Men's Luggage & Travel

Capacity and the way weight is carried decide what a travel bag can actually do. Duffels lead on volume, a soft cylinder that swallows a folded jacket and packs down flat when empty, carried by twin grab handles or a long shoulder strap. Weekend and holdall shapes hold that same volume in a squarer body that stands up on its own and stays organised. Smaller travel cases and pouches work the other way, keeping documents, cables and washbags separated inside a larger piece rather than adding to it.

Coated canvas, technical nylon and full-grain leather cover most constructions, with reinforced base panels and bar-tacked handle roots where the load concentrates. Two-way zips, a wide gusset and an internal wet or shoe pocket are worth checking, along with whether the shoulder strap is padded and removable.