The weekend bag guide

From its rich history to its dimensions, from the importance of its material to its maintenance, and including our brand recommendations, we present our complete guide to choosing the right weekend bag.

Enough to be stylish even when you're out and about.

So many names for a travel bag! But what is it really?

As for the “48h” bag and the “weekend” bag, the two names refer to the very principle of the bag : one that allows you to carry things for two days - or even more if you are economical with your underwear or use a lot of natural materials that do not retain odors.

We should rather distinguish the duffel bag from the weekend bag ultimately:

• A weekend bag does not refer to a specific type of bag. It can be any bag with enough capacity for a short stay . But this notion remains quite subjective.

• The “duffel bag”, or “Duffel bag”, in the language of Hergé, refers to the type of bag that was created in Belgium (I’ll come to that later), and has specific characteristics: a large bag, most often cylindrical in shape, with a natural or synthetic material in waxed canvas, which closes with a zipper or a drawstring.

Typically, duffel bags are used for military personnel's personal belongings, travel, sports, or just about anything.

Ultimately, most weekend bags are just a derivative of the duffel bag . In all cases, we find the spirit of a bag that is intended to be a "catch-all".

The weekend bag as we know it today dates back to the early 20th century . But its roots go back even further.

Just like the duffel coat, duffel bags originated in the 17th century , in the town of Duffel, Belgium and near Antwerp, which was known for producing very strong and warm wool . It was a rough and grainy material, but durable and resistant to strong winds due to its thickness.

The duffel was very popular with sailors, particularly the English, Spanish and Portuguese, who used it to make a bag that could be easily stored, while also being a holdall for their long sea voyage.

Like many innovations, it was during the wars that the duffel bag underwent the most changes.

The Americans first used the duffel bag during World War I. It looked more like a musette or a laundry bag, smaller and impractical to drag around in the trenches.

It was during World War II that the duffel bag as we know it appeared: longer and wider, made of cotton to make them lighter (and cheaper to manufacture), and with straps to carry heavier loads on the front.

At the end of World War II, this type of bag became popular in urban areas , through military surplus and the use of army veterans who brought it back with them.

Over the decades, they have become more functional and aesthetic, designed from various materials such as synthetic or leather , which are the most popular.

The 1970s saw the weekend bag become an everyday bag , and more specifically a sports bag, with the famous cylinder design.

A weekend bag is made to not weigh you down and travel with ease .

Each brand will have its own definition and size of a travel bag, but generally it is larger than a backpack and smaller than a suitcase.

The size of a weekend bag will depend on the length of your trip, but the standard size is considered to be cabin baggage, i.e.: 55 x 35 x 25 cm, or approximately 30-40 litres.

The bag usually has a single large belly pocket, and a few compartments.

Some brands are trying to innovate by offering more compartmentalized bags with both exterior and interior pockets for optimal storage.

Most of the time, a duffel bag only has one front pocket. Weekend bags, on the other hand, can have several storage compartments, in addition to the main pocket.

In any case, a weekend bag is designed to hold at least two days' worth of stuff, and more if you're good at Tetris.

Here is a typical list of things that Benoît offers you in his travel clothing guide :

We could say that a bag for going on a weekend corresponds to a very specific use , which does not necessarily concern everyone.

Let's look at the subject from the other direction: let's ask ourselves what the daily use of a weekend bag could be .

A weekender can be useful for all those times when you need to have a lot of stuff with you (to sleep at someone's house, to take clothes to the alterations, etc.).

It is also a useful bag if you practice a physical activity that requires having a change of clothes (weight training, climbing, yoga, football, etc.).

And more broadly, it is a type of bag that can be useful if you have a lot of stuff with you on a daily basis.

In my case (David is writing here), I have in my bag almost every day:

• Sports business
• A tupperware with my lunch
• Potentially my computer and associated charger
• A bottle of water

That's too much stuff for a classic 24-hour bag. And not being a fan of backpacks, we quickly arrive at a 30-some liter handbag... so a weekend bag.

