Transform your bag for comfortable travel days with a handy convertible style.

Updated on December 11, 2025

By Taylor Fox T+L editor Taylor Fox is an avid backpacker who frequently relies on convertible bags to give her carrying options.

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Travel + Leisure

There’s nothing I hate more than dealing with an achy back or shoulders when I’m facing a long travel day. Convertible bags, or bags that offer multiple holding styles, help keep me comfortable on busy trips when I may have packed more than I can carry. I also love that they give me the option of shifting a bulky backpack to my arm to make walking through narrow plane aisles a little bit easier. Transform your favorite backpack into a trendy tote or change your favorite duffel into a rolling bag with these stylish, easy-to-use convertible bags that are perfect for any adventure.

We put 417 weekenders, duffels, and backpacks to the test while traveling, then sorted through our results to pick out the convertible bags that are actually convenient and easy to use. Each convertible bag on this list was evaluated with emphasis on portability, design, durability, and ease of use. From stylish designs to bags sporting comfortable padding, these are the best convertible bags for every traveler.

Top Picks

Best Overall: SALE Dagne Dover Denver Convertible Duffel Bag at Dagnedover.com $320 $192 Jump to Review Most Durable: Patagonia Black Hole 40L Duffel Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Organization: Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack at Calpaktravel.com $198 Jump to Review Best Carry-on: Baggallini Modern Convertible Travel Backpack at Amazon $130 Jump to Review Best Checked: Thule Chasm Sport Duffel Bag at Amazon $332 Jump to Review Best With Wheels: Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler at Amazon $229 Jump to Review Best Packable: Gregory Alpaca Duffel 60L at REI $180 Jump to Review Best Garment Bag: SALE Mark & Graham Commuter 2-in-1 Garment Bag at Markandgraham.com $269 $199 Jump to Review Most Stylish: Caraa Remus Duffle at Caraa.co Jump to Review Best for Business Travel: Briggs & Riley ZDX Medium Convertible Backpack at Briggs & Riley $419 Jump to Review

Best Overall

Dagne Dover Denver Convertible Duffel Bag

Credit: Dagne Dover $320 $192 at Dagnedover.com Why We Love It

• It has more pockets than most bags and is perfect for packers who love organization or need spaces for storing gear.

What to Consider

• Though it does come in two sizes, we wish it came in a slightly smaller size to use as an overnight bag.

This wildly spacious bag has a cavernous middle section that opens up wide for easy packing and so many pockets and compartments that even the most chaotic of packers will stay organized. The medium-size option we tested easily fit a four-day packing list (plus an extra laptop as there are two padded laptop compartments). If needed, light packers could probably use this 32-liter bag for a weeklong trip, camping excursion, or other lightweight adventure. The high-quality Dagne Dover bag comes with a removable shoe bag and is designed with a luggage sleeve on the outside to pair with your rolling suitcase. It also comes in a larger version, though we wish there was also a smaller option.

Despite it’s size, the duffel is relatively light when unpacked. We thought it was easy and comfortable to carry with the handle, shoulder strap, and padded backpack straps that easily stow away. Because of is size, the bag is too big to fit as a personal item on planes but easily slides into overhead bins. All of the zippers, snaps, and clips work very well without any snagging or catching, even when fully packed. The bag is also extremely durable and protected all of the items when we dropped it off a table multiple times — including both laptops. There are no scuffs, rips, tears, or even dirt transfer after throwing it off a ledge, and the outer material is water-resistant, making it a perfect choice for any trip.

The Details: 2.15 pounds | 16 x 11 x 11 inches | 32-liter capacity | Recycled 900D polyester | Water-resistant

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Most Durable

Patagonia Black Hole 40L Duffel Bag

Credit: Patagonia View on Amazon $159 at REI $165 at Backcountry Why We Love It

• The waterproof material is perfect for a rugged weekend getaway, and the size is great for storing gear long-term.

What to Consider

• It can be difficult to compress it down for storage.

The Patagonia Black Hole duffel is one of the most spacious and durable bags we’ve tested. Not only does the main compartment hold far more than it seems, it also has plenty of pockets to keep your gear or weekend essentials organized. We love that the handle straps have a clasp to clip together for comfortable holding and that the backpack shoulder straps are removable and adjustable to suit your needs. After more than a month of regularly traveling with this sturdy bag, it didn’t suffer any scratches or scuffs thanks to the glossy ripstop polyester (which is also waterproof). We tested the 40-liter version, but you can also choose from four different sizes (up to 100 liters) to find the perfect one for your travels. It’s difficult to compress the bag down when it’s empty, but you can store gear or large items in it instead.

The Details: 2.05 pounds | 21 x 13.7 x 10.6 inches | 40-liter capacity | Recycled polyester ripstop with a recycled TPU-film laminate | Waterproof

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Best for Organization

Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack

Credit: Calpak $198 at Calpaktravel.com Why We Love It

• This duffel-backpack hybrid is full of useful pockets and sleeves to keep your belongings organized.

