We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Travel & Lifestyle Products The Best Weekender Bags for Your Next Trip, Tested by Us Stylish and spacious picks that won’t weigh you down. By Lindsey Lanquist Lindsey Lanquist Lindsey Lanquist is a contributing writer for Real Simple. She covers fashion, home, and lifestyle products, including clothing, decor, furniture, and more. Her work has also appeared on MyDomaine, The Spruce, Byrdie, and Verywell. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on May 01, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Final Verdict Our Testing Process How to Shop More to Consider FAQs Take Our Word for It Photo: Real Simple / Alexander Huang When you don’t want to cram your belongings in a backpack or lug around a big suitcase, a weekender bag is the happy medium you’re looking for. The compact, lightweight, and durable bag comfortably stores must-have travel items, and it looks nice, too. It’s perfect for short trips and can even be used as a carry on, gym bag, or beach tote. To help find a weekender bag that can withstand your travel schedule, we put 31 bags up against one another in our NYC lab. We packed them full of items, pushed them off countertops, and carried them around, vetting their design, capacity, organization, portability, durability, and overall value. For expert advice, we interviewed Luigi Auricchio, vice president of design at Away, Angie Rice, co-founder of Boutique Travel Advisers, Jen Perrone, travel adviser at Jen Perrone Travel, and Lindsay Myers, lifestyle and travel expert. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L at Amazon $189 Jump to Review Best Budget: Etronik Large Overnight Weekender at Amazon $50 Jump to Review Best Tote: Cotopaxi Viaje Weekender Bag at Amazon $130 Jump to Review Best Compact: July Carry All Weekender at July.com Jump to Review Best Large: Lo & Sons Catalina Supreme at Loandsons.com Jump to Review Best Durable: Aer Travel Weekender at Aersf.com Jump to Review Best Leather: Monos Metro Carry-All Duffel at Monos.com Jump to Review Most Stylish: Béis The Commuter Duffel at Beistravel.com Jump to Review Best Lightweight: MZ Wallace Nik at Mzwallace.com Jump to Review Best Convertible: Dagne Dover Lagos Convertible Duffel Bag at Dagnedover.com Jump to Review Best Overall Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L PHOTO: Amazon $189 at Amazon $189 at Nordstrom View on Bellroy.com What Stands Out It’s spacious, durable, and never feels bulky or heavy, even when filled to the brim. What Could Be Improved Its shoulder strap attaches to plastic clips, which feel flimsier than the rest of the bag. Balancing size and weight is the central challenge of buying a weekender bag. You want something that’s big enough to hold your stuff but not too heavy or bulky to comfortably carry. Bellroy’s Classic Weekender perfectly threads the needle. This 45-liter weekender bag housed our four-day packing list with room to spare, and its wide mouth allowed for easy packing. The bag has four storage compartments—fewer than other weekenders but enough to keep things organized. Even when filled to the brim, it proved comfortable to carry. The bag has two rolled-edge handles, a padded crossbody strap you can adjust or remove, and a unique barrel shape that keeps it from feeling bulky. It’s also made of polyester, so it weighs a mere 2.2 pounds when empty. Though lightweight, the bag is deceptively sturdy. It showed no signs of wear during our durability tests, and its zippers moved smoothly, even when the bag was packed full. The bag comes in four colors, and it’s available in a smaller (35-liter) size for those who pack light. Our only qualm? The bag’s crossbody strap connects to plastic clips, which feel flimsier and of a lower quality than the rest of the bag. Dimensions: 25.6 by 15 by 15.7 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 2.2 pounds Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Best Budget Etronik Large Overnight Weekender PHOTO: Amazon $50 at Amazon What Stands Out It’s lightweight, spacious, and easy to organize—a better buy than many pricier bags we’ve tested. What Could Be Improved It’s soft and doesn’t have a laptop sleeve, so it’s tough to use as a standalone bag. Great weekender bags typically cost between $100 and $300, but Etronik’s Duffel Bag costs just a fraction of that, and it outperformed pricier bags on storage capacity, carrying comfort, and organizational features. The 55-liter bag easily held everything on our four-day packing list, and its numerous compartments helped us keep things organized. The bag has four outer pockets, two inner pockets, and one bottom compartment that holds two pairs of shoes. It also comes with two shoe bags, a packing cube, and a built-in USB port for good measure. Shockingly, the bag doesn’t have a laptop sleeve—an unfortunate oversight