At some point in our lives, we’ve all owned a duffel or two. Whether it was a school gym bag, college overnighter, or robust camper, the humble duffel never received much attention; it was just there. Personally, I didn’t think much of the slumpy holdall—until I began my search for the best duffels for men and women.
I now think duffel bags are the most underrated accessory.
The best duffel bags are a modern traveler’s essential and everyday staple. Duffle bags make room for your most obscurely shaped gear (be it camera equipment or a chunky pair of Chelseas). They’re durable and versatile. And when they’re not in use, the problem-free duffel fits into the tiny crevices of an overpacked storage space.
But first, something to iron out: Is it a duffel or a duffle bag?
Duffel is the preferred spelling and the one we’ve chosen for this article. But that’s a detail less important than our carefully curated selection of the 13 best duffel bags.
Harber LondonWeekender
A full-grain leather duffel handcrafted in Spain, with seven zipped outside pockets.
Luca FaloniWeekender
A premium leather duffel that feels like Italy in the palm of your hand—alluringly authentic.
TroubadourElemental Duffle
A 45-liter waterproof-lined duffle with back straps that tuck away, for $229.
Why you can trust Luxe Digital? Jumping aboard the remote-working train, I’ve lived a digital nomad lifestyle over the past few years. This minimalist lifestyle means that what little I own has to be worth the space, energy, and travel restrictions it exhausts.
Jumping aboard the remote-working train, I’ve lived a digital nomad lifestyle over the past few years. This minimalist lifestyle means that what little I own has to be worth the space, energy, and travel restrictions it exhausts.At Luxe Digital, we rigorously test and review elevated essentials, and go the extra mile to unearth gateway-ready gear that goes the distance and brands that we believe will go places. For more on how we test products, see our HAPPY philosophy (read: Honorable Craftsmanship, Aesthetic Design, Positive Impact—on People and the Planet, Purpose and Function, and Yielding Value) for buying luxuries. For luxury travel inspiration, journey through our sister site Luxa Terra.
13 best duffel bags for men and women
Harber London Weekender: Overall best duffel bag
Handcrafted in Spain, using premium, full-grain leather, the Harber London weekender bag is a masterclass in refined functionality. And while it may look too sophisticated to chuck into an overhead compartment or cram into an overpacked car, we can testify that this durable duffel is designed to do the hard yards—but without baring the scuff marks to show for it.
Seven zipped external pockets are a game changer, meaning that you don’t have to tote around another bag to carry the smaller essentials and water bottle. The spacious interior also features a zipped pocket and multiple sleeves. And we love that we can take this polished Harber London duffel to the office without looking unprofessional. It’s perfect for post-work gym sessions.
Luca Faloni Weekender: Best luxury duffel bag
Hand-stitched by experienced (and passionate) artisans in the heart of Italy, this Luca Faloni bag isn’t just a duffel. It’s an investment into a lifetime of successful business trips, luxurious couple retreats, and much-needed weekends away from the kids.
The premium weekender bag has plenty of space for all your best dress shirts and features internal pockets to keep your valuables organized, as well as external pockets for easy access on the move (we all know how elusive those boarding passes can be). Made from vegetable-tanned, full-grain leather, this Luca Faloni Weekender is incredibly durable, aging beautifully and developing that much-coveted patina to commemorate the memories made on each new excursion.
Troubadour Elemental Duffle: Best duffel backpack
Most duffels ask you to pick a shoulder or a back. This one lets you change your mind halfway down the platform.
The Troubadour Elemental Duffle holds 45 liters and is sized to go in the cabin. The shell is a light 210D ripstop nylon, and the inside is a fully waterproof fabric with taped seams, so rain and snow stay outside. A lidded external pocket with a waterproof lining keeps a wet towel or muddy shoes away from your clean clothes.
The back straps clip on when you want your hands free and tuck into a hidden pocket when you don’t. Troubadour borrowed their shape from running vests, so they widen under the arms instead of adding padding. The whole bag weighs 0.8 kg. The catch is the price: at $229 it costs more than twice as much as the Beis below it.
We’ve carried Troubadour’s Elemental bags ourselves, and our hands-on review of the Elemental collection covers how they held up.
Beis The Beisics: Best value duffel bag
We always take great care when trying out new bags, but when that bag only costs $88, we’re even more skeptical to begin with. Proving us wrong, this Beis duffel stood up to the test, earning its spot as the best value option in our list of top duffels for men and women.
The first thing we noticed was although the bag is relatively big (with a 40-liter capacity), the polyester silhouette is also incredibly lightweight (weighing only 2.14 lbs).
We love that the bag folds down flat which makes it the perfect just-in-case bag (for the souvenirs that you never imagined bringing back home). We were equally impressed by how easy the Beis Beisics duffel is to pack, with plenty of internal and external pockets for optimal organization. The only thing missing is a shoe compartment, but for this price, we’re willing to pop our favorite pair of sneakers in a shoe bag.
