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Every woman I know has her own unique traveling style, and an arsenal of bags to suit every occasion. Some prefer feature-packed backpacks to sleek rolling carry-on suitcases, and others never leave the city without a stylish weekender. Then there’s the dog parent who’s always on the lookout for the ultimate airline-approved pet carrier, the mom who needs practical pockets to toss everything and anything into, and the diva who loves to make a statement with a luxurious hatbox.
After road-testing and reviewing dozens of travel bags for ladies over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that no matter how stylish or practical, no single piece will ever satisfy all my traveling needs, and neither will do yours. Of course, functional design, quality materials, and efficient, customizable packing space are paramount to a successful travel experience, but so are style and comfort.
Whether you’re a fashion-forward explorer or a pragmatic packer, you might want to check out my guide to the best travel bags for women – it’s full of wanderlust-worthy choices as unique and vibrant as you are.
BÉIS Weekender Bag
Ladies, if what you’re seeking is a chic weekender bag with shoe compartment to take with you anywhere – from staycations and city breaks to road trips and beach escapes – you’ve found it!
Envisioned by actress Shay Mitchell, the BÉIS Weekender Bag is blissfully adaptable to your vacation needs and packed with features you’ll love, like the zip bottom compartment designed to keep your shoes and other travel essentials separate, or the smart back pocket, which converts into a trolley sleeve for easy navigation through the airport. Its spacious interior is lined with water-resistant fabric and filled with pockets, and the wide opening enables smooth access to the items inside.
The size, the looks, the price, everything about this tote just seems right!
Monos Carry-On Pro
The stylish looks, well-thought-out design, and smart details put this cabin case on top of our list of the best carry-on luggage.
Constructed with aerospace-grade polycarbonate, the Monos Carry-On Pro rolls on high-end Japanese 360° spinner wheels and sports an insanely practical padded front compartment for easy access to a 15″ laptop and other travel essentials.
Lined with soft 350D anti-microbial fabric, the interior includes a built-in compression pad for efficient packing, as well as complimentary laundry and shoe bags for keeping your items organized. A release button cleverly hidden underneath makes the multi-stage telescopic handle more natural to use, and the color-coordinated YKK reverse coil zippers add security while maintaining the case’s pristine appearance.
Oh, and did I mention that the outer shell colors range anywhere from sleek Desert Taupe to a limited-edition Terrazzo print that brings to mind ancient Venetian palaces?
Bellroy Tokyo Tote
Say hello to your new favorite tote! Whether you’re headed to the beach or the office, this stylish, versatile carryall can do both.
Made with water-resistant recycled fabric and detailed with premium, environmentally certified leather details, the Bellroy Tokyo Tote is spacious enough for all your daily essentials. The interior is cleverly designed with a padded laptop sleeve for devices up to 13” and foldable pockets at each end to stash your shoes, umbrellas, or water bottles. An external zip pocket on the front allows for quick access to valuables such as phone and keys, and the strong shoulder straps with non-slip backing make it comfortable to carry all day long.
Paravel Grand Tour Duffle
Made from 17 upcycled plastic water bottles, the Grand Tour Duffle is all at once practical, elegant, and eco-friendly. Built from Paravel’s signature Ecocraft Canvas and adorned with stylish eco-certified leather detailing and premium hardware, it’s as suitable for a quick fall escape in the Catskills as it is for an epic 7-day trip to Barcelona.
At 20″ × 10″ × 11″, the sophisticated duffel is roomy enough to handle extended trips without having to check it in at the airport, and could easily compete with any item in our best carry-on bags list. Two zip interior pockets and two roomy exterior pockets will keep your small essentials organized on the go, and there’s also a removable shoulder strap for easy carrying. Each lightweight getaway bag is protected by a silicone coating to prevent stains and increase durability.
Cuyana Triple Zipper Weekender
A timeless, feminine design makes Cuyana’s Triple Zipper Weekender a stylish pick for quick jaunts out of town. Its generous 3-compartment interior, along with a variety of internal/external pockets, allows you to store clothes, cosmetics, and accessories for a three-day getaway, while the delicate Soft Grey/Natural color scheme pairs well with just about anything in your wardrobe.
This chic weekender bag for women is handcrafted in Turkey from durable, textured native canvas and decked out with sleek gold metal hardware and top handles in premium Vachetta leather. A detachable leather crossbody strap facilitates carrying, and there’s also room for a few pairs of shoes in the large slip pockets inside.
Peak Design 35L Duffel
If a tough, versatile duffel bag is what your heart desires, Peak Design has the perfect product for you. Wrapped in 100% recycled 400d nylon canvas and adorned with aluminum hardware, their Travel Duffel 35L is not only good-looking but also lightweight, weatherproof, and insanely practical.
