The Best Weekender Bags For Men, Tested By Our Team Of Editors

Forbes

17-07-2025

Whether you travel once a month or once a year, having a versatile weekender bag on hand that could easily fit into the overhead bin on a plane or train is essential. Our editors spent several weeks researching and testing the top contenders to find the very best weekender bags for men that are worth your money. After extensive testing, the Mark & Graham Canvas and Leather Weekender earned the top spot on our list thanks to its classic design made from durable cotton canvas. Away's The Weekender also earned high marks thanks to its multiple interior and exterior pockets that will keep you organized on your next trip.
The best weekender bags for men are spacious, easy to carry and compact enough to fit in a plane's ... More overhead bin. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
When shopping for a new weekender bag, dimensions and capacity are undoubtedly two of the most important considerations to keep in mind. If you're packing for an overnight, a smaller weekender bag like the Carl Friedrik Compact Weekender will do the trick; for an extended stay, opt for a larger bag like the Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L. 'The ideal weekender should be spacious enough to fit clothing, toiletries and a few extras for two to three days, but compact enough to comply with carry-on restrictions for most airlines,' says Ally Gibson, a travel content creator who has visited over 30 countries. Ahead, the best weekender bags for men in 2025. Our Top Recommendations
Most Organized Weekender Bag For Men: Away The Weekender
Best Large Weekender Bag For Men: Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L
Best Compact Weekender Bag For Men: Carl Friedrik Compact Weekender
Best Affordable Weekender Bag For Men: Béis The Weekender
Best Structured Weekender Bag For Men: Antler Icon Overnight Bag
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Dimensions: 31 x 10.5 x 17.5 | Capacity: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Materials: Canvas, leather | Colors: 5 total, including Army Green and Navy
Best for: Stylish appearance
Personalization options
Spacious main compartment
Skip if: You want a bag with more pockets
Mark & Graham's canvas and leather weekender bag earned the top spot on our list thanks to its stylish design, high-quality materials and spacious interior. It comes in two sizes, but we recommend the larger size for weekend trips, as the main compartment holds enough for trips lasting up to three or four days (depending on your packing style). The spacious main compartment features one zippered pocket, which helps store a passport and other important items, and there's also an exterior pocket. 'This bag has a very understated but classic look that could fit anyone's aesthetic,' says our tester, who traveled with this bag on a weekend lake trip this summer. 'The canvas felt tough and sturdy, especially around the handle. The leather on the bottom proved durable as well.'
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Dimensions: 20.9 x 11.8 x 9.4 inches | Capacity: 38 liters | Weight: 3.8 pounds | Materials: Nylon, leather | Colors: 5 total, including Jet Black and Coast Blue
Best for: Clamshell opening for easy access to belongings
Multiple zippered interior pockets
Separate padded laptop pocket
Skip if: You're looking for a lighter bag
Away is an editor-approved brand known for its modern, streamlined luggage with excellent organizational features (we've reviewed the brand's most popular suitcases in our guides to the best luggage and best checked luggage ). The weekender bag offers many of the same organizational features as suitcases, like a clamshell opening with two separate compartments, an exterior padded laptop pocket and multiple handles. Our tester took this bag on a recent trip to Montréal, and it was more than spacious enough for a three-day stay: 'I was able to squeeze in two pairs of pants, four shirts, a blazer, a sweater and a toiletry bag, and I used its shoe compartment to store a pair of flats," she says. However, our tester notes that it feels a bit heavy, despite its nylon construction, so it's not ideal for travelers who will be carrying heavy equipment in it, such as cameras or tech. It would be great for a road trip, though.
Bellroy Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L
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Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Editor's note: We tested the 35-liter weekender bag, which was recently discontinued. We included product information below for the 45-liter version.
