This Duffel Bag on Amazon Is My Secret to Suitcase-Free Travel

Everyone needs a good weekender bag, whether you’re an overpacker scrounging for some extra space or a light traveler hoping to keep baggage to a minimum.

I often travel with just a personal item and need something sneakily capacious. The Bagsmart Weekender Bag fits the bill. I wasn’t expecting the compact duffel to revolutionize my travel — but it has.

After nine months, over a dozen flights, and countless cross-city commutes with this weekender bag, I’m declaring it a must-have for weekend travel. 

Bagsmart Weekender Overnight Bag

Colors: 9 | Dimensions: 18.5 x 8.7 x 11 inches | Pockets: 3 external, 4 internal | Weight: 1.8 pounds

At first glance, the Bagsmart weekender might look like your typical gym bag, but don’t let the simple design and nylon fabric fool you: The bag is full of thoughtful details that set it apart from its peers. 

There’s plenty of room to stay organized, so you won’t be rummaging through a black hole of a bag when you need your lip balm mid-flight. On the outside, it has a trolley sleeve to attach to your favorite carry-on, along with a zippered pocket and two side pockets, each large enough to fit a full-size insulated water bottle. These pockets conveniently have an elastic strap tucked inside which has kept my water bottle securely in place during airport sprints.

On the inside, there’s another large zippered pocket, three smaller pockets, and a laptop sleeve. And in case that doesn’t sound like enough room, the bag is also expandable. Snap closures in the side pockets keep the wings of the bag tucked away for a more compact silhouette. Simply unsnap the sides to open up a decent amount of additional space, and then you can squeeze in an extra pair of shoes. (Don’t worry, this weekender fits under the airplane seat even at its fullest size.)

Even when I’ve overpacked, the bag is relatively easy to carry. It weighs under two pounds when empty and features a removable long strap, which makes carrying a heavy load a little less cumbersome. 

I much prefer the nylon weekender to fabric bags I’ve used in the past since it can withstand being tossed around during travel. The strong nylon fabric has stayed clean and intact despite its mileage record. I haven’t needed to wash it yet, but plenty of reviewers have thrown it in the wash without issue (just hang it to dry).

If you plan on using it as a gym bag between your travels, it also has a removable Velcro strap that can secure a yoga mat. 

The bag comes in nine colors and two different sizes. I purchased the medium size, which works perfectly as a personal item during travel. If you need a little extra room, the larger size offers almost 20 percent more space — just be prepared to store it in the overhead compartment.

Is the Bagsmart Weekender Worth It?

At its sale price of $20, you won’t find a weekender much cheaper than this. It’s durable, well-designed, and roomy enough to fit at least three or four days of clothes — and I’ve packed up to a week’s worth. 

While some may prefer more expensive bags for their elevated appearance, I love the sporty look of this bag because it pairs well with my relaxed travel outfits. If I were to repurchase this bag, I would probably choose the black color rather than the beige, which is bound to stay cleaner. Nonetheless, the beige bag hasn’t shown any signs of wear after months of use, and I’m sure it will be in my travel rotation for a long time. 

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Genevieve Cepeda is a staff shopping writer for PEOPLE with a propensity for schlepping overpacked bags. Whether she’s carrying loads of (unnecessary) stuff across NYC or packing a week’s worth of outfits for a two-day trip, she’s always on the hunt for bags that are easy to fill and carry. 

Tired of bags that were not cute enough, not roomy enough, and not organized enough, she took a chance on this weekender, which proved to be better and cheaper than any of the bags she’s used in the past. Now, Cepeda frequently travels with this bag as her personal item and finds she never needs an additional carry-on for short trips.