The 13 Best Travel Bags of 2025, According to Travel Experts and Stylists
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Are travel plans on the horizon? Once you’ve packed your favorite travel pants and makeup bags for your big (or small) trip, the last step is finding the best travel bag to fit everything in. Unlike big honking luggage, travel bags are easy to maneuver through the security line and throughout the streets of whatever city you’re exploring. Opting for these saves time and space and ensures your items are always within reach.
“Choosing the right bag is important, and this depends on the trip you’re taking,” says Rani Cheema, culinary travel specialist at Cheema’s Travel. To find the best travel bag for your endeavors, consider the length of your trip, your packing habits, and any must-have features. An overnight business trip may require nothing more than a spacious tote for a few office outfits and a laptop, while a lightweight roller may be best suited for an extended vacation with multiple airport transfers. Ultimately, your bag should be practical for your trip and comfortable and easy to maneuver through airports, train stations, or up multiple flights of stairs to your Airbnb. “Think of your bag as self-care and self-love,” adds Cheema.
We researched today’s top-rated travel bags and tapped a team of travel and style experts to help us narrow down the very best options. Our recommendations also consider current TSA guidelines, including the average maximum dimensions of 22 x 14 x 9 inches used by most airlines. Ahead, discover the best travel bags for every type of trip and style preference.
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Why We Love It: The sleek design, color variety, and functionality of this bag sets it apart. Inside its roomy interior, you’ll find plenty of organizational features, including a padded laptop sleeve, mesh pouch, water bottle pocket, key leash, shoe duster, and multiple pockets to keep your travel hair dryer and belongings organized, while its exterior boasts side snaps to give you a bit of extra room when needed. “The large size qualifies as a personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you, and it easily stores over two days’ worth of clothing,” says Melissa Mash, Dagne Dover cofounder and CEO. “The medium, large, and extra-large sizes also have a luggage sleeve so it can sit on top of rolling luggage while you’re maneuvering throughout the airport effortlessly and hands-free.” Also nice? It even has an exterior phone pocket to keep it secure and easily accessible.
Who It’s For: Whether you have weekend plans away or need a spacious personal item to bring onto your flight, the large Landon’s 29-liter capacity and many organizational pockets and compartments have you covered. Longer trip? The extra-large provides even more room and can be tucked away into overhead storage. Either way, you’ll be traveling in style.
Material: Neoprene shell; recycled polyester lining, shoe bag, and dust bag | Size: 16.5 (L) x 9 (W) x 11 (H) inches | Capacity: 29 liters
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Why We Love It: There’s a reason the L.L. Bean’s Boat and Tote is so iconic. It’s the “anti-It bag” that gets you a ton of bang for your buck. Constructed from durable, heavy-duty cotton canvas, this expansive tote can truly hold your entire life—the large size alone boasts a 35-liter capacity and retails for under $50. Reinforced handles and double-stitched seams handle heavy loads without risk of snapping, while a zippered closure ensures your goods stay safe and secure. For just an extra $8, you can have it monogrammed to say, well, whatever you want! (If you recall in late 2022, this monogram option sparked an “ironic” trend among TikTokers.)
Who It’s For: With 12 colors, four different sizes, two handle length options, and endless monogramming possibilities, there’s truly a Boat and Tote for everyone. All sizes fit the dimensions of a carry-on, and the medium size makes the perfect personal item.
Material: Cotton canvas | Size: 15 (H) x 17 (L) x 7 (W) inches (large) | Capacity: 35 liters
Irene, tester who’s always on the go: “Tote bags are an NYC necessity, but most are floppy, unstructured, and generally look sloppy. The L.L. Bean bag sits upright and holds all my miscellaneous doodads without toppling, causing an embarrassing subway scene. I’m always impressed with how many bits and bobbles I can fill it with before it bulges—think cardigans, a laptop, and a few random grocery items. Most importantly, the brand constructed it to distribute weight evenly, so I never walk sideways if you catch my drift.”