that makes it hard to use without other luggage. The bag is remarkably soft and lightweight. It’s made of nylon, weighs 2.2 pounds when empty, and has a flexible soft-shell construction. The bag has so little structure we had to hold it closed with two hands to zip it up, which is great from a comfort perspective. The bag’s sturdy top handles and padded crossbody strap make it even easier to carry, but it does feel flimsy. While it withstood our durability tests without damage, we wouldn’t trust it to protect a laptop when subjected to the same wear and tear. Dimensions: 21.7 by 9.4 by 16.5 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 2.2 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Alexander Huang Best Tote Cotopaxi Viaje Weekender Bag PHOTO: Cotopaxi $130 at Amazon View on Cotopaxi.com What Stands Out It’s durable, easy to carry, and the perfect size for a two-day trip. What Could Be Improved It comes in three eye-catching colorways, which are striking but not very versatile. If you’re in the market for a smaller weekender bag, Cotopaxi’s Viaje Weekender Bag is a great pick. The 35-liter tote proved to be lightweight, durable, and spacious enough for a two-day trip, holding its own against the bigger duffels we tested. The weekender is appropriately marketed as a two-day bag. It held our two-day packing list with a little leftover space, and it has several handy compartments, including a large internal pocket, two mid-size outer pockets, and a bottom compartment for shoes or dirty clothes. During our durability tests, the bag felt almost indestructible. While its zipper came slightly open, the bag incurred no wear and tear. The tote is also packed with quality features, like sturdy handles and smooth zippers that don’t stick. Because the bag is a tote, it’s easier to carry than the average duffel. It has two pairs of handles—one short and one long—and it doesn’t bump into you or get in the way when you walk. We like that you can take the bag anywhere—the gym, the office, or an outdoor getaway. We just wish it looked more versatile. While the bag comes in three colorways, all of them are eye catching and vibrant. Dimensions: 21 by 12 by 15 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 1.5 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Alexander Huang Best Compact July Carry All Weekender PHOTO: July View on July.com What Stands Out Though small and lightweight, it’s sturdy, water resistant, and spacious enough for a two-day trip. What Could Be Improved Its interior pockets are small, and its front pocket is hard to use when the bag is full. At 18 inches wide, 10.5 inches tall, and 8.5 inches deep, July’s Carry All Weekender is dramatically smaller than our other favorites. That said, it passed all our tests and proved to be durable, comfortable, and spacious enough for a two-day trip. Made of heavy-duty nylon, the bag is water resistant and incredibly sturdy. It showed no signs of damage during our wear-and-tear tests, and it weighs 2.2 pounds when empty—so it’s as heavy as our overall favorite despite being much smaller. The bag has supportive leather handles, a detachable padded shoulder strap, and sturdy metal hardware. Even when filled to the brim, it felt lightweight and comfortable to carry. Though compact, the bag is the perfect size for a quick trip. With some effort from us, it managed to hold everything on our two-day packing list—plus a laptop. The bag has several pockets, but we wouldn’t mind a few more. The interior pockets are small, and the front pocket was hard to use when the bag was full. The bag also comes in several sleek colors. And though it seems pricey given its size, it felt high quality and built to last—well worth the investment. Dimensions: 18 by 8.5 by 10.5 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 2.2 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Best Large Lo & Sons Catalina Supreme PHOTO: Lo & Sons View on Loandsons.com What Stands Out It offers lots of storage space and comes loaded with compartments to help you keep things organized. What Could Be Improved Like many big weekenders, it’s awkward to carry around and too big to use as a carry on (unless you leave part of it empty). Lo & Sons’ The Catalina Supreme weekender is one of the biggest bags on our list—a great option for long trips and heavy packers. The bag held everything on our four-day packing list with room to spare. Plus, it’s loaded with compartments that help you organize your stuff. The 37.5-liter bag impressed us with its storage capacity and organizational features. Its spacious main compartment is lined with small pockets, and its expandable base compartment is great for shoes or dirty clothes. The weekender also comes with a laptop sleeve, cushioned dividers, and adjustable outer straps that can carry extra stuff. Though big, the bag is made of