The 11 Best Weekender Bags With Separate Shoe Compartments, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Béis The Weekender

$108 at Nordstrom View on Beistravel.com $92 at Revolve

Béis has been popping up on stylish travelers’ radar for a while, and its popularity is well-deserved. We were extremely impressed by the Weekender’s capacity, holding everything we needed with space leftover for a laptop in the designated pocket. It can basically fit everything you’d put in a rolling carry-on, thanks to the large zippered bottom compartment and roomy main space. The main compartment opens similar to a folding laundry hamper, with a rectangular shape held open by a wire frame, creating an extra-spacious opening to fit in all your items without having to squish them. Even better, it can still fit in an overhead bin even when fully packed.

You’ll also find a whole slew of organizational features inside and outside the bag, with external pockets on either side (including one that can unzip on the bottom to become a trolley pass-through), a padded laptop pocket with a fabric fastener strap to keep your computer in place, internal slip and zipper pockets, and more. Even when loaded up, we found it comfortable to carry via either the hand straps or the padded, adjustable shoulder strap, with no digging into your shoulder or annoying banging into your leg or hip. It also held up well against we shoved it off the counter multiple times, and everything inside stayed nearly perfectly in place. The only scuffing happened to the small feet on the bottom, but really, no one is looking at the bottom of your bag anyway. The cherry on top is the affordable price tag, coming in at just over $100, and eight colors to choose from, whether you prefer neutral beige or trendy pink.

The Details: 19 x 9.8 x 15.7 inches | 3.86 pounds | 49-liter capacity | Poly canvas

Best Tote

Cotopaxi Viaje Weekender Bag

$130 at REI View on Cotopaxi.com

We especially loved this tote bag for its lightweight, durable material and thoughtful features, like the exterior straps on the outside that can hold long items like a yoga mat or a towel. The zippers felt sturdy and smooth, and we liked that they had little tags on them to make it easier to open and close them. This bag does not have a crossbody strap like most weekenders — instead, it has two short handles and two longer handles so you can either carry it by your hands or over your shoulder like a tote bag. We thought the material feels like it can handle tough outdoor weather conditions and not get ruined, which would be great for camping or a beach day. It can only fit about two days worth of clothing, but that keeps it from getting too heavy since it doesn’t have the crossbody strap, and the bottom compartment adds some extra space.

The Details: 21 x 15 x 12 inches | 1.5 pounds | 35-liter capacity | Recycled polyester

Best Colors

Calpak Luka Duffel Bag

$128 at Nordstrom View on Calpaktravel.com $128 at The Container Store

One of our favorite things about this poofy, lightweight bag is that it comes in about 20 different colors that are so fun to choose from, including bright, limited-edition shades like watermelon, bubble gum, celery, cobalt, and rose gold, or more neutral staples like chocolate, oatmeal, and matte black. There are so many options that it’s nearly impossible to pick just one. The duffel comes with a removable crossbody strap and long, puffy shoulder strap, and we found the shoulder straps much more comfortable to carry than the crossbody strap during testing. There is a shoe compartment that you can access from the side of the bag that ultimately lines the bottom of the bag. You should be able to fit two pairs of shoes or one pair of boots comfortably inside. There are multiple pockets inside for organization, including a laptop sleeve — although we wish it were padded for more protection. The size of the bag is compact, fitting enough for a two-night trip, but it also comes in a larger size for longer trips.

The Details: 12 x 16 x 7 inches | 2.1 pounds | 22-liter capacity | Polyester

Best Lightweight

Dagne Dover Landon Carryall Bag

$215 at Nordstrom View on Dagnedover.com $215 at Crate & Barrel

If you want to make sure your bag doesn’t weigh you down, the neoprene or mesh of the Landon may make it the best weekender for you. We tested the large version, which comes in 10 colors in neoprene and three colors in Dagne Dover’s air mesh fabric; there are also four other sizes available, from XS to XL. It had plenty of space for our packing list and could even have fit an extra pair of shoes or additional outfit with the sides unsnapped. Rather than a specific separate compartment, it instead includes a shoe-specific bag that matches the external material. There are also several interior pockets, one exterior pocket ideal for stashing your phone, and a trolley sleeve. The hand-carry handles snap together, and you can also snap down the zipper on the sides to make it more compact. If you don’t want to hand-carry, there’s also an adjustable, removable shoulder strap. Because the fabric is so flexible, we found it developed some creases at the fold points, which aren’t too noticeable but did keep it from looking completely pristine.

The Details: 16.5 x 9 x 11 inches | 3.06 pounds | 29-liter capacity | Neoprene or air mesh

Best Style

Monos Metro Weekender

$250 at monos.com

If you believe your vacation style starts before you’ve even left home, the Monos Weekender is your best bet. The capacity is truly impressive, fitting clothing for five days while still being able to slide under an airplane seat — we even managed to fit four pairs of shoes in the bottom shoe compartment. It also has a laptop pocket in the back exterior and several interior organizational pockets (though we would have liked a water bottle holder as well). When carrying, use the trolley sleeve (which you can also zip to turn into a pocket) to place it on top of a suitcase, sling it on with a removable shoulder strap, or use the hand-carry handles in your hands or over your shoulder. We tested the nylon model (it also comes in a vegan leather option) and found it ridiculously durable, even when we had to check it through on a flight. You can choose from four darker shades in the nylon style, or three different brown vegan leather hues; both styles are water-resistant.