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Why We Love It: This is like a travel purse if it grew up, contributed to a 401k for a decade or two, and took its coffee black. Great as your in-flight personal item or for lugging your belongings for a weekend trip, the extra-large tote from The Row is a stellar companion for the luxury-minded traveler. It’s crafted from premium textured calfskin leather so it’s less likely to show scratches and wear, and has a roomy interior lined in deliciously soft suede. Fit all of your essentials and more in this stunning option. The 10-inch handle drop allows you to carry it by hand or sling it over your shoulder for hands-free ease. Worried about finding small items in a hurry? This bag also includes a matching detachable leather pouch to keep them easily accessible.
Who It’s For: If you appreciate quiet luxury fashion, this is a travel tote you’ll own and love for life. It’s simple and timeless, generously sized and functional, and boasts impeccable craftsmanship.
Material: Leather | Size: 14 (H) x 24 (L) x 12 (W) | Capacity: Not listed
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Why We Love It: Long weekend plans? You can count on this roomy duffle from Béis to effortlessly transport all of your belongings. Not only is it generously sized—our own editors put this weekender bag to the test and found it could house up to four days’ worth of necessities—but it boasts lots of organizational pockets and compartments to keep your items orderly. Cut from durable nylon, it withstands travel wear and tear like a champ, while its faux leather accents lend it a luxury look and feel (minus the luxury price tag).
Who It’s For: Ideal for a short business trip or a romantic weekend getaway, this bag is a solid option for a couple of days away from home. However, if your trip is longer, the luggage sleeve makes it great for stacking with larger luggage as you navigate the airport.
Material: Nylon body, polyurethane trim, polyester lining | Size: 12 (H) x 21.5 (L) x 9 (W) inches | Capacity: 24.22 liters
Abby, tester who loves short trips: “Prior to this bag, I only had larger tote bags or a carry-on suitcase to choose from—the tote was never big enough for three days, but the carry-on suitcase felt superfluous for just three days. This Beis Commuter duffle is truly the perfect in-between. There are several internal and external pockets to keep organized and it’s sizeable enough to fit sweaters without worrying they’ll take up all the space. Huge perk in winter traveling! I love that the base of the bag is rectangular and flat, so it maintains its structure and feels sturdy.”
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Why We Love It: Whether you need a bag for your daily commute or long-haul flights, Cuyana’s Classic Easy Tote is a functional and beautifully crafted bag that’ll make your travel easier. Cut from lightweight, buttery-soft leather, this minimalist style bag is designed with a large interior that fits a lot of essentials, including a 16-inch laptop and your favorite pair of work sneakers, while top handles and shoulder straps offer multiple ways to carry it. What we love most of all is how you can customize the interior with different inserts and organizers to best fit your needs, and it doesn’t hurt that it comes in an array of beautiful colorways, too. Need more (or less) space? It’s available in tall and small sizes, too.
Who It’s For: If you want a versatile tote that’s functional for all sorts of travel needs and will last you for years, this is the bag for you.
Material: Leather | Size: 12.5 (H) x 20.5 (L) x 5 (W) inches | Capacity: Not listed
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Why We Love It: When it comes to how many pockets we want our travel bags to have, the limit does not exist. Enter this Calpak duffel that comes with approximately a million pockets (technically, nine, including: a laptop slip, a shoe storage area, interior slots and zip-up compartments). “I use this as a gym bag, weekender bag, travel bag, and commuter tote,” says Summer Cartwright, InStyle’s senior wellness editor. “The soft shell material keeps me comfortable even when my bag is stuffed to the brim. It feels like a puffer coat.”
Who It’s For: If you like to keep all of your essentials—your clothes, laptop, passport, and wallet—in one place, you’ll appreciate this bag’s quick, hassle-free access to smaller items, especially while at the airport.
Material: Polyester shell | Size: 12 (H) x 16 (L) x 8 (W) inches | Capacity: 25 liters
Krisha, tester who needed more storage: “This bag is spacious with lots of compartments so I can separate things…I was running a 5k in D.C. and it made it helpful that this bag had a separate compartment for your shoes so I could separate my stinky running shoes from all my clothes. It also has a trolley sleeve so I can secure it to a suitcase if I ever need to.”
