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Travel + Leisure / Alli Waataja
Whether you’re looking for a daily commuter bag, a standalone weekender, or an additional piece that fits easily on top of a rolling suitcase, a leather duffel is a versatile, one-stop solution. In contrast to canvas bags, duffels are distinguished by a zipped top closure and large main compartment plus multiple smaller pockets for sorting essential items like toiletries and electronics. Typically fitted with handles as well as shoulder straps for easy carrying, they’re suitable for both everyday use — at the gym or the office — as well as a great variety of travel.
Beyond function, a well-made leather duffel bag is one of the most fashionable pieces of gear in your arsenal, lending a timeless sartorial touch to any airport outfit and travel occasion — from a casual outing to a weekend getaway or a business trip. There are an infinite number of styles, depending on your preference of silhouette, leather finish, and hardware. And unlike some other forms of luggage, a leather duffel ages gracefully. Indeed, a well-made leather piece will develop a rich patina, or glow, that proudly showcases its sense of history. Our list compiles the best leather duffels for every need and style.
Best Overall
Royce New York Leather Duffel Bag
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Royce’s chic yet hard-wearing pebbled leather bag is a workhorse travel companion with ample space for weekend trips and beyond.
It’s a bit taller than the average cylindrical duffel or rectangular weekender.
Established in 1974 with family roots tracing back to the 1880s, Royce is one of New York’s premier makers of leather goods and accessories found at the likes of Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom. This sophisticated American-made weekender duffel is one of the brand’s hallmark items — a design unchanged for the last 50 years. It tops our list for the durability and craftsmanship of its full-grain pebbled leather, whose textured surface helps obscure scuffs, as well as its streamlined silhouette.
More vertically-oriented than the average cylindrical duffel bag, Royce’s duffel offers ample space for trips lasting even beyond a weekend — while still fitting on top of a small carry-on roller bag and stowing neatly in an airplane overhead bin. The bag is outfitted with a fabric inner lining, silver-toned zippers and accents, and metal feet to protect the bottom of the bag. It’s available in five classic colors including black, taupe, and dark green, and can be personalized with embossed monogramming.
The Details: 21 x 18 x 17 inches | 4 pounds
Best Designer
Bottega Veneta Medium Intrecciato duffel
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Bottega Veneta’s signature braided weave pattern makes this calfskin bag a quietly luxurious statement piece for the upscale traveler.
The bag is no doubt pricey, even for a designer item.
If you’re going to splurge on designer luggage, you might as well get something that stands out — even in a quiet luxury sort of way. This Bottega Veneta statement piece reimagines the classic duffel silhouette through the Italian fashion house’s iconic intrecciato weave, braiding strips of calfskin leather together in a criss-cross pattern.
Inside, the main compartment of the bag comes lined with a sumptuous bonded suede. In addition to generous space for several outfits, the bag features an interior removable zipped container and built-in exterior zipped compartment. Carrying options include thick rolled leather handles and a detachable strap in case you prefer to sling it over your shoulder. It comes in five colors including black, dark green, and Barolo.
The Details: 19.7 x 10.6 x 9.4 inches
Best Budget
Quince Nappa Leather Duffle Bag
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It’s a genuine leather bag — big enough to hold up to six outfits — for under $200.
The design is overall utilitarian with a slightly slouchy form.
You likely won’t find better value than this sub-$200 genuine leather duffel that fits anywhere between two to six outfits. Produced by the direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand Quince — which specializes in organic, sustainably made clothes and accessories — the bag notably uses full-grain Nappa leather, which refers to leather that has been tanned for a softer, more pliable feel.
The sturdy, all-purpose duffel is equipped with a padded detachable shoulder strap, an organic cotton interior, slide pockets on both the inside and outside, and a handy key clip. For those who like their various pieces of luggage to match, Quince also offers a matching Dopp kit in the same black or dark brown.
The Details: 21 x 11 x 11 inches
Best Customizable
Leatherology Kessler Medium Duffle
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It’s available in several colors and two sizes — and with three different monogram options.
The thick zipper is not the smoothest sliding.
This classic full-grain leather duffel from crowd favorite Leatherology is notable for its customizability. The bag comes in dozens of different combinations ranging in sizes — medium, large, and a set of two — and colors, like cognac, black onyx, and navy blue. For those interested in personal monogramming, it can also be customized in three different ways: deboss, handpaint, or trapunto, which is similar to a quilted effect.
Wear it with a shoulder strap, or use the handles and fasten the buckles on either end. On the storage front, there’s an exterior slip pocket for quick-access items, two interior slip pockets, and one interior zippered pocket. The Kessler can be purchased in limited styles on Amazon, but you won’t be able to customize it as much there.
The Details: 22.25 x 13.5 x 10 inches
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It’s got the stylistic hardware of a luxury handbag — with the capacity of a weekender.
It only comes in black.
Looking for a different weekender bag for men? This visually distinctive and reasonably priced option from fashionable Italian leather goods specialist Officine Creative offers the shape and stylistic details of a luxury handbag in a larger weekender form. A bit taller than the conventional duffel, this brown-grained Italian leather bag can fit several changes of clothes inside its main compartment, which is secured with a top flap and metal buckle closure.