The Details: 19.25 x 10.25 x 14.75 inches | 5.18 (nylon) or 5.34 (vegan leather) pounds | 47.5-liter capacity | Nylon or microfiber vegan leather

Best Garment Bag

Mark & Graham Commuter 2-in-1 Garment Bag

$210 at markandgraham.com

When we tested garment bags, this was our favorite, standing out for its ample organizational features and the way you can lay it flat. It folds from a flat garment bag into a duffel, with two separate pouches for shoes on the ends. It’s easy to manipulate throughout the process, with a smooth folding process and zippers — though we noticed the zippers tend to snag a bit after we tested it for six month. It held all of our packing list with ease, and has thoughtful features like a phone pocket, a hook for clothing, and internal button compartments. It also still felt light even after being packed full, while still feeling durable enough to stand up to stiletto scratches, and the leather padding on the straps was very comfortable. We also love that it's water-resistant, and you can customize it with initials.

The Details: 22 x 10 x 10 inches | Nylon and leather

Best Organization

Arlo Skye The Weekender

View on Arloskye.com

This structured weekender looks very minimalist but, like many of our favorite Arlo Skye luggage pieces, it has a ton of thoughtful features for packing swiftly and efficiently. There are slip pockets and a big zippered pocket on the inside, and a very large zippered pocket on both sides of the bag (large enough to fit a jacket if needed) containing various slip pockets and smaller zippered pockets for laptops, tablets, chargers, books, and more. The shoe compartment on the side is also very helpful for separating items. Although the bag is spacious, it’s still compact enough to fit underneath an airplane seat as a personal item, and it’s lightweight and easy to carry. The shoulder strap is adjustable, but the padding on it is not, so it may not line up perfectly with your shoulder unless you have the strap set at just the right length. We tested the lighter mint color of this bag, which didn’t get dirty or damaged at all when we flung it off a table onto the floor multiple times. If mint isn’t your vibe, it also comes in black. Another plus: it has an RFID lining for added security.

The Details: 20.5 x 9.1 x 11.4 inches | 2.4 pounds | 31-liter capacity | Nylon/polyester blend

Most Durable

Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Drop-bottom Weekender Bag

$375 at travelpro.com $375 at Bloomingdales

This spacious weekender holds multiple outfits, a toiletry kit, a makeup bag, and more in its wide main compartment and the separate shoe compartment easily fits up to five pairs of shoes. The main compartment also features a zippered pocket inside to store valuables and one small open pocket on the outside for items you'll want quick access to while you're on the go. We love that this large bag still fits easily under airplane seats, so you can use it either as a personal item or carry-on bag, depending on your packing needs. Throughout our tests, we tossed the entire packed bag off a table, and the fabric didn't show any signs of rips, snags, or even dirt transfer, making it feel extremely sturdy and durable. We also love the padded shoulder strap that made carrying the heavy duffel comfortable and distributed the weight evenly. Unlike other bags with shoe compartments, the Travelpro x Travel + Leisure Drop-bottom Weekender's shoe compartment can also fully detach from the rest of the bag so you can make it even more compact if needed.

The Details: 15 x 8.5 x 9 inches | 3.3 pounds | 42-liter capacity | Cotton, polyester, and leather trim

Best Budget

Etronik Large Overnight Weekender

$50 at Amazon

This affordable weekender is an amazing value considering how spacious it is and all of its thoughtful features. The nylon material is waterproof and the bottom shoe compartment has two air vents to prevent shoes or dirty clothing from stinking up the bag. We were able to fit two pairs of shoes, including heeled booties, in the bottom compartment, and we think there was enough room to even fit taller boots. There are two external pockets to hold water bottles, a USB charging port with a phone pocket nearby, and more pockets inside — although there is no laptop sleeve. The bag also comes with two shoe bag covers and a small pouch that you can use for small items, which we thought was great for maximizing storage and keeping items protected. The 55-liter bag was pretty large but not overwhelming to wear or carry thanks to the lightweight material and shoulder padding. We do wish the material was a little thicker and more structured to better protect belongings, but we were impressed by this budget-friendly option nonetheless. It is also available in more than 40 colors, so there truly is something for everyone.

The Details: 21.7 x 16.5 x 9.4 inches | 2.2 pounds | 55-liter capacity | Nylon

Best Rolling Duffel

Calpak Stevyn Duffel

$112 at Nordstrom View on Calpaktravel.com

If you want not just a shoe pocket, but also a pocket for everything else, go for the Stevyn. Calpak’s duffel is the perfect size for a weekend — not too big, but still roomy enough to fit a few outfits. It’s simple but well-designed, with its shoe compartment on the bottom as well as multiple interior pockets. Though it's a softside bag, it is still more structured than many other soft duffel bags, which is great for packing. There’s one small external pocket, but we would have like a few more. Carry it by hand with two short handles or pop the luggage handle out to roll it like a suitcase on two wheels. It was very durable in our tests, showed no effects from getting tossed around, and seemed easy to wipe down in the event of any dirt. There are eight colors to choose from, including neutrals, pops of color, and two fun prints.

The Details: 22 x 12.5 x 10.5 inches | 6 pounds | 47.5-liter capacity | Polyester

Best Leather

Deux Mains Mission Essential Duffel Bag

View on Deuxmains.com $389 at donegood.co

If you want to travel light and in leather, opt for the Mission duffel. The material feels very high-quality, with stylish blue accents, and the bag is easy and comfortable to transport thanks to padded handles and a removable padded shoulder strap. This sleek pick works best for overnight trips as it will be a tight squeeze inside for several outfit changes along with toiletries and a laptop. The shoe compartment has its own zipper, but that eats into the interior of the main pocket (and will take up a decent percentage of the available space with larger footwear). We did encounter some problems with the zipper sticking and snagging when the bag was packed full, so be mindful of how much is stashed inside.

The Details: 20 x 11 x 10.5 inches | Leather