What is a weekender bag?

“A weekender bag is, as the name suggests, designed for short trips or getaways,” explain Lora and Estevez. “It differentiates itself from other types of luggage by its size, which is larger than a typical backpack or purse but smaller than a full-sized suitcase or carry-on. Weekender bags often include a shoulder strap and handles for easy carrying, as well as multiple compartments for organization.”

Is a weekender bag considered a carry on or personal item?

They can be both! Weekender bags should always be compact enough to fit as a carry-on (make sure to check your airline's rules ahead of time). If the bag is small enough to fit under the airplane seat, then it can be considered a personal item. For instance, Baggallini Fifth Avenue Weekender fits under all airplane seats.

What should I pack for my honeymoon?

What you choose to pack for a honeymoon depends on a few key factors, such as destination, weather, planned activities, and personal preferences. However, here are some essentials we suggest: Toiletries: Include all the necessary skincare, makeup, hygiene, and other personal items you will need for the trip. If you’re only bringing carry ons, do note that most airlines have a limit for liquid items brought on board. Appropriate Clothing: Make sure you have the right clothing options based on planned activities, local guidelines, weather, formality, comfort, etc. Be sure to pack enough extras for a daily change of clothes and comfortable footwear. Electronics: These include laptops, phones, adapters, cameras, and power banks. Be sure to have chargers for all your items. And if you are going overseas, double check the country’s outlets as you may need an outlet adapter. Travel Documents: Always have your ID. If you’re traveling out of the country, you’ll need passports, visas if applicable, and other specified travel documents depending on your destination. Health Items: These include prescription medications, vitamins, a first-aid kit, sunscreen, or other health-related items you typically use.

The 14 Best Weekender Bags for Brides of 2024

Paravel Weekender on a beige textile background — Brides / David Hattan

Weekender bags make a great staple luggage piece for bachelorette parties, weekend trips, minimoons, and more. They're the perfect in-between bags when you don’t want to lug around a huge suitcase, but can’t stuff everything you need into a purse or backpack. And depending on the size, you can also stick them under an airplane seat as your personal item.

“[Weekender bags] should be spacious enough to hold your essentials for a short trip but still compact enough to meet carry-on requirements,” say travel experts Robert Lora and Marta Pahino Estevez. They should be able to fit in an airplane overhead bin, but still be large enough to hold a few change of clothes, an extra pair of shoes, a laptop, your personal essentials, and a small toiletry case.

With a wide variety of weekender bags available, choosing one can feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite weekender bags in several categories, so you can find the best one for your specific needs. As we selected our top picks, we looked for bags with all the pockets and features you need to stay organized. We also sought out high quality durable materials that won’t rip, stain, or soak through easily. Rest assured that all of these bags are high quality, stylish, and durable, so you can invest wisely and pack your love story into these ultimate getaway essential.

Our Top Picks

Most Versatile:

Beis The Convertible Weekender at Beistravel.com (See Price)

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Best Personalized:

Paravel Weekender at Net-a-Porter (See Price)

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Best Rolling:

Mark & Graham Vegan Leather Rolling Duffle at Markandgraham.com ($199)

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Best Lightweight:

lululemon 34L Padded Weekender Bag at Lululemon ($198)

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Best Capacity:

Calpak Stevyn Duffel at Nordstrom ($98)

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Best for Organization:

Caraa Nimbus Large at Caraa.co (See Price)

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Best Size Range:

Dagne Dover Extra Large Landon Carryall Bag at Nordstrom ($245)

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Best Minimal:

Away Everywhere Bag at Awaytravel.com ($245)

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Best Budget:

ETRONIK Weekender Overnight Bag at Amazon ($29)

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Best Leather:

Cuyana Leather Triple Zipper Weekender at Cuyana.com (See Price)

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
Size
FAQ
Why Trust Brides

Béis

View On Beistravel.com

An upgrade from Beis’ OG weekender, this new model features a laptop sleeve, organizational pockets, and a fully removable bottom compartment that doubles as a packing cube. It’s sealed with a mesh zip-cover that helps transform it into a daytime excursion or sightseeing bag. While you can wear it over your shoulder, you can also use the removable strap to wear it as a crossbody or secure it to your luggage with a nifty sleeve.

