Need a great bag for weekend trips or as a carry on for a longer haul? This article looks at the Beckett Simonon Davis Weekender.
I travel a lot. I am a master packer and very rarely check a bag when flying. I take pride in the fact that I can be off the plane and in a car within 10 minutes of de-boarding. When I came across the Beckett Simonon Davis Weekender Bag, I knew I had to add this to my travel arsenal, and I’m sure glad I did.
Brock talked about having a great bag in his What to Wear to the Airport article, and this one from Beckett Simonon is your perfect travel companion. Its style combined with functionality and durability are all things that I know most guys will appreciate.
Note: In exchange for this review, Beckett Simonon sent us the David Weekender in black.
Every trip is different. With this bag, it doesn’t matter if you’re going on a weekend getaway or a longer business trip – you’ll be covered.
It’s made from gorgeous pebble grain leather, but if black isn’t your thing, it also comes in tan and oxblood. You can pick this bag up on their website for $359, marked down from a $600 MSRP.
The Specs
Durability is key with weekend duffels. You want bags that will last a long time and look better with age.
If you’re like me, you’re probably a bit of a specs guy. Here is a breakdown of what you get with the Davis Weekender:
- Handmade in small batches
- Full grain pebbled leather
- Cotton twill lining
- YKK Everbright zippers
- Solid brass hardware
- Detachable shoulder strap
- Three internal pockets
- Front pocket with zipper
- Dust bag included
- Length 20″, Height 10.5″, Depth 10.2″
- 1 year warranty
As you can see, this bag is made with durability in mind. When you’re dropping this kind of coin, quality is definitely something you want to look for, and Beckett Simonon seems to have delivered.
The branded dust bag is a nice touch too, as this weekender will be protected when it’s sitting in your closet between trips.
The Company
Beckett Simonon is a company that makes its products in small batches and sells direct to consumer. I’ve ordered from them a few times and have always been completely satisfied.
Their products are made to order, and shipping and returns are free within the United States.
What I Like
First off, the styling. This bag is simply stunning. I know that might be odd to say about a weekender bag, but this one oozes class and elegance.
Know this, if you are going on a road trip with your wife or partner, this bag will get their seal of approval. Our better halves always notice the details.
As mentioned, it comes in three colors, but the black one we have goes perfectly with almost any outfit. Need some inspiration on what to wear? Brock has you covered with a Smart Casual Travel Outfit idea.
It also seems really sturdy. I haven’t had this bag for long, but I can tell you it looks and feels well made.
This bag has the pebbled leather so it can take a big of a beating in the trunk of your car or the overhead bin of an airplane. The bag comes with high quality YKK zippers, solid hardware and a durable cotton twill lining that feels great to the touch.
The internal pockets are perfect for smaller items (for example, if you want to make sure your travel documents are safe).
In this situation, size does matter. When it comes to a weekender, you don’t want something that is too bulky to lug around or too small to be useful.
This bag definitely hits that sweet spot. It is large enough to carry enough clothes to get you through a weekend trip without a problem, but not so big that you will regret bringing it along with your other luggage when going on a longer trip.
It will even have enough room to take on a couple of your girlfriend’s extra items that she always seems to never be able to fit in her bag as well. As a bonus, it easily fits into any airplane overhead bin.
One small thing that I really like is the fact that there is no branding whatsoever on the exterior of this bag. The only way you’ll know this is a Beckett Simonon bag is by the embossed black on black logo on the interior of the bag – a classy touch.
What I Don’t Like
It’s hard to find many issues with this bag. This is not a sponsored post, so I’m not obligated to say anything overtly positive, but I really think Beckett Simonon has built a great quality bag.
For some guys, the biggest downside might be the price, as $359 is a lot of money to spend. But when it comes to luggage, quality usually comes at a cost and in this case, you get what you pay for.
Timing might be a problem for you as well. These bags are made to order in limited runs, so you might have to wait a while to get your hands on it. The pre-order campaigns run until they reach capacity or time runs out – whichever happens first.
So if you miss out on a campaign, it could be months before you get your order.
My Recommendation
The first thing my wife said when I unboxed the David Weekender was, “Wow, you’re like a real grown up now!”
I could finally throw out my old gym duffel bag that I’ve been using the last 10 years on our short trips together. This weekender is a huge upgrade, and I look forward to taking it with me on my travels.
I’m very interested to see how it breaks in and holds up over the long term. Perhaps I’ll write an updated review in the future…
The next time you’re in the market for a travel bag, be sure to check out the Beckett Simonon Davis Weekender Bag or their entire lineup of weekender bags or backpacks.
Ask Me Anything