Between the daily grind of school or work and all the responsibilities we have to tackle every day, we could all use a break from time to time. And nothing does the trick like a little bit of travel, even for just a weekend. You get to get away from the usual sights and sounds, go on a little adventure, or just find yourself in a new locale to see, eat, or shop for new things. But as EDCers, even for something as simple as a weekend trip is worth preparing for, and that means carrying smart with the right gear.
For your next weekend excursion, consider the weekender bag to haul your essentials. It’s the right size for travel (and most will qualify as carry-on luggage), and structured to fit all your travel gear so you don’t have to overstuff your EDC daypack or carry a much bulkier check-in suitcase. If you need a good weekender for short haul travel, quick trips, or spring break vacations, look no further. Below are our picks for the 12 of the best weekender bags, duffel bags and carryalls with everyday carry crossover available right now.
Lululemon Command the Day Duffel
With 37 liters of space and plenty of carry options for a variety of gear, Lululemon’s Command the Day Duffel is the perfect pack to go from office to gym and all the to airport without skipping a beat. There’s space for 13” laptop in an external compartment, a stowable shoe garage to separate your shoes and used clothes, both internal and external pockets to stow away your stuff.
Herschel Sutton Cordura Nylon Duffel
With hundreds of iconic backpacks on the market and in the wild, Herschel is by all means a popular brand, but they’re no one-trick ponies. Their Sutton duffel bag is a barrel-shaped weekend warrior with 28L of storage at your disposal. Though simple in design it ticks all the boxes for a weekend bag, including a Cordura exterior and Herschel’s signature coated cotton-poly fabric interior lining, along with a removable shoulder strap to complement its carry handles and MOLLE-compatible webbing for carrying more gear.
Aer Go Packable Duffel
The latest collection from the San Francisco-based bag workshop trades in structure for portability without compromising quality. The Go Duffel features 33 liters of volume built from 300D Cordura ripstop nylon and features top tier sealing YKK zippers, Hypalon zipper pulls and even a Fidlock magnetic clasp for its external compartment. It’s the weekend bag to throw in your weekend bag when your adventure isn’t quite ready to end.
5.11 DART Duffel
5.11 is a brand that needs no introduction to EDC, since they’re responsible for some of the all-time most popular and reliable packs and gear that introduced many of us to the type of quality we can and should depend on every day. And while they’ll always be known for their more tactical backpacks, their recent Dart line explores more urban, lightweight options for everyday carry. The Dart Duffel is a 40L duffel made from water-resistant 420D or 300D nylon whose exterior keeps a low profile while its interior is home to organization and expansion galore.
Patagonia Planing Duffel
When you need a tough weekend bag that’s able to effectively mix business with pleasure, then the Patagonia Planing Duffel is the one for you. Specifically designed to segregate wet and dry gear, it’s the perfect accessory for trips that will see you taking a healthy dose of both land and sea. An extra-large 55L main compartment has ample room to store a weekend’s worth of gear and more, while a bottom compartment made from recycled polyester and TPU-film laminate for organizes your wet and dirty gear to keep the rest of your essentials pristine. The Planing’s large grab handles are also adjustable, allowing you to carry it as a backpack when needed.
Manhattan Portage Waxed Nylon Amboy Tote
The Amboy Tote is a sleek, understated weekend bag coming from the brand that sought out to make gear that was “New York Tough.” This philosophy can be seen in the Amboy’s thoughtful details, from a waxed nylon exterior that gives it plenty of weather resistance, to easy access compartments like a side shoe zip compartment and a 15L main section. A removable strap and a front zip pocket for quick access rounds out its tidy list of features.
RYU Competition Duffel 45
Don’t be fooled by the RYU Competition Duffle’s sleek, scuff-proof canvas exterior. Within its roomy 45L capacity lies a plethora of compartments to organize all your gear for the weekend and beyond. It has a laptop sleeve that fits up to a 15” laptop with matching side and bottom EVA foam panels to protect your tech, a large water-resistant external pocket, multiple zippered, mesh, and draw closure pockets for shoes, water bottles, and more, and even a Polygiene-treated lining to lock down any odors. Top and bottom handles and dual-purpose carry straps round out its grab-and-go functionality.
Filson Ballistic Nylon Duffel Pack
Filson have made a name for themselves as an outdoor enthusiast brand, with Americana and heritage cues in the designs of all their apparel and gear. Their take on the weekender pack is a ballistic nylon bag with leather accents. It comes with a tight and compact design in spite of its 46L capacity and can be carried as either a standard duffel or as a backpack thanks to its versatile straps. You get two large zip pockets on its exterior, while its main compartment comes with a U-shaped opening and internal segregation by way of an expandable coated-nylon pocket. And for the times you just can’t get away from work, the bag can also accommodate up to a 15” laptop in a padded compartment.
DSPTCH Unit Zippered Tote
DSPTCH’s Unit collection highlights the best of what Dyneema composite fabric as a material can offer for your carry setup. It’s made with fibers that are ten times stronger than steel by weight, resulting in a high performance fabric that’s strong, waterproof, and ultra light. 22L The Unit Tote addresses the usual shortcomings of basic totes by adding zippered compartments and two sets of straps: one for cross-body or off-the-shoulder carry, and another pair for briefcase-style hand carry. And to match the futuristic design and materials, the Tote comes with waterproof YKK zippers and premium Hypalon details for its handles.
TAD Meridian Transport Case
With a heritage of top-class tactical and mil-spec products behind them, Triple Aught Design’s gear means business. The Meridian Transport Case is ready for duty, whether that’s an outing with the family or a mission-critical deployment. Its VX-21 ripstop nylon shell houses 40 liters of contents divided into 3 versatile compartments (24L main compartment flanked by 8L on each side) and multiple interior and exterior pockets, on top of ultra-rugged fit and finish. Between its many carry options such as stowable straps and handles and a lengthy list of high-quality hardware from zippers to buckles, this is the weekend bag you can depend on.
The North Face Berkeley Duffel
The North Face are best known for their outdoor-oriented and element-resisting apparel, so their bags are serious contenders as well when your weekend goes off the beaten path. The Berkeley is a robust 49L duffel made from 300D and 600D nylon with just the right organization for your essentials. You get two external side zippered pockets for easy access to your smaller items, with an end zippered compartment for your shoes or for segregating your clothing. Two padded side straps make carrying easy, with additional haul handles and stash loops for a strap offering even more options.
Savage Industries EDC Two Dark Matter
When legendary mythbuster and maker Adam Savage attaches his name to a product, you can bet your bottom dollar it will be up to his exacting specifications. As its name suggests, the EDC TWO is his second foray into an everyday bag, and it’s a more compact and discreet take on the form factor. Constructed primarily from upcycled and salvaged sailcloth, the EDC TWO is both exceptionally resilient as well as unique; due to the nature of the material no two bags are the same. In addition to reinforced/removable straps, external features include a hook-and-loop field for patches or identification, while a clamshell mouth opens into its 12-liter main compartment, which includes internal organization for smaller essentials. It’s not the biggest bag for a weekend trip, but it’s certainly one of the most robust.
For more travel bag ideas, check out our previous guide from the archives.