What to Consider

• The shiny material scuffs easily.

While some bags can feel like one giant pouch, the Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack is packed with pockets and compartments so that all of your belongings have their rightful place — a quality we’ve come to appreciate about Calpak luggage. The main compartment on the bag has a regular backpack opening, but you can also open it like a clamshell, and the inside lid features a mesh zipper pocket and two sleeve pockets. There’s a hidden phone/passport pocket in the back of the bag, which is a nice anti-theft feature, and a pocket on the side for a water bottle. The laptop pocket is a generous size with lots of padding for a 17-inch laptop (or smaller). There are also front pockets with various organization features, including a key ring. 

«My favorite thing about this bag is all of the pockets — I felt like I had a space for everything, and it was easy to find whatever I needed without having to dig around at airport security and on the plane,» says Travel + Leisure testing editor Jackie Cucco, who brought this bag as her personal item on a trip to Jackson Hole.

There are plush handles on the side and top of the bag, which make it easy to grab, and there’s a longer strap to carry it as a duffel. It also has buckles on the sides of the bag to help compress it as tight as possible if you want to squeeze it underneath an airplane seat. After traveling with this bag for three months, we found that the shiny material scuffs easily (even when standing up against airport tram windows), but it's not difficult to buff the marks out, and it felt durable otherwise.

The Details: 2.9 pounds | 18 x 12 x 7.5 inches | 26-liter capacity | Recycled ripstop polyester with TPU coating | Water-resistant

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The Best Calpak Luggage of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Best Carry-on

Baggallini Modern Convertible Travel Backpack

Credit: Amazon $130 at Amazon Why We Love It

• The inner compartments are spacious and the bag holds a ton of items.

What to Consider

• We wish the small outer pockets were a bit deeper.

If you’re looking for the perfect weekender bag or small carry-on, this spacious backpack/duffel is the perfect choice. It features a padded laptop pocket in the back and a clamshell main compartment that works just like a carry-on suitcase would. When carrying, we love that the backpack distributes weight across the back comfortably without any heavy or uncomfortable spots. It can also be easily carried on the shoulder like a duffel or even a crossbody, thanks to padded adjustable straps.

This bag would be great for work travel where you need to keep incredibly organized and protect all of your items. We love that you can use it as your main travel bag, yet it's still small enough to double as a day pack for sightseeing (though we will note that it's a bit longer than a standard backpack, so shorter travelers may not find it quite as comfortable).

The Details: 2.7 pounds | 11.8 x 17.7 x 8.5 inches | Nylon and polyester | Water-resistant

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Best Checked

Thule Chasm Sport Duffel Bag

Credit: Amazon $332 at Amazon $200 at REI $200 at Thule.com Why We Love It

• The backpack straps are durable and well-padded, and its large size makes a great checked bag.

What to Consider

• It doesn’t have any outside pockets.

The Thule Chasm Sport Duffel may have some of the most comfortable straps of all the convertible bags we tested. They’re padded, adjustable, and easy to carry even when the 90-liter bag is packed to capacity. We love that the bag is solidly made of strong, weather-resistant TPE laminate and nylon. It is easy to clean, too, and, after testing for six months, only shows minor scratching on the outside. The duffel also comes with a packing cube that you can use for clothing, toiletries, or even a pair of shoes—making it easy to stuff this large bag full and check it. We wish it had some outside pockets though. Whether you’re heading off on a camping trip or planning a backpacking adventure, this bag will be your new go-to for years to come.

The Details: 4.98 pounds | 29 x 17 x 13 inches | 90-liter capacity | 1000D nylon and TPE laminate | Waterproof

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Best With Wheels

Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler

Credit: Amazon $229 at Amazon $249 at Eaglecreek.com Why We Love It

• The large capacity makes it perfect for long trips or transporting gear, and you can wheel it around if it gets heavy.

What to Consider

• Because of its size, it can be hard to maneuver when fully packed.

This Eagle Creek duffel may be one of the largest bags we’ve tested at 130 liters, with plenty of pockets for small storage as well as loops for attaching extra gear. While heavy-duty straps mean you can carry this bag on your back or as a duffel, sturdy wheels certainly come in handy when it is loaded up. We did find that the sides of a fully packed bag may protrude to the point where the bottom fabric can drag on the ground if you’re not careful, but the fabric is still highly durable even over long periods of time. The protective materials make this bag a great option for camping or hauling gear as well.

The Details: 5.13 pounds | 34 x 13.75 x 15 inches | 130-liter capacity | 800D nylon dobby, 1680D ballistic polyester, and recycled 200D polyester | Water-repellent

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The 12 Best Rolling Backpacks, Duffels, and Weekenders of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Best Packable

Gregory Alpaca Duffel 60L

Credit: REI $180 at REI $170 $128 at Backcountry $170 at Gregory.com Why We Love It

• You can fold this heavy-duty bag down into a compression packing cube.