polyester, so it weighs just 4 pounds when empty. It survived our durability tests without any signs of damage. Unsurprisingly, the bag is a little awkward to carry. It’s as comfortable as it can be, thanks to its light weight and adjustable, padded straps. But it’s still bulky and boxy. It’s also too big to use as a carry on, unless you leave part of it empty. Those are real tradeoffs, but they’re worth taking for the extra storage space. They’re also hard tradeoffs to avoid with any big weekender bag. Dimensions: 19.7 by 9.5 by 15.5 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 4 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Alexander Huang Best Durable Aer Travel Weekender PHOTO: Aer View on Aersf.com What Stands Out It’s packed with heavy-duty features, like a rugged nylon exterior, lockable zippers, and tons of secure compartments. What Could Be Improved It’s heavier than other options, and we could feel the extra weight when carrying it. Every weekender bag on this list passed our durability test, surviving several falls off a counter without much (or any) damage. Aer’s Travel Weekender stands out as a particularly durable option, thanks to its heavy-duty fabric, padded laptop sleeve, and top-notch hardware. The 35-liter bag is made of ballistic nylon, a rugged material designed to withstand wear and tear. That said, the inside of the bag has a soft woven lining that can safely hold delicate clothing. The bag also has sturdy plastic hardware and heavy-duty zippers you can lock for added security. It features three main compartments as well as several smaller pockets, which keep your stuff organized and secure as you travel. The bag also ticks some basic boxes. It housed our four-day packing list with space to spare, and it comes in two versatile colors. At 2.7 pounds, the bag is heavier than other options—and we felt the weight. But the bag’s cushioned handles and shoulder straps keep it comfortable to carry, and its luggage pass-through sleeve lets you store it on top of a roller bag. Plus, we’re happy to carry a few extra ounces if it means keeping our stuff safe from wear and tear. Dimensions: 19.5 by 9 by 12 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 2.7 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Best Leather Monos Metro Carry-All Duffel PHOTO: Monos View on Monos.com What Stands Out Its vegan leather exterior isn’t just stylish—it’s also water resistant, scratch resistant, and great at withstanding wear and tear. What Could Be Improved It’s heavy and rigid when empty, and its shoulder strap seemed to fray during our tests. During our tests, Monos’s Metro Carry-All Duffel stood out as a favorite. It’s sleek, sturdy, spacious, and easy to carry anywhere. It’s also the only bag on our list made of vegan leather rather than polyester or nylon. The bag is small but spacious—handily housing our four-day packing list with enough space for another sweatshirt or pair of shoes. The bag’s wide mouth and two-way zipper make it easy to pack, and its vegan leather exterior feels thick but flexible, offering just enough give for overpackers. The material is also scratch resistant, water resistant, and incredibly durable, surviving several falls off a countertop with no signs of damage. The bag is heavy (4.14 pounds), and it maintains its shape when empty, meaning it doesn’t get smaller, even when you pack light. Despite this, the bag is still comfortable to carry. Its round shape isn’t cumbersome, its thick handles feel nice, and its padded shoulder strap never slips out of place. The shoulder strap did seem to fray during our tests, and we wish it was made of nicer fabric, but the rest of the weekender screams quality. At $260, the bag may be an investment, but it feels more like a steal. Dimensions: 20 by 10.4 by 12 inches | Material: Vegan leather | Weight: 4.14 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Alexander Huang Most Stylish Béis The Commuter Duffel PHOTO: Beis View on Beistravel.com View on Lyst.com $138 at Revolve What Stands Out It’s sleek, sturdy, and packed with spacious compartments—a great pick for style-minded travelers. What Could Be Improved Despite its relatively small size, it’s one of the heaviest weekenders on our list. If you want a weekender that looks great carrying your stuff, The Commuter Duffel by BÉIS is a perfect choice. The bag has a sleek silhouette and stylish vegan leather detailing. And it doesn’t skimp on durability, storage space, or organizational features. The 24.2-liter bag feels spacious and well organized. It has six interior compartments and four exterior compartments, including a laptop sleeve and a zipper compartment for shoes or dirty clothes. The bag felt a little snug holding our four-day packing list, but it’s the perfect size for weekend trips. Plus, it comes with handles, a shoulder strap, and a luggage sleeve, so