Carrying options include top handles and a detachable shoulder strap. For a more traditional cylindrical shaped bag, Officine Creative also offers a woven calf leather model that resembles the Bottega Veneta version — at a fraction of the cost.
The Details: 19.7 x 13.8 x 8.7 inches
Best With Shoe Compartment
Polo Ralph Lauren Leather Duffel Bag
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This sleek, classic-meets-modern tote is emblematic of Ralph Lauren’s timeless designer heritage.
The dedicated shoe compartment is geared toward slimmer footwear.
Built in the archetypical duffel shape with a rounded top and flat bottom, this full-grain leather bag from Ralph Lauren comes equipped with a separate zippered compartment for storing shoes. Keep in mind: this pocket won’t fit chunkier sneakers or tall boots — it’s best for slim sneakers, trainers, and other flat shoes. The modern, streamlined silhouette is accented with traditional touches like the brand’s embossed logo and leather trimming.
For additional storage, you'll find a pocket with a hidden magnetic closure, a one slip pocket, and one interior zip pocket. Though it certainly works as a weekender, we found this versatile bag also serves as a nice preppy-luxe gym bag if you’re coming from work and need a change of footwear.
The Details: 19.8 x 11.5 x 10.3 inches
Best With Wheels
Piel Leather Duffel on Wheels
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It can be hand-carried, slung over the shoulder, or rolled along.
The roller blade wheel system makes the bag a bit heavier than the average tote.
It’s always good to have the option to roll or carry a bag — especially on longer hauls. Fitted with a telescoping handle and roller blade wheels, this medium-sized duffel from Piel Leather packs a week’s work of clothes in its spacious main compartment. Made in Bogota, Colombia, the bag features full-grain cowhide naked leather that is soft to the touch and ages well over time.
The shape is classic, and so are the colors: it comes in saddle brown, black, and chocolate leather. There are two exterior zippered pockets on the front of the bag, and it can be monogrammed at an affordable cost.
The Details: 21.5 x 10.5 x 10 inches
Best Oversized
The Real Leather Company The XL
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With multiple compartments and 32 inches to fill, this extra-large bag is perfect for longer trips.
It may be too heavy and clunky for weekend getaways and daily use.
For long hauls where you don’t want to be tied down to a rolling bag, consider this sturdy, oversized cowhide duffel from The Real Leather Company in place of a typical suitcase. With a main compartment stretching nearly 3 feet long, you could easily fit a week’s worth of clothes and more in here. Plus, it’s got a large buckled front pocket, two zippered side pockets, and a big interior pocket for separating your items.
Design-wise, the bag is pretty straightforward, offered only in a classic combination of a natural brown leather finish with brass hardware. Since it can be heavy when fully packed, this bag is best for trips where you don’t have to walk too much — it works particularly well as a road trip companion.
The Details: 32 x 11.5 x 10 inches
Best Mini
Cuyana Overnight Bag
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It can hold multiple outfits, shoes, and a laptop — but is small enough to fit underneath an airplane seat.
The opening is a little narrow.
Billed as an overnight bag, this curve-shaped minimalist leather bag from Cuyana is actually flexible for commuter use — perhaps as a fancy gym bag — as well as a quick day trip or light weekend getaway with one or two outfits and even a pair of shoes. It notably touts large, laptop-friendly exterior pockets in the front and back, plus three pockets inside so you can easily separate documents, cables, and toiletries from clothes in the cotton twill-lined main compartment.
Carry the bag with the top handles or an adjustable shoulder strap, or use the trolley pass-through to affix it to a rolling bag. The Cuyana Overnight Bag is made in Turkey using Italian pebbled leather, though it also comes in a more affordable recycled knit version. For longer trips, there’s a slightly longer weekender style that could fit several more outfits.
The Details: 19 x 13 x 5.5 inches
Best Bowler Bag
Dooney & Bourke Florentine Bowler duffel
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This subtle statement bag showcases fine Italian leather via a unique, en-vogue bowling bag silhouette.
Per the conventions of the bowler style, there’s no shoulder strap — only top handles.
Notable for its semicircular shape and top handles, the classic early-2000s bowling bag has seen a resurgence in recent years — appearing across handbags, totes, and duffels. As the name suggests, the style first emerged among bowlers, as the bags were once used to carry bowling balls and related gear.
Norwalk, Connecticut-based leather brand Dooney & Bourke offers a standout bowler-style duffel bag in its new Florentine collection, featuring pieces made with aniline-finish Italian Vacchetta leather that’s untreated and tanned using natural plant tannins. Popular among leather enthusiasts, this type of extra-smooth leather is more susceptible to marks and scratches — but also takes on a pleasant, soft sheen over time when exposed to sunlight and normal wear and tear. The bag features an 8-inch drop top handle and four interior pockets including one that zips. It comes in natural tan, black, or chestnut.
