The Best Weekender and Duffel Bags for Men to Take on Any Trip in 2023

Eric Shorey
·18 min read

With airlines restrictions on carry-on bags becoming more obscure by the second, a sturdy and reliable duffel bag will likely become a necessary accessory the moment we’re finally in a post-pandemic world. Useful for weekend getaways, trips to the gym or field, or longer-term escapes, purchasing one of the best duffel bags for men is an absolute necessity.

Historically, duffel bags were mostly used by the military — originally created using coarse woolen cloths, with the name originating from a town in Flanders, Belgium. The earliest duffel bags used rope enclosures and were unbearably heavy when wet. Following World War II the waxed-canvas bags became ubiquitous in Europe and the United States, with non-Army personnel often snagging them as hand-me-downs or in surplus stores. By the 70’s and 80’s, the more cylindrical duffel bags began to be used in civilian settings and started appearing in less drab color palettes and lighter-weight materials, eventually garnering usage by athletes with heavy equipment. In more contemporary settings, these barrel-shaped satchels have become important for both utilitarian functionality and as aesthetic statements.

Making sure you stay stylish while on-the-go is essential. We’ve curated a list of the 25 best duffels we could find on the Internet.

What is the Difference Between a Weekender and Duffel Bag?

Duffel bag and weekenders have many similarities—in fact, some may even consider them to practically be the same thing. However, there are a few differences between the two. Duffel bags as a whole are larger than a weekenders, and they tend to have more compartments, whereas weekenders are built smaller and have smaller straps. Duffel bags also tend to be made with more heavy duty/durable fabrics than most weekenders as a whole.

RELATED: The Best Gym Clothes for Men in 2023: A Brand for Every Workout

The Best Weekender and Duffel Bags for Men, at a Glance:

1. Fred Perry Classic Barrel Bag

Image credit: Fred Perry

Best Overall

  • Pros: Made with patent leather, nice design, affordable

  • Cons: Smaller than other duffel bags according to certain reviewers

  • Dimensions: Bottom Width: 17 in. Depth: 4 1⁄2 in. Height: 10 in. Strap Length: 53 in

  • Capacity: 30.4l

Fred Perry’s barrel bag has a vintage 60s feel to it. Made with tough PU, a webbing handle, and features a detachable strap, the iconic mod brand pairs perfectly with skinny fit pants and a double-tip polo. The embossed laurel branding exudes poise. Although Perry’s wares were originally designed with tennis in mind, this works as a small carry-on for plane rides as well, making this bag perfect for weekend getaways with its strong webbing handles and zip compartments.

BUY NOW AT STUARTS, $78

2. Los Angeles Apparel Bull Denim Weekender Bag

Image credit: Los Angeles Apparel

Also Great:

  • Pros: Durable, affordable, easy to carry

  • Cons: Not as spacious as other duffel bags

  • Dimensions: Bottom Width: 26.5" • Depth: 13" • Strap Length: 24"

  • Capacity: 13oz

American Apparel, rebranded as Los Angeles Apparel following some financial struggles, has continued their former incarnation’s thesis by creating totally USA-made products and offering workers fair wages. Their garments are all astoundingly long-lasting, and their bull denim weekender bag is no exception. According to the product description: “Each bag is manufactured and then dyed in batches, giving the thick textile of the bag a weathered texture. These bags can last you a decade and are totally washable. Dyes are extra high quality and will not fade after multiple washes, which is super important because you want your duffle/weekender to be durable and still look after some time.

BUY NOW AT LOS ANGELES APPAREL, $54

3. Reigning Champ Porter Duffel

Image credit: Reigning Champ

Most Durable Duffel

  • Pros: Great design, has a lot of space

  • Cons: Pricier compared to some duffels

  • Dimensions: 55.5cm x 28.5cm,

  • Capacity: 36L storage

Reigning Champ’s high-end (and high priced) athletic wear is top-notch and worth every penny. The brand’s design aesthetic is notably minimalist. Their signature duffel is made from durable woven nylon and features three different exterior pockets, five interior sleeves, and a soft zip pocket for valuables. The matte black metal detailing shows an attention to detail, and the look is a smooth one bound to have people asking where you got it from. Like we said before, Reigning Champ's products are worth every single penny, so rest assured that you will be getting a great product.