you can easily use it as a carry on. What impressed us most about this bag is how heavy duty it is. Everything—from its nylon exterior to its mesh interior pockets—feels high-quality and made to last. The bag incurred no damage during our wear-and-tear tests. Its base is lined with metal feet that keep it from slumping over, and the bag is heavier than other weekenders, weighing 3.15 pounds (but it never felt uncomfortable to carry). It’s also one of the more affordable bags on our list—a deal worth snapping up. Dimensions: 21.5 by 9 by 12 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 3.15 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Best Lightweight MZ Wallace Nik PHOTO: MZ Wallace View on Mzwallace.com What Stands Out It’s made of a lightweight quilted fabric that’s durable, protective, and comfortable to carry around. What Could Be Improved Its shoulder strap is made of nylon, so it isn’t as comfortable as the rest of the bag. MZ Wallace’s Nik Duffel is one of the lightest weekenders we fell in love with. It weighs just 2.1 pounds when empty and was a breeze to carry when full. While many weekenders are made of thick polyester or rugged nylon, this one is made of REC Oxford, a fabric made from recycled materials. That fabric is lightweight and flexible, but it isn’t flimsy: The bag got through our durability tests with no signs of damage. Plus, it’s quilted, so it provides protective padding without extra weight. It also boasts nine interior pockets and seven exterior pockets, making it easy to keep things secure, organized, and protected throughout your travels. Though lightweight, the weekender offers plenty of storage space. It held our two-day packing list with so much ease that we’d feel comfortable bringing it on a longer trip. It felt genuinely comfortable to carry, even when full. The bag has two sturdy handles and an adjustable shoulder strap—one we wish was quilted and cushioned like the rest of the bag. The bag is also available in six colorways. While it’s expensive, it balances portability and durability better than any other weekender on our list. Dimensions: 16.9 by 7.1 by 12.2 inches | Material: Recycled materials | Weight: 2.1 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Alexander Huang Best Convertible Dagne Dover Lagos Convertible Duffel Bag PHOTO: Dagne Dover View on Dagnedover.com What Stands Out It’s spacious, has a lot of pockets, and is convertible, so you can carry it as a handheld duffel, crossbody bag, or backpack. What Could Be Improved It gets heavy fast and has so many pockets we worried about losing things inside the bag. Dagne’s Dover Lagos Convertible Duffle is a spacious duffel that doubles as a backpack, a unique feature that sets it apart from the other weekenders we tested. But even without the two-in-one design, it’s a great bag: It’s massive, durable, and absolutely loaded with pockets. The 50-liter bag is so spacious we’d dare call it cavernous. It handily accommodated our four-day packing list, and you could likely bring it with you on a weeklong trip. The bag is laden with pockets, has two padded laptop sleeves, and comes with a removable shoe bag, a key leash, and two metal D rings. These storage features are great for organization, but there are so many we actually worried about losing things inside the bag. The recycled polyester bag weighs 3.8 pounds when empty, and it gets heavy as you fill it with stuff. We’d be mindful of this weight when traveling. The bag’s rolled handles, padded shoulder strap, and padded backpack straps make carrying more manageable. The bag also proved durable, protecting everything inside it—including two laptops—during several drops. It’s also available in four colorways and a smaller size (32 liters) that still offers lots of storage space and pockets. Dimensions: 19.5 by 12 by 12 inches | Material: Recycled polyester | Weight: 3.8 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Alexander Huang Best With a Shoe Compartment Calpak Luka Duffel Bag PHOTO: Calpak $128 at Nordstrom View on Calpaktravel.com $158 at The Container Store What Stands Out It’s lightweight, compact, and packed with handy pockets and a spacious shoe compartment. What Could Be Improved It isn’t cushioned—and its laptop sleeve isn’t padded—so we wouldn’t trust it to protect electronics. Several of our favorite weekenders have shoe compartments, but Calpak’s Luka Duffel is one of the smallest bags that does. Though the weekender is sleek, compact, and perfect for short trips, its shoe compartment is big enough for two pairs of shoes or one pair of tall boots. At 16 inches wide, 7 inches deep, and 12 inches tall, the bag is genuinely compact, but it easily held everything on our two-day packing list and could probably work for longer trips if you pack light. The bag has nine pockets—including that bottom shoe compartment—to help