The Best Carry on Duffel Bag
Whether you’re headed for a weekend camping trip or a backpacking expedition, the best carry on duffel bag will keep your gear safe and organized while avoiding checked baggage fees.
Durable fabric and padding boost gear protection, while a clever dirty-laundry compartment and convenient storage options like trolley sleeve and expandable corners make this premium bag easy to pack. It also has a comfortable backpack harness.
1. REI Roadtripper
Whether you’re looking for a sturdy bag to keep your gear organized on the road, or an affordable option for a quick weekend trip, the REI Roadtripper is one of our favorite budget duffel bags. It’s packed with handy organizational features, including a zippered shoe garage, which keeps dirty footwear separate from clean clothes and other gear. The slick design is also expandable, giving you an extra 3 to 4 liters of space.
Many duffel bags are designed to be sturdy and robust enough for demanding adventures, such as remote climbing expeditions and international overland trips. These models tend to have thicker, heavier materials and heftier best carry on duffel bag zippers than those used on more casual travel bags. Some even come with burly haul loops and webbing straps to make it easy to carry your bag like a backpack for long distances on foot.
While these rugged models are great choices for a range of adventures, they can be overkill for everyday use. For that, we love a few of the more lightweight options in our best travel duffel bag list. The REI Co-op Roadtripper is a perfect example: it has the same storage capacity as our top pick, but it weighs less than half a pound. It also packs down into a small stuff sack for stowing in your car or hotel room.
2. SwissTech Excursion
If you’re looking for a sturdy, durable bag that can hold a full weekend worth of clothes and accessories while also qualifying as carry-on luggage, this SwissTech Excursion is a great choice. It has plenty of compartments, a removable wet pouch, and more. It’s also made from a heavy woven polyester and has two types of handles for different carrying options. It even has a strap to slide onto your roller luggage.
One of the best features of this suitcase is that it has a 2-inch zip-around expansion for added packing space. This is perfect for those times when you remember a few extra items at the last minute that just won’t fit into your existing bag. This luggage is also backed by a 15-year warranty.
The main compartment of this suitcase is a drop bottom design, which means that it can be opened up and flattened out for easy storage. It can fit a full change of clothes and some accessories in the main compartment, as well as a pair of shoes. There’s also a zippered shoe pocket and elastic shoe pockets.
Another nice feature of this SwissTech bag is that it has a waterproof zipper. This is important for keeping your stuff dry if you’re planning on going swimming or doing any outdoor activities. The exterior is also water resistant and has a textured finish, which helps hide scuffs and scratches.
3. Dagne Dover Landon Carryall
Dagne Dover is a brand that makes bags with a clear mission: to elevate packing into a sort of art. Their luggage pieces — all of which earned the editor stamp of approval at Reviewed — feature sporty, stylish, and durable neoprene while providing plenty of internal organization options.
This particular bag is the brand’s most popular carry on duffel, and it’s easy to see why. It’s made from the aforementioned neoprene, which looks similar to scuba wetsuit material and has natural cushioning properties while also protecting packed items. Inside, there’s a padded laptop sleeve, two side mesh pockets that are large enough to fit a paddle brush and hairdryer or sneakers and a pair of sandals, a stretch key leash, a shoe duster, a nylon water bottle pocket and a few other organizational pouches.
There’s also a zippered pocket for things that need to stay hidden, like fidget spinners and chargers. Plus, there’s a crossbody strap and two smaller handles that button together for easy carrying. It comes in five sizes, ranging from small to extra large, so you can find the size that’s best for you.
As with most Dagne Dover bags, this one can be spot-cleaned with soap and water if it gets dirty. It’s also made to last with a sleek and modern aesthetic and zinc alloy hardware.
4. The Garment Duffel
The Halfday Garment Duffel is designed to keep both your casual and formal wardrobe intact when you’re taking a short trip. It holds enough clothing to take you through a couple of days while still fitting comfortably into tiny hotel room closets and underneath the seat in front of you on your flight. Plus, the shoulder strap means you don’t have to worry about securing overhead bin space either.
If you’re travelling for work, a garment travel bag can be a great investment because it will keep your suits and dresses wrinkle-free. These bags typically include garment sections, as well as sections for other clothes and gear. They’re easy to move around because wholesale backpack manufacturers they often feature wheels, handles, and a telescoping handle, making them easier to maneuver than traditional suitcases. They can also fit into the smallest overhead bins on most flights.
Garment Duffels are the best travel luggage for suits because they combine the portability of a duffel with the functionality of a garment bag. The one-zipper design allows you to unzip the garment section flat to resemble a regular duffel bag, providing a foolproof layout that mimics folding your clothes. They have a large main opening and can easily hold your outfits with extra room to spare for shoes, toiletries, shave kits, and other accessories. Other features include exterior zipper pockets, a trolley sleeve, and anti-skid feet.