What sets this bag apart from competitors is its smart design. With a wide opening main compartment for easy packing/unpacking and just the right amount of pockets inside and out, it fits in almost any situation. Conceived with comfort and portability in mind, it comes with a melange of straps – all padded and removable, allowing you to carry it by hand, over the shoulder, and even like a backpack when you need it.
Whether used as a duffel, overnighter, gym bag, or companion carry-on for longer trips, this cabin-sized carryall makes a wonderful addition to any luggage collection.
I’ve been using this bag for a couple of years on all kinds of trips, and it’s still one of my favorite pieces of luggage. A remarkably well-made duffel with spectacular storage space!
SteamLine Luggage Hunter Green Hatbox
Made popular in the 19th century, hat boxes are having a comeback of sorts. Practical, feminine, and wonderfully decorative, they are among the most stylish and beautiful pieces of luggage.
An ideal accessory for traveling fashionistas, this vintage-inspired caddy from SteamLine Luggage keeps your hats pristine and your style intact while on the road.
Detailed with British brown leather straps and gold stud accents, the Hunter Green Hatbox sports the same lightweight, durable hard shell as the brand’s gorgeous Diplomat suitcases, and is fitted out with two elegant buckle clasps and an adjustable shoulder strap for hands-free carrying. The roomy, luxurious interior is fully lined and features a handy accessory pocket.
When not in use, the case makes a delightful home decor piece while storing all your favorite Trillbys and Fedoras.
RIMOWA Never Still Weekender
Part of RIMOWA’s first-ever soft bag collection, the Never Still Weekender is refined, sophisticated, and sized just right so that you can carry it on a plane or take it on a short two-day trip.
Made in Italy using only premium materials, it sports the brand’s signature groove pattern in durable, water-repellent canvas and is accented with full-grain leather details for an extra touch of class. Inside, two spacious zipped compartments and a series of clever pockets accommodate everything needed for a short getaway or business trip, including your laptop and smartphone.
Pair all these with a removable shoulder strap, a convenient luggage sleeve, and a complimentary leather address tag, and Rimowa’s luxury weekender becomes a no-brainer investment for your stylish weekend escape.
Wild One Travel Carrier
Traveling with your furry friends is never easy, let alone flying with them. The only thing that will smooth the ride, for both of you, is a really, really good pet carrier.
Designed with your companion’s well-being in mind, this soft-sided Travel Carrier from Wild One is not only airline-approved, but also comfy, lightweight, and easy to move around.
Breathable mesh windows throughout allow for both ventilation and visibility, while the foldable interior cushion converts into a dog bed, keeping your furry friend cool & comfortable throughout the trip. Once arrived at the destination, the carrier’s shoulder strap doubles as a leash.
Everlane ReNew Transit Weekender
Although designed to go into any overhead compartment, Everlane’s ReNew Transit Weekender can fit more than you might think. Made from water-resistant recycled canvas, this dapper travel bag for women features handy water bottle holders, a padded laptop sleeve, plus one external zip pocket for grab-and-go essentials.
The simple, practical shape and minimalist design give the weekender bag a stylish, sporty touch. Its clean interior compartment is the perfect size for about two changes of clothes, an iPad, and other travel necessities, while the combination of top handles and an adjustable shoulder strap only adds to this piece’s versatility. If you want a great affordable weekender, look no further!
Dagne Dover Landon Carryall Bag
Ideal for gym trips, moms on the go, and all kinds of last-minute travel, this chic and lightweight neoprene travel bag features a spacious main compartment along with a tone of interior and exterior pockets, pouches, and sleeves for keeping smaller items organized, as well as a removable strap so you can also wear it as a crossbody when needed.
You have five different sizes to choose from, but the medium Landon Carryall Bag is ideal for short trips and overnight stays, and it also conveniently fits into the overhead bin of a plane when flying. On top of that, this crossbody travel bag for women is constructed from an innovative material (available in a variety of colors) that’s water-resistant, hand-washable, and shock-absorbent.
Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L
When you travel for a living, like I do, investing in versatile luggage is a must. Of course, you need a quality rolling suitcase for that big trip away or a stylish, practical duffel for weekends on the go, but most of all, you need a bag that adapts to as many situations as possible. That’s where the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L steps in.
