Best Travel Bags for Men
Looking for a New Travel Bag? Look No Further
The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.
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Packing for a trip can be a daunting task, regardless of where you’re going. It doesn’t matter if it’s for the weekend or for weeks at a time, you can’t just throw some clothes into an old gym bag and call it a day. It takes planning and problem solving to do it right. Do you bring a casual duffel bag or a heavy duty backpack? Where will you put your suits and dress shirts to ensure they don’t get wrinkled? Do you really need a carry-on bag and a full-sized suitcase for a weekend at the ‘rents?
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The right piece of luggage will make a world of difference, especially as travel restarts this summer. We’ve tracked down the best luggage for any traveller’s need — from quick road trips to long-haul flights. Pack smart and you might even pull off bringing just a carry-on for your next two weeks overseas (it’s really not as hard as you might think, just take the time to plan and wear a lot of basics).
Here, we’ve rounded up all the best luggage for any kind of trip - road, air, food, bike or otherwise. From practical backpacks to stylish carry-ons that will cram into the overhead compartment, these are some of the coolest — and most practical — travel bags online. Now all that’s left is to fill it up and get going.
Best Travel Bags for Men
Best Duffle Bag
Baboon Go-Bag 40L
On the surface, Baboon is a bit of a strange, artsy concept. You certainly won’t see few, if any brands take such creative liberties with their branding and style, but that doesn’t mean their gear doesn’t perform. These bags are built for wherever you’re headed and have all sorts of integrated features to do what you do when you need it. Plus, their variety of colors is almost a guarantee against losing it at baggage claim.
Promising Review: “Love it! Worth it! Amazing! I had my eye on these bags for a while and finally decided to pull the trigger. I cannot believe the quality of these bags. They truly do feel indestructible. My wife likes it so much she is jealous and is now wanting one. I myself am going to purchase the larger one to have multiple options.” - Branson
Best Weekender
Oflamn Smooth Nylon Duffle Bag
A good weekender should have a main compartment big enough to hold 2-4 days of gear with extra space (ideally separate) for a pair of shoes. This popular option checks off both boxes and has a classic look that fits a wide range of styles. It also has the bonus of a free dopp bag so your toiletry holder can match your broader look.
Promising Review: “Bought this bag as a last minute collapsible carry-on suitcase. It was a little smaller than I expected but worked exactly as it needed to, and in my opinion was an incredible quality for the price I paid. So far I haven't been worried about any seams ripping or handles tearing, and I definitely loaded that bag with as much as possible. Stayed reliable and sturdy throughout a month of travel in Europe and three cross-country plane rides. Overall - surprised by the durability of the bag, I really like the small toiletry pouch that comes along with it, and it appeared exactly as it did in the photo. A purchase I do not regret!” - Sydney
Best Commuter Bag
Truce Designs Sailcloth Drop Liner Backpack
Truce Designs is a one-man operation based out of Portland, OR pumping out awesome bags made from recycled sailcloth and other durable repurposed materials. Just because the sailcloth is no longer seaworthy doesn’t mean it’s not equipped to stand up to your daily commute (and in a range of patterns you’re not likely to find elsewhere, because, you know, sails). It’s an investment, for sure, but it has everything a commuter bag needs and will likely be the last backpack you’ll ever need to buy.
Best Gym Bag
Adidas Defender Duffel Bag
A straightforward gym bag with dual handles or the beloved over the shoulder or strap. Mark it up and take it with you to the beach or the weight room. Also a big win? The lifetime warranty.
Promising Review: “I have an older version of this bag and the inside lining started to peel away and flake onto everything so I finally decided to get a new one and I'm so happy with this upgraded version with an outside pocket for small items and they don't have the inside lining that'll flake anymore” - AmaraMay
Best Rugged Travel Bag
Filson Heritage Sportsman Bag
Few things beat a great Filson bag with zippered compartments and that heritage hunting style. This duffle in particular has a handsome mix of canvas and leather with four exterior stow pockets plus well-placed brass hardware that complements the tan/green colorway.