Matter is the sinews of war.

The style of your bag (more casual, more elegant, more workwear) but also its quality, beauty and durability over time comes from the material you choose.

Here are the materials you will find most commonly.

If I talk to you about a beautiful weekend bag, you might think of a model made entirely of leather.

Yes, it is the most noble option. But it is not necessarily the one we would recommend to everyone.

Indeed, leather is expensive. We talked about it in detail in this article or in this one .

Now, a weekend bag is by definition a large bag, which therefore uses a lot of leather. So a bag made entirely of leather is expensive.

How expensive? €450 seems to me to be the minimum to hope to have a decent leather bag. So that doesn't mean that all bags at this price are worth it.

If you want a beautiful all-leather weekend bag, we don't really recommend buying an entry-level model at a tempting price (for example €200) but rather:

• To save money and buy a well-made bag that will stay beautiful for a long time.
• To look second hand
• Rather opt for a canvas bag with leather details, which is less expensive (we’ll talk about that just after)

It is not easy to distinguish the quality of a leather , whether it is real or in a photo. Here are some tips from my experience to help you:

• Beautiful leather has a regular appearance, it has few marks (folds, veins)
• A beautiful leather may have a very slight shine, but not too much (if it shines too much, it's a bad sign)
• A beautiful leather has a deep, rich, vibrant color. A low quality leather will often have a dull, faded, washed out appearance.

Finally, for the types of leather, it's like for shoes, you will find different types: smooth, grained, suede or oily.

I find that the grained leather bag is a good choice for a weekender. If you didn't know yet, this effect is obtained using a press that will "print" a grain on the leather.

The advantage of grained leather over smooth leather is that it creases much less, while retaining a fairly elegant appearance.

For me, this is a very good option for people who don't have the budget to buy a completely leather bag.

You don't necessarily lose style (a cotton canvas bag can be very beautiful, especially since it's a natural material), nor durability (if the canvas is sufficiently dense and thick) but you save on the budget.

You will find many bags made of canvas : it is a fairly tight weave with a warp thread that is quite tightly crossed with the weft thread. Its visual appearance is quite characteristic and will necessarily tell you something:

In addition to its rather nice texture, canvas is a robust weave , therefore perfectly suited for a bag that will be subjected to more or less heavy loads and a lot of friction.

On more workwear brands, you will find bags in waxed (oiled) canvas which add character, potential for patina to the piece and also greater resistance to rain.

Last major option: the bag made of synthetic material, often polyester.

Synthetic clothing is usually discouraged on BonneGueule, but what about bags?

Well, our observation is more nuanced . Indeed, synthetic can make sense here: it is light and robust, it cleans easily, it resists rain rather well, it is not necessarily visually horrible and these are accessible materials, which therefore give bags at a reasonable budget.

You will find the bags:

• In synthetic canvas

The appearance is necessarily less natural than a cotton canvas, but the rendering is sometimes honest, with a slight texture brought by the weaving. It is a suitable option in my opinion.

• In matte synthetic , like what Rains or Seagale can offer for example.

These are waterproof materials, a bit like what you find on raincoats. The appearance is very smooth and plastic.

Some won't like it but on a bag, which I can understand.

The style here is necessarily casual, so not to be associated with a nice suit or other very elegant clothes.

Also note: among the brands I came across, I saw a lot of bags made from 100% recycled polyester made from water bottles, which reduces the carbon footprint of these bags made from petrochemical materials.

You can start by dusting your bag with a dustpan type brush, which will remove surface dirt.

Then, everything will depend on the materials used on your bag.

If your bag is made of synthetic or cotton , it's quite simple: a wipe with a cloth (or sponge) dampened with soapy water should be enough for routine maintenance.

If your bag is made of leather or contains leather parts (the handles for example), we advise you to use a specialized product.

I learned that there are specialized products for the maintenance of bags and leather goods, notably from the Bôme brand.

Saphir brand products and equivalents are more for leather shoes, and they might react differently on a bag.