Bellroy Lite Duffel: Best duffel bag for college
We get it. Slogging a compendium of books around college isn’t why you studied so hard for your SATs, but it can be quintessential to passing the first year. However, with the right duffel, you won’t have to visit the chiropractor every time you return home.
Weighing only 1.3 lbs (0.6 kg), the Lite Duffel by Bellroy has a surprisingly spacious interior (30L to be precise.) Staying true to Bellroy’s highly functional reputation, the large interior is beautifully organized with various slips and sleeves, while the relaxed exterior boasts a zip compartment just big enough to fit our 15” laptop. Plus, this waterproof duffle bag keeps your essays in every circumstance, so there’s no excuse not to hand them in on time.
We’ve also tested Bellroy luggage first-hand; read our Bellroy Lite Carry-On review to see how the brand’s travel gear performs.
Quince All-Day Neoprene Duffle: Best everyday duffel bag
Some like to buy a different bag for every occasion. Others want one bag that does the gym, the office and the weekend away. If that is you, this neoprene duffle is the one to buy.
The Quince All-Day Neoprene Duffle holds 29 liters in water-resistant neoprene made from 21 recycled plastic bottles. Inside, a padded sleeve takes most 16-inch laptops, and a luggage-handle sleeve on the back lets it ride on your suitcase through arrivals. Two exterior slip pockets, two interior slip pockets, a zip pocket and a detachable zipper pouch keep the small things from sinking to the bottom.
It costs $102, with a removable shoulder strap and six colors from Moonstone Blue to Black. The drawback is care: Quince says it is not suitable for machine or hand washing, so this is a bag you wipe down rather than rinse after a muddy weekend.
Cuyana Travel Duffel: Best overnight bag
Cute, compact and undeniably chic, this small duffel bag is a fashionably functional masterpiece. Made from regenerated plastic in Vietnam, the stylish silhouette speaks to Cuyana’s conscious mindset. While gold accents and clean lines add to the overall elegance of the Cuyana duffel.
The overnight bag is just the right size for a night away. And the compact design is engineered to fit under an airplane seat (so you don’t even have to pay for cabin luggage.) However, if you do intend to use this Cuyana travel bag as a carry-on for longer trips, the luggage sleeve makes it easy to roll through airport terminals, while a spacious exterior pocket replaces the need for an extra handbag.
Curious about Cuyana’s leather goods up close? Our hands-on Cuyana Easy Tote review is a good place to start.
Lululemon Cruiser: Best duffel bag for gym
As one of the most popular luxury workout brands for men and women, it’s well-known that Lululemon has some of the best gym bags out there. And while every silhouette is carefully considered with a specific purpose in mind, we think this 50-liter design trumps them all.
One of the best things about the Lululemon Cruiser is its enormous interior, big enough for an extensive beauty regime and plenty of towels. However, the large duffel bag is also surprisingly light and comfortable to carry, considering how much it holds.
As you may know by now, we’re also huge advocates for separate shoe compartments. And this one, especially, doesn’t go unnoticed after a long slog on the treadmill.
Away Everywhere Bag: Best carry-on duffel bag
The Away Large Everywhere Bag lives up to its name. The full wraparound zip opens to a large interior compartment, while the exterior nylon is durable and features a slip-through trolley sleeve to make those fast-paced walks through the airport effortless.
Spacious enough to fit a weekend’s worth of essentials (plus your best slippers and an extra sweater), the carry-on duffel bag is perfectly sized to meet the ever-shrinking cabin requirements of airlines.
And as we’ve come to expect from the luxury travel label, the Away Everywhere bag is also exceptionally organized, with slips and sleeves in all the right places.
Calpak Stevyn: Best rolling duffel bag
Without a doubt, the Calpak Stevyn is our favorite rolling duffel bag. The wheels are surprisingly smooth and feel just as durable as our designer luggage. The polyester silhouette stays true to the duffel’s signature appeal in that it is durable, squishable and lighter than most check-in luggage.
As big proponents of a shoe compartment, we were taken aback by the size of this one. Big enough for your runners, slippers and even a pair of Chelseas, the Calpak Stevyn advocates for a non-compromised getaway.
When it comes to style, we opted for the classic moss green, but the range of limited edition hues and prints is a fun way to add a distinct edge to your travel aesthetic.
TUMI Just In Case: Best packable duffel bag for travel
TUMI calls it the Just In Case duffel, but we’re yet to embark on a trip where this packable bag hasn’t come in handy. Made from nylon, the robust silhouette is much better quality than our other packable duffels. So much so that when you see it, you wouldn’t believe that the spacious duffel folded into such a tiny bundle.
