Top 12 Best Men’s Weekender Bags & Duffels for 2023

In this article, we’ll discuss what we think are the best weekender and duffel bags that men can buy.

The concept of a weekend getaway does a lot of good for the soul. A quick, uncomplicated jaunt to some new scenery and unfamiliar faces can be exciting, refreshing, and relaxing — all at the same time.

Whether it’s a weekend in the mountains for some hiking and fly fishing or an urban escape for culture and nightlife, a great weekender bag is an absolute necessity. You need a stylish bag that embodies the sense of adventure a last-minute trip thrives on.

This guide will help you choose the best bag for your style, budget, and the types of trips you’re most likely to embark upon. You’ll find classy weekenders and rugged duffels, all with an unapologetically masculine look. 

Quick Take

Short on time? Here are our top three picks for the best weekender bags you can buy right now:

Read on for more info and the complete list…

What to Consider When Shopping for a Men’s Weekender Bag

Before we jump right into the best weekender bags, it’s worth taking a few paragraphs to discuss what you should look for while shopping. Take a look at these important features or considerations before you land on a bag so you’ll be sure it meets your needs.

Leather vs. Nylon vs. Canvas

By and large, the three most popular materials for men’s weekender bags are leather, nylon, and canvas. They each have their pros and cons and unique looks, so be sure to consider this carefully.

Leather weekender bags are tough and durable. They often look classy and rugged at the same time. Leather is much heavier than other materials, and you might need to maintain it from time to time with a leather conditioner.

However, leather bags look better with age as they earn a weathered, patinated look that you simply can’t replicate without years of use.

Nylon weekender bags have a sporty appearance. In fact, most gym bags are made from nylon since it’s lightweight, moisture resistant, and easy to clean.

Common nylon bags also tend to be the most affordable option, though they may lack the mature, sophisticated, and rugged look of other materials like leather and canvas. However, high-end nylon bags can be just as classy and sophisticated as the other materials.

Canvas and Twill are great meet-in-the-middle options between leather and nylon. Canvas is a robust and durable fabric used for making sails, tents, heavy-duty backpacks, and other tough fabric items.

Waxed canvas, or tin cloth, is even better, as it offers a bit of resistance from rain and inclement weather. Twill is similar to canvas, but with a different weave pattern.

Canvas and twill bags are lighter than leather, durable, and have a rugged, field-going spirit that’s perfect for weekend trips.

Carrying Capacity and Size

Sure, a great weekender bag doesn’t need to carry your entire wardrobe, but it does need to carry enough to get you through a fun-filled weekend. You need a bag that can fit a couple of outfits, an additional pair of shoes, all your undergarments, and any grooming products you need to bring along.

You also need room for some EDC items, cash, a phone charger, and a passport (should your weekend trip take you over a border).

Small bags look great, but they can really handcuff you if you’re going for anything longer than an overnight getaway. Big bags will hold everything and then some, but you have to carry them and manipulate them through hotels, ski lodges, and chateau lobbies.

There’s certainly a balance you need to strike — luckily, all of the bags in this guide do just that.

Style

As I mentioned earlier, weekender bags have a certain adventurous spirit sewed right into their seams. With that said, there are a few different styles that you need to shop through to find the one that fits your style the best.

If you’re a minimalist, you’ll want to look for a subdued bag without big, bulky exterior pockets. If you’re more at home on a trout stream than the boardroom, a canvas duffle-style bag with rugged styling might be just the ticket.

A nylon bag might check the boxes if you’re the type that prefers nightlife or high-rise hotels to cabins in valleys. It comes down to matching your weekender bag with your weekend style.

The Best Leather Weekender Bags

There are some really incredible leather weekender bags available, and they offer plenty of function and style. While these bags tend to be more expensive than the other categories, they’re durable and look outstanding — especially over time.

Hook & Albert Leather Garment Weekender

Guys looking for a high-quality leather weekender with a great design and plenty of functionality should check out the Hook & Albert Leather Garment Weekender. This sharp bag has two rolled leather handles and a shoulder strap for easy carrying.

The Leather Garment Weekender has an awesome design. The sides unzip and fold flat, allowing you to lay the bag completely flat. It has a built-in suit bag and two compartments for individual shoes.

Pros: 

• Fold-Flat Design
• Comfortably Fits a Suit

Cons:

• Not Full-Grain Leather

This design allows you to take formal or business wear on a weekend trip, and you can hang the bag from a hanger like a traditional suit bag.

The only actual complaint is that the leather isn’t full-grain. While the top grain leather is very nice, full-grain is more durable. 

