You may need to pay baggage fees if your bag weighs over 50 lbs, but you can transport hefty goods inside these bags, including fishing equipment and tents.
Weight
Weight is another thing you need to consider when you’re thinking about buying a duffel bag. It’s important to remember that a wheeled model can be much heavier than a duffel without wheels. Duffels with wheels can take up 20% of your 50lb luggage allowance before you have even added any goods to them. It can be somewhat tiring to carry a heavy duffel bag around with you, so think about whether you’ll be happy to carry such a heavy bag up and down stairs or over a long distance.
Carrying options
There are many different options available to you when it comes to the way you can carry a duffel bag. Let’s look at some of the most popular strap styles on the market right now.
Backpack-esque straps
If you’re the kind of person that prefers to throw your bag onto your back and don’t need to get inside it too regularly, you may wish to look for a bag with removable backpack straps that come with light padding for extra comfort.
Shoulder-esque straps
Perhaps you need to access the contents of your bag regularly during travel and will only be travelling for short distances? If so, a shoulder strap might be best for you. Many of the duffel bags on the market today come with removable shoulder straps.
Your handle options
All kinds of duffel bags come with some sort of handle, whether they have wheels or not. Read on to find out more about some of the most common types of handles found on duffel bags.
Carry handles often come in the form of simple padded handles that connect the backpack straps. Your bag may come with a pair of dedicated handles, or it may have a single one. These handles can be very efficient when it comes to helping you transport your luggage.
Grab handles are also found on some duffel bags. They may be found on either end of your bag or on the sides. The purpose of grab handles is to allow you to get hold of your bag quickly. This functionality can be very useful when you’re placing your bag inside a vehicle or putting it in an overhead bin.
Access, pockets and organization options
One of the main purposes of a duffel bag is to allow you to enjoy adventures. This is why it's so important to opt for something that allows you to transport everything that you need as you travel. The vast majority of duffel bags come complete with useful internal storage pockets. This can keep your smaller possessions safe and make it easy for you to access them when required.
External pockets are great for transporting items that you might need access to during travel. These might include your headphones, passport or cellphone. If you’re buying a particularly expensive duffel bag, it could come with expendable external pockets. You can use these to separate dirty clothes and footwear from your other luggage. Daisy chains or lash points as they are also known can make things much easier when you’re placing your bag on a roof rack.
Should I get a duffel bag with wheels or not?
If you do purchase a duffel bag with wheels, this will be much easier to transport around the airport and move in and out of vehicles like boats, trains, and cars. These bags tend to have one major compartment that you can use to hold your belongings and are great for sporting activities and camping trips.
If you like to travel and want to explore new territories, a bag without wheels could be right for you. A duffel bag with wheels could be difficult to transport over unstable, rugged surfaces and there’s a risk that your belongings could fall out of the bag.
Related:
- Leather Holdalls
- Men's Leather Travel Bags
- Women's Leather Travel Bags
- Leather Duffel Bags
- Business Traveler Bags
- Large Travel Bags
- Men's Overnight Travel Bags
- Crossbody Bags For Travel
- Monogrammed Travel Bags
- Under Seat Travel Bags
- Designer Travel Bags
- Leather Carry On Luggage
- Best Women's Leather Duffle Bags
- Best Designer Duffle Bags & Weekenders
- Best Garment Duffel Bags
Is a duffel bag a good option for carry-on luggage?
Whether a duffel bag is suitable for carry-on luggage can depend on your own personal preferences. If you don’t have an issue with carrying your bag over your shoulder as you make your way through the airport, a duffel bag could be a great match for your needs. The vast majority of duffels have numerous straps and handles that make it easy for you to add and remove them from overhead compartments. Just make sure your duffel bag meets the requirements of your airline. Many people prefer to use duffel bags for road trips as opposed to plane travel. This is because they prefer to use bags that roll behind them when they are traveling by air.
What size duffel bag should I purchase?
If you want to carry your duffel bag on a plane with you, ensure it meets the airline’s dimension requirements. A 40-liter duffel bag will normally suffice even for a long weekend away. If you’re heading away from home for longer, you may need at least 50 liters of space.
Related:
- How to Pack for a Business Trip
- Best Carry-on Luggage
- Best Travel Bags
- Best Leather Duffel Bag
- Best Travel Bags For Women
- Best Lightweight Luggage
- Best Crossbody Bags For Travel
- Best Mens Travel Bag
- Best Weekend Getaway Bag
- Best Underseat Luggage
- Best Overnight Bags
What’s the biggest duffel bag I can take on a plane?
The vast majority of airlines expect a carry-on duffel bag to be no bigger than 45 liters.
What is the difference between duffle and duffel?
Duffle is a corruption of the original word ‘duffel’. Both spellings are still used today, though duffel has been used much more commonly since WWII.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our article on the best travel duffel bags for 2023.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email Von Baer at info@vonbaer.com.
Browse related articles on travel here.
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published.