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Why We Love It: For hands-free carrying, a travel backpack makes for the perfect carry-on or personal item. This streamlined design from fan-favorite luggage brand July is nice and roomy, with a 25-liter capacity to house your belongings. Crafted from water-resistant nylon twill and equipped with padded, adjustable straps, it’s just as functional and comfortable as it is stylish. It doesn’t skimp on thoughtful features, either. The QuickPass hidden pocket, a padded 16-inch laptop sleeve, multiple inner pockets and dividers, side pockets for an umbrella or water bottle, and a luggage sleeve are just some of the features packed into this design.
Who It’s For: You prefer hands-free travel that won’t leave you with achy shoulders. If you don’t need too much space, the brand also offers a 20-liter version.
Material: Nylon, leather handles and trims | Size: 18.9 (H) x 12.2 (L) x 6.7 (W) inches | Capacity: 25 liters
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Why We Love It: “The Bigger Carry-On from Away has been my most loyal travel companion,” says Sydney Engelhart, a fashion stylist in L.A. “It’s simple and sleek, but also so lightweight and easy to maneuver.” Smooth-gliding wheels and lightweight body aside, his carry-on features the brand’s signature interior compression system that helps you organize and protect your belongings, as well as easy grip handles for easy maneuvering. What’s more, the 100 percent polycarbonate shell is durable enough to withstand the wear and tear that comes with airline travel. “I’ve taken it on so many trips, and it’s still in amazing condition,” adds Engelhart.
Who It’s For: If you’re going on a longer trip or consider yourself a chronic over-packer, this spacious, 47.9-liter roller should do the trick. However, it’s important to note that while it will fit the overhead bin on most major U.S. airlines, it is slightly larger than the average maximum dimensions, so it may not fit the requirements of every airline. For a smaller roller that’s guaranteed to fit in overhead bins, consider sizing down to The Carry On.
Material: Polycarbonate shell | Size: 22.7 (H) x 15.4 (L) x 9.6 (W) inches | Capacity: 47.9 liters
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Why We Love It: Don’t have a lot of stuff but don’t feel like schlepping a bag around all day? A mini roller will make your life easier by keeping your stuff in place while relieving your back and shoulders. Small but mighty, this style from Calpak can fit under most airline seats yet is still big enough to hold up to 28 liters. “Its lightweight and durable construction make it easy to maneuver through airports and train stations, while multiple interior compartments keep your belongings organized and secure,” says Sounun Tek, Calpak’s senior director of brand marketing. What’s more, the durable polycarbonate shell comes in a bunch of fun colors, including vibrant limited-edition neons, making it super easy to spot your bag on the luggage carousel.
Who It’s For: Given its smaller size, this bag is great for overnight or day trips—if you need to pack for a few days or more, consider opting for the standard size.
Material: Polycarbonate shell | Size: 16 (H) x 14 (L) x 9 (W) | Capacity: 28 liters
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Why We Love It: Renowned for its durable and sustainably made signature quilted nylon, MZ Wallace designs stylish, functional, and long-lasting bags tailored to those with busy, travel-heavy lifestyles. Ever versatile, this nifty backpack allows users to wear it three different ways: over both shoulders, carried by its top handles as a tote, or worn crossbody with a detachable, adjustable strap. Convertibility aside, it’s stacked with thoughtful features, like eight exterior pockets, 10 interior pockets, two detachable pouches, a luggage sleeve, and space for a laptop up to 15 inches.
Who It’s For: You want a travel bag that not only keeps you highly organized but allows for multiple carrying options—and one that looks cute, too.
Material: Nylon; leather trims | Size: 16.5 (H) x 12.2 (L) x 5.5 (W) | Capacity: Not listed
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Why We Love It: High-quality, premium leather is not only luxurious, it’s quite durable, too, making it a great choice for your travel accessories. This sturdy tote from Mansur Gavriel is sleek and simple—a stylish bag to make your airport outfits feel more put-together—but also lightweight, roomy, and still small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. There’s no need to be precious about inevitable scratches or wear and tear, either—it’s cut from a premium leather that looks better with age.
