15 Rolling Duffel Bags for Every Occasion, from Weekend Getaways to Backpacking Adventures

• What We Like: fun colors, carry-on size, lightweight, trolley sleeve, separate shoe compartment
• What We Don’t Like: only one size available
• Material: polyester
• Weight: 6 pounds
• Capacity: 13 gallons
• Measurements: 22 x 13 x 11 inches

The Calpak Stevyn rolling duffel comes in four colors, including limited-edition cheetah and classic baby pink. The dimensions make it an ideal carry-on bag, and there’s a separate shoe compartment on the bottom in addition to a roomy main pocket. One reviewer particularly called out the duffel’s roominess, saying they fit eight pairs of sandals inside. “I also love you can retract the handle and carry the bag as a duffle or even carry it using the hard handle on the opposite end,” they wrote. “Very nice bag to have for a vacation or even an overnight bag.”

• What We Like: brass zippers, separate bottom compartment, carry-on size
• What We Don’t Like: some buyers noted it scuffs easily
• Material: leather, canvas lining
• Weight: 4 pounds
• Capacity: 16 gallons
• Measurements: 20 x 12 x 16 inches

This affordable leather rolling duffel bag comes in black and light chocolate brown. It is well within the dimensions of an airline carry-on and can be either rolled or hand-held. The interior has two separate main compartments with a canvas lining. The top features two slots and a zippered pocket, while the bottom is a great place to pack shoes, books and other inflexible items. Brass zippers add the final touch to the retro look, which has garnered the bag an average of 4 stars over 300 ratings.

“It did not disappoint. The wheels were quiet, the grip and straps very ergonomically comfortable in hand and it stowed snugly in the overhead compartment on the plane,” one five-star review reports. “A very masculine, attractive piece for the professional, mature man, for business or leisure trips.”

• What We Like: angled handles, bumpers on wear points, large grippy wheels, sherpa strap
• What We Don’t Like: limited colorways
• Material: recycled polyester, recycled nylon
• Weight: 11 pounds
• Capacity: 41 gallons
• Measurements: 18 x 36 x 16 inches

If you’re headed on an epic adventure, the North Face Rolling Thunder duffel could be a great companion. Some find the whopping 41-gallon bag a little unwieldy, but that also means it’ll hold a ton of gear. The duffel comes in black or gold, and at 36 inches, will need to be checked if you’re flying. All-terrain wheels and wells keep them debris-free while providing good traction. It also features the brand’s ultra-tough Base Camp material reinforced with rugged nylon. Added bonus: There’s a separate dirty clothing/shoes compartment, sherpa strap and lots of pockets. No wonder it has an average of 4.5 stars over nearly 800 reviews.

• What We Like: multiple colors, plenty of pockets, spacious main compartment, affordable
• What We Don’t Like: some buyers have noted inconsistent quality
• Material: polyester, nylon
• Weight: 8 pounds
• Capacity: 20 gallons
• Measurements: 30 x 12 x 13 inches

For those who want plenty of color options and an approachable price point, the Travelers Club rolling duffel checks both boxes. There are seven colors to choose from, including riviera blue, sea foam, crimson and hot pink. The bag, made of polyester and nylon, is also relatively light at eight pounds, while having a capacity of 20 gallons. Buyers have noted this is more of a budget buy and that durability hit-or-miss depending on the activity, but they gave it high praise on roominess and the generous number of pockets.

• What We Like: made from recycled plastic bottles, lightweight, durable, quilted trim
• What We Don’t Like: smaller than the standard carry-on size
• Material: polyester
• Weight: N/A
• Capacity: N/A
• Measurements: 14 x 20 x 10 inches

Traveling for business? You’ll want this sleek black Ted Baker duffel bag on hand for all your workwear essentials. It’s carry-on friendly at 20 inches long, lightweight and durable with a plush quilted trim. The bag can also be hand-held for a stylish twist.