BUY NOW AT REIGNING CHAMP, $660

4. Puma Men’s Contender Duffel Bag

Image credit: Puma

Great Affordable Weekender

  • Pros: Has a lot of space, also has a compartment for shoes

  • Cons: Not as durable as other duffels according to some buyers

  • Dimensions: 21 x 10.5 x 9.5

  • Capacity: N/A

Puma’s polyester duffel comes with a separate footwear compartment. The roomy interior is perfect for lugging gear to games or as a sturdy piece of transportable luggage. The color palettes available are mostly black, but the bold big cat is an always-fashionable emblem. This is a great weekender to take with you for your quick travels, and the pricing is great.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON, $32.30

5. adidas Defender 4 Medium Duffel Bag

Image credit: adidas

Best Casual Duffel

  • Pros: Tons of colors to choose from, affordable, roomy

  • Cons: Only one zipper for each compartment

  • Dimensions: 12"H x 24.75"W x 13"D

  • Capacity: N/A

At a perfect 24.75” wide, the black/white color palette is the obvious choice as far as adidas anything goes — but there’s plenty of options to choose from here, including a neon pink for the especially brave. The emphasis is on functionality with this duffel, which features zip end pockets, a water-resistant base, a roomy interior for your gear and essentials. Whether you are taking a trip or going camping, the adidas duffel bag is a great option.

BUY NOW AT KOHLS, $30-$40

6. Paul Smith Navy Sports Duffle Bag

Image credit: Paul Smith

Best Designer Weekender

  • Pros: Great quality, versatile color, durable

  • Cons: Only one color option available

  • Dimensions: 27 x 50 x 27cm

  • Capacity: N/A

While duffel bags, in general, are meant for function more than fashion, Paul Smith is stunting with this ultra-refined gym bag. With pebbled handles and straps, brass zip enclosures, a grosgrain loop tab, and the designer’s signature thick stripes, the modified proportions make this a standout piece at an eye-popping, ultra-lux price. Plus, it's Paul Smith. Who doesn't love Paul Smith?

BUY NOW AT PAUL SMITH, $825

7. Y-3 Black Holdall Duffle Bag

Image credit: SSENSE

Also Great:

  • Pros: Durable, spacious design

  • Cons: Structure of bag might not be for everyone

  • Dimensions: 15.5 x 19 x 8.5

  • Capacity: 45.75 L

Yohji Yamamoto’s Y-3 consistently “functionality with sophistication to craft.” This duffel uniquely can be transformed into a backpack and “the durable, water-repellent material adds protection against the elements.” Y-3’s black-on-black logo is a subtle nod to the product’s sophistication, and while this bag is a one minimalist, it's still very much full of eye-catching details.

BUY NOW AT SSENSE, $177

8. Nike Brasilia Training Duffel Bag (Large)

Image credit: Nike

Most Reliable Duffel

  • Pros: Spacious, has a shoe compartment

  • Cons: Material isn't as durable as other duffel bags

  • Dimensions: 28"L x 14"W x 14"H

  • Capacity: 95 L

The square shape on Nike’s 14” wide Brasilia training duffel provides a slightly different silhouette than your average gym bag, but just as much functionality and spaciousness. The pads on the shoulder strap are a necessity for when your gear gets too heavy. When Nike says large, they mean large — so be ready for all the extra room. Great for a trip where you plan on doing quite a bit of shopping.

