Weekend Bags always come in clutch when it’s time to hit the road for just a few days, but with all the options available out there, we thought it was a great category for our Staff Select series. It’s always inspiring to get a glimpse into other people’s preferences in gear, and we hope this gives you some pointers toward investing in a Weekend Bag you can roll with for life.
What type of bag does the Heddels team overwhelmingly prefer? Is it roomy technical backpacks, extra large totes, duffle bags, trash bags? Check-in and find out for yourself.
Why trust us? Well, we’ve all been in the game long enough to have field-tested a range of quality clothing, and the Heddels operation puts us onto some of the best clothing in the world week in, week out. Whilst our opinions and experiences shouldn’t be taken as definitive, this series will provide you insight into what has worked for us and why.
Daniel – TOM BIHN Synik 30
Image via TOM BIHN
I’m kind of obsessed with TOM BIHN’s bags. I’ve had multiple Synapse backpacks, which are also suitable for travel, but the Synik 30 is absolutely perfect for me when I need a bag for just a few days. The front pocket organization system on the Synapse/Synik is the same, but the Synik features a clamshell design, so you can easily pack out the main compartment with packing cubes, folded clothes, pouches, etc. My Synik is all black, but my Synapse is Burnt Orange, all of their colors are so well-considered and handsome. Unlike the Synapse, the Synik features a laptop sleeve, making it perfect for hitting the road while still being tethered to work projects.
Aside from the incredible Made in USA construction from fun and colorful durable ballistic-grade nylon Cordura, it’s the front pockets that I really go crazy for. Everything has a dedicated roomy compartment that does not eat into the other compartments (unless your main compartment is completely packed out to the gills, and even then it’s not so bad), even your water bottle has it’s own pocket, so accessing small items like headphones, sunglasses, or keys is really easy – and it never feels like I’m at a loss for organizational space, there’s always more room to shove small items into.
It’s carry-on compliant, making it a go-to bag for air travel, but I take this thing everywhere. I’ve even shoved medium-sized USPS boxes in it while commuting if I need to hit the Post Office on the way to work. I don’t really see myself changing my weekend/travel bag setup for now, if anything, I’ll be adding more of TOM BIHN’s bag ecosystem into my rotation – they have bags, pouches, wallets, lanyards, and even some of the finest face masks I’ve ever tried. The Synik is just one of their amazing lineup of travel bags… if you need more room, check out the Aeronaut 45!
David – REI Co-op Big Haul 40 (Double) Recycled Duffel
REI has a section of their store where they resell returned merchandise in reasonably good condition at massive discounts. It’s like going to adopt a dog at the pound. I saw it, it saw me. $50 later it was mine.
This is the biggest bag I will travel with. Whether it’s for three days or three months.
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I haven’t checked a bag in over five years and the dimensions of this Big Haul 40 are all within a half-inch of what they let on the plane. The 40 is for 40 liters, meaning it can fit about five days worth of clothes plus a pair of shoes and sandals.
It’s made of a ballistic nylon body with a ripstop rubberized nylon that will shed water in a rainstorm. It also has handles on four of six sides, a shoulder strap, tuckaway backpack straps, one exterior pocket, and two internal organizer pockets. All that, and it weighs in at just two pounds.
I lived out of this bag for about six months and it still has years of life left in it. Adopt your own today at the REI Co-Op.
James – Supreme FW2011 Cordura Duffle Bag
My weekend bag of choice and the one of last surviving remnants of my streetwear days is this Supreme Cordura Duffle bag from 2011. It’s the throwback that keeps on giving and probably will continue to do so for the rest of my life.
It’s no secret that Supreme has suffered a cataclysmic decline (in the eyes of old headz) since the departure of Brendon Babenzien, and pieces like this Duffle Bag are a testament to how instrumental he was to the brand becoming the success that it was. I purchased this bag on the day of its release back in 2011, which also happened to be my first trip to Supreme’s newly opened London store. At the time, the opening of this store was such a huge deal. Not only did it expose the brand — which at the time, produced incredibly high-quality streetwear and accessories — to a whole new audience, but it was also a nail in the coffin of the legendary and pioneering destination streetwear store, The Hideout. Based just around the corner, The Hideout was one of the only stockists of Supreme (as well as WTAPS, Neighbourhood, Original Fake, and Visvim). Due to the new Supreme store opening, The Hideout could no longer have a Supreme account, which would have undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to their sales.
Anyway, that was over 11 years ago, and while my wardrobe and personal taste have changed pretty drastically, this bag remains my go-to when traveling pretty much anywhere. Why? It’s tough as nails, looks great, and is so useful. All the compartments are roomy as hell with robust zippers, the shoulder strap is comfy and adjustable, and the carry handles have a leather snap fastener that has softened so much and molded to my hand as the years have gone by.
Taking design cues from Louis Vuitton and boasting a rich burgundy colorway, this bag has enough flair to be noticeable without being garish — a great quality for spotting it on the baggage conveyor, train carriage, or amongst a pile of other people’s bags on a boat in Southeast Asia. And to be honest, it’s those kinds of places it’s spent most of its tenure as my weekend/travel bag. I’ve taken this thing across the world with me, and it’s never let me down.