Dimensions: 14.6 × 26 × 11.8 inches | Capacity: 45 liters | Weight: 2.2 pounds | Materials: Recycled polyester, nylon | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Slate
Best for: Extra space for packing
Sturdy, rolled-edge handles and polyester construction
Internal Apple AirTag pocket
Skip if: You want a bag with a separate laptop sleeve
If you're looking for a larger weekender for trips that might turn into an extended stay, we highly recommend the Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L. Bellroy utilizes fabrics from recycled sources, including fishing nets and plastic bottles, resulting in a sturdy, textured polyester that withstands frequent use and rough handling. Despite its simple, uncluttered exterior, it's packed with helpful features, including a detachable, padded shoulder strap, luggage pass-through and an internal AirTag pouch. 'It also offers excellent organization—I especially liked the raised mesh pockets inside, which allowed me to secure items I didn't want squished, and the side-slip pockets made it easy to grab things on the go,' says our tester, who traveled with this bag on a three-day trip to Germany. 'Plus, this bag conveniently fits into a car trunk, overhead compartment or under an airplane seat.'
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Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Dimensions: 18.1 x 11 x 7.3 inches | Capacity: 24 liters | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Materials: Nubuck leather | Colors: 4 total, including Charcoal and Chocolate
Best for: Comfortable handling thanks to the 1.5-inch-wide shoulder strap
Luxe material and finishes
Skip if: You're looking for a budget-friendly option
Surface can reveal minor scratches, so this bag will need to be occasionally brushed
Although this bag is more expensive than other options on our list, its luxurious materials and beautiful design are worth the investment. The nubuck leather exterior is brushed for a suede-like finish and will stand the test of time since it's made from the toughest part of the hide. The streamlined size is easy to haul in and out of a car, train, or plane, and it features a total of four pockets (three on the inside and one on the outside). 'This is a very compact bag, akin to a small gym bag, and it slipped effortlessly into the cramped overhead bin on my flight,' says our tester, who used this bag on a weekend trip from Michigan to New York City. 'Its material also stands out for its ruggedness. The surface takes on some minor scratches and imperfections, but I found these came right out with a little brushing.'
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Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Dimensions: 16 x 19 x 10 inches | Capacity: 49 liters | Weight: 3.8 pounds | Materials: Poly canvas, vegan leather | Colors: 5 total, including Black and Beige
Best for: Budget-friendly price
Easy access opening
Separate bottom compartment for shoes
Skip if: You're worried about lighter colors staining
For travelers who want a quality weekender that doesn't compromise on quality, our tester gave this bag high marks for its durable outer canvas and plethora of easy-access pockets. 'The material withstood multiple subway rides and trips without any wear and tear," says our tester, who now uses this bag frequently. "I also appreciate the durable, hard outer shell of the footwear compartment.' The wire-frame top completely opens to make packing and unpacking a breeze, and there's a padded laptop pocket to keep your tech safe during transit. The zipper pocket in the back unzips to become a trolley sleeve, and the bottom compartment helps store shoes or toiletries that you might want to keep separate.
Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted ratings are based on thorough evaluations by our editorial team to help you choose the best products with confidence.
Dimensions: 16.3 x 11 x 5.9 inches | Capacity: 27 liters | Weight: 1.9 pounds | Materials: Recycled polyester | Colors: 1 total, including
Best for: Lightweight construction
Water-resistant exterior is easy to care for
Structured shape for easy packing and unpacking
Skip if: You want a padded shoulder strap
Having a structured bag helps when it comes to packing and unpacking, as it stands up on its own and won't topple over in an airport or train station. This well-designed weekender is also extremely lightweight, so even when it's fully packed, it's easy to carry and transport. 'I love its minimalist profile, not to mention its storage pockets,' says our tester. 'I especially appreciated how some of the inside pockets are mesh so you can easily see their contents, a really helpful feature if you're prone to losing important documents during travel. And while this is a small bag, I still managed to fit a whole weekend's worth of outfits—and a pair of shoes.' Other useful features include two water bottle pockets, a laptop sleeve and an adjustable shoulder strap.
The Forbes Vetted travel team has researched, written and published dozens of in-depth roundups on luggage , including the best carry-on backpacks , the best underseat luggage and the best weekender bags . Katherine Louie , the author of this piece, is a lifestyle editor with extensive experience covering travel and lifestyle topics. She has worked on multiple tested travel product guides, including the best softside luggage and the best carry-on backpacks.
