These are our editor’s 12 favorite travel bags for a chic, smooth, and organized trip. (2024)

We’re big fans of Dagne Dover’s neoprene collection, having tested their belt bags and backpacks already. We weren’t surprised, therefore, when this Carryall Bag impressed us just as much as their other products. With inside pockets (both slip and zip), we were able to place a laptop into the sleeve in addition to a water bottle and a passport into their dedicated slots. Still, there was plenty of room in the main compartment for all our clothes. Included in the bundle are two removable pouches — a shoe bag and a mesh zip pouch — as well.

Most notably, the top zip extends out an extra few inches, maximizing the space to stuff our cute weekend outfits. If we didn’t need the extra space, we could clip the sides down to keep everything looking compact. Dagne Dover also offers the bag in five sizes, ensuring there’s an option that’s just right for you. Lastly, there’s an outer slip intended to be used over a suitcase handle, so the bag could stay safe and flush against our carry-on. While neoprene is very soft and lightweight, it is prone to creasing, we noticed. Still, its durability makes up for it, and we know we’ll be using this year after year.

Dimensions: 20.5” L x 10” W x 10.5” H | Materials: Premium neoprene | Colors:9

The L.L. Bean Boat and Tote bag is famous for a reason. After owning this bag for just six months, InStyle’s Associate Fashion Commerce Editor Hayley Prokos came to learn just how sturdy the canvas tote is. Not only that, but it’s become her go-to for basically all occasions, be it a personal item on a plane, a carryall for the beach, or an overnight tote to hold a change of clothes, shoes, and toiletry bag. (She uses the large size.) “Since the canvas maintains its shape when open, it’s extremely easy to pack. The only drawback is that it doesn't have any built-in compartments, but that hasn’t really bothered me, as I tend to keep small things in removable pouches that I can shuffle around in the bag,” she says. The large is fairly deep, so users can likely fit their things into it sans-problem. The fact that it’s monogrammable is just the icing on the cake. Choose between four different sizes and even two different top handle lengths — Prokos owns both the long and the short, swapping between them based on her needs.

Dimensions: 10.5” L x 5” W x 9.5” H | Materials: Polyester | Colors: 13

We want the items that we splurge on to be items we keep forever, like this Gotham Duffle bag from Coach. While visiting the Coach store we had the pleasure of handling this deliciously smooth leather duffle and were impressed with how spacious it was. It’s likely that Mary Poppins bought her infinity bag from the same maker, considering how much we could fit in it. Although it’s not boasting a lot of compartments, it’s ideal for rolling up all of our clothes and shoes into the open space. The glove-tanned leather feels sturdy and substantial, making us feel confident it would endure a ton of tossing, shoving, and rough TSA handling. The minimalist and unisex aesthetic also ensures it won’t go out of style, so while the initial payment might seem like a lot, it’s really a steal if you divide it by the number of years for which you’re about to use it.

Dimensions: 19.75” L x 9” W x 11.5” H | Materials: Leather | Colors:2

While many people are familiar with (and in love with) Madewell’s tote bag, we found all the similar great qualities in their overnight bag, plus Alpha. This option is a lot larger than their tote, but still small enough to fit under the seat in front of us. We’ve had this bag for over four years now, and the exterior leather has only gotten better in our opinion. It has endured all our not-so-gentle trips, protecting what’s inside even as we threw it into the trunk of a car.

Although there are two slip pockets in the interior where we typically keep our passport and phone, it doesn’t have a laptop sleeve, unfortunately. The bag gets rounded out as we stuff it with clothes, so it’s not the most laptop-friendly. Still, the combination of this weekender with a carry-on suitcase has saved us tons of money by not needing to check in a bag, while probably bringing the same amount of stuff as we would with a large suitcase.

Dimensions: 22.75” L x 13.37” W x 18” H | Materials: Leather | Colors:2

Shay Mitchell’s company dedicated to all things travel didn’t miss a thing when it came to designing the perfect travel tote — it’s compartment-galore in and around this bag. We found pouches for our water bottles, a sleeve for our laptop, a zippered slit for our on-flight toiletries, two slots for our passport and phone, and even two pen hooks (key for someone who loves to journal on the plane).

Inside the exterior zipped pocket, there is a key leash, so that we may never have to rummage through our million things at the door. In the past year that we’ve owned this bag, it quickly became a life-saver of a tote, especially as people who are never on time and can’t be sorting through a black hole when we’re being pushed through a line. And yes, it comes with a slit for a suitcase handle as well, so even though we could carry it by the top handle or the shoulder strap, we don’t have to. The only con is that the top doesn’t zip all the way, which means extra attention needs to be paid in high-theft areas.

Dimensions: 9.06” L x 7.13” W x 14.17” H | Materials: Recycled polyester | Colors:2

We’ve been using this bag not just on our travels, but to the gym as well, giving it a bigger bang for its buck. It’s got two generously sized and zipped pockets on the exterior, making items like passports, phones, and chapsticks easy to grab and safe from theft. Thanks to the cushiony and soft exterior, our valuables on the inside always remain safe. There are even more compartments on the inside that are either zipped or meshed. And of course, a laptop sleeve can be found for anyone looking to use it on a business trip. As a little extra bonus, we love how the bag folds flat when not in use — it’s easy to store it away without taking up too much closet space. Overall, it’s not as big as some of the other bags we tested. At most, we’d feel comfortable packing one extra pair of shoes, but not a whole lot more.

