I love my hard sided Away suitcase - I probably love it more than one should love a suitcase. However, I find it cumbersome when I'm taking an overnight, weekend or 3-day trip somewhere. I want something a bit smaller, easily manageable and can stuff into trunks, plane and train compartments and sling over my shoulder for easy access in and out of a hotel or air b-n-b - but it also needs to be bigger than a backpack. Cue the beloved weekender bag.
I'm a bit obsessed with bags of all sorts - weekender bags, backpacks, purses, canvas bags for groceries and the list goes on. I bought my first weekender bag when I was in Hawaii. We were on our last day in Honolulu and I was desperate to get something unique to Hawaii but also wasn't your token beach towel or sarong with hibiscus splashed all over it. I popped into the LeSportsac store on a whim and asked if they had a print that was unique to Hawaii. Low and behold they did - a weekender tote bag. I grabbed it up and stuffed it full of all the other things I had purchased on the trip. What I didn't realize was just how often I'd be using that weekender bag (and still do). I'm not sure how I went 30+ years without a great tote bag but I found I was often packing it for my weekend girls trips, trips to northern Michigan to ski for the weekend, a quick business trip into Chicago and just about every other weekend trip you can think of. Knowing I got the LeSportsac weekender tote bag during the vacation I became engaged, I started to become a bit protective of that particular bag and wanted to keep it as pristine as possible. Where did that lead me? To the purchase of a Pendelton weekender bag to use in its place. And from there - I spiraled. I'm a bit embarassed to say I own about 6 different types of carry-all totes and weekender bags which makes me somewhat of a novice expert, and a bag freak.
There are so many great versions of weekender bags out there: nylon, leather, ones with handy compartments and laptop sleeves, eco-friendly and weatherproof. The one thing I'm a stickler about are handles. I loathe when top handles are too short and you struggle to jam it over your shoulder. Additionally, if the handles are uncomfortable to hold for a longer period of time or dig into your shoulder while sprinting through the airport, it's a no-go for me. Likewise, it has to have a longer strap so I can carry it crossbody-style if I need to be completely hands-free. Everyone has their quirks about their must-have's in a bag so I'm only recommending ones I find have comfortable handles. C'est la vie. Without further ado, here are 12 weekender bags of varying styles and cost that I feel hit the mark and look stylish.
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I had to start here since my favorite suitcase is Away. This has been written up by several sites as being the best "overall" weekender bag. As one of their best selling duffels, it has a detachable padded shoulder strap and a full wrap around zipper opening for easy access.
A lovely neoprene option, this is the extra large but also comes in small, medium and large depending on your sizing needs. The large interior includes a laptop sleeve and shoe bag. It's a very sleek and unassuming design. The XL is quite large so make sure you're checking out the dimensions when deciding which size to purchase.
One of the best options for something lightweight and washable. You can't go wrong with the iconic Very Bradley patterns. One of my college girlfriends has been carrying her Vera Bradley tote ever since we met on campus.
A great price point, this bag is very soft and comfortable. It also comes with a pouch accessory. It looks very luxe for a budget find.
My favorite canvas option, this one pops up time and time again as one of the top tote for weekend trips. The bottom zip area is genius for storing shoes or keeping your toiletries. It's an all-around great quality bag.
Perfect for all you Lululemon lovers. It has straps on the outside meant to attach a yoga mat, but it's also great for securing shoes you don't want in the bag or beach towels! This one has a several useful pockets for storing anything from water bottles to dirty clothes.
Another fantastic lightweight option, it boasts 9 pockets and that beloved separate compartment for shoes. It holds more than it looks like it would and fits nicely under the seat of airplanes.
Calling all you girly girls, this one's for you. Quilted with a large interior, I can see this heading to many beach weekend getaways.
I own this in the rich amber color and it stands out as being unique - no one will mistake this for their own bag! If a puffer coat were a bag, it would be this.
The best bargain on this list! This is a Tik Tok cult hero and now we know why! It has so many color options, perfect for a weekend away or the gym. There is a reason why over 80% of the reviews are 5-stars.
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