21 Best Duffel Bags For Men 2023: First-Class Luggage From Filson, Nike, and More

A good duffel bag needs to do only one thing: hold stuff. The best duffel bags for men, however, need to check off a few more boxes. A great duffel bag should still carry your clothes, kicks, chargers, toiletries, and everything else in the most space-efficient, easy-to-find way possible. A great duffel should outlast your passport—or better yet, you—despite years of being stuffed in an overhead bin and thrown in the trunk of your car. A great duffel should make everyone else in the TSA line jealous. And in most cases, that means the best duffel bags for men are made from full-grain leather. (Cowhide keeps your gear protected and develops a singular patina over time that’s all yours.) That luxe hide, however, is going to cost you. Which is why we’re glad to confirm that these days there are also plenty of non-leather options on the market that are smartly engineered to hold all your stuff and stand up to being stuffed in an overheard bin again and again. And, yes, those options are also actually stylish.

You seem skeptical. Maybe you’re still working through lingering trauma from your undergrad days, when you eurotripped across half the continent with nothing but a flimsy mesh duffel and cracked iPhone to keep you company on your journey. Or maybe it’s been a while since you’ve had the opportunity to buy luggage of any kind (join the club) and you can’t quite wrap your ahead around the notion of springing for anything other than the top-shelf leather stuff. If that sounds like you, don’t X out of this tab in a panic. Relax: the duffels we’re talking about are far cry from the JanSport you used to haul around in middle school. Even when they’re not made of leather—some are cut from waxed canvas, or nylon ripstop, or a specially-treated fabric designed keep your gear dry in the dreariest conditions—each and every option included here is the top-shelf stuff. (And if you’re still not convinced, there’s plenty of handsome leather duffels to choose from too.)

For proof, look no further than the below. We’ve slung hundreds over our shoulders over the years, and none hauled our stuff as well as these. Here are 25 duffels and weekender bags for every budget and every type of weekend trip.

The Best Duffel Bags Shopping Guide

• The Best Duffel Bag, Period: Lotuff No. 12 weekender, $1,200
• The Best Status Symbol Duffel Bag: Goyard “Bowling 55” bag
• The Best Adventure-Ready Duffel Bag: Patagonia Black Hole duffel bag, $169
• The Best Designer Duffel Bag: Bottega Veneta intrecciato duffel bag, $5,200
• The Best Heavy-Duty Duffel Bag: Filson medium twill duffel bag, $575
• The Best No-Frills Duffel Bag: Everlane ReNew Transit weekender bag, $95
• The Best Duffel Bag From a New Name Already Making Waves: Baboon To The Moon go bag, $219
• The Best Long Weekend Duffel Bag: LeSportsac AEC travelall, $395

The Best Duffel Bag, Period

Squared-edge duffels can be clunky to carry and eye-pleasing cylindrical shapes are tricky to pack, but Lotuff’s No. 12 model has the just-right compromise: rectangular on the bottom, tapering up into a rounded top. That nameless-shape ensures the bag is as comfortable to carry against on your back (with the detachable strap) as it is to haul by hand but still sits stable atop a rolling suitcase. It’s made in the USA from vegetable-tanned leather with each piece of the carryall cut from the section that best serves that area (thicker for the body, thinner for interior pockets). Then there are the considered details: the zipper closure is engineered to run from from end-wall to end-wall, not simply across the top. That allows for a wider opening, which makes packing easy. The zippers and hardware are fabricated from solid brass, including the lock-and-key closure—nothing’s breaking here. There’s an interior zip pocket for the all the cords and tie bars you need to keep separate. The bottom of the bag is reinforced with a second leather layer, plus the carry handles are both riveted and stitched to support the weight of whatever you’re hauling around.

