Travel Products Luggage + Bags Suitcases + Duffel Bags The 13 Best Weekender Bags With Separate Shoe Compartments of 2023 Our top pick is Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe bag. By Molly Harris Molly Harris Molly Harris is a freelance travel writer and former design editor. With nearly a decade of experience in travel and more in outdoor adventure, she is mindful of the best qualities to look for in a range of products. You can read her work in Lonely Planet, BBC Travel, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 9, 2023 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist and editor who has traveled across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and spent more than a decade reviewing hotel room. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Tips for Buying FAQ Why Trust T+L We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Monos / Bloomingdale's If you most often travel with few (or smaller-sized) bags, versatility is likely high on your list of desired features when shopping for something new. You’ll want a piece of luggage that can serve as both a carry-on and a personal item, depending on the situation, and that works just as well whether you're traveling by plane, train, or automobile. We love weekender bags in particular for this very reason. Not only are they typically roomier than a backpack and not as bulky as a wheeled suitcase, but they often have built-in dividers and multiple pockets, including dedicated sections for footwear. This keeps dirty soles and clean clothes separate, and can prevent odor transfer, too. When it comes to the best weekender bags with bonus shoe compartments, Lo & Sons' Catalina Deluxe tops our list. It’s fashioned with environmentally friendly materials and provides an adjustable amount of space to use for both shoes and clothing. But, if you’re looking for something with additional features like a garment sleeve, waterproof fabric, or convertible straps, our complete list has something for everyone. Here is our breakdown of the best weekender bags with separate shoe compartments: Our Top Picks Best Overall: Lo & Sons The Catalina Deluxe Weekender at Loandsons.com Jump to Review Best Organization : Calpak Duffel at Nordstrom Jump to Review Best Style: Monos Metro Weekender at Monos.com Jump to Review Best Splurge: Tumi Port Weekend Duffel at Tumi.com Jump to Review Most Versatile: Beis The Convertible Weekender at Beistravel.com Jump to Review Best for Light Packers : Away The Everywhere Bag at Awaytravel.com Jump to Review Best Large Capacity : July Carry All Weekender Plus at July.com Jump to Review Best Garment Bag: Hook + Albert Garment Weekender Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Convertible Backpack : Marmot Long Hauler Duffel Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Expandable : Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Drop-bottom Weekender Bag at Bloomingdales Jump to Review Best Overall Lo & Sons The Catalina Deluxe Weekender 4.4 View On Loandsons.com Why We Love It It quickly rolls or folds for compact storage. What to Consider It’s not treated to be odor-resistant. The large Catalina Deluxe weekender bag by Lo & Sons offers everything a traveler could want in a basic grab-and-go bag, including a trolley sleeve to fit over a suitcase handle. The spacious bottom pocket is large enough to hold an extra pair of shoes or two, and features a removable insert to keep that footwear separate from your other clothing. A large zippered opening offers an unobstructed view of the main compartment to make the rest of your packing easy. The removable padded shoulder strap adds another way to carry the durable bag as well, but do note that it is likely too large to serve as a personal item on most airlines. Price at time of publish: $225 for large The Details: 18 x 18.5 x 9 inches (large) | Nylon, canvas | 45 liters (large) Best Organization Calpak Stevyn Duffel 4.7 Calpak View On Nordstrom View On Calpaktravel.com Why We Love It It’s spacious, sturdy, and able to stand upright on its own. What to Consider The top-handle straps are not long enough to fit over your shoulder. If you’re looking for a straightforward weekender bag that's packed with pockets and under $100, the Calpak Stevyn Duffel delivers. This polyester bag includes two sturdy handles and a padded shoulder strap, along with a zippered compartment on the bottom that perfectly fits a couple pairs of shoes. Inside, you will find plenty of space for clothing and other essentials as well as several pockets for smaller items you want to keep separate and within reach. The bag’s large capacity makes it versatile enough to also use as a gym bag, and the trolley sleeve allows it to go even further. Price at time of publish: $92 The Details: 19.5 x 14 x 10.5 inches | Polyester | 47 liters Best Style Monos Metro Weekender Monos View On Monos.com Why We Love It When the trolley sleeve is not in use, it converts into an extra pocket on the outside of this handy bag. What to Consider The vegan-leather versions are on the heavier side when compared to other weekenders. The Monos Metro Weekender is designed with a similar capacity to a wheeled carry-on, so this durable bag can hold plenty of gear and clothing. Not only is the outside of the bag water-resistant, but the lower shoe compartment also has a water-resistant, TPU-coated lining so it’s ideal for wet shoes and other damp items (and comes with a separate drawstring bag, too). We also love the outer laptop sleeve and inner pockets to help sort even more items in just this one go-to piece. Price at time of publish: $250 The Details: 19.25 × 10.25 × 14.75 inches | Nylon, vegan leather | 47.5 liters The 6 Best Duffel Bags