The 7 best duffel bags for travel, tested and reviewed

For the adventurous traveler, the Cotopaxi Chumpi Duffel offers the ultimate surprise. Each bag is made from the brand’s repurposed 600D nylon material, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind creation. That means every single Chumpi bag features a unique combination of colors, and you won't know what the bag will look like until it arrives — no more losing sight of your duffel on the luggage carousel. If you like bold bags with a color-block design, then you'll love this duffel, but the inability to choose your own colors may be a drawback for some travelers.

I found this bag to be really sturdy and durable in my testing, I just wished it was a bit bigger. Although the 35L capacity means it meets airline carry-on requirements, over-packers will wish they had more room. The Chumpi has just one large center compartment along with a small external zippered pocket at one end of the bag, but if you combine it with your favorite packing cubes you’ll have no trouble keeping everything organized.

I literally could not stop ooo-ing and aah-ing over this duffel when it arrived. The vegan leather is so soft and luxurious, and the colorways are sure to put a smile on any traveler’s face. This bag has so many smart features.

First, there’s the trolley-pass through pocket — when not in use it doubles as an additional exterior pocket. The duffel also includes a Classic Folio, which attaches to the front of the bag and is perfect for stashing your must-have essentials close at hand. Multiple interior pockets keep everything nicely organized, which is rare even among the best duffel bags.

I just wish they’d made the closure on the laptop pocket a magnetic quicksnap like the rest of the bag. It also lacks a full wraparound zip opening, so packing and unpacking isn't as easy as some of the other duffels on our list.

This Mountain Hardwear bag tucks into itself when empty, and I love how compact and lightweight it is. The materials on this duffel, including the zippers, all felt super high quality, and I have no doubt this bag will stand up to our family’s many summer camping trips. There’s an adjustable shoulder strap and grab handles around the bag that make it perfect for car camping, but there are also backpack straps that make it easy to carry during backpacking trips. This bag holds a ton of stuff without breaking a sweat, and the interior compression straps keep your items secure.

Looking for a duffel that can carry your stuff and then some? The Baboon to the Moon Go Bag Big was made for you. I couldn’t get over how big this bag was, and how much stuff it could carry — enough for me and my two kids to enjoy a weekend getaway. There are grab handles all around the bag, with loops to clip or tie additional items to. The carry handles were generously padded, which made it super easy (and comfortable) to carry even when fully loaded.

Now, you definitely won’t be able to take this as your airplane carry-on, but for trips by land or as checked luggage, it’s a real workhorse. If you're looking for a duffel bag for international travel, this will also be your best bet. As a weekender bag, it's a bit much.

This large duffel bag may look a bit bulky, but that's just because it can hold so much stuff. Baboon to the Moon bags are all available in a ton of colors, so you can pick a bag that suits your personality.

For those looking for a more compact option, this duffel bag is perfect for a trip to the gym or a quick overnighter. Like the Mountain Hardwear bag, it folds into itself for convenient storage when not in use.

I really liked how lightweight yet still durable this duffel was. The bag has plenty of pockets to keep items safely stowed both inside and around the outside. I liked that the laptop pocket put my computer against my back (no chance of theft) when carrying in backpack mode, or at the top of the bag when carried duffel style. I just wish it was padded for some extra protection.

Overall, I found this duffel to be a great option for day trips around the city or bopping between home and the office.

The Samsonite Adante 2 wheeled duffel bag was recently tested for Mashable's guide to the best cheap luggage, and it's also earned a spot here on our list of the best duffel bags for travel. This affordable travel bag has the quality you would expect from Samsonite, as well as some convenient features perfect for air travel.

It's got plenty of internal compartments, including one for packing shoes. The wide, U-shaped top zipper gives you plenty of room to pack and access your items. On the outside, a variety of carrying handles makes it easy to grab on the go, while the wheels make it easier to navigate crowded airports.

Our product tester was extremely impressed by how many items fit inside, although for that same reason, it's not ideal as a carry-on bag. Unfortunately, this travel duffel bag has a tendency to tip over, which can be annoying.