The Best Status Symbol Duffel Bag

Like the upscale restaurants notable for their menus sans pricing, when you go for Goyard, the actual cost isn’t a factor because the experience (of owning a skillfully crafted, fine leather good from a brand with 170 years behind them) is priceless. And if you’re going to be jet-setting, or at least want to feel like it, the package is just as important as the contents. Goyard’s Bowling 55 bag is crafted from a durable canvas and supple cowhide that keep your precious cargo well-cared for and will very likely last you a lifetime (and that of your grandkids.) To keep things extra secure, this swervy weekender also features lockable zips and adjustable handles that can be worn over the shoulder or cross-body. So you’re getting added versatility with your luxury, big spender.

The Best Adventure-Ready Duffel Bag

This insanely durable Patagonia duffel has passed every test (planes, trains, automobiles—you name it) for summer vacations and holiday travel. Plus it looks approximately 1,000 percent cooler than everyone else’s carry-on. Like the best base camp duffels, added shoulder-strap attachments mean you can actually hoof it up a mountain with this on your back.

The Best Designer Duffel Bag

Bottega Veneta’s signature”Intrecciato” woven leather design was first introduced in the 1970s as a way to break away from the box-shaped, rigid bags of the era. Using glove leather that was lighter and more pliable than cow skins traditionally used at the time, the brand’s craftspeople wove strips together to create a criss-cross pattern that achieved a lighter weight, more supple bag—that also stood out from the smooth-skin crowd. The artisanal infrastructure also means this bag holds its shape, whether it’s stuffed with gear in the overhead bin or barely packed for a quick overnight trip. And if you really want to stand out from every other passenger in the airport, opt for this guy in an uncommon color like this brick red.

The Best Heavy-Duty Duffel Bag

Filson’s rugged twill bags have been the gold standard for guys who want to get their shit from point A to B, from the office to out-of-office getaways. The bag feels satisfyingly sturdy, thanks to a mix of rain-resistant twill and thick bridle leather handle, both of which get better/softer/doper over time. The storm-flap closure that sits over the top zip is a smart feature if you’re traveling in inclement weather and the wraparound leather straps mean this thing can carry a heavy load with ease.

The Best No-Frills Duffel Bag

Everlane has built a reputation for simple, city sleek basics you’d want to while wear getting around town, so it makes sense that their ReNew Transit Weekender checks of all the boxes for a solid getaway bag (after all, city dwellers love a two-day rendezvous). While it features a padded interior laptop sleeve, not one but two water bottle holders, and plenty of pockets (including one that conveniently slips over your luggage handle to keep all your goods together), you’d never guess it based on its compact exterior. Even better, this no-frills yet exceptionally functional bag is made from 100% upcycled, water-resistant polyester so all of your stuff stays nice and dry when you get to where you’re going–which is probably just enough time to miss the city but no more than four episodes of You.

The Best Duffel Bag From a New Name Already Making Waves

The luggage whizzes at Baboon to the Moon are seasoned travelers first and foremost, and their signature duffel bag makes good on that expertise. It boasts everything you need for your next trip—and plenty of things you would’ve never considered. The waterproof exterior includes multiple options for comfortable schlepping, including backpack straps for authentic Europtrip vibes, but the interior is where things really get wild. Different sized mesh pockets allow your notebooks, passport, and sundry knick-knacks their own autonomous zones, while an additional elastic pocket lets you store all those easy-to-lose smaller doodads in one place. Best yet? The whole shebang comes in a range of can’t-miss colors, a boon to your bleary eyes when you’re trying to pick it out on a conveyor belt after an exhausting flight.

The Best Long Weekend Duffel Bag

Don’t call it a comeback, call it a renaissance. LeSportsac’s revamped collection of do-everything nylon bags skillfully straddles the line between fashion and function—and reaches peak opulence with the brand’s upscale Arc En Ciel sub-label. The AEC travelall is one of the standout pieces, constructed of upcycled ripstop and featuring not one but two front pockets, a full-length zippered pocket on the exterior, and mesh pockets for your bottles and baubles. Wear it over your shoulder, across the chest, or by the sturdy top handles—whatever your vibe dictates for the day—and touch down at your destination with all your knickknacks, and your dignity, wholly intact.

Plus 15 More Duffels Worthy of Your Shoulders