BUY NOW AT DICK'S SPORTING GOODS, $52

9. Alexander McQueen Metropolitan Selvedge Duffel

Image credit: Alexander McQueen

Best Daily Weekender

  • Pros: Unique design, great for gym, weekend, airport

  • Cons: Only one size available

  • Dimensions: Width: 55cm, Height: 25cm, Strap: 75.5cm, Handle: 12cm

  • Capacity: 25cm

Alexander McQueen’s wares are so opulent that their website ensures that every item will be shipped in elegant packaging. You just can’t take it! This deceptively basic duffel has the iconic couturier’s name on the selvedge handles and straps and a black signature fabric lining — it’s extravagant both inside and out in a way that only Alexander McQueen can be.

BUY NOW AT FARFETCH, $1,250

10. Herschel Novel Duffel

Image credit: Herschel

Best Minimalist Weekender

  • Pros: Stylish, spacious, has leather straps

  • Cons: Doesn't have internal pockets

  • Dimensions: 11.75"(H) x 20.5"(W) x 11"(D)

  • Capacity: 42.5L

Herschel took hold in New York as a symbol of normcore street smarts, but wearing the brand’s impressive line of accessories doesn’t only denote urban detachment. In fact, Herschel’s goods are just plain well-made. This duffel, described as “the ideal weekend bag” features an internal storage sleeve, reinforced handles, and a signature shoe compartment. There's quite literally tons of room, and for the price, design, and structure, this is a great buy.

BUY NOW AT HERSCHEL, $69.99

11. Filson Medium Duffel Bag

Image credit: Filson

Best Vintage Weekender

  • Pros: More than one color, great quality, has detachable straps

  • Cons: A bit on the pricey side

  • Dimensions: 23L x 12W x 13H

  • Capacity: 43L

Filson stepped their game up with this highly crafted duffel featuring leather handles and a two-snap grid. The “modern metro” bridle leather enclosure is especially classy, and the water-resistant rugged twill gives the bag a look of old-world elegance. You'll be looking like you jumped straight out of the 1950s into the 2020s.

BUY NOW AT FILSON, $575

12. Carhartt Legacy Gear Bag

Image credit: Carhartt

Best Everyday Duffel

  • Pros: Plenty of space, water-resistant, has an interior zippered pocket

  • Cons: Design might not be for everyone

  • Dimensions: 23" X 11" X 11.5"

  • Capacity: 55L

Originally intended as industrial clothing for manual laborers, Carhartt’s extremely tough and dependable clothes have somehow become a staple for trendy members of the professional/managerial class and subcultural fashionistas alike. The legacy gear bag is as indestructible as anything else the brand produces, and it’s no surprise the accessory is meant to carry heavyweight tools (even though it’s more likely to hold a carefully folded suit and tie these days). Remember, Carhartt is one of the industrial innovators, so when we say this bag lasts—it lasts.

BUY NOW AT DICK'S SPORTING GOODS, $79.99

13. Ben Sherman Duffel

Image credit: Ben Sherman

Best Vegan Weekender

  • Pros: Durable, tear-resistant, spacious

  • Cons: Runs smaller according to some users

  • Dimensions: 20” L x 11” H x 9” D

  • Capacity: N/A

Ben Sherman, another notable mod brand whose designs defined style in the UK in the 60’s and 70’s, is offering this faux leather alternative to the nylon, polyester, and leather options on this list. At just 20 inches long, this travel bag’s lightweight construction helps you adhere to airline weight restrictions to avoid unneeded airport fees. Anytime you can avoid airport fees it's a bonus.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON, $49.99

14. Alife Duffel Bag

Image credit: Wrong Weather

Also Great:

  • Pros: Durable, spacious, has an adjustable shoulder strap

  • Cons: Design might not be for everyone

  • Dimensions: 58 cm x 30 cm x 25 cm

  • Capacity: N/A

Founded in 1999, Alife’s was “originally a creative workshop based in Manhattan’s Orchard Street, [the label’s] innovative designs and forward-thinking products propelled them into an internationally renowned streetwear clothing brand and boutique,” according to Hypebeast. Their duffel bag, with daringly un-subtle branding, is a nod to urban know-how from the City that Never Sleeps as it makes sure people know where you got it from.