The Details: 21.5 x 12 x 8 inches | 3.25 lbs
Best Convertible Garment Bag
Lucchese Cosimo Garment Duffel
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This rugged men’s bag can easily store two suits.
It’s a large bag at 24 inches wide, and only comes in two colors.
If you’re traveling for business or a special occasion, chances are you’ll want to pack a traditional suit or other formal wear. Named after celebrity-loved boot brand Lucchese’s second generation Italian shoemaker, this two-in-one duffel and garment bag is handmade in Italian leather and available in navy or espresso.
Equipped with two hangers, it easily unfurls into a garment bag so you can store your nice clothes where they won’t get wrinkled, then rolls back up in seconds for easy transport. The garment component also comes with pockets for accessories. In the style of Lucchese, whose founders reportedly sailed from Palermo to Texas, where the brand was established, the bag’s overall design combines Italian craftsmanship with the classic ruggedness of cowboy-centric leather goods.
The Details: 24 x 14 x 12 inches
Best Vegan Leather
Beís The Premium duffel
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What it lacks in genuine leather, this bag makes up for in style and functionality.
There are no inside pockets, and it only comes in black or beige.
While genuine leather will always be timeless, there’s never been a better time to shop quality, sustainable alternative leather products as well. Made with vegan leather derived from nopal cactus leaves, this signature duffel from actress-entrepreneur Shay Mitchell’s Béis is a stylish yet functional option for both everyday use and travel. Built with a soft-top zip closure and dual zipper pullers, it can be utilized as a duffel or as a laptop-friendly day bag. For travel use, there’s a trolley pass-through that allows you to secure the bag to a rolling suitcase. And for longer trips, Beís offers a larger weekender model with a bottom shoe compartment.
The Details: 17.3 x 12.4 x 7.3 inches | 2.3 pounds
Tips for Buying Leather Duffel Bags
Think about how you plan to use it
When shopping for a leather duffel, the intended use will determine the size. For example, a daily commuter, office tote, or gym bag will be smaller than one that you’ll use for multi-day travel. Since the terms “weekender” and “duffel” are sometimes used interchangeably, you’ll want to take note of the bag’s exact size specifications when making your decision. And keep in mind airline sizing requirements for carry-ons as well, since you don’t necessarily want to check in a pricey bag made of top-shelf leather.
Additionally, consider what kind of built-in organization you might desire for your key items, including sleeves and slide pockets for laptops, documents, electronics, garments, and shoes. If you need a separate shoe compartment, be sure to find a bag that has one. If you plan to stow your laptop in a backpack and use a duffel primarily for clothes, opt for one that has more empty space in its main compartment.
Consider the durability of the materials
Always seek out sturdy handles and hardware that will stand up trip after trip. Also, remember that some leather finishes, like pebbled leather, are more durable and scratch-resistant. If you experience shoulder pain, consider a bag with a padded leather strap or one with wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do you care for a leather duffel bag?
To ensure its longevity, treat your leather bag like you would a luxury handbag. That means cleaning it with a damp cloth as opposed to harsh chemicals, and as needed, applying a leather conditioner to prevent cracks. When not in use, store the duffel in a cool, dark place. Most bags will come with a cloth or flannel bag for storing — don’t use a plastic bag as it may trap moisture. As with any leather item, the bag should also be protected from direct sunlight, rain, and snow. If you anticipate inclement weather, consider spraying your bag with a weather-resistant leather protector spray. Tip: waterproofing sprays for leather boots can also be used on leather bags.
Another somewhat common complaint about duffel bags is that the zipper is not smooth or gets stuck, which can often happen if you frequently overpack the bag, thus stretching the material and putting strain on the zipper. Overpacking can also affect the seams and handles over time. Try to use your duffel for trips under a week — otherwise, opt for a larger bag or rolling suitcase instead. -
Can you bring a leather duffel bag on the plane?
Yes, your leather duffel is an ideal primary carry-on item. Most airlines permit one personal item, to be stowed underneath the seat in front of you, and one carry-on stored in the overhead bin. Dimensions for a carry-on can vary, but generally sit somewhere around 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Most of the bags on our list are small enough to fit these sizing requirements for overhead bins. Remember: you generally don’t want your beautiful leather to be scuffed or damaged on the tarmac with other larger, harder checked bags.
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Are leather duffel bags worth it?
We may be biased, but we think leather bags are 100 percent worth their cost. Sure, they’re a bit pricier up front, but a fine leather duffel is a true investment. Not only is it a timeless travel companion that will last for years — it will also improve with age as it develops that well-worn patina. That said, if you buy a higher-end bag, it’s worth putting it in rotation with another duffel, perhaps one made of canvas, depending on the duration and intensity of your specific itineraries.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Dan Q. Dao is an editor and writer with a decade of experience covering culture and travel. In addition to Travel & Leisure, his bylines appear in the New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Washington Post, Food & Wine, Texas Monthly and more. For this story, he researched dozens of different leather duffel bags, weekenders, and hold-alls across various price ranges and styles. He also tapped into his own experience exploring the world — often with a single carry-on bag — to anticipate common needs and wants for travelers of all kinds.
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