Best Products Style Travel Bags The 10 Best Leather Duffel Bags of 2022 Frye's Logan duffel is our top pick to be thrown over a shoulder for any trip. By Rena Behar Rena Behar Instagram Twitter Website Rena Behar is a freelance journalist and editor specializing in tech, travel, gender, and intersections thereof. Along with Travel + Leisure, she has contributed to Shape, TripSavvy, Lifehacker, Real Simple, Atlas Obscura, and Apartment Therapy, among other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 23, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Tips for Buying Why Trust T+L In This Article We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Travel + Leisure / Sabrina Jiang A good duffel bag can be a lifelong carry-on companion, easily swinging from your shoulder into overhead bins, car trunks, or train racks. And, for instant rugged sophistication, there’s no better material than leather. Much like classic canvas, most leather duffels also have one main large pocket and a few organizational features. The best have solidly attached carry handles and removable, padded shoulder straps in addition to simply looking good. Our favorite is the Frye Logan Overnight for its lightweight, classic finish, reasonable price tag, and quality build. But if you’re in the market for something slightly different, keep reading — our list features plenty of stellar travel picks. Here is our breakdown of the best leather duffel bags: Our Top Picks Best Overall: Frye Logan Overnight Duffle Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Large: Shinola Classic Holdall at Bloomingdales Jump to Review Best Budget: Fossil Duffle Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Saint Laurent Square Leather Duffel Bag at Bloomingdales Jump to Review Best Weekender: Royce New York Leather Duffel Bag at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Customizable: Leatherology Duffle Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best with Shoe Compartment : Polo Ralph Lauren Leather Duffel Bag at Bloomingdales Jump to Review Best with Wheels: Moore & Giles Rolling Duffel at Amazon Jump to Review Best Set: Bric’s Life Core Collection at Bloomingdales Jump to Review Best Convertible Garment Bag: Hook + Albert Garment Weekender Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall: Frye Logan Overnight Duffle Bag Amazon View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Bloomingdales Why We Love It: Frye brings their classic construction and style to this simple but solid bag.What to Consider: There aren’t a lot of organizational pockets. Frye boots are always a classic, and it makes sense that the same timeless style would make its way into the brand’s bags as well. This bag’s simple design means you can pack however you please, with one main large compartment that contains a smaller interior zip pocket, too. The metal feet on the bottom help reduce scuffs, and top carry handles are solidly attached with extra stitching. The removable and adjustable shoulder strap has an extra slidable pad to keep your shoulders comfortable, and the duffel itself is light enough that it won’t weigh you down. This bag size is large enough that you won’t feel pressed for space, but small enough that it should meet most airline carry-on requirements (and may even be able to slide under the seat in front of you in a pinch on some airlines). We do wish it had slightly more organizational pockets, but this is the standard build in most leather duffels. There’s a decent range of color options available as well, and the distressed finish will only look better as it ages. Price at time of publish: $598 Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.5 x 10 inches | Weight: 3.1 pounds Best Large: Shinola Canfield Classic Holdall Shinola View On Bloomingdales View On Neiman Marcus View On Saks Fifth Avenue Why We Love It: Carry your laptop (and anything else) in this classic bag.What to Consider: The minimal treatment on the finish means it’s susceptible to water damage (like most leather). Detroit-based Shinola is a popular player in the bag space and it’s easy to see why with this classic duffel. The main pocket is large enough to hold a 15-inch laptop so you can stick to a single bag in the airport, and it also boasts an interior zip pocket and two slip pockets, so you can stash smaller items off to the side. This duffel is made of natural grain leather treated with a vegetable tanning process in Italy. That finish will patina with age and use, keeping it stylish no matter where you bring it, though it is susceptible to water stain. Tote this bag via the two carry handles or the removable shoulder strap (we especially like the preppy, nautical vibe of the striped strap on the tan version); conveniently, it’s still carry-on-sized for most airlines. Price at time of publish: $1,350 Dimensions: 19.75 x 8.75 x 14.5 inches | Weight: Not listed Best Budget: Fossil Defender Duffle Bag Amazon View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Fossil.com Why We Love It: We’re big fans of the external pockets and solid brand reputation.What to Consider: There’s only one color available. Look, leather isn’t cheap, so even a budget option will still come with a price tag. But in our experience, Fossil bags hold up to whatever you may throw at them. On the exterior of this one, you’ll find a back slide pocket with a magnetic snap