by The year is beginning to end, but the winter travel season is just beginning. As the holiday chaos begins, preparing for your next trip shouldn’t be extra stress. With the right bag to meet all your travel needs, packing will be a piece of cake.
Trying to find the bag that meets your packaging needs is no easy task. One suitcase fits everything you need and more for a week-long trip, but sometimes one suitcase is too much. Just going to Nashville for the weekend and all you need to pack is your cowboy boots and hat? Well, then there’s no need to go through the hassle of checking a suitcase – a weekend traveler will fit enough for a short trip. Maybe you just need to pack for a long trip home, then a carry-on should accommodate all of your essentials.
From carry-ons to suitcases, there are an overwhelming number of options when it comes to packing. Bags can be expensive, so you want to make sure you spend your money on one that will last you for years. When shopping for your bag, consider the places you’ll be staying, how often you’ll be moving, and how much you normally pack. On a backpacking trip through Europe last June, I brought a carry-on with wheels; Looking back on that trip, due to all the moving around, a backpack or duffel bag would have been much easier to lug around. But if I’m going on a trip to a resort, where all I’ll do is go from the bar to the pool, a rolling carry-on is the perfect bag.
With all these questions in mind, I have compiled a list of the best backpacks, weekend bags, carry-ons and suitcases for your next trips. I personally tried all of these bags and reviewed them based on their features, durability, aesthetics, and overall value. Hopefully these products will solve your packaging dilemmas.
Backpacks
A backpack is an essential bag for every trip. On most flights you are allowed to bring a backpack as a personal item, so make sure you have a backpack that you can get the most out of.
Troubadour
Troubadour’s Momentum backpack carries all the essentials and more. This comfortable backpack is lightweight and waterproof, so there’s no need to worry about weather conditions when using it. The backpack includes several storage pockets, the largest of which can hold a 16-inch laptop. This beautiful backpack is ideal for traveling, going to school and everything in between.
Amazon
If you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a backpack, this Amazon Large Travel Backpack is for you. This backpack has it all: multiple pockets, a USB charging port, a shoe compartment, and anti-theft locks. It’s a great personal item, day pack or hiking backpack.
weekends
A weekend bag is a bag specifically designed to hold two days’ worth of clothing. I recently started using weekend bags and I will never carry a full carry-on for just a couple of days again. Weekend bags are the best option for anyone who can’t fit all of their clothes into a backpack but can’t be bothered with a carry-on.
BEIGE
The Baseball Weekender is everything a weekend should be; compact, spacious and durable. There’s more than enough room to fit a couple of outfits along with a vanity case, and the extra compartment for shoes makes packing that much easier. Not to mention, the gorgeous pink color that the weekend comes in helps you stand out from the crowd.
Carl Friedrich
Carl Friedrik’s leather weekender bag is impressive, to say the least. The smooth and elegant Italian leather was the first thing that caught my eye. This weekender can hold up to three days worth of clothing and has three zippered pockets.
hand luggage
Carry-on bags are more likely to be used for trips of around four to five days. But with the right carry-on, you can fit enough clothes for a couple of weeks.
CalPak
I am obsessed with CalPak’s new line of carry-on luggage. The Trnk carry-on adds a modern twist to the classic carry-on. This hard-shell carry-on on wheels has expandable storage, a luggage lock and interior dividers. Not only is the quality of the carry-on luggage top notch, but the vintage look helps set it apart from all other carry-ons on the market.
monkeys
The Monos Carry-On Pro Plus is worth its price of $305. The water-resistant hardshell carry-on includes three interior pockets for electronics, three zippered pockets for smaller items, a built-in compression pad, vegan leather accents, and a TSA-approved luggage lock. I’m currently packing for an upcoming trip to Colorado and can fit two winter jackets and four days of clothing in this 12-gallon bag.
If you’re looking for a cheaper version of carry-on, you can look at Monos’ other carry-ons, which cost around $240. But for $50 more, you get a significantly better bag.
Checked luggage
Checking a bag is my last resort. Paying almost $50 per checked bag crushes my soul and my bank account. Therefore, if you plan to check a bag, it is important to make the most of the bag you plan to check. Below are a couple of bags worth checking out.
royce and rocket
You have never seen a suitcase like this. The Royce and Rocket Castle Classic is everything a suitcase should be and more. Although pricey, this durable hard shell case includes a TSA-approved lock, a compression system for more storage, built-in shelves, and multiple pockets. You can also customize it by choosing one of three exterior colors and one of three interior colors. The Castle Classic is guaranteed to last for years and will help ease the hassle that comes with packing.
Far
If a duffel bag is more your speed, let me introduce the Away FAR 55L Duffel Bag. This travel bag is perfect for an adventurous week-long trip. The weather-resistant bag has expandable storage and straps that allow you to convert it to a backpack. carry hand luggage? The duffel bag includes a trolley sleeve that allows it to easily slide over any suitcase handle.
The FAR travel bag is sold in a variety of colors and you can also get it in a smaller 40 liter size.