Size: 19 W x 10 D x 16 H inches | Materials: Cotton/Polyester | Colors: Beige, Black

Maisonette

View On Net-a-Porter View On Tourparavel.com View On Shopbop.com $295

This eco-friendly weekender fits all your essentials, including your 15 inch laptop. It features smart straps to slip over luggage handles, and is made from durable, spill-proof, stain-repellent EcoCraft Canvas®. You can personalize it with hand-painting or embroidery in several colorways for an additional fee. We love the combination of a vintage look with modern features.

Size: 15 x 15 x 8 inches | Materials: EcoCraft Canvas®, recycled vegan leather | Colors: Scout Tan, Domino Black

Mark & Graham

View On Markandgraham.com $199

Made from vegan leather, this lightweight, durable, and stylish weekender-on-wheels gives your shoulders a much needed break. It features a telescoping handle, an outside pocket, a laptop sleeve, a spacious interior, and an adjustable strap if you need to carry it. You can also add a monogram for only $12.50.

Size: 21w x 12d x 16h inches | Materials: Vegan leather (polyurethane); polyester lining | Colors: White with Brown Vegan Leather Trim

lululemon

View On Lululemon $198

For a sporty vibe without too much frill, this padded weekender is a great practical pick that’s made from lightweight recycled nylon. It features water-repellent fabric, lots of interior and exterior pockets, a laptop sleeve, a document sleeve, and won’t drag you down.

Size: 21.3 x 9.5 x 13.8 inches | Materials: Recycled Nylon, Recycled polyester | Colors: Black

Calpak

View On Nordstrom $98 View On Calpaktravel.com

Featuring a large bottom compartment for shoes, a spacious main compartment with interior pockets for clothes, makeup bag, and other essentials, and a luggage sleeve, this unisex duffle is lightweight yet roomy. It has up to 47L packing capacity, making it a great pick for families or for a few extra date night looks.

Size: 19.5 x 14 x 10.5 inches | Materials: Polyester | Colors: 7

Caraa

View On Caraa.co View On Jcrew.com

With 14 total pockets and compartments, it’s easy to stay organized with The Nimbus weekender. It’s made with water-resistant inner lining and exterior, and features a built-in phone and battery pocket, mesh breathing vents, a water bottle sleeve, included shoe and wet pouches, and a laptop sleeve to stay even more organized.

Size: Medium: 12.5 h x 15.75 w x 7 d inch; Large: 13 h x 18.5 w x 8.5 d inch | Materials: Polyester | Colors: Rose, Chai, Black

Dagne Dover

View On Nordstrom $245 View On Dagnedover.com

From XS-XL, you can find your most desired size weekender with the Landon Carryall. The larger sizes include a dust bag for shoes, a key leash, a removable pouch, a removable crossbody strap, bottle sleeve, and a 10 inch handle drop. It’s made from 100 percent premium neoprene, which is water-resistant and hand washable.

Size (Largest): 20.5 L x 10 W x 10.5 | Materials: Premium Neoprene and Performance Air Mesh, Color-plated Zinc-Alloy Hardware | Colors: 6

Away

View On Awaytravel.com $245

Sleek and stylish, this water-resistant weekender features crisp lines and clean detailing. It also boasts a trolley sleeve, top handles, a detachable padded shoulder strap with concealable D rings, a laptop compartment, and lots of smaller compartments for organizing essentials. With a full wrap around zip, you can open the entire bag up rather than spend minutes digging around trying to find what you are looking for.

Size: 20.9 x 11.8 x 9.4 inches | Materials: Nylon, leather | Colors: Navy, Black, Coast

Amazon

View On Amazon $29

Made from water-resistant nylon, this spacious weekender gives a ton of bang for your buck. It features a luggage trolley strap and detachable shoulder strap so you can wear it anyway you want. With separated dry and wet pockets and a shoe compartment with vents, you can keep your clothes organized, meaning less laundry at the end of your trip. Plus, there’s even a USB charging interface so you can easily charge your phone on the go.

Size: 18.5 x 8.7 x 14.2 inches | Materials: Nylon | Colors: 10

Cuyana

View On Cuyana.com

We love the buttery soft hand feel and luxurious quality of Cuyana’s leather. Crafted from LWG Gold-certified Italian leather in a woman-owned factory in Turkey, this weekender is designed with three compartments for optimal organization, a trolley sleeve for easy travel, and slip pockets for shoes.