Dimensions: 17.3” L x 9.8” W x 11.4” H | Materials: Polyester | Colors:6

At first glance, this black leather tote looks like any standard bag. But upon further inspection, we fell deeper and deeper in love with all the smart benefits it offers. There are removable straps that turn the tote into a backpack, so we could move around with our hands free. Because they are removable, they don’t dangle around and get in the way when we simply want to use it as a tote either.

We found a side zip that we used as a shoe compartment, although it only fits flat sandals or smaller shoes (i.e. no high heels). The interior is extremely spacious, too, which allowed us to roll multiple shirts and sweaters in. And so nothing goes missing, there is a laptop sleeve, a water bottle cinched pocket, and two larger slip pockets for passports, wallets, and phones. All in all, we could organize, bring a ton of items, and still look chic — a true win-win situation.

Dimensions: 10” L x 18” H | Materials: Leather | Colors:1

We didn’t know how smooth wheels could roll until pushing this carry-on suitcase through rough pebbled European streets. No matter how heavy the case was packed, it would still roll as though it only carried a feather. Muji has an extensive travel collection which we all adore, but this simple yet elegant suitcase has to take the cake. We could easily fit enough items for a week-long getaway. The two interior compartments are divided by a zippered mesh flap, where we keep miscellaneous items like notebooks. When the suitcase is closed, we could clip the zipper handles into its designated clasp on the side and lock it with a key, giving it an extra layer of anti-theft protection. And the best part? We could lock the wheels from rolling, allowing us to leave it standing on a moving train without it skedaddling down the aisle. While many modern suitcases come with additional pouches or even charging pods, this suitcase does not.

Dimensions: 14.6” L x 9.4” W x 21.3” H | Materials: Recycled polycarbonate, recycled polyester, polyester | Colors:5

Anyone looking to book a luxurious trip should have an equally luxurious suitcase to match. Owning the Paravel Aviator Carry-On felt like a beautiful travel experience in itself. Dare we say we actually enjoyed packing for once? That’s because it comes with multiple interior pockets, a separate laundry bag, and an interior compression board, which helps to press down clothing and allow for more space. And packing cubes made separating shoes from clothes a breeze. All of the details are beautifully designed, with vegan leather finishes and buttery smooth zippers — which by the way, could be locked and sealed for anti-theft. Much like the Muji option, the wheels on this suitcase glided so smoothly it was as though it were floating.

Yes, it’s a little pricier than other options, but it does come with a 10-year warranty that allows you to get manufacturing defects fixed, free of cost. We did notice that at 8.2 pounds the suitcase is a little heavier than some of the others we tested. Considering it’s a carry-on, it plays less of a role at TSA. But if you’re trying to slim down your luggage weight as much as possible perhaps this is not the one for you.

Dimensions: 13.7” L x 9” W x 21.7” H | Materials: Recycled polycarbonate, recycled aluminum handles, recycled zippers, vegan leather | Colors:5

Duffel bags are a favorite go-to for little weekend getaways, and this option from Calpak offered far more than just a big empty space for clothes. Most notably, a padded laptop sleeve protected our laptop during transportation. A discreet phone slit made answering phone calls easy, and various pockets in and around the bag offered more ways to organize our valuables. A little slot fit for suitcase handles allowed us to keep everything together and our hands free. When we’re not traveling, the bag doubles as a great gym bag, giving us more chances to use it in everyday life. We would have loved a few more color options, like navy and white, but the four currently available will suit most tastes.

Dimensions: 18” L x 9.5” W x 10” H | Materials: Polyester, polyurethane | Colors:4

Going somewhere for business? This bag from Away looks like a large briefcase and functions partly as one, too. With a separate compartment for laptops, pouches for notebooks and pens, a zippered section for wallets and passports, and a mesh pocket for a water bottle, the Everywhere bag has been a sleek way to organize all our business essentials. The center compartment is large enough to pack enough clothes for a two-day trip, we found, but not more. With how sleek and minimalist the bag looks, we could easily carry it from the plane to the meeting without stopping by a hotel. After accidentally spilling some water onto the bag while being served by a flight attendant, we were happy to find the exterior was completely water-resistant.

Dimensions: 16.3” L x 7.3” W x 10.2” H | Materials: Nylon, leather | Colors:5

L.L. Bean has been a trusted destination for all things adventure, so it only made sense to test one of their duffel bags. While the main zip didn’t open all too wide, the interior it opens up to is deceptively large. It felt as though we could keep placing items in it and it would magically expand internally. On top of being able to hold it using the top handles, it could also be rolled like a regular suitcase. It surely made whizzing from point A to B much lighter. Thankfully, the wheels were incredibly smooth. And because the material is water-resistant, we didn’t break a sweat when rolling over any surprise puddles.

Dimensions: 12” L x 9” W x 23” H | Materials: Nylon, polyurethane | Colors:7