If you are unsure, don't risk it and ask a dry cleaner or a leather specialist (in the case of a leather bag) for advice , who will be able to give you some advice.

You want your bag to last, as long as possible.

And I understand you.

In fact, the lifespan of a bag depends on several criteria : the intrinsic quality of the bag (the materials used, the seams), but also the use you make of it.

To give you an idea, I would say that a weekend bag should last at least 4 to 5 years , with reasonable use. If it is less, either the product is of somewhat limited quality, or your use has been a little too intensive (or a combination of both).

A well-made bag, with nice material, well maintained and used reasonably can last 8, 10 years or even more.

To make your bag last, remember to :

• Don't overload it : this is a mistake I sometimes make, filling my bags more than is reasonable. This creates tension on the material, on the handles, on the zips too.
• Make small repairs if necessary: ​​as with clothing, small tears can be mended. A small hole in the canvas can be filled with thread, a cracked lining can be sewn back together, a zip can be replaced, etc.

By digging around a little, second-hand or in thrift stores (physical or online), you will find quite a few vintage bags.

On the one hand, you have the military bags, with a rustic style, often in olive green colors, but very functional and robust. On the other hand, you will find classic but old brand bags.

Different models of travel bags with a simple design, in technical canvas (synthetic) and quite functional.

The Novel Duffle Tech model, for example, has a dedicated compartment at the bottom of the bag for storing a pair of shoes, two internal compartments (one for a computer, headphones, console and another for clothes) as well as a small cutout for placing the bag on the retractable handle of a suitcase.

An interesting option for those looking for bags with more than just a large internal compartment.

The Danish brand is adapting its waterproof canvas, which is found on raincoats, to weekend bags.

The style is casual, the shapes are minimalist. The prices are quite affordable, the material is waterproof and probably quite durable.

Swedish minimalism. Clean, synthetic canvas (or synthetic/cotton blend) models that are efficient and unfussy.

Bellroy: between 150 and 300€

Australian brand offering an interesting range of weekend / duffle bags, with different sizes and colors.

As I write these lines, I see some models discounted, starting prices around €100 for a small size, more like a sports bag.

The French brand offers a range of weekend bags, in canvas and leather.

All made in Portugal, the models have a rather chic urban design.

A good option for a weekend bag on a mid-range budget.

Very beautiful models in beautiful cotton canvas or leathers with a robust and slightly patinated appearance, in shapes that are a little different from what we see elsewhere.

A rather workwear style, pieces with character. Everything is made in France.

The American brand, well-known for its luggage, offers a fairly extensive range of weekend bags.

You will find different models and sizes of travel bags , in different materials, mainly in thick cotton canvas or oiled cotton (like on Barbour jackets).

While the brand is known for its iconic models made in the United States, this is not the case for all products. The product sheets specify this information: some bags are indeed produced in the USA, but others are made in Vietnam or Romania.

Danish brand that I discovered a few months ago and of which I am a fan.

Beautiful, elegant and quite minimalist canvas weekend bags. Scandinavian style in short.

The technical sheets are rich: you have the details of each element of the bag (material, handles, zip, lining).

French brand created in 2014 which offers elegant bags in canvas and leather or all in leather.

The models have numerous compartments, including a pocket for shoes.

British brand that I discovered with the Suit Carrier Holdall which is composed of two parts: a weekend bag that can be surrounded in addition to a suit cover , in the same material. Each bag can be used independently.

Little peculiarity: this bag was used by James Bond (Daniel Craig ) in the film No Time to Die!

A weekender for elegant men, who need to have a spare suit for trips. In addition to this particular model, the brand also offers other models with a more classic style.

All bags are made in the UK.

High prices.

The brand, which is the high-end branch of Ralph Lauren with a very Americana/cowboy style, is nevertheless mentioned for its models with spectacular hand-woven Native American jacquard patterns.

All the cards are now in your hands to choose the bag that will accompany you on your next adventures.

Do not hesitate to leave us a comment if you still have questions, we will answer you!