Upgrade Your Travel with These 8 Essential Bags
We've chosen the best weekenders, duffel bags, carry-on suit cases, dopp kits and everything else you need for your best escape.
Minimize the headache of packing for your vacation by securing the right luggage and accessories. Explore weekender bags from Monte & Coe, heavy-duty suitcases from Tumi, backpacks from Montblanc, dopp kits from Bellroy and all our sleek, versatile, hard-working travel essentials that will have you looking sharp and help you embark on your next journey.
For a Weekend Trip
By definition a ‘Weekender’ is the ideal bag when heading away for a few days. That means it requires enough capacity to accommodate a few outfit changes, your dopp kit and overnight essentials, various accessories, and perhaps a few travel snacks. Oh, and they also need to be robust enough to handle being tossed into an overhead bin, the trunk of a car, or down on the pavement, all without getting too scuffed up in the process.
For the Long-Haul Flight
Checking a bag is never fun, but sometimes there's no way around it. For longer trips when you need to bring more with you, the first thing your checked luggage should deliver is peace of mind. Take full confidence in the security and integrity of your case by opting for one made of strong, structurally sound materials. Quality is the key, though design should also be taken into consideration — it’s never a good look wheeling a big-ugly case around the airport all day no matter what you’re wearing..
For the Overhead Bin
Not every trip requires a hefty pack. For shorter voyages when you don’t necessarily need to bring a lot with you (though you very much do need it to stay safe and secure) we recommend a carry-on case. Most airlines follow the internationally accepted dimensions for carry-ons (22” x 14” x 9”), so as long as your case doesn’t exceed those limits, you’ll never have any issues at security. Nowadays, you’ll find a wide range of handsome cases you can count on for your shortest, most stylish journeys.
For Your Grooming Essentials
A Dopp kit — also known as a toiletry or wash bag — is the only way a man should take his grooming routine with him. Large enough for your overnight essentials (like toothpaste, face creams, and your seasonal fragrance) yet small enough to tuck away into a carry-on or weekender, Dopp kits are the perfect size for travel. And, when made from luxury materials from high-end designers, they’re not just functional but good-looking as well.
For Business Travel
Sometimes travel is more business than pleasure, though we don’t believe they need to be mutually exclusive. A sleek leather briefcase isn’t only a style symbol on city streets but also 30,000 feet in the air. Look for a timeless design made of a sturdy travel-ready material (like pebbled leather) and features from laptop pockets to small document compartments.
For Your Personal Carry-On Item
Traversing through airports, train stops, or bus terminals can feel frantic, and needless to say there are many advantages to having both hands free. Wearing a backpack allows one to hold passports, hand over boarding passes, roll luggage, and search for snacks entirely uninhibited — plus, newer iterations aren’t short on style either. Chances are, your favourite luxury brands are already making backpacks for the discerning traveller, which means you’ll have no issue finding a style that suits yours.
For Travelling with Tailoring
You don’t need to be heading to a business meeting to travel with tailoring — between casual sport jackets, smart trousers, and sparkling event wear, there are a wide range of items you might want to wear on vacation or at a destination occasion. The best way to travel with tailored garments is via a dedicated suit carrier, which, like a standard garment bag, will help prevent wrinkles and spills. The advantage of suit carriers, however, is their other compartments, accommodating for all your sartorial accessories from shoes to shirts to ties and more.
For Close Quarters Access
Often the easiest (and safest) way to travel with your smaller essentials — like your wallet, keys, passport, boarding pass, etc. — is by keeping them close at-hand. For quick on-the-go access, we’ve become accustomed to travelling with a cross-body bag. Not only are they small and convenient for checking through security, but having everything close to your person means we can stay calm knowing we’ve got everything we need right next to us at all times.