A good duffel bag needs to do only one thing: hold stuff. The best duffel bags for men, however, need to check off a few more boxes. A great duffel bag should still carry your clothes, kicks, chargers, toiletries, and everything else in the most space-efficient, easy-to-find way possible. A great duffel should outlast your passport—or better yet, you—despite years of being stuffed in an overhead bin and thrown in the trunk of your car. A great duffel should make everyone else in the TSA line jealous.
The Best Duffel Bags Shopping Guide
For proof, look no further than the above. We’ve slung hundreds over our shoulders over the years, and none hauled our stuff as well as these. Here are 15 duffels and weekender bags for every budget and every type of weekend trip.
Not sure where to start? Here’s what to look for in a superlative duffel.
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The Best Duffel Bag, Period
Squared-edge duffels can be clunky to carry and eye-pleasing cylindrical shapes are tricky to pack, but Lotuff’s No. 12 model has the just-right compromise: rectangular on the bottom, tapering up into a rounded top. That nameless-shape ensures the bag is as comfortable to carry against on your back (with the detachable strap) as it is to haul by hand but still sits stable atop a rolling suitcase. It’s made in the USA from vegetable-tanned leather with each piece of the carryall cut from the section that best serves that area (thicker for the body, thinner for interior pockets). Then there are the considered details: the zipper closure is engineered to run from from end-wall to end-wall, not simply across the top. That allows for a wider opening, which makes packing easy. The zippers and hardware are fabricated from solid brass, including the lock-and-key closure—nothing’s breaking here. There’s an interior zip pocket for the all the cords and tie bars you need to keep separate. The bottom of the bag is reinforced with a second leather layer, plus the carry handles are both riveted and stitched to support the weight of whatever you’re hauling around.
The Best Status Symbol Duffel Bag
Like the upscale restaurants notable for their menus sans pricing, when you go for Goyard, the actual cost isn’t a factor because the experience (of owning a skillfully crafted, fine leather good from a brand with 170 years behind them) is priceless. And if you’re going to be jet-setting, or at least want to feel like it, the package is just as important as the contents. Goyard’s Bowling 55 bag is crafted from a durable canvas and supple cowhide that keep your precious cargo well-cared for and will very likely last you a lifetime (and that of your grandkids.) To keep things extra secure, this swervy weekender also features lockable zips and adjustable handles that can be worn over the shoulder or cross-body. So you’re getting added versatility with your luxury, big spender.
The Best Adventure-Ready Duffel Bag
This insanely durable Patagonia duffel has passed every test (planes, trains, automobiles—you name it) for summer vacations and holiday travel. Plus it looks approximately 1,000 percent cooler than everyone else’s carry-on. Like the best base camp duffels, added shoulder-strap attachments mean you can actually hoof it up a mountain with this on your back.
The Best Designer Duffel Bag
Bottega Veneta’s signature”Intrecciato” woven leather design was first introduced in the 1970s as a way to break away from the box-shaped, rigid bags of the era. Using glove leather that was lighter and more pliable than cow skins traditionally used at the time, the brand’s craftspeople wove strips together to create a criss-cross pattern that achieved a lighter weight, more supple bag—that also stood out from the smooth-skin crowd. The artisanal infrastructure also means this bag holds its shape, whether it’s stuffed with gear in the overhead bin or barely packed for a quick overnight trip. And if you really want to stand out from every other passenger in the airport, opt for this guy in an uncommon color like this brick red.
The Best Heavy-Duty Duffel Bag
Filson’s rugged twill bags have been the gold standard for guys who want to get their shit from point A to B, from the office to out-of-office getaways. The bag feels satisfyingly sturdy, thanks to a mix of rain-resistant twill and thick bridle leather handle, both of which get better/softer/doper over time. The storm-flap closure that sits over the top zip is a smart feature if you’re traveling in inclement weather and the wraparound leather straps mean this thing can carry a heavy load with ease.
The Best Gym-Ready Duffel Bag
Fellas, it’s time to stop cramming your dirty sneakers and sweaty workout gear into an already-stuffed tote; invest in a real-deal gym bag instead. Lululemon’s water-resistant convertible duffel bag comes with a wide interior decked out with specialized pockets to stash your clothes, gizmos, and toiletries—and also features hidden straps that transform it into a backpack in a matter of seconds. Sure, its sleek matte black design and function-first ethos make it a no-brainer for the gym, but it’ll serve you equally well as carry-on luggage when your destination requires boarding a flight.
The Best No-Frills Duffel Bag
In therapy, baggage is a bad thing. In the hands of the Japanese repro masters at Porter-Yoshida, though, baggage isn’t just good—it’s impeccably made and shot through with a jolt of retro cool. The brand’s signature nylon duffel doubles as a mega tote with spacious interiors and generously-sized external pockets that work as shoe compartments, too. Oh, and the that telltale hi-vis orange lining? That’s inspired by the old-school MA-1 jackets pilots in the US army used to wear, and it’ll keep you goods fly and dry through the worst of it—and remind nosy onlookers of your excellent taste every time you unzip it.
The Best Value Duffel Bag
Under usual circumstances, leather duffel bags don’t come cheap. So we’re thrilled to report that the year of our lord 2024 is very much not the “usual circumstances”. Because, folks, 2024 is the year Banana Republic found its groove again, digging into its archives to revive jet-setting gems like its nubuck leather weekender, a high-quality riff that looks way more expensive than it is. It’s made from supple mocha-brown leather and features an incredibly spacious interior that can house a weekend’s worth of clothing, shoes, toiletries, and whatever entertainment you bring for the getaway (books, tablet, crochet hooks). And if you somehow still find yourself running low on cargo space, there’s an exterior pocket with card slots to stash an ID alongside the rest of your belongings.
Plus 7 More Duffels Worthy of Your Shoulders
What to Look for in a Superlative Duffel
In most cases, the best duffel bags for men are made from full-grain leather. (Cowhide keeps your gear protected and develops a singular patina over time that’s all yours.) That luxe hide, however, is going to cost you. Which is why we’re glad to confirm that these days there are also plenty of non-leather options on the market that are smartly engineered to hold all your stuff and stand up to being stuffed in an overheard bin again and again. And, yes, those options are also actually stylish.
You seem skeptical. Maybe you’re still working through lingering trauma from your undergrad days, when you eurotripped across half the continent with nothing but a flimsy mesh duffel and cracked iPhone to keep you company on your journey. Or maybe it’s been a while since you’ve had the opportunity to buy luggage of any kind (join the club) and you can’t quite wrap your ahead around the notion of springing for anything other than the top-shelf leather stuff. If that sounds like you, don’t X out of this tab in a panic.
Relax: the duffels we’re talking about are far cry from the JanSport you used to haul around in middle school. Even when they’re not made of leather—some are cut from waxed canvas, or nylon ripstop, or a specially-treated fabric designed keep your gear dry in the dreariest conditions—each and every option included above is the top-shelf stuff. (And if you’re still not convinced, there’s plenty of handsome leather duffels to choose from too.)
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