The 5 Best Duffel Bags for Travels in 2019

In the past, many viewed travel as a big luxury. However, as people have started to earn higher incomes and flights are becoming, more have been heading to far off places. According to MMGY Global, millennials traveled 35 percent more in 2017. And in that year, there are many millennials who are parents. So family vacations have also been going up.

So what do people think about or even plan out thoroughly before they go on vacation? Packing.

Depending on the trip, there are lots of ways to go approach packing. While longer vacations mean that you’ll be checking in your luggage, the shorter ones call for something a little less bulky. And there are number of bags you can choose from — backpacks, carry ons or duffel bags. This post will focus on the last item on the list.

When people think of duffel bags, normally going to the gym comes to the mind. While that’s still a great use for them, nowadays many look to the duffel bag when it comes to packing for their next excursion. And while they just looked like large cloth hot dogs in the past. Today’s duffel bags don’t only hold more items but also can keep them organized. They are made of a variety of materials and come in even more sizes. You can carry them around or easily move them with wheels.

After looking through a variety of different brands, styles and purposes, we have gathered the best five duffel bags. And they aren’t ranked just by how useful and amazing they are. But each duffel bag also serves a different purpose. So take a look at the list and see which one is the perfect fit for your next adventure.

Best for the Budget Minded: S-ZONE Travel Canvas Duffel Bag

Amazon

Duffel bags have been known to have a very specific look. They’re usually made of thing materials, usually nylon, and look like you’re a big gym buff. But for many of us, that’s not necessarily the vibe we’re trying to give off at the airport. Luckily for us, there are companies out there that are making duffel bags out of different materials including canvas and leather to make them look less sporty and more stylish.

However as the fabric changes, that means the price tag tends to go up. But if you’re on a budget, that might not work. However S-Zone has come out with a line of solid travel bags that won’t break the bank, especially the S-Zone Travel Canvas duffel bag.

Retailing for $46.99 on Amazon, it’s an affordable bag that can also fit anywhere from a weekend’s worth of clothing or can also carry your things for a few more days after. While it has a nice rugged chic look, the waxed canvas makes it lighter to carry but also can keep your things dry. It is also very roomy inside even though it doesn’t have many compartments inside.

S-ZONE Travel Canvas Duffel Bag Pros

• Affordable.
• The waxed canvas makes it water repellent.
• Leather handles make it easy to hold.

S-ZONE Travel Canvas Duffel Bag Cons

• Fabric can wrinkle, and those are difficult to smooth out.
• Not very many compartments.
• The zippers aren’t the strongest.

Best Carry On: Herschel Novel Duffle Bag

Amazon

Herschel is one of today’s leading names in lifestyle backpacks. You can hardly walk down the street without seeing a few a people carrying one. But the Vancouver company isn’t just known for the two strapped carriers, it also has a variety of other bags that people who aren’t into backpacks can opt into.

Take for instance the brand’s Novel Duffle Bag. Aside from calling it a “duffle bag” instead of a “duffel bag,” this particular one will not hold all your stuff for your next trip. But it’ll also add something simple yet stylish to your bag collection. With the ability to carry 42.5 liters, it’s perfect for a weekend trip or as a supplemental luggage on a longer adventure. It has a large shoe compartment at the bottom of the bag that is big enough for a pair combat boots or a combination of sneakers, flip flops and flats. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns. While it doesn’t have many pockets or compartments, it is a solid option for your next trip.

Herschel Novel Duffle Bag Pros

• Zipper is waterproof.
• There’s a special section for your shoes.
• You can easily take it onto the plane.

Herschel Novel Duffle Bag Cons

• Some of the a fabric options aren’t waterproof.
• There aren’t many compartments.
• The plastic parts on the strap can squeak as you move.

Best Rolling: Samsonite Andante Wheeled 22″ Duffel

Samsonite has long been a mainstay in the luggage world. So the Samsonite Andante 22-inch wheeled duffel bag. While the size might seem small, this piece of luggage can hold a lot of clothing, shoes and anything else you’d like to take on the trip. Also, with the U-shaped opening, packing and unpacking won’t be too hard to do. All the compartments in this particular bag will make it easy to organize to.

Samsonite Andante Wheeled 22″ Duffel Pros

• Large opening for simple access to things.
• Has two skate wheels for easy movement.
• Lightweight.

Samsonite Andante Wheeled 22″ Duffel Cons

• Soft luggage so it’s not that protective.
• Not waterproof or resistant.
• Its dimensions just graze the line of hand only baggage.

Best Packable: Bago 27-Inch Duffle Bag

Amazon

Sometimes we can’t help but buy too many gifts and souvenirs on a trip. But what do we do when we need to start packing for home? Not to worry, that’s what the Bago 27-Inch duffle bag is for. Rated as one of the best packable duffel bags you can get on the web, it will be the best solution when it comes to getting your things ready for home. Only weighing one and a half pounds and folds up to less 13 inches all around, this is the best “just in case” bag you can toss into your luggage. And it doesn’t just carry a few things, it’ll take care of all your used clothing and other soiled things or any other items you want to leave out of your suitcase. It also won’t break the budget and will only cost you $32.99 on Amazon. While there have been reviews that these bags won’t last too long, that isn’t terrible as they won’t break the budget.

Bago 27-Inch Duffle Bag Pros

• Water resistant.
• Folds easily into your main suitcase.
• Great backup bag for souvenirs and gifts.

Bago 27-Inch Duffle Bag Cons

• Prone to ripping.
• Can be uncomfortable to carry.
• Needs to be replaced once in a while.

Best Large Size: Patagonia Black Hole 120 L Duffel Bag

Patagonia

Calling all adventurers out there! Known best for its outerwear and camping gear, Patagonia also has a line of baggage that will help you get your things from point A to point B. Made of highly water resistant material, this bag can go with you through all the elements. It also has a big opening for easy packing and unpacking. You can also turn the top handles into backpack straps, which gives you a different option for carrying.

Patagonia Black Hole 120 L Duffel Bag Pros

• Fabric is waterproof.
• There is an exterior zipped pocket.
• Lots of room for things.

Patagonia Black Hole 120 L Duffel Bag Cons

• Can be a little bulky to travel with.
• Backpack carrying feature can be difficult to carry.
• There are no wheels.

Travel Duffel Bag Buying Guide

Move over basic black and white athletic duffel bags because today’s options come in different colors, fabrics and overall looks. But with so many choices, how can you pick the right one for you?

Before actually picking one up, you need to ask yourself a bunch of questions. How long will you be on your trip? What kind of trip is it? Will you be outdoors most of the time? How much are you planning to bring with you? Does the bag have a number of compartments to keep your are your belongings from moving around while you’re traveling? How easy is it to access your things from the bag?

How do you want to transport your duffel bag? Do you want to carry it? Or would you rather it be on wheels to move from place to place easily?

After asking yourself these questions and getting the answers to them, it’ll bring you even closer to your perfect duffel bag. Learn more about these different features and details below.

Size

When they’re empty, duffel bags look pretty big. And yes, while they can carry lots of things, there is a pretty large range in sizes. Perhaps the smallest of duffel bags is the weekender. And just like the name suggests, this type of duffel is meant to only carry one or two nights of clothing and small toiletry bag of essentials. But if you need more space, duffel bags come in sizes that can fit as much as a carry-on suitcase as well as all the gear for your next camping trip. So before walking into a shop, you will need to figure out what you’re bringing before investing in a duffel bag.

Ease of Packing and Unpacking

Traditional and simple duffel bags normally have one zipper on the top. However today’s duffels have improved on the bags’ openings. Instead of putting in the zipper in one straight line, there are many that are designed in a U-shape. That would make a bigger opening for you to pack and unpack. And if you only need to remove one thing, the U-shape opening will allow the duffel to sustain its shape.

Internal Compartments

While past duffel bags only had one compartment, modern ones now have many different pockets, netted pouches and other great compartments to help you organize your things as well as put them in their specified places. And that is something that’s very important to consider if you plan to use a duffel bag as your main piece of baggage. Aside from the main packing area that’s normally in the middle, all the other pockets will allow you to stow away other things like your phone charger and travel size hair dryer.

Wheeled vs Unwheeled

If there’s one aspect of the duffel bag that will get anyone thinking for a while, it’s whether or not to get one with wheels or not. And the best way to approach to this decision is to figure out what kind of trip you’re going on. If it’s a weekend getaway, then you probably will only need to carry your bag by the dual handles or the shoulder strap that normally comes with it. There are also a number of wheel-less duffel with straps that can be worn like a backpack.

There a number of reasons to get a duffel bag with wheels. The first is that you just don’t want to carry your duffel bag around. Then there’s also the fact that you may be carry a lot of weight around, and it might be much easier to roll your things around. And while there are many duffels on wheels that you’ll likely need to check in, a small duffel bag with wheels will likely be allowed to be carried onto the plane.

Materials

Duffel bags come in a multitude of fabrics that range from canvas to leather to waterproof materials. Like the other features in this list, the type of material you will want to go with is all based on what type of traveller you are and what type of trip you’re going on. If you want one that’s more stylish and chic, then perhaps the leather or patterned canvas ones are best for you. However if you are traveling to a place that’s rainy or you’ll be in inclement weather, you might want to invest a duffel bag that is made of a water-resistant or waterproof material.