Promising Review: “It’s Filson. Need I say more.” - John
Best Long-Haul Luggage Bag
Patagonia Black Hole Series 70L or 100L
You can’t really talk about luggage without mentioning the veritable Patagonia. The company’s Black Hole has long been a go-to for those needing space to put anything, get to the check-in counter and know that it will arrive intact. It simply has more uses than one can count and will likely survive anything you put it through.
Promising Review: “An absolute workhorse. I've put my Black Hole duffel through a couple dozen international flights, hundreds of miles in boats, and hauled this unit all over the globe and it refuses to tear up. It's hauled clothes, books, medical supplies, fishing tackle, food, and about anything else you can think of. It's been over 16.000 feet, to sea level and still has a lot of work left to do. The 100 liter will haul more than you can imagine and the name black hole fits it. It just keeps taking the gear. I cannot recommend this bag enough.” - Phillip
Best Multi-Compartment Bag
Wowbox Weekender Bag
A classy bag with plenty of pockets and dividing space, the Wowbox Weekender is a good fit for those looking for a more upscale gym bag or something nicer to toss in the car. Plenty of leather and canvas adorn this medium-sized bag, which also happens to be the ideal fit for carry-on needs.
Promising Review: “This bag is wonderful. It is so well made. Originally bought as a gym bag but it's way too nice for that! We will be using it as a travel bag. The leather is beautiful, the zipper is extremely strong. I'm very happily surprised by the quality.” - Kelly Grace
Best Hiking Backpack
Thule Stir 25L
You might know them for their racks and storage hauling solutions, but Thule has a very nice backpack and luggage division, too. The Stir is everything you’d want in a hiking backpack - durability, easy access, reservoir integration and water resistance. There are smaller, similar versions Thule makes, so no matter your day’s need, there’s a solution for you.
Best Tote Bag
Marmot Camp Hauler
There are totes, and then there are totes. One of the unsung heroes of a weekend road trip is a big tote where everything is accessible and somewhat organized. Think of this Marmot bag like a portable gear hauler: fill it up, throw it in the back seat or pickup bed and off you go.
Best Suitcase
Osprey Shuttle 36”
This is 130 liters of pure rolled luggage goodness. All sorts of easy access points with options to clip on additional Osprey bags. You get all of the protection and reputation of the Osprey brand in an easy-to-transport form whether you’re going 1,000 or 10,000 miles away.
Promising Review: “This bag is huge and can easily be overpacked; however, it's just what I wanted for my international move. I had 70 lbs allowance per bag and this easily fit the 70lbs. It stands upright and rolls super easily. It has convenient pockets as well. And the cinches help compress the bag when it's full. Basically, it could easily be filled well over airline limits, but if you want space to fit what you need and not feel constrained, this is a great bag for you. Just make sure you have a baggage scale handy! Also, I took it on domestic and international flights and did not have a problem with the size of the bag.” - Anonymous
Best Luxury Messenger Bag
Parker Clay Austin Messenger Bag
A classy bag with the dimensions to fit up to a 16” computer, clean aesthetics and a mission to elevate families and communities in Ethiopia. What’s not to like?
Promising Review: “Beautiful book bag for my son! Compact yet spacious enough to carry his items for the ministry and meetings. Perfect and quality that will last for years! Color is gorgeous and as always the packaging and dust cloth are great! Another win!”
Best Budget Messenger Bag
Aldo Cedro
An everyday messenger bag perfect for the return to public transportation (no matter where you are). It’s a lot of style for not a lot of dollars.
Best Crossbody Bag
Herschel Heritage Shoulder Bag
The brand’s tried-and-true facade in a sling style that’s just big enough for a day trekking around town, but not too big. Plenty of color choices for the more traditional look all of the way to modern streetwear.
Promising Review: “As a man, it's hard to shove all your items into your pocket and not look like a weirdo. This bag is a stylish solution that perfectly fits my kindle, Switch, hand sani, masks, wallet, phone, light sweatshirt, books etc. I take her everywhere with me, and don't have to worry about style or comfort. Please note this is not a full size backpack: you can't fit a six-pack in there... but def at least two tallboys.” - Andrew
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