Getting the hell out of town for a long weekend is one of the greatest feelings in the world. These are the trips that are free of any obligations and stress. These trips are true vacations. Short enough where you can decompress and have fun, but not long enough that the planning and costs start to nip at the heels of the benefits.
Set the tone before you even leave your place. Get your stuff in something better looking than a gym bag. Any of these should do. One should be fine for the light packers, two should do it for trips that take more than two nights.
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Frost River Flight Bag – $120 – $140
If you prefer the look of rugged over urban polish, then this is probably the best deal in weekend luggage. Made in the USA, incredible waxed canvas exterior, and leather accents that are incredibly soft for the price point. Comes in either plenty big (small) or “I might not come back” (large). Full review here.
Ted Baker Bowling Bag – $74.90
($150)
Faux leather all the way but has just enough character and a low enough price. Nice TB retro logos on the hardware. Nothing fancy here, just a simple, extended bowling bag shape.
Ernest Alexander Duffel – $180 w/ code DAPPER ($225)
Available through Bonobos so you know the shipping (free and fast) and return policies. If only all barrel style duffels looked this good. Could be less if you bought one of those half price deals Bonobos ran recently.
Bellino Voyager Duffel – $92.99 ($116)
The costs stay low thanks to the brushed twill exterior that sort of resembles suede. Leather accents on there too. Contrast stitching and a real good reputation over at eBags. Get it through buy.com and you get the lower price.
Lands’ End Canvas 1963 Trip Bag – $140.00
Could be more like $110 if you were able to snag one of those LEC Living Social deals. Big. Not enormous, but at 18x12x15 it’s big enough to get you through an extra long weekend. Waxed canvas feels great in your hands, leather accents, and it appears to be built for the long haul. Rugged side grab handle pays homage to true duffels.
Fossil Jackson – $165.99 ($198)
Finding an all leather duffel under $200 is not the easiest thing in the world, and Fossil’s Jackson weekend bag is one of the few worth considering. The leather quality won’t blow your mind, but many guys swear by it and it does stand out from the crowd.
L.L. Bean Signature Medium Zipper Duffel – $150.00
Also comes in a small and much larger size. Waxed canvas exterior, leather bottom and handles, and plenty of room on the interior. Unless you’re gunning for the navy or black color, or you’ve got some kind of L.L. Bean credit card that gets you points or something, you might want to get the Frost River instead.
Ossington Houston Duffel – $159.99
($239)
If memory serves, these have been floating around on JackThreads for awhile. Jackthreads might have it for around this $160 price or it might be a little less (can’t recall). Some waxed canvas, some leather, and nice stripes.
Ben Sherman Small Duffel – $25.00 ($79.00)
This one is a little on the smaller side (1200 cubic inches) so it’s probably best to be used as a second bag and not your primary. But if you pack light? Can’t beat the price. Looks and feels just fine for $25.
Banana Republic Weekender – $198.00 (but can be had for $138 at 30% off)
Unlike their shoes, the BR weekender has had nothing but glowing reviews online, and if you’ve seen and held one in-store you know it’s not half bad. Large too. 22x15x10. Available in black as well. Always on sale.
Seil Marschall Tote – $175.00
The “in good company” stuff on J. Crew can be over-priced and/or an eye roller. This might be one of those. Unlike most tote bags, this one comes with a zippered top. Tough as hell looking sides and handles. Made in Germany by a heritage brand. Expensive, and small at around 1400 cubic inches.
The monster splurge: Saddelback Duffel – $537.00
Damn. I mean… damn.
And you? What’s your preferred luggage for a quick trip out of town? Your personal pick goes in the comments.
awesome – do all as work as carry on bags (assuming one goes with the small where there’s a choice)?
I have the Land’s End Canvas bag, it has been great this summer!
For some reason, it is incredibly hard to find a decent bag (at any price) – i’ve been looking. The above are more or less nice, but there is something off with all of them. The frost river is nice, but the zipper is flimsy, the sizing is weird, lack of outside pockets is a problem especially with the generous size. The Ben sherman is more of a briefcase than a weekend bag. Etc. I’ll probably get some of the suggestions, but none makes me go “wow”. Bags is clearlyl one area where free market competition fails, haha.
dammmmmmmmmmmnnnn joe! great link.