you keep things organized. Unfortunately, its laptop sleeve isn’t padded, though. The bag is lightweight and comfortable to carry. It weighs just 2.1 pounds when empty and has two short handles and a long adjustable strap that makes a good shoulder strap but an uncomfortable crossbody strap. Made of water- and scratch-resistant polyester, the bag is surprisingly durable. It survived several falls without any damage, but due to its lack of cushioning, we wouldn’t trust it to protect electronics. The bag is also sleek, and it’s currently available in over a dozen pretty colors. Even Rice loves it. “This bag has accompanied me around the world,” she says. Dimensions: 16 by 7 by 12 inches | Material: Polyester | Weight: 2.1 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Alexander Huang Best for Organization Nomad Lane V4 Bento Bag PHOTO: Nomad Lane View on Nomadlane.com What Stands Out It offers more storage and organization features than other small bags, and its quality and durability make it a great investment piece. What Could Be Improved It’s heavy for its size, and it’s one of the priciest bags on our list. Nomad Lane’s V4 Bento Bag is the ultimate small but mighty weekender. At 17 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 10 inches tall, the bag is one of the smallest on our list, but it’s loaded with pockets, offering a level of organization you rarely get with compact bags. The 24-liter bag is deceptively spacious. It held everything on our two-day packing list with space to spare, and its plentiful pockets made it easy to keep everything organized. The bag has two main compartments, a padded laptop sleeve, and several inner and outer pockets. It even comes with a toiletry bag and a tech organizer. The weekender also folds open like a clamshell, giving you easy access to everything inside. The bag is made of weather-resistant nylon and finished with leather details. It proved incredibly durable, surviving three falls without exterior scuffs or interior shifting. And all of its zippers ran smoothly, even when the bag was packed full. At 2.76 pounds, the bag is heavy for its size, but its rolled handles and adjustable shoulder strap make it comfortable to carry. The bag is also expensive, but it’s a worthy investment piece given its durable construction, handy features, and quality feel. Dimensions: 17 by 8 by 10 inches | Material: Nylon | Weight: 2.76 pounds Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Real Simple / Alexander Huang Real Simple / Alexander Huang Final Verdict Bellroy’s Classic 45L Weekender is our top pick, because it offers plenty of storage space without feeling bulky or heavy. We also love Etronik’s Duffel Bag, a lightweight and spacious bag that’s especially great if you’re shopping on a budget. Our Testing Process To find the best weekenders, we vetted 31 bags in our lab, subjecting each to a series of tests that simulated real-life conditions. We began with a brief assessment of each bag, noting its material, hardware, and straps for durability; its general size and weight; its pockets and compartments; and any special features. We then packed the bag like we would if we were taking a quick trip. We established a two-day packing list for smaller bags and a four-day packing list for larger bags and noted how easily each weekender held our belongings, whether it was hard to zip, and if it had room to spare? We then spent five minutes walking around with the bag we’d just packed, assessing how comfortable it was to carry and whether it felt heavy, bulky, or cumbersome. To mimic the wear and tear of travel, we also pushed each packed bag off a counter three times. We checked for signs of damage (like scratches, marks, and scuffs) and we noted whether the bag’s contents stayed secure and protected. After vetting each bag for design, storage capacity, portability, and durability, we considered its overall value: Was it worth the money? Every weekender on our list passed this test, meaning we’d pay full price for it and recommend it to our friends. Real Simple / Jessica Juliao How to Shop for Weekender Bags Like a Pro Size and Weight Your weekender bag should be big enough to hold your stuff but not so bulky or heavy that it’s uncomfortable to carry. The right balance will vary from person to person—and from trip to trip. Auricchio says to ask yourself what environment you will be traveling in, how often you will be carrying the bag throughout your journey, and what you need to bring with you. If you need lots of storage space, favor lightweight fabrics, like polyester and nylon. Rice recommends compressible silhouettes that cut down on bulk, and Aurrichio recommends comfortable carry features, like padded and adjustable straps. If you want to use your bag as a carry on, you should also double check size restrictions, Rice says. Many airlines limit carry-on size