9 weekender bags for the perfect mini-break

Every traveler needs a bag you can throw on your shoulder and go, whether you’re bound for a weekend in the woods or a few days in the city. These 9 picks are carry-on compliant (of course, you’ll want to check your airline’s requirements before heading to the airport), and they run the gamut from outdoorsy to fashion-forward, so they’ll suit any style – and at less than $300 apiece, they’ll fit most budgets too.

1. Savage Industries EDC Two

A collaboration between MythBuster Adam Savage and the US-based Mafia Bags, the tool bag–style EDC Two was inspired by the McDivitt purse Neil Armstrong carried on Apollo 11 – and designed to be just as indestructible. With an upcycled sailcloth exterior, a spring-steel supported clamshell mouth, and a synthetic para-aramid reinforced base, each bag is one of a kind, and comes with a lifetime repair warranty on stitching and construction, just in case.

EDC Two, $145; adamsavage.com.

Dagne Dover's extra-large Landon Carryall in eclipse (purple), open to show shoes, water bottle, clothes, etc. next to a shoe bag and a pouch with key leash — The Landon Carryall offers the organizational elements to make a type-A packer’s heart sing. Image © courtesy Dagne Dover

2. Dagne Dover Landon Carryall

Totes can be a bottomless pit, but Dagne Dover’s extra-large Landon Carryall offers the organizational elements to make a type-A packer’s heart sing. A lightweight 3.3 pounds of water-resistant neoprene, it boasts an internal water-bottle holder, a slew of interior pockets, a zippered laptop sleeve for a 15-inch computer, a dust bag for shoes, a separate mesh pouch with a removable key leash, and an exterior pocket that’s perfect for your phone or ID.

Extra-large Landon Carryall, $185; dagnedover.com.

A woman in black with long hair and red lipstick, carrying the brown Vessel Signature 2.0 Boston duffel over her shoulder — The Signature 2.0 Boston duffel is an elegant alternative to leather. Image © courtesy Vessel

3. Vessel Signature 2.0 Boston duffle

For an upscale look minus the sticker shock, Vessel’s Signature 2.0 Boston duffel is an elegant alternative to leather – the synthetic micro-suede might not look exactly like the real thing, but the bag’s sleek design offers ample compensation. There are plenty of pockets inside and out to keep you organized, a trolley sleeve helps you navigate the airport with aplomb, and at the bottom, a 300-degree ventilated compartment quarantines your dirty kicks.

Signature 2.0 Boston faux-leather duffle bag, $265; vesselbags.com.

WP Standard's green canvas travel bag, with brown leather handles, a leather shoulder strap, and brown stripes on the front, sitting on a stool in front of a white brick wall and next to a palm frond — It’s hard to improve on the classic good looks of WP Standard’s canvas travel bag. Image © courtesy WP Standard

4. WP Standard canvas travel bag

If you’re looking for something with staying power, it’s hard to improve on the classic good looks of WP Standard’s travel bag. Made with heavy-duty 22-ounce duck canvas and featuring full-grain leather handles, a detachable leather strap with a shoulder pad, an internal pocket, and a fun luggage tag, it also comes with a lifetime guarantee, so you’re protected if the worst should happen.

Canvas travel bag, $289; wpstandard.com.

man in black holding Boundary Supply's Aegis duffel in brown, in front of steps with ivy on each side — The Aegis offers a seamless transition from trains to trails. Image © courtesy Boundary Supply

5. Boundary Supply Aegis duffel

For the transition from trains to trails and everything in between, Boundary’s Aegis is the way to go. You can carry it as a duffel or wear it as a backpack, and it’s made with tough, waterproof fabrics that are monitored throughout the production chain by Bluesign to ensure responsible and sustainable manufacturing. With a wet-dry shoe compartment, a magnetic compression system, a luggage pass-through, and commuter-friendly features like a key clip and quick-access pockets, it works for the day-to-day and longer trips as well.

Aegis duffel, $150; boundarysupply.com.

Away's black Everywhere bag, open to show clothes, notebooks, pens, and a laptop — If you’re packing light, Away’s Everywhere bag is a streamlined option. Image © courtesy Away

6. Away Everywhere Bag

If you’re packing light, Away’s Everywhere bag is a streamlined option with room for a few changes of clothes, a toiletries kit, a 15-inch laptop, and a notebook or two. (If you’re not restricted to a single piece of luggage, it also has a trolley passthrough.) It’s made from water- and abrasion-resistant nylon to guard against spills and tears, though leather and limited-edition colors and materials are available as an upgrade. There’s a zippered waterproof umbrella pocket at the bottom, an adjustable shoulder strap, and six organizational pockets inside and two outside; plus, it’s small enough to fit under the seat in front of you, so you won’t be fighting for bin space with everyone else in basic economy.

The Everywhere Bag, from $195; awaytravel.com.

Pendleton's Glacier Canopy canvas tote with red, green, white, and yellow stripes, black handles, and black bottom — Pendleton’s Glacier Park motif predates World War II – the oldest design in the family-owned company’s historic National Park collection. Image © courtesy Pendleton Woolen Mills

7. Pendleton Glacier Canopy canvas tote

Pendleton’s bold stripes are iconic for a reason, and the brand’s Glacier Park motif predates World War II – the oldest design in the family-owned company’s historic National Park collection. The Glacier Canopy cotton-canvas tote puts a modern spin on tradition, and helps you stand out from the crowd too, with a stain-resistant, matte PVC coating, a wipe-clean polyester lining, sturdy 11-inch handles, and pockets inside and out.

Glacier Canopy canvas tote, $70; pendleton-usa.com.

Cotopaxi's 50L Camello duffel, light blue with dark blue top handles and a yellow front handle, on a white background — Cotopaxi’s Camello is just the ticket for road trips, yoga retreats, and outdoor pursuits of all sorts. Image © courtesy Cotopaxi

8. Cotopaxi Camello 50L

Even if you stuff Cotopaxi’s Camello to the brim, you should be able to squeeze it into the overhead bin, but it’s also great for road trips, yoga retreats, and outdoor pursuits of all sorts. Between the 50-liter capacity and the magnetic-buckle compression system, it can accommodate all manner of apparel, and its thoughtful details – an internal cinch bag for shoes and dirty laundry, velcro straps on the bottom to hold accessories like a yoga mat or skateboard, stowable shoulder straps that convert to a backpack – make packing and carrying a breeze.

Camello 50L, $140; cotopaxi.com.

woman with bright red hair, squatting in a dirt field and looking through a gray Backcountry All-Around duffel, between two other people in pants and next to a backpack with rope on top — The large-capacity All-Around duffel can accommodate pretty much anything you can think to pack. Image © courtesy Backcountry

9. Backcountry All-Around 60L

An even larger-capacity pick, Backcountry’s 60-liter All-Around duffel can accommodate pretty much anything you can think to pack, from ski boots to climbing gear to sleeping bags, tents, and more. There’s a waterproof compartment that’s perfect for wet swimsuits or mud-covered footwear, and the stowable, well-padded shoulder straps make hands-free navigation a cinch. Constructed from hard-wearing tarp, with compression straps, gear loops, and organizational pockets galore, it should have the legs to last for many an adventure.

All-Around 60L, $120; backcountry.com.