Still lugging around that tattered gym bag on your weekend adventures? When you’re in the market for a more sophisticated holdall or a backpack that’ll take you from sales pitch to summit, we’ve found six attractive travel bags that pack well above their weight (or within aircraft cabin limitations).
July’s Carry All Weekender Plus Sitting somewhere between a duffle bag and a compact suitcase, July’s 50-litre capacity Carry All Weekender Plus ($375) can zip all the way open for easy packing and unpacking. Its “clamshell” opening means you can go ham with the packing cubes and squeeze a lot into the 57-centimetre-long bag. As the name suggests, it’s the accepted size for carry-on flight luggage and its padded internal compartment for laptops and other flat digital devices means it’s ideal for a couple of nights away while you’re on the clock. You can attach it to a suitcase using a pass-through band and its shoulder strap has leather padding for a more comfortable transit once you’ve checked your heavier bags. It’s made from waterproof nylon with leather handles and trim and it comes in midnight black, chalk and French navy.
Status Anxiety’s Everything I Wanted duffle bag When you need to carry more than a change of clothes, and you’re happy to leave the work laptop behind, this spacious duffel bag from Sydney-based leather specialists Status Anxiety is a reasonably priced weekend bag that has the right dimensions for cabin limitations if you’re travelling by air. It comes in black or khaki canvas, or, for a luxury option, in Brazilian pebbled leather for twice the price. The canvas version is $149.95 and it has long shoulder straps, two outside pockets and one internal zipped compartment. Think of it as a step up from your regular gym bag, or a more adult variation on a school sports bag.
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Bellroy’s Transit Backpack When you have a sales pitch at 10am and a hike at noon, this Bellroy extra-capacity backpack is designed to seamlessly transition between work-you and holiday-you. One of its drawcards is a quick-access compartment for a laptop, so you can breeze through airport security without opening your entire bag. When you want to access the main compartment, it opens up like a suitcase, complete with a secure strap for holding down any clothing. It has handy external pockets too, for passport, keys and other small items, plus there’s one roomy side pocket for a water bottle or two cans of beans (why not?). The water-resistant backpack is made from recycled nylon and environmentally certified leather, and its shoulder straps are padded for extra comfort. The 28-litre size is $369 and it comes in black, night sky and ranger green.
State of Escape’s Odyssey Tote Handcrafted to order in Sydney, State of Escape’s perforated neoprene bags have reached cult-like status for their stylish and practical designs. Its latest offering is an oversized tote ($385) that comes in six colours – caramel, washed lapis, white, black, olive and husk. The weekend bag doesn’t zip up or close completely, so it’s better for car trips and long days at the beach. The 40-litre holdall is machine washable and has two internal side pockets, a lanyard for attaching to your keys or wallet, and sailing rope-style handles for carrying over the shoulder or by hand. It’s a throw-everything-in-and-go holdall.
Republic of Florence’s Albertis duffle bag Based in Wollongong, NSW, Republic of Florence designs all its leather bags and accessories in Australia and has them made in Italy. Founders Kira and Dimitri Bandinelli take pride in working with leather-makers in Florence, which is where Dimitri was born. They source high-grade, vegetable-tanned leather from Tuscany and everything they make is produced in small batches. The brand’s Albertis duffel bag is $379, and it comes in brown, chocolate and tan. It fits up to three days’ worth of clothing, plus a laptop, and it fits cabin luggage requirements. It’s also surprisingly lightweight and its reinforced shoulder straps make it easy on the traps. Its two-way zip also means you can open the bag wide, plus there’s an internal pocket for storing smaller items or valuables. Buying it as a gift? You can also get it monogrammed.
Handsom’s Roll Top Canvas Bag “Durable, functional and stylish,” says Melbourne label Handsom about its roll-top canvas bags, which are a featherweight option for handheld luggage, or just for everyday chores. The $170 over-the-shoulder bags are made from 100 per cent Japanese cotton canvas and cotton webbing. They come in taupe or peat and you can use them rolled up (especially if you’re taking them on a flight or in the car) or extended for carrying approximately 30 per cent more stuff. They’re designed and handmade in Melbourne by tailor Oscar Lake of made-to-measure brand Olake.
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