There’s something off with all of them?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ_R-G_i4Xk
This is where the internet sometimes gets me. Something always has to be wrong. They’re under $200. You’re never going to have something perfect. Except for the frost river. You bought that one and seriously thought the zipper was flimsy?
I’m looking for a smaller gym bag. I bought a Herschel Novel bag, but it’s just as big as any of these. Any recommendations from anyone under or around $100?
I’m surprised that Beckel Canvas Products isn’t on the list. I currently have their Possibilities bag, War bag, and small Necessary bag all in Olive Drab. Hand made bags from Portland, Oregon. Great customer service, and will customize your bags for you for a fee of course. They were able to add and outer zipper and interior pockets for me.
http://beckelcanvas.com/products_type.php?products_type_id=2
I have the large frost river bag and it’s a beautiful bag. However, it is huuuuuuuuuugeeeee. Definitively not a carry on size bag. That could work for both you and your girl for the weekend. I’m not sure on the smaller bag, might work a little better.
I picked up a perfect bag at my local j crew outlet a few months ago and haven’t looked back. It is the same shape and size as this one
http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/accessories/bags/PRDOVR~51652/51652.jsp
but it is canvas with a leather bottom. I was there last week and they were still selling them. Something like $80 I think. Definitively worth looking if you live near an outlet store.
Love the look of the Ossington bag. In the market for a good overnight/weekend trip bag. Might have to pick that one up.
For Chrissakes, what is with “weekend” bags that can’t be carried on a plane? Immediate FAIL. I could pack for a WEEK in something that’s 25x12x12! One of the best options was left off the list of too-stylish luggage: Red Oxx bags http://www.redoxx.com — lifetime warranty, great people, American-made, and well under $200 for the PR4 or the SunChaser. (No, I don’t have any affiliation besides being a happy customer.) As someone once told me, there’s no such thing as fancy luggage if you have to carry it yourself.
Agreed. I would go as far as to say that the Red Oxx bags are the only thoughtfully designed bags on the market right now, at least to a point where the flaws are very minor and not a dealbreaker. I have one of their simplest air duffel bags ($35), and the material and zipper are indeed very solid yet light. Next is the RP5 model, which is is dead-on on the carry on limitations, nas plenty of pockets, $185.
Which of these can’t be carried on a plane? That’s the nice thing about duffel bags. As long as they’re not stuffed to the gills, you can smash em’ in most overhead compartments. And if it’s a longer trip and you need to fill it and check it, then by all means.
The zip on the Frost river is thick, but this type of zipper design is inherently less stable than the zippers with blocky teeth. I seriously wanted to like it, but on top of this it is also too big: bigger than the biggest carry on size allowance.
Higher prices mean nothing. I’d be willing to spend 500 or more on the right luggage, but apparently mankind can send a man to the moon, but can’t design a sensible bag.
Pretty sure you could get that on board since it’s a soft sided duffel, unless you filled it all the way up. Plus, this isn’t just about flying, but taking a weekend trip via car. We can agree to disagree on the zipper. Best of luck in your luggage search.
you might also want to check out the AWOL bags by duluth trading company, they have an all leather one for $225 and a canvas/ leather one for $169, they look great and they can handle almost any abuse you can think of
Point granted on collapsing duffel bags, and I see my tone was a little snotty, too. My apologies. That said, I though the item was “Weekend Bags,” not “Big Bags that Can Be Collapsed for a Weekend.” I think most people want a small (i.e., weekend) bag and a larger one for actual trips, and many of these would definitely qualify as “large” for me. Most airlines’ requirements are L+W+D < 45 inches.
“The Best Big Bags that Can Be Collapsed for a Weekend for under $200” is way too long to fit on one line at the top of the page, so, had to go with something else.
The extended version is also quite excellent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwohf_5ofvc
Saddleback has a chestnut one in the Dave’s Deal section for $456
Awesome bag but still out of my range.
I got the Frost River Duffel as I like the elongated shape of it as opposed to the flight bag. It has been with me on at least 60 flights now and I have fit it into the overhead of every single one. Duffels really are the perfect carry on luggage.
