Travel & Leisure Magazine

The Best Weekender Bags, Tested and Reviewed

"A dedicated testing lab is where Travel + Leisure conducts its initial evaluations of weekender bags, testing more than 70 models across lab and real-world trials. In the lab the team focuses on organization, capacity, and notable features: bags are packed with either two- or four-day curated packing lists (pants, shirts, jackets, shoes, laptops, and toiletry bags), inspected for pockets and compartments, and checked to see whether zippers work smoothly. Testers pack the bags full, “carry them around for extended periods of time,” and “throw them around to test for durability,” including throwing/dropping the weekender three to five times off a table to check for scuffs, marks, and any damage to interior items. Portability is judged by walking with the bag by shoulder straps and tote handles to evaluate comfort and weight distribution; capacity is scored by how well each bag fits the curated packing list; and overall scores weigh capacity, design, portability, durability, and value. After lab testing, the Travel + Leisure team continues to use selected bags on trips for up to six months to assess real-world performance. T+L associate editor Anna Popp “writes most of the team's tested articles and participates in nearly every travel test,” and has personally tested dozens of travel bags over the past three years, contributing to the recommendations and methodology." - Anna Popp Anna Popp Anna Popp is a New York-based associate editor at Travel + Leisure, covering all of the best travel products, from luggage to outdoor gear. She has been a travel writer, editor, and product tester for over five years. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines