Our Travel Expert Recommends These Rolling Duffel Bags for All Your Travel Needs (2024)

If you’re hitting the road for a multi-week trip and need one bag capable of holding it all, pick up the REI Co-op Big Haul roller duffel. The 34-inch version has one huge main compartment with built-in straps to keep your gear in place (though packing cubes wouldn’t hurt).

Small, secure external pockets and mesh inside pockets provide enough space for smaller items, and two small pegs on the front allow the bag to stand upright on its own, rather than slowly tipping forward like many flexible roller bags.

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This is a larger rolling duffle bag that airlines will consider a checked bag because of its size. With that said, you can fit a lot in this bag with its drop-bottom compartment that allows you to keep your belongings organized and separate when packing. And since you’re spending a pretty penny to travel, you’ll want to make sure your belongings (and bag) stay in pristine condition.

This duffle has corner protectors to prevent the unwanted wear and tear that typically accompanies travel—extra bonus points right there. Lastly, there are multiple grab handles so in the case you don’t want to or can’t roll the bag, you can easily grab and carry it without hassle.

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At close to $500 with tax, the Medium Upright duffel from Briggs & Riley certainly isn’t cheap. But over a lifetime, spending just $500 on a bag may be a net savings. The Medium Upright Duffel comes with an ironclad guarantee: The brand will replace or repair the bag for basically any reason, including “airline damage” or “any reason whatsoever.” And this particular duffel is quite useful, too.

One of our travel pet peeves is a roller bag whose pull-up handle takes up storage space—but this one doesn’t, helping you make full use of the bag’s ample space. We also think the complimentary monogramming is a nice touch.

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Thule may be relatively new to the luggage game, but it’s not surprising that one of its first introductions is already a top contender. After all, you may trust Thule cases with your expensive ski, bike, and outdoor sport gear, so why not trust them with your clothing and dirty shoes, too?

The Crossover wheeled duffel has useful features like exterior compression straps and a clamshell-style design, plus a huge top zipper so you can get to your gear without fully unpacking. While it is a bit pricey, it’s definitely worth the investment if you’re in need of a good, durable duffel back that will last a long time.

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The Deuter Aviant duffel has a lot of competition, but it scores high marks on all the categories that matter for a carry-on rolling duffel bag. With just under 40 liters of space, it’s as large as it can be while still meeting official carry-on requirements.

The short-and-squat shape, combined with a generous amount of compression straps, makes it easy to shove into overhead bins. And like the Eagle Creek Gear Warrior, it also has tuck-away backpack straps, though the lack of a hip belt may make it slightly less comfortable for long-distance wear.

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If you need a rolling duffel but live in a studio apartment, you may not be willing to give up the limited real estate in your closet to accommodate a new bag. Fortunately, the Verage duffel rolls into a relatively small 17-inch package and comes with a useful storage sack—and a USB port to charge your phone.

It’s also ultralight, which makes it a good bag to throw into your luggage if you plan on bringing home more than you packed. It has the feel of a hardside bag without the limitations.

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While you probably want to keep your valuables on you while you travel as a personal item, in the case that you need to put them in your carry-on or checked bag, you’ll want to make sure they are as secure as possible. This rolling duffle bag has lockable zippers so you can rest assured your items aren’t going anywhere.

Aside from having a spacious interior, there’s roomy side pockets, protective skid rails, and a hideaway telescoping handle for easy navigation. It’s only available in one color so if you’re looking for one that isn’t black, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

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This lightweight rolling duffel bag is ideal for those shorter trips where you don’t need to pack as much, but still need a bag large enough to carry your belongings.

It’s a great bag to bring in addition to a checked bag with its luggage trolley sleeve, bottom shoe compartment, and rolling wheels. It’s available in a few neutral colors from pink to black making it easy to spot whether up above on the plane or at the baggage claim.

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What makes a bag a duffel?

If you give it a quick online search, you’ll see that the word duffel comes from the town of Duffle, Belgium, where a factory started making burlap-type bags in the 1800s. But they didn’t catch on in the United States in a big way until World War I, when the rugged, over-the-shoulder bags were standard issue for soldiers.

Today, duffel is a pretty broad term, but it generally means any durable, soft-sided bag with a shoulder strap and carry handles. They’re popular for situations where bags may get scratched or tossed around, like on safaris or on trips with lots of train or bus travel.

What features are most useful in a rolling duffel?

Aside from the obvious—wheels—I strongly recommend choosing a rolling duffel with a pull-up handle. It makes the bag slightly heavier and more rigid, and the frame may eat a bit into the interior storage space.

But without a handle, you’ll have to pull your roller duffel by one of the bag’s handles. It may work if your bag is packed enough to maintain its shape, but if it’s not full, your items will shift to the bottom and cause the bag to slouch over. It’s fine for car trips but rather annoying if you’re traveling through airports.

I’m a big fan of packing cubes, so I don’t care too much about pockets or interior organization. But if you don’t use packing cubes, you may want to choose a bag with some smaller pockets to make it easier to stay organized while traveling.

Any packing tips when using soft-sided suitcases?

While soft-sided suitcases offer plenty of protection for the vast majority of buyers, you may want to pay extra attention to how you pack if you have fragile items, like any coffee mugs or art you picked up while traveling.

I usually use a few pieces of clothing as a buffer, wrapping them around the delicate items. If your bag is full, your items should stay secure and not bounce around. I brought home a ceramic sake set and a tea set from Japan, with two international connections, and nothing was damaged.