, the author of this piece, is a lifestyle editor with extensive experience covering travel and lifestyle topics. She has worked on multiple tested travel product guides, including the best softside luggage and the best carry-on backpacks. The travel section is overseen by Forbes Vetted's senior travel editor, Astrid Taran , an eight-year industry veteran who has visited over 40 countries. Some of her recent work includes the best carry-on luggage and the best luggage .
, an eight-year industry veteran who has visited over 40 countries. Some of her recent work includes the and the . For this story, Louie gathered key insights and guidance from Ally Gibson , a travel content creator who has visited over 30 countries.
We relied on expert advice, independent reviews, research and personal experience to select our top recommendations for the best weekender bags for men. Our travel editorial team evaluated ten different bags for this review. Our winners were evaluated based on their materials, dimensions, capacity, interior organization and durability.
We researched all the brands featured on this list to ensure each has a strong reputation and positive reviews, focusing on models with an average rating of at least four stars and a negligible number of concerning reviews, if any.
Forbes Vetted editors and staffers tested our top six selections for several months. They provided detailed feedback on the bags, scoring each piece on a scale of 1 to 5. We narrowed our final selections by focusing on the weekenders that scored higher than 3.
The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.
When packing for a weekend trip, it's essential to find a bag that can withstand frequent handling, accommodate all your essentials and be compact enough to fit in a plane's overhead bin. Here are three key factors to consider before making a purchase. Capacity
'The ideal weekender should be spacious enough to fit clothing, toiletries, and a few extras for two to three days, but compact enough to comply with carry-on restrictions for most airlines,' says Ally Gibson, a travel content creator who has visited over 30 countries. 'A capacity of 30 to 40 liters is generally ideal for a weekend's worth of clothing and gear.' However, consider how long you will be traveling and whether you might need extra space for bulky camera gear or oddly shaped items, such as a hair dryer. For a spacious bag that can accommodate more clothing, we recommend the Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L. Materials
Weekender bags are available in a variety of materials, including leather, nylon and canvas. Canvas bags, such as the Mark & Graham Canvas And Leather Weekender, may show marks more easily, especially with lighter colors. Opt for darker hues like black, navy and dark olive instead. Nylon, polyester and leather bags (such as the Carl Friedrik Compact Weekender and Away's The Weekender) are excellent choices that are both durable and easy to clean. 'If you prefer a classic style that ages beautifully, full-grain or top-grain leather is my favorite (though it's heavier),' says Gibson. She also recommends polyester for its lightweight construction and affordability. Extra Features
Look for features that can make your overall travel experience more seamless, such as external pockets for quick-access items like your phone or wallet. 'One of the first things I look for is a removable padded shoulder strap, since it offers flexibility and comfort. I also appreciate a separate shoe compartment for keeping shoes or dirty laundry away from clean clothes,' says Gibson. She also recommends water-resistant linings or zippers, as well as a padded laptop sleeve, if you travel with electronics. 'Having a trolley sleeve is invaluable for slipping the bag over your suitcase handle, especially if you're like me and don't enjoy carrying heavy bags on your shoulder for extended periods.'
Who Makes The Best Weekender Bag?
After extensive research and testing, we recommend the Mark & Graham Canvas And Leather Weekender thanks to its durable materials, classic good looks and spacious main compartment. For an extra $15, you can personalize the bag (choose between laser engraving and embroidery), making it a great gift as well.
What Type Of Bag Is Best For A Weekend Trip?
'Ultimately, the best weekender bag is one that matches your travel style, organizational needs and personal taste,' says Gibson. 'Investing in quality materials and thoughtful features is also a must if you want to ensure your bag lasts for years of adventures.' All the bags highlighted in this guide are well-suited for weekend trips, whether you prefer something ultra-compact, like the Carl Friedrik Compact Weekender, or an option with plenty of internal pockets to keep you organized (we recommend Away's The Weekender).
What Is The Difference Between A Weekender And A Duffle Bag?
Typically, weekender bags can fit enough clothing for a weekend trip (one to three days), whereas a duffle bag is slightly larger. Duffle bags usually have one large main compartment with little to no interior organization. However, both types of bags are soft-sided and feature carry handles or straps that enhance portability.