Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. In my personal item bag, I tend to keep my business items, but since I only needed a phone and notebook for work this weekend, I was able to stuff my makeup and toiletries in there instead. I don't skimp, however, on my travel bags. Get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. You dont always need a roller bag, and for those occasions, you need a hardy duffel. as well as other partner offers and accept our, 20 x 11 x 10 inches and can fit about four or five days' worth of clothing and toiletries, including a pair of shoes. A girlfriend and I schlepped all over the greater Seattle area with the grand quest of sampling as many wines as humanly possible. If a more stubborn stain does get on it, I just use a cloth and soap to quickly remove it. Shop the Main Line Duffel, available in 3 colors, for $285 at Paravel, The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021, The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021, 12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives, 8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes, Even chefs experience cooking burnout here's how they get re-inspired in the kitchen, How businesses create successful virtual experiences, 50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home, Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here, Learn more about how we test kitchen products. A sturdy zipper and metal embellishments added a touch of utilitarian glitz. I'll carry it a variety ways by the two handles, using the shoulder straps, and if my arms or shoulders get tired, simply by the entire body with two hands and each way is comfortable. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Case in point: most recently, I took a cross-country red-eye flight where I settled into a Basic Economy middle seat at the very back of the plane. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. I love the idea of a weekender tote but quite frankly, thats too small, and I never want to be seen using frumpy sports bags while I travel! I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. The bag is durable enough to be smushed into a trunk (or overhead compartment) and pop right back to its crisp shape upon arrivalno wrinkles or crease marks. The New President of Chile Has Chosen a Very Unusual Place to Live, You'll Never Want to Check Your Bags Again After Reading These Recent Lost Luggage Stories, This Airline Is Making Luxury Business Class Flights Wallet-Friendly, 20 Ultimate Things to Do in New York City, 14 Ultimate Things to Do In Orlando (Besides Disney World). This wardrobe was adding up to be A Lot Of Items: jeans, leggings, flats, a fleece vest (hello, its the Pacific Northwest), an oversized sweater, a bathing suit (never travel without), a dress, a couple of tops and cardigans. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. The Main Line Duffel comes in six color combinations with options to personalize with hand-painted letters or appliqu designsyou can even get your favorite emoji stamped on the side. As I quickly discovered and came to love over the course of many travels, the Main Line Duffel is also more than just a pretty bag. Whether my mom is unloading Tupperware containers of a week's worth of home-cooked meals (as moms do) on me or I decide that every person I've ever met, Connie Chen is a former senior reporter on the, While at Insider, she specialized in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable, When she's not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest. Enter the Main Line Duffel. Subscribe to our newsletter. But, monkeywrench, we arent just hitting fancy wineries, we need to be ready to get in the trenches in distilleries, breweries, and cideries as well (we drink a lot). Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. It repels water and dirt, and it's highly durable. A girls gotta have options! Since its a girls weekend, Im trying to look cute because shes gonna Instagram me every 10 minutes. The spacious, carry-on-compliant bag measures 20 x 11 x 10 inches and can fit about four or five days' worth of clothing and toiletries, including a pair of shoes. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail. Im not always getting on a plane, and when Im not, I hate pushing around a roller bag. I like to bring home souvenirs or food packages from my trips, and the duffel rises up to the challenge. If your contents are light enough that you can carry the bag by the handles, youll manage to look chic AF while whipping through the airport. Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. But lets get to the real perk of its design. I normally stray away from light-colored travel bags because I know how dirty they'll get, but the Main Line Duffel's light gray body still looks as good as new. While it's probably just as roomy, flexible, and durable as other top duffels, a simple but not unimportant distinction is that it looks a lot nicer. Although its cotton canvas construction means it's not as expandable as a nylon bag, it's also a lot more flexible and roomy than I originally expected. I have an unusually severe aversion to synthetic materials, so I wouldnt think to use a bag not made from natural fibers. On the outside, the slickcotton canvas fabric repels water and dirt. While the bag needed an evening to dry off, luckily, just the outside was dampened, and the contents remained dry. The trim and handles are made from soft yet strong leather, and it can be personalized (for $35-$75). But I think the Main Line Duffel is worth it because it's at once practical and stylish. Finally, a duffel bag that is big enough to hold all my costume changes on a four day weekend but that doesnt look like Im off to soccer practice. While I dont normally recommend duffel bags for flight carry-onsI find that no matter how wonderfully light and hardy the bag is, the weight of its contents will usually catch up with my shoulders and backthe Main Line Duffel would be appropriate for travelers who have checked luggage to rest the bag upon during the rest of their travels and transit. And a nod to the crisp Seattle weather? Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com. Its interior is simple, with just two zippered pockets and one main compartment, making it perfect for low-maintenance storage of four to five days' worth of clothing. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. At almost $300, it's not cheap for a weekender bag. It's easy to tuck my belongings into every corner of the bag, and even when I think I can't possibly fit anything else in, the bag finds a way to give and accommodate my things. Thankfully, the Main Line Duffel is heavy duty (yet somehow still pretty) cotton canvas and trimmed with leather. If you are flyer who manages not to cram in every potential necessity into their carry-on, this duffel itself is remarkably lightweight, and the shoulder strap is sturdy and comfortable. We welcome your feedback. Add one to your luggage arsenal and youll be pleasantly surprised how often it gets tossed into your travels. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full. Layers! Not to mention a coat or two! That's because of Paravel's signature cotton canvas fabric. All in all, the bag looks sophisticated and makes me feel like I'm about to ride first class. The Paravel Main Line Duffel fits that bill, while looking stylish and holding up to the strains of travel. Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. I shant be bedraggled on a road trip! The elevated and sophisticated style, complete with leather trim, wraps this practicality and durability into a complete package. The interior is simple, with just two zippered side pockets and the main compartment, so it's up to you to do some additional organization (like with, Although its cotton canvas construction means it's not as expandable as a, I like to bring home souvenirs or food packages from my trips, and the duffel rises up to the challenge. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. For me, being able to bring everything I want on the trip is more important than a few hours of discomfort (and, anyway, there are easy solutions to make a trip more comfortable, from ultra-soft clothing to supportive neck pillows). I wore my jacket and boots. One of my favorite weekenders that lets me do this is Paravel's Main Line Duffel ($285). I know that you can get other high-quality travel bags for around the same price, and their interior design is much more organized. How else to achieve perfect cozy-chic #sweaterweather? This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. A detachable shoulder strap allows me to switch from preppy-chic to sporty-utilitarian, which lets face it, is a necessity if you have to go further than valet to bellman. Two interior side pockets help with organization of small items like undergarments, socks, and a scarf. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. The Tester: Rachael Levitt, Managing Editor, Fodors.com, The Bag: Main Line Duffel by Paravel, $285, The Trip: Four days in Seattle Wine Country on the tail end of fall. The duffel did a remarkable job repelling water and stains, but nothing short of a plastic rollerbag could completely withstand a Seattle downpour. But I've found that sometimes I just want a large and simple duffel that I can throw all my belongings in without a second thought. The removable shoulder strap is made from a woven material, while the body of the bag is a slick cotton canvas. I tend to skimp on my mode of transportation when I travel. The Paravel Main Line Duffel is the perfect middle groundclassic yet modern, elegant yet easy-going. I need multiple pairs of shoes for both the hard work of daytime drinking and the relaxing fun of nighttime drinking! Every traveler knows there are times when you dont want to use a roller bag, and so many duffels are either too stiff or too informal. The chic bag complements an outfit the way a smart purse or stylish jewelry does: by accentuating and accessorizing a look to make an outfit complete. The interior is simple, with just two zippered side pockets and the main compartment, so it's up to you to do some additional organization (like with packing cubes) if you wish. Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. Whether my mom is unloading Tupperware containers of a week's worth of home-cooked meals (as moms do) on me or I decide that every person I've ever met needs a cute trinket I discovered at the local market, I don't have to sweat about my bag's ability to fit it all.