Best holdalls and weekend bags: Travel in style

Apr 26, 2023

Heading on a weekend getaway? The most important thing you need is a sturdy, durable and reliable holdall.

Spacious enough to fit all your stuff, while being convenient to carry and fit in overhead shelves on trains and planes, finding the right one is key.

Some have wheels on the base, robust handles and soft structures, and are well worth investing in.

We've done the hard work for you and handpicked our favourite weekend bags that are just that.

Our round-up features designs from John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Lululemon and more.

This chic black, pebble-grain leather design also comes in brown and navy, and is smart enough for work trips for spacious enough for storing all your weekend clothes. It has thick short straps and an adjustable shoulder strap, and can also be used as a carry on for long-haul trips.

Cheap, cheerful and colourful, this budget-friendly Decathlon design is perfect for both the gym and travelling. It even folds up into its own side pocket for easy storage at home.

The North Face is one of the most reliable bag brands for travel on the market and its no wonder its base camp duffel is so popular. You can use it as a holdall, or take advantage of the double adjustable straps to transform it into a rucksack.

Sleek and spacious, a tan weekend leather bag never goes out of style, and this is more roomy than most. One five-star review says, "Very pleased with this weekend bag. Soft leather in a very nice tan colour. Good quality leather lined inside also compartment to put cards, phone etc."

This multi-purpose design is a duffle bag on wheels, making it perfect for wheeling through train stations, up ramps and through hotel lobbies. It also comes with extra pockets and a padded sleeve for safely storing a tablet.

There are many useful features that make this Lululemon duffle bag worth buying. It boasts external and interior pockets, a padded pocket for a 16-inch laptop, detachable straps and a trolley-compatible sleeve.

We love this minimalist piece of luggage that has a handy back sleeve to slot over a suitcase. It also a slip pocket for a laptop up to 13 inches, and a durable nylon exterior that's also water-resistant.

Perfect for short-haul plane rides and train trips, this simple silhouette has an easy-access clamshell opening, detachable and adjustable shoulder strap, padded laptop sleeve and a water-resistant exterior.

This super soft vegan leather comes with five-star reviews such as this one: "I bought this for weekends away and it's great. The quality and design is nice and it feels strong enough to take all my essential clothing and toiletries."

This shell holdall is both stylish and utilitarian. Aside from the gorgeous green colour, it also boasts double-top handles, a detachable shoulder strap, a main compartment and and a back pocket.

For an investment piece of luggage, this Bric holdall is as stylish and practical as it gets. Its fully lined with a zip fastening, front pocket and two internal pockets make it perfect for keeping your weekend clothes and toiletries organised.

Both a rucksack and wheelie case, it doesn't get more practical than this. It also expands for extra room, has several pockets and is made from recycled plastic bottles.