best travel duffel bags

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 2022, as well as features to look out for.

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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.

Best Travel Duffel Bags for 2022

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

Best Leather Weekender Duffel Bag

leather weekender bag

Winner: Weekender Leather Travel Bag

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 Large Garment Duffel Bag

grand leather garment bag

Winner: Grand Leather Garment Bag

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 Carry-On Duffel Bag

leather weekender bag

Winner: Weekender Leather Travel Bag

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 Cute Duffel Bag

leather weekender bag

Winner: Weekender Leather Travel Bag

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

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:

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:

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 2022.

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

Browse related articles on travel here.

Author: Albert Varkki
Albert Varkki is the co-founder of Von Baer. He understands leather products as a consumer, supplier, and a manufacturer, helping you with the inside knowledge you need, to choose the perfect leather product for you. Connect on Linkedin

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