• What We Like: adjustable handle and wheels, side grab handle, large main compartment accommodates a variety of sports gear
• What We Don’t Like: not a ton of interior pockets
• Material: polyester
• Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Capacity: 32 gallons
• Measurements: 32 x 15 x 14 inches

Consider this the ultimate travel gear bag. The Nike Club Team Roller Bag is a hot commodity—it’s sold out on the brand’s website, so if you need a sports bag, hop to it. The roomy main compartment accommodates a variety of sports gear while being lightweight itself at under three pounds. There are also side and front zip pockets, plus a shoe compartment. Don’t want to roll it? Haul it by the carrying loops.

• What We Like: water-repellant, lightweight, folds down flat, stands upright independently, easy to clean
• What We Don’t Like: you’ll need to check the bag, or save it for road trips
• Material: recycled plastic  
• Weight: N/A
• Capacity: N/A
• Measurements: 15 x 29 x 15 inches

Good news for floral fanatics: icon Vera Bradley now makes bags from the brands ReActive recycled plastic material. In particular, this duffle saves 41 bottles from the landfill. It’s available in two signature flower prints and black, on top of being foldable for convenient storage. When traveling, the bag will stand alone—so you don’t have to race to save it from tipping. Inside the main compartment, there is a mesh slip pocket, and a lining curtain will divide the compartment into two separate ones. The bag is also well-loved. “Very sturdy on wheels so if you want go without all the luggage this is a great piece,” one Amazon buyer writes. “[It’s] made of recycled materials so you can feel good about being environmentally conscious. When you are done, this folds in on itself for easy storage, or you can store it under your bed.”

• What We Like: water resistant, top and side handles
• What We Don’t Like: lacks pockets
• Material: PVC with leather trim
• Weight: 7 pounds
• Capacity: 24 gallons
• Measurements: 28 x 15 x 14 inches

For those with good taste, a duffel bag that meets their match. This suave number from Brics Life Collection holds three to four days’ worth of clothes and is water resistant. (Meaning, no need to worry as they run through the rainy streets of London on their next business trip.) The roomy interior has a zip pocket, with an exterior one for easy access to books, papers and laptops. According to one buyer, it’s sure to be a hit.

“This bag is made well, beautiful material,” writes one five-star Nordstrom reviewer. “Looking for another, larger one to match. Would absolutely buy again.”

• What We Like: made from recycled materials, lifetime warranty, weather resistant, internal compression straps.
• What We Don’t Like: a little heavy
• Material: recycled polyester
• Weight: 10 pounds
• Capacity: 27 gallons
• Measurements: 33 x 16 x 14 inches

“This bag is everything I'd hoped it would be for my go-to checked bag,” writes a Backcountry reviewer who gave a five-star rating. “It's large enough to hold a week's worth (or more) of business/winter clothes and shoes with room to spare. High quality, very durable wheels and frame AND it looks good—very easy to distinguish from the other bags coming off the belt at arrival. I live in a small house, and this is easily tucked in a corner for storage, taking up less than half the space that a hard-shelled luggage with comparable capacity would.”

• What We Like: lots of colorways, stands upright independently, rigid platform prevents sagging/dragging, water/freezing/abrasion resistant
• What We Don’t Like: lacks shoulder strap
• Material: polyester, nylon
• Weight: 8 pounds
• Capacity: 25 gallons
• Measurements: 13 x 30 x 15 inches

To earn the title of “most durable,” the L.L. Bean Adventure Duffel Bag passed the ultimate test: withstanding 60 seconds of water at 120 PSI. That’s the same water pressure as a fire hose. Further proof: the company dragged a packed bag over 50 feet of concrete and left it for 24 hours in deep-freeze. It emerged, of course, none the worse for wear. But it’s not just for wild outdoor adventures.

“This bag worked fantastically on a three-week trip in Amsterdam and Italy,” an L.L. Bean reviewer writes. “The wheels handled the rough streets and sidewalks when walking from the train station to the hotels. Well thought out design, pull out handle worked great. Worth the investment and the bright color is a plus at baggage claim and when waiting for a car service.”