BUY NOW AT WRONG WEATHER, $88.73

15. Patagonia Black Hole Duffel

Image credit: Patagonia

Best Weekender

  • Pros: Very spacious, great for outdoors, foldable

  • Cons: Weight shifts when not full according to some users

  • Dimensions: 26.7" x 15.7" x 11.8"

  • Capacity: 55L

If you are someone looking to purchase a duffel bag specifically for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, skiing, etc., then you can't ever go wrong with a purchase from Patagonia. The black hole duffel bag is durable, waterproof, and great for carrying all of your belongings. We listed the bag with the 55L capacity, but Patagonia has other variations (both bigger and smaller) if you need to up or downsize. You'll have plenty of room regardless.

BUY NOW AT PATAGONIA, $169

16. Sprayground Undercurrent Large Duffle

Image credit: Sprayground

Best Designed Weekender

  • Pros: Cool design, lightweight

  • Cons: Polyester isn't as durable as other fabrics

  • Dimensions: 20" x 10" x 10.75"

  • Capacity: N/A

This is duffel bag that is sure to be an attention grabber, which is par the course for all Sprayground products if we're being honest. While we wouldn't recommend this bag for outdoor activities, it is great for traveling, weekend trips, and college getaways. The design is quite epic as well if we might add.

BUY NOW AT SPRAYGROUND, $100

17. Matador On-Grid Packable Duffel

Image credit: Bespoke Post

Best Packable Duffel

  • Pros: Lightweight, simple design, waterproof

  • Cons: Not as spacious as other duffel bags

  • Dimensions: (L)18" x (W)11.5" x (H)11.5"

  • Capacity: 25L

Matador is another brand that makes good bag, and their On-Grid Packable duffel is one that gets the job done. Made with Nylon, the bag is waterproof, has hidden loops for clipping on accessories, and an additional front packet that you can use for extra storage space. What more can you ask for?

BUY NOW AT BESPOKE POST, $55

18. Mack Weldon Atlas Duffle

Image credit: Mack Weldon

Toughest Duffel

  • Pros: Eco-friendly, made with two compartments

  • Cons: Runs small according to users

  • Dimensions: 18.1” L x 6.5” W x 13.5” H

  • Capacity: 35L

Mack Weldon's Atlas Duffle bag has tons of cool features, by our favorites are the ventilated compartment for shoes and clothes, and a separate insulated compartment to keep your food and drinks cool while you are out and about. Definitely a major selling point for this bag in our opinion. One thing about Mack Weldon, they get the job done and done well.

BUY NOW AT MACK WELDON, $88

19. Ralph Lauren Big Pony Duffel

Image credit: Ralph Lauren

Best Canvas Duffel

  • Pros: Spacious, durable

  • Cons: Runs small according to users

  • Dimensions: 20" wide x 12" tall x 8" deep

  • Capacity: N/A

Ralph Lauren has a fancy duffel bag for a not so fancy price (which is a great thing in this case). Quite affordable for its features, the Big Pony Duffel is very much a steal in our book as it makes for a great traveling companion, which is always the case with Ralph Lauren products.

BUY NOW AT RALPH LAUREN, $109.99

20. Burberry Boston Holdall

Image credit: Burberry

Best Logo Weekender

  • Pros: Nice design, spacious

  • Cons: On the pricey side

  • Dimensions: 50 x 25 x 27cm

  • Capacity: N/A

Burberry currently offers their beautiful Boston Holdall duffle bag which is minimalistic, spacious, and well worth the coins you'll have to drop to get it. The smooth sleek design is a captivating one, and Burberry products are known to last a long while.

BUY NOW AT BURBERRY, $2,390

21. L.L. Bean Adventure Duffel

Image credit: L.L. Bean

Best Duffel Bag for Travel

  • Pros: Tough, water-resistant

  • Cons: Doesn't have internal dividers

  • Dimensions: 15"H x 30"W x 13"D

  • Capacity: 95L

L.L. Bean has you well protected wherever you choose to take this bag at the airport and on your travels, as it boasts comfortable straps, water-resistant coating, and long zippers that make it easy for you to zip/unzip. In short, this is a bag that is battle-tested and ready to go for the trails and adventures.