and two front zip pockets; inside, the main compartment also includes smaller slide pockets on one side. That means you have plenty of spots to store your things and easy access to them without having to dig around through all your clothes. Grab the two top carry handles or attach the adjustable and removable canvas shoulder strap. We also appreciate that Fossil’s leather is made with “resource-efficient tanning processes.” Price at time of publish: $400 Dimensions: 19.75 x 11.5 x 9.5 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds Best Splurge: Saint Laurent Square Leather Duffel Bag Saint Laurent View On Bloomingdales View On Ysl.com Why We Love It: This high-end duffel steers away from fussy over-organization and focuses on getting the basics done right, with multiple pockets and carry options.What to Consider: It only comes in one color. If price is no object, we love the design of Saint Laurent’s leather duffel, made in Italy of calfskin leather. Larger items can go into the roomy main compartment, which is one large opening with just a simple side slip pocket — it’s up to you whether this works with your packing style, but we like that you won’t be constrained by any inconveniently sized, or placed, pockets. Smaller items or shoes can then go into the smaller zipped compartments at either end. For carrying, you’ve got an adjustable top handle and removable shoulder strap, as well as two side handles. Five metal feet on the bottom help keep your investment from touching the plebeian ground. Price at time of publish: $2,950 Dimensions: 18.1 x 9.8 x 9.1 inches | Weight: Not listed 7 Leather Luggage Picks That Will Never Go Out of Style Best Weekender: Royce New York Weekend Leather Duffel Bag Nordstrom View On Nordstrom View On Bergdorfgoodman.com View On Bloomingdales Why We Love It: Good color options and depths make this an ideal weekender.What to Consider: It’s a taller shape than the traditional duffel build. Royce is one of the most popular leather brands at department stores, and its weekender bag shows why. It’s made of pebble-grain leather with solid metal hardware and is tall enough that you won’t have to worry about whether your heels will fit. Grab it by the top handles or removable shoulder strap, which also has a good padded slider to find optimal shoulder comfort. We especially like the unusual navy blue option, but it also comes in black and tan if you prefer a more classic leather finish. And if you buy it through Royce directly, you can add a complimentary monogram. Price at time of publish: $750 Dimensions: 20 x 17 x 8 inches | Weight: 4.8 pounds Best Customizable: Leatherology Cognac Kessler Large Duffle Leatherology View On Amazon View On Leatherology.com Why We Love It: It’s sleek, sturdy, and perfect for travel — plus, it comes in 2 sizes.What to Consider: The zipper isn’t super smooth. Nothing helps identify your bag like a monogram. Leatherology will let you add a debossed, hand-painted, or trapunto set of letters to the Kessler duffel, and that’s only the beginning. We love that it comes in so many different colors and finishes (five options in medium, including a lush emerald, and six in large). There are also buckles on the ends to adjust your carry style. One slide exterior pocket grants easy access to documents or snacks, and the large main compartment has two smaller side slide pockets and one large zippered interior pocket. You can also buy it at Amazon (in medium or large), but the options are more limited and you can’t get the personalization. Price at time of publish: $360 (medium) or $400 (large) Dimensions: 13.5 x 22.25 x 10 inches (medium), 14.2 x 25.6 x 12 inches (large) | Weight: 4.1 pounds (medium), 8.36 pounds (large) Best with Shoe Compartment : Polo Ralph Lauren Leather Duffel Bag Bloomingdales View On Bloomingdales Why We Love It: It’s ultra-stylish and has a special compartment for shoes.What to Consider: There’s no way to slip it easily over a luggage handle when you’re traveling. No matter how many packing cubes you have or how much you’ve cleaned them, sometimes it’s simply nicer not to have your shoes touching the rest of your stuff. Polo’s duffel bag has got you covered with a separate, zippered side pocket for stashing away your sneakers. There’s also a magnetic closure exterior pocket and slip pocket, as well as a zip pocket within the lined interior. Tote it via the two carry handles at the top or an adjustable webbed shoulder strap. Price at time of publish: $498 Dimensions: 10.25 x 19.75 x 11.5 inches | Weight: Not listed Best with Wheels: Moore & Giles Singleton Rolling Duffel Moore & Giles View On Amazon View On Mooreandgiles.com Why We Love It: It has all the style of a classic leather duffel, plus the ease of wheels.What to Consider: The wheels do make it heavier, and it’s only available in one color. The convenience of a duffel is nice, but sometimes you’ve just got a long trek between terminals and would rather wheel your bag than walk it. Moore & Giles’s Singleton duffel gives you the best of both worlds. Its roomy main compartment has a stabilized bottom panel to keep your things in place, as well as three interior pockets for organizational assistance. There are also two larger zipper pockets on either side of the bag for shoes or anything you want easy access to. When you’re done with the wheels, the retractable handle slides back down into