Most often, foldable bags are flimsy items that are highly unfashionable and barely functional. This couldn’t be further from the truth of the TUMI Just In Case. Featuring a luggage sleeve, comfortable shoulder straps and plenty of pockets, the lightweight silhouette is everything we look for in a superlative duffel. It’s just a bonus that it also folds into a pocket-sized package.
Horizn Studios Weekender: Best duffel bag with shoulder strap
Thanks to a high-density weave, the SoFo Weekender Bag is nearly impervious to water and heat, while retaining the lightweight characteristic canvas offers. Recycled cotton canvas exterior, recycled polyester lining, and recycled nylon mesh come together to create an eco-friendly, vegan travel bag for men and women.
The cotton canvas duffle bag is an excellent companion for city breaks, road trips and everything in between. The 32-liter interior has ample space for all the essentials, while the interior and exterior organize your getaway for you. Our favorite part? The bag’s superlatively comfortable shoulder straps. Perfectly positioned, you barely feel the Horizon Studios SoFo Weekender on your back or shoulders.
For more on the brand, see our Horizn Studios review.
Samsara Luggage: Best weekender duffel
There’s nothing worse than landing at your location, desperate for a walk or run and having to unpack your entire bag to locate your sneakers at the bottom. That’s why we love this weekender by Samsara: you don’t have to. And while it may seem like a small detail, the accessible shoe compartment on the side is one of the many reasons why we find ourselves choosing the Samsara Weekender for quick getaways time and time again.
Additionally, the durable materials are water and dirt-repellant, making it a hassle-free choice for gyming outings and rugged adventures. And we were pleasantly surprised at how strong the zips and seams are considering the bag’s affordable price tag. At $85, the Samsara Weekender is an absolute no-brainer—even if it is on the slightly heavier side of our best duffels.
Buying guide: How to pick the best duffel bag for you?
With so many duffel options out there, the choice can be overwhelming and it’s easy to land on a run-of-the-mill option. Here’s what to consider before adding the first one that catches your eye to your cart.
Intended use
Consider how you intend to use your duffel. Is it an everyday duffel? In which case versatility is key. Is it a gym duffel that needs to be water resistant and preferably has a shoe compartment? Is it specifically intended for college use with endurance to carry a plethora of heavy books? Or is it a travel duffel where features such as passport slips and luggage sleeves become more attractive?
Type of travel
One of the most common uses of duffels is travel. However, picking a travel duffel is not as simple as choosing one with a luggage sleeve. Instead, consider how you intend to travel with your bag. Is it proposed as a cabin bag, fitting into the ever-shrinking cabin requirements of airlines? Or is it a check-in bag? In which case, we would prioritize wheels (read our shortlist of the best carry-on luggage for that).
Convertible options are also well worth considering for travel. If you’d benefit from a hands-free bag (whether it’s a camping trip, ski trip, or city break), a backpack duffel boasts enormous value. And if you want one just in case (who are you kidding—when) you go wild in European boutiques; a packable duffel is always a game-changer when returning home.
Duration of stay
Of course, the amount of time away that you need to pack for plays a huge role in determining the size of your duffel. If it’s just an overnight stay, a duffel capacity of 15-25 liters should suffice. If it’s a weekender, we recommend a 25-50 liter duffel (check our list of the best weekender bags for women and men for more inspiration). And if your holiday is a couple of weeks, you’ll likely want to opt for a check-in rolling duffel.
Carrying options
While duffels are traditionally slouchy canvas bags carried by two top handles, these days, they come with multiple carrying options—a key criteria to picking the right one.
The classical top handles are always a solid choice for grab-and-go maneuverability, such as hopping on and off trains. An adjustable, cushioned shoulder strap is quintessential for comfortable, hands-free transportation. Backpack straps are a win for outdoor adventures. And a rolling duffel is great for larger silhouettes.
Things we specifically looked for
As much as our best duffels boast unique features and benefits, there are a few things they have in common thanks to our rigorous testing requirements.
Packing capacity: Our best duffels may not all be the same size, but they’re all the perfect size for their intended use. If it’s a cabin duffel, it fits airline cabin requirements. And if it’s a weekender duffel, it’s big enough for two nights away.
Comfortable to carry: When distinguishing the best from the rest, we looked for comfort criteria such as padded straps and handles and multi-wear carrying options, including shoulder straps, top handles, luggage sleeves, and wheels.
Lightweight but durable: Our best duffels are all made from high-quality, lightweight materials, engineered to outlast multiple journeys. We also prioritized duffels that are stain-resistant and water-resistant.
Organizational features: We believe that organization is essential to a stellar duffel and so we looked for padded laptop sleeves, shoe compartments, and plenty of internal and external pockets.
Style: It may not be the most important thing in a duffel, but if you’re planning to invest in a lifetime luxury duffel, you want it to look good too. That being said, most of our best duffels are aesthetically timeless and versatile.
Frequently asked questions about the best duffel bags
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