BUY NOW AT L.L. BEAN, $79.95

22. Yukon Avalanche Crazy Horse Duffel

Image credit: Yukon

Best Leather Weekender

  • Pros: Sustainable, multiple colors

  • Cons: Slightly pricier than other duffels

  • Dimensions: 22.4"x 18.5 x 57cm

  • Capacity: N/A

Yukon makes traveling easy and effortlessly stylish with their Avalance Crazy Horse duffel, which cabin-approved for air travel and durable, while still having a soft feel. Additionally, there's a front pocket that allows you quick access to your wallet, id, phone, etc., which is of course great for your traveling adventures and makes it so that you won't lose anything.

BUY NOW AT YUKON, $459

23. Shinola Utility Duffle

Image credit: Shinola

Also Great:

  • Pros: Spacious with plenty of pockets, TSA carry-on approved

  • Cons: Susceptible to water stains

  • Dimensions: 10" x 18.25" x 8.75"

  • Capacity: N/A

It's all about the details with Shinola's Utility Duffle, which in-terms of functionality, just might be one of the best out there. In addition to the standard compartments duffel bags tend to come with, the Utility Duffle also has a leather card pocket and a separate pen pocket to store your pens, ID, and credit cards. Once again, it has all the room you can ask for.

BUY NOW AT SHINOLA, $995

24. Monos Duffel Bag

Image credit: Soxy

Most Colorful Weekender

  • Pros: Good for everyday travel and daily commuting

  • Cons: Runs small according to some

  • Dimensions: 16.3"L × 7.2"W × 11.2"H

  • Capacity: 22L

If you are looking to purchase a duffel bag for a weekend trip or work, perhaps consider the Monos Metro Duffle which has a roomy interior that you can keep your belongings, straps that you can remove whenever you feel like it, and a laptop sleeve. Plus, look at the color. Isn't it beautiful?

BUY NOW AT SOXY, $205

25. Tumi Voyager Duffel

Image credit: Tumi

Best All-Black Duffel

  • Pros: Durable, Convenient

  • Cons: Slightly pricier than your average duffel

  • Dimensions: 10.3" X 18.9" X 10.3"

  • Capacity: N/A

TUMI's Just In Case Duffel is here for you if you need it, as it's lightweight and small enough to be stored in larger bags. There's also two side pockets and a zip pouch, so you have plenty of room to rock it by itself if not traveling. TSA-friendly and camping friendly. That's a good combination to have.

BUY NOW AT TUMI, $195

How we picked the best men's duffel bags:

These are how we made our decisions on which duffel bags to include.

Weight: The average weight of the duffels when fully packed was something that was important to us when making our selections as the purpose of a duffle bag as a whole is to be lightweight. It's the bag that you carry-on or take with you on your outdoor adventures, and therefore it should never be super heavy or at risk of potentially tearing due to it's weight.

Ease Of Use: Along the lines of weight, there's a good percentage of the population that uses duffel bags for traveling. Keeping that in mind, it can be a hassle having to get your ID, passport and credit cards when needed at the airport, so we specifically focused on duffel bags with easy access. The last thing you want to do is lose your credit card while traveling, and losing your ID and passport is even more of a nightmare. Duffel bags with easy access compartments were at the top of our list.

Cost: Only you can determine what is right for you spending-wise. With that said, we tried our best to select a variety of bags from all price points.

Materials: We also tried to give a mixture of materials as well. Polyester or nylon is probably your best bet if you plan on using frequently for traveling and outdoor activities. Leather is another fabric that holds up well, but it's also a fabric that can start to peel after a lot of usage, which is why we think it's best for leather duffels to be used occasionally if you want it to last for a long time. We also made it a point to include a few bags that are also waterproof in case you get stuck in the rain.