Size: H 13 x W 20.5 x D 7 inches | Materials: Leather | Colors: Black, Stone

Vera Bradley

View On Verabradley.com

With several unique patterns to choose from, these stylish and roomy weekender bags are perfect for those who crave function and fashion. Made from polished performance twill, a water repellent and lightweight fabric, this bag can definitely handle a good beating. There’s several pockets for convenient storage, a trolley sleeve, a laptop sleeve, and plenty of space for all your romantic getaway needs.

Size: 22.0 W x 14.0 H x 9.0 D inches | Materials: Performance Twill | Colors: 5

Prada

View On Prada.com

For a true statement piece, look no further than the Prada Duffle. It’s chic, elegant, and timeless. The bag is crafted from two of the brand's most celebrated materials: Saffiano leather, which features the iconic crosshatch pattern and wax finish, and Re-Nylon, a regenerated nylon yarn made from recycled waste. The iconic triangle logo is displayed on the front.

Size: Height: 33cm, Length: 27cm, Width: 55cm | Materials: Nylon, Leather | Colors: Black

Bellroy

View On Amazon $259 View On Bellroy.com View On Moosejaw.com

This water-resistant backpack is spacious enough to use as a weekender, but can still be easily compressed for convenience. It features a 16” laptop compartment, external pockets, a front pocket with key clip, a soft-lined sunglasses pocket, padded shoulder straps, and internal compression straps to reduce bulk.

Size: 530 x 360 x 190 mm | Materials: Baida Nylon | Colors: Black, Ranger Green, Nightsky

Baggallini

View On Amazon $106 View On QVC $150 View On Baggallini.com

One of our editors always takes this bag while flying. It fits perfectly under all airplane seats, meaning it counts as your personal item when going on domestic flights. It still packs a ton and includes a padded laptop sleeve, RFID protected card slots, a shoe compartment, and side pocket with a grommet hole for charging cords. Secure it on your luggage with the sleeve and zip through the airport with ease.

Size: 17 w x 12 h x 6.5 inches | Materials: Baida Nylon | Colors: 6

What to Look for in a Weekender Bag

Size

“When looking for a weekender bag, consider factors such as size, weight, durability, and style,” suggest Lora and Estevez. The size of your weekender bag can definitely vary based on brand or style, but all weekenders should be able to fit in an overhead bin. Generally, weekender bag capacity can range from about 25 to 45 liters, and are typically around 18 to 24 inches in length, 10 to 14 inches in width, and 9 to 12 inches in height.

Think about what you want to use this bag for—if it’s going to accompany your regular carry on, consider a compact bag like the Bellroy Transit Backpack which you can stick under a plane seat. For those trips where the weekender is going to be the main form of luggage, consider a roomy style with wheels like Concourse Vegan Leather Rolling Duffle.

Materials

When it comes to materials, it's important to think about the weight of the overall bag when packed, in addition to how it will be used. "Opt for a bag made from high-quality materials, such as canvas, leather, or water-resistant nylon, that can withstand the rigors of travel," say Lora and Estevez.

Materials also determine how heavy the weekender bag will be when it's full. For example, leather bags will usually be much heavier than canvas or nylon, but they do offer a more luxury feel and look. If having a lightweight bag is your top priority, go with our pick for lightweight, Lululemon Go Getter Padded Weekender Bag.

Style

Lora and Estevez suggest looking for designs that complement your personal style and preferences, whether that's a sleek, minimalist look or a more vibrant, eye-catching pattern. “Ultimately, the ideal weekender bag should strike the perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics," they add.

For those that prefer a print bag that stands out from the crowd, we recommend Vera Bradley Grand Weekender Travel Bag. If you want to stick with a timeless look but add a bit of personalization, get a monogrammed version of Paravel Weekender.

Organization

Organizational slots and pockets will ensure you can find all your valuables quickly and easily, and also help to keep your items clean and secure. “Look for features like multiple compartments for organization, sturdy zippers, and comfortable straps or handles,” suggests Lora and Estevez.