• What We Like: shoe cabin with vents, flight-friendly, water-resistant lining
• What We Don’t Like: sometimes struggles to stay upright
• Material: nylon
• Weight: 6 pounds
• Capacity: N/A
• Measurements: 21 x 14 x 9 inches

This rolling duffel received high praise from reviewers for its quality, versatility, size and handy shoe compartment. “I recently used this rolling duffel bag for a weekend getaway, and it was perfect. The bag was very easy to roll through the airport and onto the plane. It easily fit into the overhead compartment, so I didn't have to worry about checking it in,” one writes. “When I arrived at my destination, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the bag had held up very well during the trip. There were no signs of wear and tear, and everything inside was still in place.” The duffel comes in five neutral colors and has PVC-lined, water-resistant compartments for wet or damp items. There is a separate shoe cabin with a vent for soiled clothing or shoes. To top it all off, it comes with a double-decker cosmetic bag.

• What We Like: adjustable shoulder strap, u-top opening, front pockets, heavy-duty wheels, multiple fabric patterns
• What We Don’t Like: may tip over
• Material: polyester
• Weight: 6 pounds
• Capacity: N/A
• Measurements: 22 x 12 x 11 inches

The Rockland rolling duffel is a bargain buy—though it’s under $70, the brand stands behind it with a five-year warranty. The bag comes in multiple fun fabric patterns and features heavy duty wheels, a bevy of front pockets and easy-access U-top opening. If you don’t want to roll it, there is an adjustable shoulder strap for easy carrying. Online, the duffel averages 4.5 stars on nearly 500 reviews, with top comments on quality, price and value. “I wanted to get a suitcase that stood out,” shared one buyer. “This duffle bag has a hidden shoe [compartment]—I can pack 3 shoes. It has a lot of zippers, and I can pack a lot of my stuff.”

• What We Like: made from recycled materials, exterior pockets, heavy duty wheels and frame, compression strap, multiple handles for carrying
• What We Don’t Like: scuffs easily, need packing cubes to keep it organized
• Material: recycled nylon
• Weight: 10 pounds
• Capacity: 29 gallons
• Measurements: 34 x 16 x 15 inches

Leave it to REI to make the most rugged rolling duffel, which can hold up on even the roughest of adventures. “I travel extensively, am rough on gear and durability is a huge priority,” one five-star reviewer shares. “I really compared this duffle for durability to other vendors offerings. What impresses me is the strength of the REI duffle's frame, wheels and handle. This gets rolled around on ferries, buses, light rail and tossed in rental cars then wheeled to hotel rooms. I like the external compression straps that reduce the stress on the zipper and the large interior mesh pocket.” Additional features we love include the piggyback clips that can help consolidate luggage, oversized wheels, heavy-duty frame and recycled materials.

• What We Like: foldable, airline-friendly, signature floral patterns, recycled materials
• What We Don’t Like: will tip if too heavy
• Material: recycled polyester
• Weight: 6 pounds
• Capacity: 11 gallons
• Measurements: 21 x 13 x 10 inches

Cute, but gets the job done. Vera Bradley’s rolling duffel will fit as easily in the overhead bin of a plane as it will the packed trunk of a car. It’s made from recycled polyester and features two floral patterns and one in black. Inside, there are one mesh and two zip pockets. It can stand on its own—literally and figuratively. One review calls it their go-to bag because of how much they can fit (with the assistance of packing cubes).

• What We Like: water resistant fabric, compatible with L.L. Bean packing cubes, compression straps, freestanding, top and side handles
• What We Don’t Like: handle straps could be longer
• Material: nylon
• Weight: 9 pounds
• Capacity: 24 gallons
• Measurements: 32 x 16 x 11 inches

From solo sporting trips to family vacations, the L.L. Bean duffel does it all. Water resistant fabric, compression straps and top/side handles make it convenient to pack and cart around. The book-style opening helps it stand on its own (no tipping!), and it’s compatible with the brand’s packing cubes and zip pouches that’ll keep all your belongings organized.