If you’re after just the one getaway bag, we'd humbly suggest a quality duffel as an essential contender. Not least because of their versatility: chosen well, these are bags equally at home as a holdall for your next gym workout as in the overhead locker on your next weekend trip to New York.
High-end options are in leather, just waiting to gain the patina of your travels in the lobby of that five-star hotel, while water resistant nylon - and waxed nylon - duffels combine style with added practicality. Need an extra pocket for your laptop? We've found the duffels for you. All that plus sustainable and colour popping bags in our selection of the best duffel bags for men now.
Best duffel bags for men
Carl Frederik Compact Weekender Chocolate
London-based Carl Frederik aim to combine elegance with form-follows-function efficiency. Their Compact Weekender is a perfectly judged nubuck leather example of this ethos. More structured than the typical duffel, it's designed to accommodate all that you need for that cheeky city break, featuring a spacious main compartment, with one zipped and two open pockets, while there's a handy external open pocket, too. Nickel plated hardware completes a high quality piece.
Luca Faloni Weekender
Hand-crafted in artisanal studios in Florence, this piece of Italian luxury is designed simply to get better the more Luca Faloni's Weekender is part of your life. Every high-end detail counts. Tuscan leather is used in construction, with handy features such as key holder and passport pocket waiting when you open the zinc alloy zip by Lanfranchi of Bergamo to reveal the 100% cotton-lined internal compartment. Detachable shoulder strap is in suede.
Steele & Borough The Holdall
Combining classic duffel style with all of the minimalist appeal of exacting Swedish design, The Holdall by sustainable luggage brand Steele & Borough is designed to be with you whenever you need to carry life's essentials, from gym to Lake District weekend away. As you'd expect from Scandinavian style, simplicity and practicality is key. Construction is from water resistant waxed nylon and vegan leather, with tough shoulder strap and large internal compartment. The Volvo of duffel bags? We'd say so.
Mismo M/S Tour
Details tell the impeccable Danish design story of the versatile M/S Tour from Mismo, Copenhagen's “companions for life" specialists. Research led Mismo to use a fully waterproof nylon in construction, so your valuables, secured by high-end YKK Excella zip, will be both safe and dry. Trimmings? In vegetable-tanned bridle leather, naturally. Versatile handles and straps allows the M/S Tour to be carried, shoulder slung or used as a backpack. Foam-lined pocket inside is suitable for laptop - or your favourite architectural magazine.
Ami Heart Logo Gym Bag
Inspiration for Ami's Gym Bag - we'd use ours for a weekend break to Krakow or perhaps Cannes - comes from the city of love itself, celebrated by the brand's subtle heart logo. Paris style offers two external zip pockets, ideal for post-gym gear or those novels for the plane, while sturdy zip conceals cavernous internal compartment. Construction is from tough 100% nylon, detachable shoulder strap is adjustable and subtle heart logo - celebrating love and friendship, Ami say - finishes a perfect French fancy.
Floyd Weekender
Looking for a splash of 1970s-inspired colour to brighten up your travels? You won't miss Floyd's Weekender on the baggage carousel - and this is a bag that demands you take it out for a good time. Underneath the brightness there's serious design going on, with internal compartments for your laptop and other necessities and three outside pockets too. Durability is key for Floyd, whether you're using yours at the beach house or as a companion on California's Highway One. Shoulder straps? Two, in contrasing colours.
Lululemon All Day Essentials Large Duffel Bag 32L
Vancouver's Lululemon create gear for the great Canadian outdoors - and their All Day Essentials Large Duffel will cope with pretty much anything you care to throw at it, or indeed in it. Large external zipped pocket is ideal for sweaty gym gear - or trans-continental essentials - and there's a dedicated shoe pocket too. Shoulder strap is detachable and there's a trolley-compatible sleeve, a typically practical Lululemon detail. Form-follows-function stylish.
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag 55L
Truly cavernous - Patagonia suggest there's enough space for an extended trip if you pack wisely - the aptly named Black Hole Duffel is also the certified Fair Trade option. Sustainability is a focus, too, with construction from 100% recycled materials. These intrepid travellers describe the Black Hole as "highly weather resistant and stubbornly tough". Mesh pocket to underside of large zipped lid is handy for on-the-go essentials, zipped inside pocket can also be accessed from outside.
Away The Medium Everywhere Bag
Classy design in a carry-on size. Handy clam shell opening on Away's neatly stylish weekend-away size bag unzips to reveals what Away call an "organisation system", with zippered and slip pockets for all those essential bits and pieces, while there's a padded exterior pocket for your laptop. Construction is in water resistant nylon, detailed with leather trim, detachable straps attach to concealed D-rings.
For something slightly more compact, check out our pick of the best crossbody bags for men.