Carl Friedrik Palissy Weekend

If you don’t mind spending a bit extra to get an incredible bag, the Carl Friedrik Palissy Weekend is worth a look. Carl Friedrik makes these bags from Italian Vachetta full-grain vegetable-tanned leather, ensuring quality and a great future patina.

The Palissy Weekend has some truly handsome looks. It has a simple, minimalist design with just one exterior pocket. It has two small fabric pockets inside for a wallet or a passport, and the upright construction keeps this bag standing while loading, unloading, or simply sitting.

Pros: 

• Full-Grain Veg-Tanned Leather
• Handsome looks

Cons:

• Expensive
• No Extra Compartments

It has two rolled leather handles as well as a leather shoulder strap.

The issues with the Palissy Weekend are that it doesn’t have any extra compartments for shoes or dirty clothes. Also, it’s an expensive bag, but the quality is second to none.

The Weekender from WP Standard

When it comes to a quality bag at a value-minded price, you can’t beat The Weekender from WP Standard. This full-grain leather bag features two strap handles with a button-closure grip, a detachable shoulder strap, and two external storage pockets. 

This bag’s rustic, rugged styling will appeal to guys that prefer the mountains or forests over the busy streets. The combination of full-grain leather and copper rivets is begging for a few years of use to show off its patinated charm.

Pros:

• Full-Grain Leather
• Nice Copper Accents

Cons:

• “Affordable” is Relative

While the WP Standard offers plenty of value, “affordable” is a relative term. This is still an expensive bag, but you’ll undoubtedly get your money’s worth from it.

Daveed Travel Duffle

If you tend to stretch your weekends into three or four days, you’ll need a lot of storage. The Daveed Travel Duffle can deliver. It features two rolled leather handles and a detachable shoulder strap.

Daveed makes the Travel Duffle from Full-Grain German Nixburg Bullskin, so it’s tough and will age nicely. It features a 15-inch laptop pocket, a zippered interior pocket, a zipper pocket for a passport, and reinforced corners.

Pros:

• Full-Grain Leather
• Lots of Storage

Cons:

• The Price

You’ll have to shell out some significant cash for a bit of cash for a duffle like this, which is the only actual downside to the Travel Duffle.

The Best Canvas and Twill Weekender Bags

If you’re looking for a great, durable bag that can take a beating on an adventurous weekend trip, any of these canvas or twill weekenders will do the trick.

L.L. Bean Waxed Canvas Duffle

Guys looking for a rugged, classically designed waxed canvas bag should definitely consider the L.L. Bean Waxed Canvas Duffle. This bag has L.L. Bean’s adventurous spirit infused in its design, with two rolled leather handles, cotton webbing, and a water-resistant waxed canvas body.

This bag has two external zip pockets for smaller items as well as a zippered pocket inside. It has plenty of storage space inside, and the reinforced bottom helps ensure you won’t wear it out.

Pros:

• Classic Rugged Styling
• Full-Grain Leather Handles

Cons:

• No Padding on Shoulder Strap

There are really no downsides to this bag other than the fact that the shoulder strap has no pad. It’s not a big deal, but it’s something that L.L. Bean could possibly improve upon.

Filson 48-Hour Tin Cloth Duffle Bag

When it comes to the best in premium Canvas Weekenders, the Filson 48-Hour Tin Cloth Duffle Bag is at the top of the heap. This bag features bridle leather handles and body tabs, two leather strap handles with a button-closure grip, and an adjustable shoulder strap.

Filson does waxed canvas like no other brand. This bag is weather-resistant and nearly indestructible, plus it has some rugged good looks. It features several large exterior pockets and plenty of interior storage — and it’s lined with Filson’s Cover Cloth to protect your clothes and gear.

Pros:

• Basically Indestructible
• Lots of Storage Pockets

Cons:

• It’s an investment

The 48-Hour Tin Cloth Duffle Bag is expensive for a canvas bag. However, you get the timeless look of a Filson product and the company’s legendary durability.

Bespoke Post x Line of Trade Weekender Bag

If you’re shopping for a good bag at a great price, the Bespoke Post x Line of Trader Weekender is pretty much unbeatable. This bag features two leather handles, a removable shoulder strap, and a dual-buckle closure system.

Bespoke Post and Line of Trade used a classic stone mason’s bag as the inspiration for this weekender. This gives it a classic, tried-and-true design that inspires confidence and a do-all attitude. This bag opens wide with a steel-reinforced opening, and it features a 15-inch laptop pocket.