I splurged on a weekend bag, but opted for the Bullhide line at Orvis:
http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=36T0&adv=12082&cm_mmc=Froogle*Prod_feeds*Prod_feeds*12082&CAWELAID=59582685
Great bag. Very durable. A little more manageable than the Saddleback (zipper for the top compartment rather than the buckle system).
Only downside: I thought it was made in the US — it’s not — it’s made in China.
I’ve never really had need of a weekend bag. If I’m flying (which I avoid at all costs), I have to take a protective, rolling carry-on for when the overheads inevitably fill up and the flight crew unceremoniously chucks my stuff into the brig. If I’m driving, it’s virtually always for a trip that will last a week or more and it seems easier to take a regular suitcase. Plus I virtually always end up taking extra crap with me… skis, snowshoes, tent, sleeping bag, etc.
Now, the weekend bag might make sense if I were living like my parents, who spend their weekdays in town and weekends 100 miles away at the cabin.
I guess what I’m really saying is that I never go anywhere for the weekend. Woe is me.
Ah, yes, the triumph of practicality. And who said we don’t have any editors any more? Fair enough… carry on.
No love for the L.L. Bean Hunter’s Tote? $30 for and XL is a steal, especially if you pack light. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/35198?page=hunters-tote-bag-open-top
Heh. That reminds me of my reusable grocery store bag, only 30X more expensive.
I’ve actually been enamored with several other of the Frost River bags besides the Flight Bag. Have you had a chance to consider these on your list as well?
As my reasonably-priced go-to I’ve been teetering on for ages now is the Explorer Duffel:
http://www.frostriver.com/luggage/explorer_duffels.html
Though the luxe version would definitely be the Laurentian luggage, leather bottom and all:
http://www.frostriver.com/luggage/laurentian.html
Then, there’s the saddleback-esque choice at slightly less price, but equally as striking, the Overland Valise:
http://www.frostriver.com/luggage/overland_valise.html
Just my two cents…
What do you guys think of this as a small and inexpensive weekend bag?
http://www.landsend.com/pp/RiggerDuffelBag~225479_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::GKA&CM_MERCH=search-_-square+rigger
As another note, not exactly nice, but pretty striking nonetheless and bombproof, there are always the BAD bags:
http://badbags.com/store/duffels-c-23.html
I’m digging #4 in that khaki setup. Haven’t seen one of these in forever…
Really like everything from Frost River. But if I were to pick one weekend bag to blow some money on from that neck of the woods (literally) I’m partial to Duluth Pack’s Merdium Sportsman’s Duffel: http://duluthpack.com/luggage/luggage-bags/duffels-bags/sportsmans-duffels.html But for half the price? Frost River’s flight bag is nails.
Or, 9 times less than the J. Crew in good company one up there…
I spent all year last year searching for a duffle bag.. I ended up not liking much but splurged on the transatlantic carry on from coach .. All leather and looks great .. Been on many trips and always been carried on .. Wonderful bag but pricey at close to 700. I had a family worker at coach and got a large discount .. If price is not an issue .. This bag is hard to beat .
I just got my brother a Kenneth Cole duffle .. Retails for 278 and is canvas with leather accents .. If you like the buckles and decoration .. It is a really well made bag .. Great size ., not for everyone though.
If you’re looking for capability, check out GoRuck or B.A.D. They’re both function-over-style, though…
goruck.com
badbags.com
My go-to weekend bag is the GoRuck GR1.
On a related note: Any recommendations for a reasonably – on “unreasonably” – priced garment/suit bag?
Saddleback’s stuff is pricy, but worth it. It should be the last bag you’ll ever need to buy, as it’s got a 100 year warranty. Plus there’s no zippers to worry about breaking, and if you’ve ever had a zipper break on your bag while on a trip, it can really suck. If you don’t like it after a few years, there’s more than enough Saddleback fans that would be willing to take it off your hands on eBay. I recently bought my first piece (One their large satchels in chestnut.) and it’s a work of art. It’s definitely not going to be the only piece of their gear I’ll buy.