A trolley sleeve is a great added feature if you plan to also bring a rolling suitcase, so you can easily slide the weekender on the handles for convenient transport. Our pick for best versatile, Beis The Convertible Weekender has a trolley sleeve that functions as a pocket when not in use.

FAQ

What is a weekender bag?

“A weekender bag is, as the name suggests, designed for short trips or getaways,” explain Lora and Estevez. “It differentiates itself from other types of luggage by its size, which is larger than a typical backpack or purse but smaller than a full-sized suitcase or carry-on. Weekender bags often include a shoulder strap and handles for easy carrying, as well as multiple compartments for organization.”
Is a weekender bag considered a carry on or personal item?

They can be both! Weekender bags should always be compact enough to fit as a carry-on (make sure to check your airline's rules ahead of time). If the bag is small enough to fit under the airplane seat, then it can be considered a personal item. For instance, Baggallini Fifth Avenue Weekender fits under all airplane seats.
What should I pack for my honeymoon?
What you choose to pack for a honeymoon depends on a few key factors, such as destination, weather, planned activities, and personal preferences. However, here are some essentials we suggest:
- Toiletries: Include all the necessary skincare, makeup, hygiene, and other personal items you will need for the trip. If you’re only bringing carry ons, do note that most airlines have a limit for liquid items brought on board.
- Appropriate Clothing: Make sure you have the right clothing options based on planned activities, local guidelines, weather, formality, comfort, etc. Be sure to pack enough extras for a daily change of clothes and comfortable footwear.
- Electronics: These include laptops, phones, adapters, cameras, and power banks. Be sure to have chargers for all your items. And if you are going overseas, double check the country’s outlets as you may need an outlet adapter.
- Travel Documents: Always have your ID. If you’re traveling out of the country, you’ll need passports, visas if applicable, and other specified travel documents depending on your destination.
- Health Items: These include prescription medications, vitamins, a first-aid kit, sunscreen, or other health-related items you typically use.

Meet the Expert

Robert Lora and Marta Pahino Estevez are the travel-savvy team behind TravelBagExperts.com, a site dedicated to packing tips, luggage, travel accessories, and general travel tips.

Why Trust Brides

Chelsea Frank has been a lifestyle writer for nearly 10 years. She’s contributed to dozens of online publications, researching and writing on a number of topics from clean beauty and fashion to travel and wellness. She’s also an anxious soon-to-be bride, so she’s with you.

Most Versatile

Beis The Convertible Weekender

Best Personalized

Paravel Weekender

Best Rolling

Mark & Graham Vegan Leather Rolling Duffle

Best Lightweight

lululemon 34L Padded Weekender Bag

Best Capacity

Calpak Stevyn Duffel

Best for Organization

Caraa Nimbus Large

Best Size Range

Dagne Dover Extra Large Landon Carryall Bag

Best Minimal

Away Everywhere Bag

Best Budget

ETRONIK Weekender Overnight Bag

Best Leather

Cuyana Leather Triple Zipper Weekender

Best Style

Vera Bradley Weekender Travel Bag

Best Splurge

Prada Re-Nylon and Saffiano Leather Duffle Bag

Best Compact

Bellroy Transit Backpack

Best Personal Item on Flights

Baggallini Weekender

Related Stories

The 14 Best Weekender Bags for Minimoons, Bachelorettes, and Beyond

Most Versatile

Beis The Convertible Weekender

Best Personalized

Paravel Weekender

Best Rolling

Mark & Graham Vegan Leather Rolling Duffle

Best Lightweight

lululemon 34L Padded Weekender Bag

Best Capacity

Calpak Stevyn Duffel

Best for Organization

Caraa Nimbus Large

Best Size Range

Dagne Dover Extra Large Landon Carryall Bag

Best Minimal

Away Everywhere Bag

Best Budget

ETRONIK Weekender Overnight Bag

Best Leather

Cuyana Leather Triple Zipper Weekender

Best Style

Vera Bradley Weekender Travel Bag

Best Splurge

Prada Re-Nylon and Saffiano Leather Duffle Bag

Best Compact

Bellroy Transit Backpack

Best Personal Item on Flights

Baggallini Weekender

What to Look for in a Weekender Bag

Size

Materials

Style

Organization

Why Trust Brides

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