The best duffle bags for when you've got places to be (in style)
Our edit of the best duffle bags has every need catered for, whether you're in need of a carry-on for a weekend trip or something roomier than a backpack, tote or briefcase
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Characterised by a roomy main compartment, detachable shoulder strap and grab handles, the duffle bag is an on-the-go storage solution of utmost versatility. Often used as gym bags or as a weekend travel bag, increasingly the duffle receives outings as a day bag thanks to the multitasking requirements (office essentials, activewear, groceries) our modern lifestyles demand.
That means besides multiple carrying options and easy-access external pockets, duffle bags must also be able to withstand the rigours of different usage with water-repellent, abrasion-resistant, ultralight quality materials. The likes of the Patagonia Black Hole and the enduring appeal of The North Face’s Base Camp have long been top picks in this category of durable duffles.
Of course, those more style-centric brands have not left this category in the hands of their purely function-focused piers. Brands from Bennett Winch to Gucci and The Row have all imbued the duffle bag with high-end features like dedicated shoe compartments, zippered pockets and internal dividers alongside an altogether more refined aesthetic.
Running the gamut between convenient backcountry overnight bag and business travel flex, our edit incorporates a duffle bag in every evolution. Shop them all below…
For more fashion, grooming, and technology releases delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our GQ Recommends newsletter.
1/11The North Face
A heavyweight in this arena, The North Face Base Camp is to convenience what the Birkin is to status. Available in six sizes and countless colourways, it is one of the outdoor brand’s hero products and can cater to weekend getaways and longer trips alike. Even when not in use, the Tardis-like packable main compartment of the Base Camp always comes in handy at home. The medium’s 71L capacity is roomy enough for things like extra bed linen and winter coats, while the compression straps mean you can make it smaller when space is at a premium.
2/11Bennett Winch
The Bennett Winch weekender is pretty much the perfect bag when it comes to that coveted mix of form and function. More a travel duffle than an everyday companion, it boasts an adjustable shoulder strap for easy hands-free carrying and plenty of organisational options including a padded laptop sleeve, functional interior pockets and a waterproof compartment for shoes with its own exterior zip closure. It’s available in five colourways in canvas, plus all-leather iterations, of which our pick has got to be the classic olive green.
3/11Noah
Playing up to the duffle bag’s preppy appeal, Noah elevates a traditional barrel-shaped heavy cotton canvas construction with a choice of five colourways each with contrasting webbing handles. Alongside plenty of exterior storage for valuables, it’s signed off by the New York label’s iconic branding.
4/11Yeti
Like all of Yeti’s products, the Yeti Panga dry duffle keeps usage in the great outdoors front of mind with a completely water-resistant, ultra-durable design. Stamped with the same iconic logo as its coolers and tumblers on the bottom of the bag, the hardy bag boasts backpack straps along with two top handles which could easily transform it into a sizeable sandbag-like weight for your home fitness routine.
5/11Gucci x Adidas
What happens when you cross two labels with an almost unrivalled amount of brand iconography? Fashion magic, that’s what. Gucci x Adidas merged their logomanic motifs earlier this year for tracksuits and accessories that were anything but subtle. The mini duffle that came from the collab was top of many a GQ editor’s list, coming in four colourways including this GG monogram-meets-trefoil masterpiece.
6/11Patagonia
The Patagonia Black Hole duffle is a pin-up of duffle styles, and while the black hole OG is hard to come by these days, updates such as this miniature, backpack-convertible bag are even more appealing. Made from the same recycled materials and recycled TPU laminate of the weather-resistant original, two backpack straps make this all the more convenient for hands-free daily errands and travel, while mesh pockets act as an interior divider and keep smaller items organised all at once.
7/11Saint Laurent
Riffing off sportier-styled gym bags, but elevated in typical Saint Laurent fashion, the Nuxx swaps flimsy cotton canvas for a tactile and durable corduroy in an uber-rich navy hue. That’s then contrasted with a brand name in eye-catching yellow, for a flex that won’t go amiss be it in the gym changing room or in an overhead locker.
8/11Aime Leon Dore x New Balance
Capturing collegiate-style preppiness better than any other brand right now, New York’s Aime Leon Dore recently put a firmer foot in the UK market with its achingly cool Broadwick Street flagship. And while the label’s ongoing partnership with New Balance has brought forth many a hyped sneaker collab, the drops’ surrounding accessories are equally desirable, not least this athletic-style forest green duffle with popping yellow webbing straps.
9/11Berluti
Where some luxury fashion brands rely on a world-renowned logo, Berluti’s charm is in the elegance of its materials. Smooth, dappled Venezia leather is one such signature that can be seen across its bags and accessories, making for a duffle that’s as elegant as a briefcase, punctuated by an off-centre zipped exterior pocket (another subtle brand motif) and with a removable shoulder strap for carry-on luggage so refined it’s sure to secure you an upgrade.
10/11Dior
11/11Floyd
Floyd may be better known for its ‘70s vibes wheeled suitcases, but the same brand logo that punctuates its brightly-coloured luggage is also central to its hand or shoulder-carried duffle bag. An excellent weekender or short trip companion, this canvas bag comes with a large patch pocket behind its branding to keep any passports and travel documents neatly separated from your travel wardrobe.
NOW READ
The best suitcases and travel bags for stylish storage on the go
The best backpacks to return to the office in style
The best tote bags to give your Bag for Life a fashion-forward upgrade
