Battle of the Bags: Personal-Item Edition

Let’s be real — you need a bag that’s durable, affordable and cute that will withstand countless weekend trips and other travels. With Instagram ads left and right promoting “the next best bag,” it's hard to know what actually works, what just looks good and, ultimately, what will be the perfect personal item for weekend trips with Ryanair (where your ticket only includes a personal item). Finding the right weekender can be a nightmare.

For that reason, the travel team and friends of The Edge have compiled the travel bags of our generation. We have bought, used and (with some brutal honesty) ranked and tested them so you know what’s worth purchasing and what can realistically survive all your getaways. From worst to best, here are the best bags for all your travel needs.

Dagne Dover — Large Landon Carryall

Size large: 16.5” L x 9” W x 11” H, 29L Volume

Friend of The Edge Ava Crawford said, “I’ve had my large Landon Carryall for almost three years. It’s really cute, and I’m able to use it as a personal item more times than not. It’s gone everywhere with me and fits a good amount of stuff, but when you carry a laptop, two sets of clothes, a pair of shoes and toiletries — aka fill it — it’s really hard to zip close and really heavy on my shoulder. The strap is not comfortable.”

I’ve personally had this bag for two years and have a hard time packing it. I think this bag is a great size to seek out because you can use as much of that under-the-seat storage as possible. But, long-term, I think the shape (having no structure or stretch) has made packing way harder than it needs to be. While I suggest finding a bag that falls into the large personal-item category, I don’t suggest this one. For me, this bag is just pretty.

PROS: This bag is gorgeous, durable and, generally speaking, one of the largest personal items alloted on most flights (Ryanair, easyJet, Jetblue, etc.).

CONS: In practice, it’s not functional — it’s really hard to pack because of its unusual opening, and with no structure or stretch due to the neoprene fabric, this bag is very difficult to zip shut when full (not stuffed, just full!). When this bag is heavy, the straps/handles dig into your shoulder or hands.

Verdict: It’s just cute; you need something more functional.

Baboon to the Moon — Go Bag Mini

Size mini: H 9.5in x W 18.5in x D 12in, 32L Volume

Camille Duplechain, a designer here at The Edge, said, “this bag fits everything I need for a weekend trip. It’s super comfy on my back. My only complaint is the three interior pockets and no exterior pockets makes organizing this bag a little tricky”.

Friend of The Edge Paige Van Middlesworth said, “I bought the Baboon to the Moon Go Bag for my weekend trips abroad, and it’s been really useful. It’s super durable and the perfect size for about two-three days of travel. I would highly recommend this bag to anyone in need of a weekender!”

PROS: Gorgeous, durable and with an ultra wide opening, this bag is extremely easy to pack while also being able to view all of your items at once. It’s slightly larger than the Dagne Dover Carryall, but a better use of space in our opinion.

CONS: There are not many interior/exterior pockets, and you may need packing cubes or extra organizers to keep this bag tidy.

Verdict: It’s very functional, but it could use more pockets (buy packing cubes with this purchase!).

Longchamp Le Pliage Size Large

Size large: 12.2 in (L) x 11.8 in (H) x 7.5 in (W), 17L Volume

Friend of The Edge Ava Crawford said, “I use it for everything. It's my school bag, an everyday purse and even my travel bag for those European flights where you only get a personal item, and it needs to actually be a personal item or else they’ll charge you. I can fit two changes of clothes, a mini toiletry bag, my iPad, and still have room for a small souvenir.”

Friend of The Edge Addie Bucco said, “I’ve had my Longchamp for just over two years and I use it for my weekend trips, class and work if my things aren’t too heavy. To be honest, I love mine and think it's a great bag.”

I’ve had my Le Pliage for two years and also love it for school and work, but I haven't used it as a weekender because I personally can’t pack *that* light.

PROS: It’s gorgeous, has good shape and structure, is easy to pack in and is versatile for other areas of life!

CONS: There is only one interior pocket. This is the smallest weekender on our list because you need to regularly pack extremely light to use this as a weekender.

Verdict: It’s small, but it’s a ride-or-die if you religiously pack light.

Honorable Mentions Below:

Based off our own trials and tribulations, we’ve realized the perfect weekender bag has approximately one million pockets, is durable and is as large as possible for being a personal-size item on most airlines. Below are some honorable mentions based on these credentials that we think you should consider.

Calpak Luka Duffel

One size: 16" x 12" x 7", 22L Volume

With nine pockets, including one for your shoes, people in the reviews say this is the personal item we should all be traveling with, and we believe them. Calpak is durable, cute and falls within our large personal-item size category. Win win!

Lululemon Throwback Triple-Zip Duffle Bag

One size: 17.7" x 9.1" x 11.8", 25L Volume

With lots of pockets and three large separate compartments so your clean clothes and dirty clothes never meet, we love this bag! It falls into our large personal-item category, and the reviews have nothing but good things to say about this product.

Buying a new weekender bag? We want to see it! Tag @theedgemag so we can collect even MORE bags for our wish-lists and weekends away.