to 22 inches by 9 inches by 14 inches—smaller than some of the weekenders on our list. Personal items are even smaller: about 17 inches by 9 inches by 10 inches. Material A weekender bag’s material directly impacts its feel, durability, and weight—all important considerations when buying a bag. While the experts we spoke to have different favorite materials, all four recommend something lightweight, sturdy, and water resistant. “Avoid materials prone to wear and tear, as the longevity of a weekender bag depends significantly on the quality of its construction,” Aurrichio says. He specifically recommends weekenders made of nylon, canvas, and faux leather, because they tend to be stylish and durable. Myers prefers neoprene (sturdy and easy to clean), and Perrone likes polyester and nylon (durable and water resistant). Rice recommends anything waterproof. During our tests, we gravitated toward the same materials: Five of our favorite weekenders are made of polyester, five are made of nylon, and one is made of faux leather. (The outlier is blended from unspecified recycled materials.) Features Many weekender bags have special features, like storage compartments, charging ports, and adjustable straps, but some are handier than others. “Don’t get distracted by features that won’t have a real impact on your travel experience,” Aurrichio says. “Instead, focus on the details that make traveling more seamless.” Our experts favor practical features, like durable zippers (which make bags last longer), adjustable straps (which make bags more comfortable), and clamshell openings (which make packing easier). Pockets and compartments are great, but too many weigh down a bag and waste precious storage space. Similarly, charging ports are nice but not worth paying extra for when outlets are abundant, Myers says. This rang true during our tests. Clamshell openings, well-organized compartments, and adjustable straps made bags easier to pack and carry. Bags with too many pockets or too few compartments were tougher to pack, and bags with sturdy zippers held up better during our durability tests. Real Simple / Jessica Juliao More Weekender Bags to Consider Quince Italian Leather Triple Compartment Weekender: This leather weekender is one of the sleekest bags we tested, and we loved that it felt durable and high quality. Unfortunately, it’s small—a two-day bag at most. It’s also expensive and heavy, weighing 4 pounds when empty. Mark & Graham Beckett Waxed Canvas and Leather Weekender: This waxed canvas bag is lightweight and space efficient, capable of accommodating our four-day packing list and easy to store away between trips. It’s expensive, and it would benefit from more pockets and compartments, but there was little we didn’t like about it. Questions You Might Ask How can you tell if a weekender bag is high quality? High-quality weekender bags are well crafted from top to bottom. They look nice, feel sturdy, have thoughtfully designed compartments, and are finished with top-notch details, like hardy zippers, reinforced stitching, and durable straps. “Conversely, low-quality bags may show a lack of attention to detail through fraying seams, flimsy zippers, low-quality materials, unstable structures that deform over time, or inferior organization,” Aurrichio says. What type of weekender bag will never go out of style? “Timeless weekender bags often feature classic and purpose-driven designs that transcend trends,” Aurrichio says. “Neutral colors, minimalist aesthetics, high-quality textures, and durable materials contribute significantly to a timeless design.” While it may sound counterintuitive, you should favor function over form: The best timeless weekender bags are durable, well-organized, and understated—versatile enough to carry on a range of trips. How much do weekender bags typically cost? You can find great weekender bags at every price point. Our favorites range from $51 to $350, with an average price of $218 and a median price of $192. Our experts say the best weekender bags are reliable, high quality, and long lasting, and it’s often worth spending extra to get something that will last. “It should last you a while, so spend a little bit more,” Myers says. Our favorite weekender bag, Bellroy’s Classic 45L Weekender, feels like an investment (but not a splurge) at just under $200. Real Simple / Jessica Juliao Take Our Word for It This article was written by Lindsey Lanquist, a Real Simple contributing writer. To find the best weekender bags, we tested 31 bags in our lab, evaluating them for design, capacity, organization, portability, durability, and overall value. We also consulted four travel and luggage experts: Luigi Auricchio, vice president of design at Away, Angie Rice, co-founder of Boutique Travel Advisers, Jen Perrone, travel adviser at Jen Perrone Travel, and Lindsay Myers, lifestyle and travel expert.