Ben – Vintage L.L. Bean Duffle Bag
Whenever I’m going away for a weekend I reach for my L.L. Bean Duffle Bag. Made from a thick brown canvas with drab green webbing accents, leather handles, and a reinforced bottom panel, the Bean Duffle is durable and can rough it, but remains classic enough to not attract attention in the hotel lobby.
Dating from around the 1960s-1970s it features a chunky Talon Zipper that will most likely never fail. Found at an estate sale over 3 years ago, I have found a few more since then but will never let this one go. In part due to the previous owner’s custom marker camo pattern throughout. He was a hunter. Featuring just one single unlined compartment, there are no frills, just a deceivingly ample amount of room for all your junk.
Will – Patagonia 55L Black Hole duffel
I wish I was flaunting some ostentatious, Southwestern-inspired Jelado weekender bag, or perhaps a beautifully patinated, RRL-esque walnut brown leather holdall. Alas, I’m not, and I’m totally OK with it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had some beautiful holdalls in my time. But do you know what I’ve found? For the most part, they’re just not practical enough for me.
First, let’s touch on transporting them. If your weekender bag doesn’t have a shoulder strap, and you’re carrying that thing down by your side all day while you’re traipsing around your chosen holiday destination, not only are you going to have a bad time, you’re going to end up with an arm like Popeye.
Second, I have an innate lack of trust when it comes to airports. If you think about it, you’re separated from your bag a lot during the whole traveling process; whether it’s while you’re going through security or if you decide to check in your luggage. I’ve heard way too many horror stories about lost luggage and bags being stolen. If I’m packing expensive jawnz, I’d rather not draw attention to them with a fat LV monogram print, thank you very much.
Now that’s out of the way, let me introduce you to my bag of choice: Patagonia’s 55L Black Hole duffel. I’m super impressed with this bag, and it’s been my go-to for years. I’ve used it for both business and leisure, and it hasn’t failed me yet. It packs a punch in terms of literage – you’d be surprised just how much you can get in there, which is perfect for me, given I air on the side of minimalism when it comes to packing.
It’s just hardy as f*ck. Patagonia is one of the most revered outdoor brands around today, and for good reason. Its Black Hole Duffel is made from a lightweight yet extremely durable 100% recycled polyester ripstop with a TPU-film laminate to create an abrasion-resistant fabric capable of weathering any storm.
The huge sell for me is the ergonomic shoulder straps. You can carry the duffel around like a backpack, which is the way I have it 99% of the time. The amount of times I’ve nailed my own leg with a holdall that’s being carried down by my side is embarrassing. When it comes to bags nowadays, I’m all about utility and practicality, and Patagonia’s Black Hole duffel has those two things in spades.
Available from Patagonia for $159.
Zach – Red Oxx Mfg. Railroad Grip
I needed a professional-grade, all-weather weekend bag and Autumn Creek delivered. In the railroad and construction business, these bags are commonly called “grips” and they carry all the necessities of life while on the job. Pockets for tools and a central compartment for clothing are essential. I never worry about opening it—the zippers are bombproof! Having a deep, open pocket for your coffee thermos is likewise welcomed.
These canvas grips come in several colors and I felt that green was a safe stylistic choice. Be warned; like anything made from canvas, these are prone to fading in the sunlight. I found this out the hard way having left it on the seat of my pickup truck for days. However, in terms of price, quality, and storage space, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better bag. Adding in the fact that it’s made in The States, I was sold. Unfortunately, these bags are only available on second-hand sites now. The company recently folded but left behind a legacy of diehard fans. Luckily, Red Oxx provides a comparable bag in all aspects.
You can buy the Red Oxx Railroad Grip from the Autumn Creek website for $425.
Brad – Filson Rucksack
My go-to bag for travel is the Filson Rucksack. I bought it back in 2014 as a work bag. At the time, I was commuting to work on the NYC subway and it didn’t take me long to learn that backpacks during rush hour are not only a hindrance to yourself, they piss off the people around you. After changing to a tote for work, my rucksack became my travel and all-purpose bag. A few years down road the bag grew so much on me that I had my initials embroidered on it.
I prefer to travel light and this bag has plenty of space for weekend trips. That said, it has more carrying capacity than it appears to. Boxy dimensions of the main compartment – 18 1/2” H x 15” W x 6” D – function more like a duffle bag than a traditional backpack. Plus the two front compartments billow so that I can fit my toiletry kit in one and all my tech accessories in another. The sleeve on the back is clutch for easy access to books and magazines (yes, I still buy print media). An under-appreciated feature of a rucksack like this is that the buckle-down top flap can stash a jacket, shirt, or even a blanket.
According to their website, the Rucksack is the oldest backpack design that Filson still makes after 30 years of production. The heavy-weight canvas is lightly waxed for water resistance and honestly has not worn a bit except for some staining on the bottom from being placed on countless dirty floors. What Filson refers to as “bridle leather,” which is just a type of thick leather used in horse equipment, has taken on a wonderful patina. My only complaint is that one of the shoulder straps started to significantly crack after only a year or so of use. I’ve treated it with leather moisturizer ever since and it has held on but that was still disappointing.