Pros:

• Great Price
• Plenty of Storage Space

Cons:

• Not Many Pockets
• Need the Subscription for the Best Price

Other than the laptop pocket, you won’t find any pockets for storage. Also, the price is excellent, but to get the best possible price, you’ll have to sign up for Bespoke Post’s subscription service.

The Twill Weekender from Everlane

Guys looking for a great, minimalist twill bag should check out the Twill Weekender from Everlane. This straightforward bag features two strap handles, two exterior pockets, and an interior zippered pocket.

The Twill Weekender is all about simplicity. It doesn’t have an adjustable shoulder strap or even the clips for attaching one. Instead, the leather strap handles are extra long, allowing you to throw this bag over your shoulder if you need to.

Pros:

• Good Value
• Straightforward Design

Cons:

• Not Waxed

If you consider the great price it’s available for, it offers plenty of value.

This bag is twill, not canvas, so it’s just slightly less durable. Also, it’s not waxed, so it’s not quite as weather-resistant as it could be, though you could wax it yourself. 

Filson Medium Rugged Twill Duffle Bag

The Filson Medium Rugged Twill Duffle Bag is the perfect choice for weekend trips to the cabin or ski lodge. This twill bag features two bridle leather strap handles, a leather adjustable shoulder strap, and a storm-flap top closure.

The Medium Rugged Twill Duffle Bag has a truly rugged design. The handles wrap around the entire bag to support heavy loads, and the storm-flap closure keeps inclement weather from working its way into your bag. The twill fabric is also weather and abrasion-resistant.

Pros:

• Rugged Construction
• Bridle Leather Handles and Straps

Cons:

• Not Waxed

This bag isn’t waxed, so it might not be as durable and easy to clean as a tin cloth bag. Other than that, this bag is outstanding.

The Best Nylon Weekender Bags

Nylon and synthetic materials are a popular option for weekender bags, but these aren’t your standard nylon gym duffle. These bags are sturdy, stylish, and capable.

The Monaco Weekender from Stuart & Lau

Check out the Monaco Weekender from Stuart & Lau if you’re looking for a lightweight nylon bag with plenty of features. This bag features two adjustable full-grain rolled leather handles, an adjustable shoulder strap, and two straps for a travel umbrella.

The Monaco has a lot going for it. It features nylon DuraLite fabric, which makes it both waterproof and lightweight. It has two end pockets, a center external pocket, a zippered interior pocket, and storage for wires, headphones, and cash.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Weatherproof
• Handsome Design

Cons:

• Nothing (it’s a great bag)

There aren’t any actual complaints about The Monaco. Yes, it’s a bit expensive, but it’s still a great value.  

Tumi Double Expansion Travel Satchel

If you’re not afraid to spend a little extra on a nylon bag, the Tumi Double Expansion Travel Satchel might be the bag for you. This bag features a full nylon construction body, nylon webbing handles with a button-closure grip, a nylon shoulder strap, and plenty of storage.

The Double Expansion Travel Satchel has two zippered collapsible sections that unzip to expand the bag for plenty of storage. It also features a center pocket with several smaller organizer pockets for all your gear, tech, and travel documents.

Pros:

• Expandable Design
• Plenty of Pockets

Cons:

• Contrasting Pocket

In all black, this is a great looking bag. The gray and blue versions have a contrasting center pocket, which distracts a bit from its simple design. Otherwise, it’s an excellent bag.

Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffle

The Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffle Bag is an excellent choice for a weekend traveler on a budget. This nylon bag provides plenty of storage for a two or three-day trip.

One feature you’ll enjoy about the Novel Duffle is its external shoe storage pocket, allowing you to bring an extra pair of shoes or boots on your weekend trip without dirtying your clean clothes. It also features an interior mesh pocket for storing smaller items.

Pros:

• Great Price
• External Storage for Shoes

Cons:

• Faux Leather Straps

The Novel comes in several color variations, several of which have faux leather straps. These straps are a little cheesy so some guys may choose to steer clear of those bags. You can see our full review of the Herschel Novel here.

Final Thoughts

A great weekender bag can call to you from inside your closet, begging you to fill it up and hit the road. Choosing a bag off of this list will ensure your bag’s up for the journey.

The Monaco from Stuart & Lau is an incredible bag, and it can do a bit of everything. If you’re looking for an indestructible bag for your trips and adventures, check out the Filson 48-Hour Tin Cloth Duffle Bag.

If you’d prefer a truly classic design, you might be looking for something like the Carl Friedrik Palissy Weekend bag. If it’s all about saving cash, the Bespoke Post x Line of Trader Weekender or Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffle could do the trick.

Whichever bag you choose from this guide, you’re sure to have a trusty travel companion for many weekends to come.