Ever since I bought my first duffel bag for a three-month trip across Australia and New Zealand, these bags have become my go-to for everything from adventure travel to casual weekend trips. The roomy main compartment offers great space, and the durability is impressive. I love how the soft fabric and lack of handles or wheels let the duffel fit easily into any luggage compartment—whether on a train, plane, boat, or bus. Now, I own three duffels in different sizes, which I’ve used for everything from safaris in Africa to road trips across Europe.
With so many duffels out there, it can be tricky to pick the right one. To make it easier, our Travel + Leisure editors tested 92 duffels and picked the best ones based on factors like capacity, organization, design, portability, durability, and value. We’ve categorized them as the best in different areas, from camping to style, and will continue testing them for at least six months.
Best Overall: Thule Chasm Sport Duffel Bag
Why We Love It: This bag stands out for its sturdy build, spacious design, and ability to convert into a comfy backpack.
What to Consider: It’s a bit bulky as a backpack, and we wish it had more external pockets.
The Thule Chasm Sport Duffel (90L) is perfect for outdoor adventures. Made from 900D tarpaulin fabric with a water-resistant finish, it has waterproof zippers and a padded base to protect your gear. After several trips, it still looks brand new. Plus, it’s made with 100% recycled fabrics, which is a nice touch. It’s a large checked bag, with enough space for a week’s worth of clothes and shoes. The wide opening makes packing and unpacking a breeze, and the internal zippered pockets keep smaller items organized. There’s a zippered pocket on the outside for quick-access items, but we wish there were a few more. It also comes with a carry case for easy storage or to pack shoes and toiletries separately. You can carry it like a briefcase or convert it into a backpack, though it’s pretty big as a backpack. The straps are comfortable and tuck away when not in use. Available in black, olive, mustard yellow, or slate blue.
The Details:
- Checked | 29 x 17 x 13 inches | 90L capacity | 4.6 lbs | 900D tarpaulin | Water-resistant
Thule Chasm Duffel Bag
Also Read: How do I Choose a Waterproof Backpack for Rainy Travel?
Best Carry-on: Patagonia Black Hole 40L Duffel Bag
Why We Love It: This duffel is built to last with weather-resistant material and reinforced straps.
What to Consider: The organization features are pretty basic.
The Patagonia Black Hole 40L Duffel is perfect for long weekends, meeting most airline carry-on requirements. It’s surprisingly roomy and includes a mesh pocket on the underside of the lid, plus a zippered side pocket that you can access from the outside or inside. One of our favorite features is that the bag packs down into its own pocket for easy storage. Made from tough polyester ripstop with a water-resistant TPU laminate, it’s eco-friendly and built to last. After a month of testing, it showed no wear. It’s made in a Fair Trade Certified factory with 100% recycled materials. The bag has a padded base and loops for extra gear, and the padded, removable backpack straps come in handy when you need to be hands-free.
The Details:
- Carry-on | 19.7 x 12.5 x 8.5 inches | 40L capacity | 2.3 lbs | Polyester ripstop | Water-resistant
PATAGONIA BLACK HOLE DUFFEL MATTE 40L
Also Read: How do I Find a Lightweight Yet Spacious Backpack for Adventures?
Best Lightweight: Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L
Why We Love It: A sleek, easy-to-pack bag with generous space and a lightweight feel.
What to Consider: The plastic strap clips could be more durable.
The Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L is a minimalist duffel that’s both lightweight and stylish. Its barrel shape makes packing easy and it fits perfectly in a car trunk or luggage compartment. We love how it can pack a lot while still being light, thanks to the recycled polyester and nylon fabric. During testing, it didn’t show any wear. It has both internal and external pockets, including one for an Apple AirTag. You can fit four days’ worth of clothes and shoes, and if you don’t overpack, it can fit in overhead bins. The bag can be carried by its handles, slipped onto your suitcase, or carried crossbody. While comfortable, we wish the plastic clips were sturdier.
The Details:
- Checked | 26 x 14.6 x 11.8 inches | 45L capacity | 2.2 lbs | Polyester, nylon
Bellroy Classic Weekender 45L (duffel bag) – Slate
Best Budget: Gonex Canvas Duffel Bag
Why We Love It: Affordable with lots of side pockets and an expansion feature for more space.
What to Consider: The narrow opening makes packing a bit tricky.
The Gonex Canvas Duffel is perfect for those on a budget, costing a fraction of what other top picks do. It’s a stylish bag made from durable cotton canvas with a nylon lining, and it has four plastic feet to keep it off the ground. It’s soft and unstructured, making it easy to stow in an overhead compartment. You can also expand the main compartment by up to 4 inches if you need extra room for souvenirs. Though the opening is a little narrow, there are five exterior pockets for easy organization. The bag gets heavy when fully packed, but the sturdy top handles and padded, adjustable shoulder strap make it easy to carry for short periods.
The Details:
- Carry-on | 20.8 x 9.8 x 11.8 inches (standard), 24.4 x 9.8 x 11.8 inches (expanded) | 50L capacity | 2.86 lbs | Cotton canvas, nylon | Water-resistant
Gonex Canvas Duffle Bag for Travel 50L (Dark Gray)
Also Read: What are the Best Travel Bags Under $50?
Our Testing Process
We tested these duffels in several sessions. First, we checked the materials and construction, along with any special features like straps and hardware. Then, we packed each bag with a typical packing list for a two-day or four-day trip to evaluate capacity and organization. We carried the bags for at least five minutes to test comfort and functionality, and we tested durability by dropping the bag from a counter three times. We looked for any damage to the bag or its contents. We focused on capacity, organization, design, portability, durability, and value, and will continue testing each duffel for another six months.