of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Best Splurge Tumi Port Weekend Duffel Tumi View On Tumi.com Why We Love It It includes five bottom feet so the bag’s fabric never has to touch the ground. What to Consider The shoe compartment will likely only fit one pair. Tumi's reputation for sleek organization has never been more evident than with this Port Weekend Duffel with spaces to specifically fit all of your items. From the 15-inch laptop sleeve to multiple zippered and slip pockets, there is no need for additional bags on a short trip. The separate compartment on the side of the weekender is water-resistant, making it great to separate out a pair of dirty sneakers. Carrying this roomy bag is no trouble either thanks to three padded straps and a trolley sleeve, too. Price at time of publish: $625 The Details: 19.25 x 9.5 x 10.25 inches | Nylon, spandex, leather, polyester Most Versatile Beis The Convertible Weekender Béis View On Beistravel.com Why We Love It It contains a removable, padded laptop sleeve with two exterior pockets so you can keep a computer and cords separate. What to Consider The doctor’s-bag-style top opening may be hard to close when fully packed. The Convertible Weekender bag by Béis has standard top handles and a messenger-style strap but it’s the fully zippered bottom compartment that sets it apart. While that separate mesh-top section can be fully removed if it’s not needed, it can also double as a packing cube to slip into a larger suitcase, or can be used to store your shoes elsewhere if you want to use this weekender as a smaller day trip bag instead. There’s also a removable laptop sleeve which can slip into another bag if you only need that item in a separate purse. Price at time of publish: $118 The Details: 19 x 10 x 15.7 inches | Vegan leather, polyester | 49 liters Best for Light Packers Away The Everywhere Bag 3.2 Away View On Awaytravel.com Why We Love It This compact bag packs a punch thanks to its multiple pockets. What to Consider This bag is quite small. A sleek, minimalist choice, the Everywhere Bag from cult-favorite luggage brand Away is made for overnight trips. Designed with six internal pockets including a 15-inch padded laptop sleeve, everything has a place in this bag. A separate zippered, waterproof section toward the bottom can be used as a shoe compartment as needed but we like this bag best as a personal item on the plane when not a lot of total space is needed. Price at time of publish: $195 The Details: 16.3 x 7.3 x 10.2 inches | Leather | 20 liters The 9 Best Carry-on Backpacks of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Best Large Capacity July Carry All Weekender Plus July View On July.com Why We Love It The clamshell opening makes finding anything in your bag easy as can be. What to Consider It may feel too big and bulky for some travelers. July fans will love this easy-going weekender bag thanks to a few signature features. The split opening divides the bag into two equally sized zippered sides so packers can dedicate one half to clothes or accessories and the other half to shoes, perfect for boots or transporting multiple pairs. Pack toiletries or store smaller items in another internal pocket, and use the external pocket for easy-yet-secure access to important items like your phone or wallet. Use this bag solo as a weekender or use its pass-through strap to slide over a suitcase handle. Price at time of publish: $295 The Details: 22 x 9 x 12.5 inches | Nylon | 50 liters Best Garment Bag Hook + Albert Black Leather Convertible Garment Weekender Bag Hook & Albert View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Bloomingdales Why We Love It This weekender is thoughtfully made for compartmentalized packing. What to Consider It’s not built to withstand rough handling. The Garment Weekender Bag by Hook & Albert is a stunning bag to tote along on any weekend escape. It opens up completely flat so you can easily pack hanging garments in the bottom, and zip that part closed. There are two internal shoe pockets to separate out a pair of heels inside the main compartment. The entire bag folds and zips back up into a duffel shape (with multiple carry straps) when you’re ready to go, and folds flat to be stored away until next time, too. Price at time of publish: $675 The Details: 20 x 13 x 9.5 inches | Leather Best Convertible Backpack Marmot Long Hauler Duffel Bag Marmot View On Amazon View On Marmot.com Why We Love It This durable, waterproof duffel also has removable backpack straps. What to Consider Dirty shoes are best stored in the smaller exterior pocket. Complete with reinforced handles and ballistic coating, Marmot's duffel is incredibly durable and waterproof (with an added rain flap, too). It’s equipped with a variety of pockets as well as compression straps, and doubles as a backpack. Place a pair of shoes in the smaller exterior pocket on the end, or stow them in the attached interior storage bag if you don’t mind them closer to the rest of your clothing. When done, we love that the entire bag folds up into its own pocket. Price at time of publish: $159 for large The Details: 29 x 12.5 x 12.5 inches (large) | Polyester | 75 liters (large) Best Expandable Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Drop-bottom Weekender Bag Bloomingdale's View On Bloomingdales View On Travelpro.com Why We Love It The separate shoe compartment can be completely removed, making this an ideal two-in-one bag when you don’t need that extra room. What to Consider The fabric doesn’t do well in harsh weather. Apart from the two handles and a removable shoulder strap for versatile carrying options, the Drop-bottom Weekender has excellent built-in organization as well. The separate shoe storage section at the bottom can be completely removed if you don’t need it, or you can roll up the divider to create one large, main packing area instead. The bag also has a trolley sleeve and comes in cream, black, navy, and gray. Price at time of publish: $375 The Details: 9 x 18.5 x 15 inches | Cotton, polyester, leather | 42 liters The 12 Best Garment Bags for Wrinkle-free Travel in 2023 Best Basic Herschel Black Novel Duffel Bag Amazon View On Amazon View On Herschel.com Why We Love It It looks like a standard duffel but still has a side shoe compartment. What to Consider There’s just one internal mesh storage sleeve. If you prefer a simple vibe, the open interior of Herschel’s Novel Duffel Bag means you can easily stack jeans, sweatshirts, and more inside the one large compartment. However, the exterior of this weekender shines thanks to a zippered, side-access section where you can slide your favorite shoes to keep them separated from your clean clothes and other gear. (Do note that larger items in the side-access pocket will take more space away from the main compartment.) Price at time of publish: $100 for standard The Details: 11 x 20.5 x 11.5 inches (standard) | Polyester | 42.5 liters (standard) Best for Workouts Lululemon City Adventurer Large Duffle Bag Lululemon View On Lululemon Why We Love It It holds up in all types of weather and has plenty of pockets. What to Consider It does not fold flat or roll up tightly for compact storage. While it may have been intended as a gym bag, the City Adventurer duffel can go well beyond a daily workout routine and onto a plane, too. There’s a spacious main interior compartment and an expandable exterior pocket that can keep shoes and/or sweaty clothes separate from everything else. There’s also a 16-inch laptop sleeve, two shoulder handles, a removable strap, and a trolley sleeve, too. Price at time of publish: $168 The Details: 18.1 x 9.3 x 11.6 inches | Polyester, nylon | 29 liters Best for Camping Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack Cotopaxi View On Amazon View On Zappos View On Backcountry.com Why We Love It The primary compartment opens up like a suitcase with plenty of mesh pockets. What to Consider While it comes with a protective rain cover, the bag itself is not waterproof. Fashioned with four reinforced grab handles and backpack straps, this T+L-approved weekender fully opens with a suitcase-like zipper. A pair of shoes can easily fit into the subdivided compartment on one side of the suitcase, while clothes can go in the main compartment on the other. All pockets have breathable mesh so note that, while divided, the shoes are not completely separated in a solid-fabric section. Price at time of publish: $215 The Details: 22 x 14 x 11 inches | Nylon, polyester | 42 liters Tips for Buying Weekender Bags With Separate Shoe Compartments Think about how you'll carry it People looking for a weekender to carry a short distance from door to car to door might be perfectly comfortable choosing a bag with two handles only. Others who need to lug belongings further may want additional features like a padded shoulder strap or even convertible backpack straps. Frequent fliers should seek out weekenders with a built-in trolley sleeve that easily attaches to spinner luggage to wheel and go when traveling with multiple pieces. Consider your travel style Some bags are built to accommodate outdoor gear (with weather-resistant materials, D-rings, and wide open spaces) while others are designed with air-travel-specific features (like trolley sleeves, and easy-access compartments for documents). Decide where, when, and how you’ll use the weekender bag to select the best style for you. Consider your packing style Well-ordered travelers might opt for a bag with built-in organization features like additional pockets, removable sleeves, and detachable dividers. But, for those who swear by their own packing cubes and travel pouches, a wide-mouthed weekender is a better option. Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between a weekender and a duffel bag? A duffel is a spacious bag that’s often more bare bones and customizable (with one large main compartment and no built-in dividers). Weekender bags are more specialized as they often include multiple pockets, laptop sleeves, or designated shoe spaces, and fit enough clothes for a short trip, plus other items. How do I choose a weekender bag? There are several factors to consider when choosing a weekender. Chronic over-packers will want something on the larger side, while minimalists should select something smaller. Anyone heading outside with lots of gear likely needs something spacious and weather-resistant that can be easily carried. Others who are taking short weekend trips might want a compact handheld bag only. Lastly, those wanting to use a weekender as a personal item could seek out a sleeve option that can attach to a rollerboard. Can a weekender bag be my carry-on or personal item? It depends on the size of the bag. Some will fall within carry-on guidelines set by individual carriers so you can rest assured they’ll make it into the plane’s cabin with you. Other bags with smaller capacities work as personal items instead. Unless a weekender falls within the underseat size range posted on an airline’s site, it’s safe to assume you may be stopped and forced to check a larger bag at the gate if you have two carry-on-sized pieces. Why Trust Travel + Leisure For this article, T+L contributor Molly Harris used research and her own personal experience as a travel writer to choose the very best weekender bags with separate shoe compartments for any jetsetter. The 10 Best Weekender Bags of 2023, Tested and Reviewed 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