a pocket with a zipped cover to be tucked neatly out of the way while you switch over to the two carry handles on top. Price at time of publish: $1,450 Dimensions: 21.5 x 14 x 11 inches | Weight: 14.25 pounds The Best Weekender Bags for Any Overnight Trip, According to Our Tests Best Set: Bric’s Life Pelle Core Collection Bloomingdales View On Bloomingdales View On Saks Fifth Avenue Why We Love It: Its monochromatic leather has a timeless style, and you can purchase a matching spinner, tote, and toiletry kit to go with it.What to Consider: Your carry options are limited to the shorter handles, with no longer shoulder strap option. Sometimes you just want all of your luggage to match. If your urge to match happens to manifest as a full leather set, check out Bric’s Pelle collection, which includes a regular duffel as well as a rolling one and multiple toiletry kit options, all in the same timeless cognac leather. Its classic 18-inch option offers a large main compartment that houses a smaller interior zip pocket. There’s also a convenient exterior zip pocket for stashing your boarding pass or headphones. Slide the duffel over your roller with the trolley strap or keep it in hand with the two carry straps that can be snapped together for extra cushioning. Price at time of publish: $995 for 18-inch duffel Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 8 inches | Weight: 6.81 pounds Best Convertible Garment Bag: Hook + Albert Black Leather Convertible Garment Weekender Bag Bloomingdales View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Bloomingdales Why We Love It: Ingenious folding design keeps your suit or long dress wrinkle-free, and all your other items nicely contained, too.What to Consider: It’s on the heavier side. If you expect to encounter a formal occasion on your travels, look no further than this combination garment bag and duffel. Open it up and put your suit (or maxi dress) into the expanded flat version, then zip up the sides to ingeniously turn it into a duffel. Shoes slide into the pockets on either end and other folded clothes go into the main compartment. The exterior zip compartment, meanwhile, has space for a laptop up to 15 inches as well as organizational slots for smaller items. There’s a limited five-year warranty included as well. Carry it by the drop handles on top, put on the detachable longer shoulder strap, or slide it over the top of your rollerboard with the trolley sleeve. Price at time of publish: $675 Dimensions: 22 x 11 x 13.5 inches | Weight: 5.1 pounds Tips for Buying a Leather Duffel Bag Make sure it fits what you need Leather is more forgiving than hard, plastic-shell bags, but less so than canvas or cotton. Check the dimensions of bags before you purchase and realistically consider how much space you require for the items you really need to pack. Consider organizational features Most leather duffel bags don’t have a lot of organizational action going on — they tend to include one large main compartment and maybe an internal or external pocket or two. If you’re someone who likes to keep your things in separate sections, make sure you look for that before purchasing, or consider investing in a good set of pouches or packing cubes. Comfort is key Duffels as a category don’t include wheels, so you’ll mostly be carrying this by hand (though you can always slide a trolley sleeve over your roller, if you’ve got both). Consider whether the drop on the carry handles is sufficient to put them over your shoulder if your hands get tired. A longer shoulder strap is also nice, and even better if you can confirm that it’s adjustable and hits at a comfortable height. You'll want it to sit somewhere around hip level, rather than constantly banging into your knees, and padding is a welcome bonus to keep the strap from digging in. Frequently Asked Questions How do you care for a leather duffel bag? As with any leather product, regularly wipe it down with a soft cloth and try to avoid water. If you need a deeper clean, choose a leather-specific solution and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, making sure to spot-check it in an inconspicuous place in case of any discoloration. Since your bag will likely be outside at some point, you may want to invest in a weatherproofing or waterproofing treatment so your investment isn’t ruined just because you got caught in the rain. Is a leather duffel bag a good carry-on item? It depends on what kind of trip you’re taking and the measurements of your duffel. Because leather isn’t as structured as a hardshell, if you overpack the bag, you may stuff it to the extent that it doesn’t fit in a bin. But this depends on your bag’s dimensions, and leather isn’t as stretchable as a thinner canvas might be, so there's less risk. You also probably don’t want to bring a leather bag if you’re going on an especially wet trip, as this material doesn’t hold up well against water damage (though it still can be treated). Why Trust Travel + Leisure Rena Behar has been reviewing travel gear since 2014 for outlets including Wirecutter, Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, and more. For this article, she researched dozens of leather duffel bags and used her own personal travel experience to curate the perfect list for travelers. The Best Carry-on Backpacks, Tested by Travel Experts Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit