The 10 Best Foldable Travel Bags of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

If you want a bag that works as a personal item, a spacious weekender, or a packable holdall for souvenirs, the Foldie Foldable Weekender Bag is three bags in one. A few zips and pulls transform it from a compact pouch to a tote to a 40-liter bag. In its weekender bag form, you can also expand the zipper at the bottom for 25 percent more packing capacity. At its largest size, we found the wide-open compartment can fit days’ worth of clothing, shoes, and toiletries. Inside are two slip pockets for a phone or small items, pen holders, and a zippered waterproof pocket, while outside you’ll find two side slip pockets and a large front pouch. The bag is as easy to pack away as it is to expand: Just turn the front pocket inside out, and fold the bag inside it.

Weighing just over 1 pound, the bag is easy to carry. It has two top handles (though we wish they were thicker), a removable crossbody strap with a cushioned shoulder pad, and a pass-through luggage sleeve. The bag is double-lined for durability, with minimal padding throughout that allows it to compress into a fraction of its size. The tradeoff is that it doesn’t offer much protection for delicate items. At $60, we think it’s a phenomenal value, and—bonus—it comes in 14 colors.

The Details: 17.8 x 14 x 8 inches (unfolded); 11 x 7 inches (folded) | 1.1 pounds | 40-liter capacity at largest size | 290D twill fabric | Water resistant

If your trip includes daytime adventures like hikes, consider bringing a lightweight, packable backpack. This budget-friendly version only weighs 5.26 ounces and is quite pliable thanks to its limited pockets and light padding. While it’s not suited for hauling a heavy load for an extended period of time due to its lack of padding, we found it makes a perfect day bag for essentials like a jacket, sunscreen, bug spray, a wallet, and a small water bottle. “This backpack is the lightest thing in the world—it’s like it’s not even there,” says T+L senior testing editor Jackie Cucco. “It packs down into an itty-bitty mini square that feels as light as a feather. It literally takes up no room at all, and you’d be able to pack this anywhere, even in your pocket.”

Though the nylon fabric looks a bit thin, it’s actually quite durable and can withstand wear and tear. The larger main compartment unzips with easy pull tabs, and inside you’ll find a small zippered pouch and a key clip, but limited pockets. The two stretchy slip pockets on the outside can hold water bottles or shoes.

The Details: 16.54 x 8.66 x 7.48 inches (unfolded) | 5.26 ounces | 18-liter capacity | 40-denier nylon

A belt bag is great for travel because it’s a lightweight, hands-free option to keep your essentials close—especially useful when flying. We love that this foldable iteration is tiny enough to slide into a small backpack pocket. When folded down, it fit in the palm of our hands and was thinner than a notebook. We found the nylon material, which is made from seven recycled plastic bottles, holds its shape well, and is durable enough to take on a hike or other rugged adventure—though it may be too casual for some settings. It’s supremely lightweight, and you can either wear it around your hips or slung across your chest. 

The Details: 8 x 5 x 2 inches (unfolded); 3.75 x 5 x 1 inches (folded) | 4.96 ounces | Nylon

The most dedicated souvenir collectors can benefit from an additional carry-on suitcase that will securely accommodate their haul. With the push of a button, the structured bag compresses fully to fit inside a checked suitcase, so you can pack it on the first leg of your trip, and use it on the return flight. People with limited storage space at home will also appreciate the luggage’s minimal bulk when collapsed. Still, we were able to fit three sweaters, a dress, two pairs of jeans, a jacket, a toiletry bag, and a pair of loafers into the lightweight rolling suitcase, which was easy to hoist into the overhead bin. Three interior zippered pockets and a large exterior pocket kept our undergarments, shoes, and quick-access items organized. 

The bag only uses two wheels to help make it collapsible. In our tests, we still found it fairly easy to maneuver through obstacles, though some people will prefer a suitcase with four wheels for smoother rolling. The softside fabric proved durable, and the wheels and handles are made from sturdy plastic that’s built to last. Despite its durability, it has an elevated look compared to more rugged bags.

The Details: 21.7 x 14.6 x 8.7 inches (unfolded) | 5.2 pounds | Nylon

Large checked suitcases can be a pain to store, especially for those living in smaller spaces. We love the innovative design of the Jollying Pebble 30-inch Trunk that becomes a full 10 inches thinner once compressed, making it easy to tuck in the back of a closet or store under your bed. The bag is made with hard polycarbonate panels on either side with polyester fabric in the middle, so you can expand or compress it without compromising quality.

There aren’t many organizational features inside, but we found the bag to be extremely spacious and had no issues fitting everything on our packing list during testing. All zippers and handles rolled smoothly, and we found it easy to maneuver the bag on various terrains. We weren’t sure how it would stand up to our durability tests considering it’s collapsible, but we were pleasantly surprised to see just a couple of minor scuffs that could be washed off. If you want a large checked bag for your travels but don’t have room to store a traditional suitcase, this is a great option.

The Details: 29.53 x 20.87 x 11.42 inches (unfolded); 29.53 x 20.87 x 6.3 inches (folded) | 13 pounds | Polycarbonate, polyester

Baggu’s signature reusable tote is a T+L editor favorite for vacations and daily use. “I love to shop when I travel, which means I’ll collect quite a few things throughout the day that won’t fit in my standard travel purse,” explains associate editor Anna Popp. “This foldable tote bag from Baggu is always in my packable bag rotation since it can fit in virtually any size purse or luggage without taking up much room.” The nylon material is durable and held up well for over five years of continued use, although it does get pretty wrinkly, so it’s not the most elegant option. Still, the zipperless bag is perfect as a just-in-case shopping tote to keep in your suitcase, car, or purse since it folds down flat to the size of your hand.

The Details: 25.5 x 15.5 x 6 inches (unfolded); 5 x 5 inches (folded) | 1.9 ounces | Nylon

This duffel stands out even among nonpackable bags for offering four ways to carry it: as a crossbody with one long strap, over the shoulder with two medium-sized straps, by hand with two additional short straps, and hands-free thanks to a strap that slides onto your suitcase handle. Another clever design feature: The storage pouch snaps inside the fully open duffel bag, serving as an extra interior pocket with enough room to store keys, a wallet, headphones, and other small items. This prevents the storage bag from getting lost or becoming wasted space. There are also two exterior side pockets. 

Despite a lightweight, compact shape that packs down nicely, we found the nylon duffel surprisingly roomy. We packed four dresses, two pairs of shoes, pajamas, and a toiletry bag with plenty of room to spare. Though it’s great as a gym bag or personal item on flights, it can handle an overnight stay or a concise packing list for a weekend trip. It’s a splurge, but we believe the durable fabric makes it worth the investment. You can even customize it with an embroidered monogram.

The Details: 18.9 x 10.3 x 10.3 inches (unfolded) | 1.1 pounds | Nylon | Water resistant

Longchamp’s signature Le Pliage line is beloved for its simple, practical, and elegant designs. This versatile version scored extra points in our tests for its ability to expand to 20.5 inches (with a 50-liter capacity) or contract to a 13.8-inch height (with a 30-liter capacity) in a matter of seconds. In its smaller state, the bag functions as a handheld purse (with leather handles) or crossbody bag (with a thick, adjustable shoulder strap). Unzip the middle to transform it into a stylish tote and unleash an extra 20 liters of packing space. The fully expanded 50-liter bag is equipped to handle a four-day vacation packing list and more. The only downside is a lack of interior pockets, but that can be solved with packing cubes. 

Though Longchamp bags are a splurge, T+L editors who are longtime fans of the brand can attest to their longevity and durability. The nylon material is easy to wipe clean in the event of spills or other mishaps, and the leather trimming is expertly crafted. The fact that this design pulls double duty makes it even more worth the investment, in our opinion. 

The Details: 17.7 x 9.1 x 20.5 inches (unfolded); 17.7 x 9.1 x 13.8 inches (folded) | 1.56 pounds | 50-liter capacity (unfolded); 30-liter capacity (folded) | Nylon with leather details

The Hulken Rolling Carry-on Tote works as a carry-on, a shopping cart, or an extra bag that folds flat to pack inside a checked suitcase. Weighing just over 4 pounds, it’s lightweight and offers multiple carrying options: two shoulder straps and a pull strap to haul the bag behind you, as well as grab handles for lifting. The bag is comfortable to carry, and it rolls well, too. The wheels, though small, are easy to maneuver on carpet and hard floors.

With 41 liters of capacity, it offers ample room as a carry-on, and thanks to its flexible construction, we could pack it full and then some. The bag has a tall shape that opens from the top, so it packs vertically rather than flat. This is ideal for tight spaces, but can make it hard to see what’s inside. Packing cubes can help—Hulken offers a cube set sized for this bag, though it’s an additional cost. There are two internal pockets and two outside pockets with Velcro closures. The bag’s PVC-coated exterior is water repellent to offer more protection than your average softside luggage, but it lacks the structure of traditional luggage, so we wouldn’t recommend checking it.

The Details: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (unfolded) | 4.4 pounds | 41-liter capacity | PVC-coated materials | Water resistant

True to its name, this spacious duffel makes an excellent choice for a hospital bag. However, it’s much more versatile than that, and we’ve gotten plenty of additional use out of it for weekend getaways. T+L editorial director Jamie Hergenrader swears by this bag, saying she used this as her hospital bag when her baby was born and has continued to use it beyond that time for travel as well. With over 66 liters of packing real estate, she was able to fit everything her baby needed for a weekend trip including outfits, bibs, burp cloths, toiletries, medications, toys, books, a package of diapers, two baby blankets, and more, though there are not many organizational features inside. We also love that you can carry the adorable tie straps two ways: as a backpack or a duffel. 

The water-repellent organic cotton shell is quite durable, and it survived being squished in a car trunk multiple times without sustaining any scuffs. If you do happen to get it dirty, it’s conveniently machine washable. Though we’d ideally like the bag to have a few more interior compartments, we appreciate that it folds down nicely to about the size of a travel pillow. 

The Details: 24 x 14 x 12 inches (unfolded) | 2.2 pounds | 66-liter capacity | Water-repellent cotton with vegan leather detailing