The Best Duffel Bags for Every Kind of Traveler

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The ubiquitous duffel bag. From gym lockers to beaches to airport luggage conveyers, we reach for our duffels on a daily basis. Their unstructured, cylindrical shape is perfect for fitting just about whatever you need to put inside, and larger duffels are ideal for bulky clothing and gear. Thrown over your shoulder or lugged with padded backpack-style straps, the best duffel bags are practical and always there to get the job done.

The history of duffels is rooted in that same practical spirit. Duffels have a history of being issued to military personnel, originally in the form of a large bag with a top drawstring closure. The name duffel (sometimes spelled duffle or kit bag) comes from the fabric originally used to craft the bags, sourced from the Belgian village Duffel, which produced coarse material used for the bags in the 17th century.

Duffels have remained popular with travelers since their invention, thanks to the ease with which they can be packed and carried in a variety of situations. While they do offer less security and protection than hard-shell suitcases, duffels are flexible enough to fit into small planes, trains and vehicles. They can also help save luggage weight if you’re bumping up against a weight allowance. While they can be more challenging to organize than their hard-sided competition, a good degree of organization can be achieved using packing cubes and other interior organization.

I’ve spent more than 15 years working around the globe, often packing in various duffels and iterations of product testing luggage for brands. Here are thirteen duffels on my radar right now, each with a few notes about what makes them stand out from the competition.