Who It’s For: Large but not too large, this stylish tote makes a chic in-flight personal item that doubles as a commute-friendly work tote. It’ll fit your wallet, phone, and laptop with room for a water bottle and even an extra sweater, just in case you get chilly on your flight.
Material: Leather | Size: 11.5 (H) x 19 (L) x 6 (W) inches | Capacity: Not listed
Summer, tester who hates checking bags: “This tote could fit my apartment in it, I swear. It’s like a black hole but with organization. The sleek bag comes with an attached pouch for storing things like your wallet, passport, or keys so they’re easy to snag when needed.”
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Why We Love It: Perhaps even more iconic than the Boat and Tote is Longchamp’s Le Pliage Tote, a simple and practical style that’s been gracing the shoulders of celebrities and regular folks alike since the ‘90s. Beloved for its ability to be stuffed to capacity and then some, this lightweight yet resilient bag makes a great travel companion. The nylon body conforms to your needs, easily squeezing under seats and into overhead storage, or folding down flat to store when not in use. And for the record, these babies are practically indestructible.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking for a travel bag to accompany your larger luggage, the Le Pliage is durable, classic, and surprisingly spacious. Just keep in mind that it only features two small interior pockets, so this might not be the best option if you like to keep your belongings more organized with compartments and dividers.
Material: Polyamide canvas; leather trims | Size: 11.8 (H) x 12.2 (L) x 7.5 (W) | Capacity: Not listed
Heer, tester who overpacks: “This bag is extremely spacious! It can fit all my clothes, toiletries, and miscellaneous items. I use this bag for weekend trips and the expandable feature makes it perfect for overpackers like myself.”
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Why We Love It: Need a ludicrously capacious bag to carry all (and we mean all) of your travel necessities and then some? This oversized Kassl tote has you covered. “This is my favorite travel tote right now—it feels like a slightly elevated take on the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote, and the piping is so timeless and cool against the canvas,” Englehart says. Cut from cotton canvas with faux leather piping accents, it’s super lightweight—an important feature for a bag you’re bound to fill with, well, lots of stuff. It’s also designed with both top handles and shoulder straps for carrying flexibility. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t have any interior compartments or organizers besides one small slip pocket, so you may want to keep small items in separate organizational pouches and bags for easy access.
Who It’s For: If you’re seeking a more elevated take on the classic canvas tote, you can’t go wrong with this oversized style. It’s on the pricier side, but as Engelhart says, it’s a great piece to invest in since you know it will last.
Material: Cotton, polyurethane; polyester lining | Size: 13.7 (H) x 24.4 (L) x 8.1 (W) inches | Capacity: Not listed
What to Keep in Mind
- Material: Travel bags are constructed from a variety of different materials, but they mainly fall into two categories: hard and soft. Each has its advantages, so it’s really up to personal preference. Hard-shell carry-ons (such as in your standard roller suitcase) boast great durability and better protect your belongings, especially fragile items. “Sturdy materials that can withstand the rigors of travel, like polycarbonate, are durable and resistant to abrasion, breaking, and water damage, ensuring your belongings stay protected during your journey,” notes Tek. On the other hand, soft rollers and duffle bags—especially those made from durable materials like nylon—have plenty of benefits, too. “For one, they’re easier to overstuff, especially on the return trip (because we all know we don’t need as much on the departure),” says Cheema. “The flexible material also makes it easier to shove into the overhead bins, a win in my book, and they’re usually lighter.”
- Size and Weight: Size and weight are also important to consider, especially when it comes to your airline guidelines, notes Tek. “Consider the dimensions of the bag when packing to ensure it fits in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you,” he says. “Also pay attention to the weight of the bag when empty, as this will impact how you can pack without exceeding the airline’s weight limit.” Of course, size and weight will also influence how comfortable you are while you’re on the go. “There’s nothing worse than schlepping a heavy bag through an airport, so I prefer to use something lightweight and practical that still aligns with my personal style,” says Engelhart.
- Functionality: Of course, your bag should be functional in the way that you need it to be. Bags with multiple compartments and pockets will help keep your belongings organized and easy to access, notes Tek, and recommends looking for features like a laptop sleeve, a zippered mesh pocket for toiletries, and external pockets for quick access to your phone or passport.
- Your Full Luggage Combination: When deciding on a travel bag, Mash wants you to consider your full luggage lineup—your carry-on bag and personal item—and how this combination will benefit your travel experience, from getting through airport security to how you can access items during your flight and beyond. “Your carry-on bag and personal item should provide versatility in how you use each piece individually as well as in tandem so that they solve problems for you when the inevitable tricky packing situation arises,” she says. “This combo should also provide maximum capacity for how you use them both in-flight and while you’re traveling throughout your trip.”
Your Questions, Answered
How do you pack a carry-on-sized bag for a multi-night trip?
To put it simply, packing is an art. For Mash, good organizational skills and a set of packing cubes make all the difference. “I put all clothing in packing cubes and all shoes in shoe bags, and they sit in the bottom compartment of my carry-on. All of my odd-shaped bulky items, like a hair dryer or going out bags, go in the top compartment.”
But before you even get that far, having a solid formula—a set number of allowed pieces per category, all of which work well with one another to create multiple outfits—is key. This not only makes the packing process less daunting, but it’s a good way to ensure you don’t overpack.
For a week in colder weather, Engelhart has her packing list down to a science: two pairs of pants, two sweaters, three to four tops, and two pairs of shoes. “I’ll wear my coat on the plane, with another sweater tied around my shoulders and a pair of boots. That way, there’s plenty of room in my bag for toiletries, pajamas, and gifts to bring back to friends and family.” Cheema has a similar formula, opting for only one pair of boots, two pairs of jeans or pants, six tops that match your bottoms, and two sweaters. For warmer temperatures, swap the pants for shorts, and sweaters for dresses. “You really don’t need a million pairs of shoes on vacation, just a cool look,” she adds.
How do you safely transport makeup and other liquid toiletries?
Traveling with liquids can be a hassle, but we all have those desert island beauty products we simply cannot be without. First, ensure any liquids you’re packing don’t exceed the TSA limit of 3.4 oz, then pack everything in a clear, quart-size bag, says Tek. “This makes everything easily identifiable and in one place.” Then, place the bag in a leak-proof pouch to prevent leaks and spills, in case a container breaks during travel. “Store the pouch in an easy-to-access compartment of your carry-on so you can easily get to your toiletries when you need them,” says
However, the safest way to transport liquids to avoid spills is to…not transport them at all. Or at least try to travel with less. “Minimalism is key. I like to pare down my skin care and makeup routine and avoid traveling with any glass bottles,” says Engelhart. “The Ries refillable travel containers have been a lifesaver.” For Cheema, swapping liquids for solids is the way to go. “I’m a big bar girl; I pack shampoo bars, shaving bars, facial bar cleansers, powdered dry shampoo, and even salt rock deodorant and tooth tablets,” she says. “Call me a hippie, but the fewer liquids I have to deal with (or toss a pre-check), the better.”
Why Shop With Us
Jenna Igneri is a freelance fashion writer and editor with bylines in Refinery29, Byrdie, Who What Wear, The Zoe Report, Coveteur, and more. With more than a decade under her belt, she’s seen, touched, and tested out many of today’s biggest travel accessories brands, and as a frequent traveler for both work and play, she knows what makes a great travel bag.
For this story, she selected styles from some vetted brands in her closet and researched other top-rated styles. She also tapped a team of travel accessories experts to share their insights: fashion stylist Sydney Engelhart, culinary travel specialist at Cheema’s Travel Rani Cheema, Dagne Dover cofounder and CEO Melissa Mash, and Calpak senior director of brand marketing Sounun Tek.
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