Crafted from recycled weatherproof nylon canvas, this bag is exceptionally engineered to protect your gear, maximize storage space, and keep you organized on the road. Its quality is outstanding (think 400D weatherproof material, DWR-impregnated, PU-coated interior, and weatherproof, lockable zippers), and so is its versatility. In default 35L configuration, it meets most international carry-on standards, but it also folds down into a 35L daypack, perfect for urban escapes, and expands to haul 45 liters of gear comfortably when needed.
With its streamlined aesthetics, multiple access points, clever tucked-away straps, and endless carry options, it is by far one of the best backpacks for travel that I have ever used. And I used it a lot, either as a travel bag for my trips throughout Spain, a daypack for short hikes in the mountains, or as a carry-on bag on flights around Europe.
For added organizational convenience, Peak Design offers a variety of accessories designed to fit neatly within the backpack. These include camera cubes, packing cubes, and tech organizers, all of which are sold separately.
Besides being gloriously customizable, this durable multi-purpose bag is also loaded with separate compartments and thoughtful pockets inside and out.
As far as one-bag travel goes, I can’t think of a better piece of luggage for the job than the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L.
Monos Metro Duffel
For all those situations where a wheeled suitcase is too much, you need a duffel with just the right balance of style and practicality.
And although there are tons of chic duffle bags to choose from these days, we’re partial to this beautiful, sustainable pick from Monos. Crafted in water-resistant vegan leather, the Metro Duffel ticks all the right boxes – good-looking, splendidly functional, and made to last.
At 17.5″ × 10.6″ × 9.6″, it’s compact enough to carry with your hand, yet roomy enough to fit a weekend’s worth of travel essentials. The interior is masterfully thought out to fit a 15” laptop and keep your items organized in pockets, while outside, a unique trolley sleeve designed to secure the bag to your suitcase handle converts into a roomy pocket when not in use.
Saving the best for last, the contemporary bag comes with the brand’s proprietary QuickSnap Modular Kit System, a sleek pouch that easily attaches (and detaches) to the exterior of any Monos duffel and backpack.
Samsonite Ascentra Wheeled Underseater
Today is all about traveling in style, but also in comfort. With its functional design and subdued business-ready looks, the Ascentra Wheeled Underseater embodies both, making for a handsome, practical addition to your luggage collection.
Designed to fit under the seat of most airplanes, this bag may be small, but it packs a punch thanks to its brilliant organizational features. To name a few, there’s a removable padded sleeve for 15″ laptops or tablets, an integrated side pocket with USB cord pass-through and battery pouch for charging your devices on the go, and a removable mesh zipper pocket with attached WetPak which doubles as a divider panel for the main compartment.
The smooth oversized wheels and ergonomic trolley handle with multi-stop adjustments allow for effortless navigation, while the interior lining – made from 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles – can be removed and washed for a fresh, clean trip every time.
Bellroy Weekender Plus
If both practicality and aesthetics are important to you, then look no further than the Bellroy Weekender Plus. Meant for the modern explorer, this brilliantly functional weekend bag by Bellroy is crafted from durable, water-resistant woven fabric and finished with environmentally certified leather accents for a chic, refined look.
Its casual, harmonious design will definitely complement many looks, and the spacious interior, which includes a padded laptop sleeve and a pair of pop pockets for shoes/water bottles, will ensure you can fit everything you need for a few days away.
And the bag’s clever features don’t stop here: an organizational ‘tool belt’ facilitates access by keeping internal pockets and zips at the same height, a spacious front zip pocket holds toiletries and travel documents, while a luggage pass-through slides over the handle of your wheeled suitcase for easy mobility.
Hook & Albert Women’s Nylon Twill Garment Weekender Bag
If you’re looking to splurge, the Women’s Nylon Twill Garment Weekender Bag from Hook & Albert is totally worth the investment.
An excellent choice for traveling professionals, this practical, lightweight bag exudes subtle luxury and sports an ingenious garment section that accommodates long dresses and a pair of shoes in perfect condition. With a sliding shoulder strap designed for carrying comfort and zip exterior pockets for storing your accessories, it can easily pass as one of the best garment bags for travel.
At 20″ × 13″ × 9.5″, the smart duffel meets all major airline carry-on requirements, and, when not in use, folds flat for easy storage.
With its durable yet refined nylon exterior and premium gold hardware accents, this piece will add a touch of class to any trip, business or pleasure.
Ted Baker Alainie
Detailed with gold-toned hardware and Saffiano leather trim, this Softside Cabin Duffle Tote Bag from Ted Baker makes the perfect designer travel bag for women with a sense of style.
A practical and refined women’s weekender, it comes with a choice of handles, a handy front pocket, and offers the ideal amount of storage for a city break. Sized to fit the standard airline regulations for carry-on bags, it’s as suitable for car trips as it is for flights.