What to Consider

• It's a bit heavy and bulky, so it might be difficult for some people to use it comfortably.

This bag works as a duffel and backpack, and even packs down to a significantly smaller size, making it a real jack of all trades. I personally tested this bag during our packable backpacks test and was thoroughly impressed with its capacity. It fit everything from our packing list and could have fit tons more. It comes with a packing cube, and you can fold the bag down into the cube if you want to carry it inside a larger suitcase.

The bag has two small interior pockets that are a part of the lid of the pack and one larger pocket on the outside of the bag. There are also removable backpack straps that allow you to convert it from duffel to backpack. It opens like a clamshell, making it easy to pack, although its large capacity might make it too heavy and bulky for some users when packed full. This bag is heavy-duty, durable, and water-resistant, and we feel like it would last for a long time, considering it sustained no damage during testing.

The Details: 3.4 pounds | 27.5 x 15 x 12.8 inches | 60-liter capacity | Recycled polyester | Water-resistant

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Best Garment Bag

Mark & Graham Commuter 2-in-1 Garment Bag

Credit: Mark & Graham $269 $199 at Markandgraham.com Why We Love It

• The garment bag sleeve will help keep your clothing wrinkle-free.

What to Consider

• It doesn’t allow for easy access to some items.

Convertible garment bags may just be our new favorite way to carry clothing for business trips, destination weddings, and any other trip in with nicer items. Simply roll out the bag to store your suits, slacks, or formal dresses and then pack toiletries and other essentials on top as you zip the bag into an easy-to-carry duffel. This Mark & Graham bag even has side pockets to store shoes separately and smaller pockets around the interior to keep you even more organized. We also love that this bag is lightweight so you can really pack it to capacity without having to worry about feeling weighed down. You can even add a personalized monogram.

The Details: 22 x 10 x 10 inches | Twill-washed nylon with leather accents

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Most Stylish

Caraa Remus Duffle

Credit: Caraa View on Caraa.co Why We Love It

• The outer nylon feels soft, yet durable.

What to Consider

• We wish the duffle's shoulder strap had a bit more padding.

This beautiful duffel is a high-end option for frequent travelers. Whether you're flying or roadtripping, this large convertible duffel can fit everything you need in various pouches and pockets. While it has a long and narrow design, it distributes weight well, so we never felt unbalanced while carrying it on our back or shoulder. The zippers are also very strong, so we could get the bag closed even when it was packed (past) full.

The nylon is water-resistant with an antimicrobial lining, so we actually used this on occasion as a gym bag as well. While definitely a pricier bag, it’s versatility and size make it a worthy investment. Plus, it comes in a sleek black option or eye-catching gold for even more of a stylish touch.

The Details: 4 pounds | Nylon | Water-resistant

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The 10 Best Weekender Bags With Separate Shoe Compartments, Tested and Reviewed

Best for Business Travel

Briggs & Riley ZDX Medium Convertible Backpack

Credit: Briggs & Riley $419 at Briggs & Riley Why We Love It

• It is expandable, giving you an additional three inches of depth.

What to Consider

• There are so many pockets it can be hard to remember where you have packed smaller items.

This spacious bag is a great option for commuters, or as a personal item on business trips. We were able to easily fit everything we needed for an overnight trip in the expandable main compartment, plus a laptop, a book, and a purse inside the padded laptop sleeve. We only needed to use about half of the pockets, too—there's so much room to organize everything and a thoughtful packer could really make excellent use of all the space and compartments. The expander was great for packing for travel, or even for days to the office when you want to have an extra layer on-hand.

We had no trouble carrying this as a backpack, by the shoulder strap, or briefcase-style by the short handle. The weight distributes smoothly, particularly when carrying it with the shoulder strap. It's a breeze to switch between carrying styles, too. The backpack straps tuck easily into the corners and are easy to snap together while the cross-body strap just clips onto the sides or can be stored inside when not in use.

The Details: 3.7 pounds | 18.5 x 12 x 11 inches | 33.5-liter capacity | Nylon | Water-resistant

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Best Tote

Bellroy Lite Totepack

Credit: Bellroy $129 at Amazon $129 at Bellroy.com Why We Love It

• We love that the backpack straps are hidden and have their own pocket when not being used, but they're still easy to access.

What to Consider

• We wish the tote straps had a storage pocket like the backpack straps do.

This lightweight backpack/tote is a great option whether you’re sightseeing, heading to the beach, or going on a light hike. It fits everything you need for a day out including wallet, water bottle, sunglasses, an extra layer, and, of course, snacks. The durable nylon/polyester materials are also great for repelling water, sand, and even dirt, so it stays clean wherever the day takes you. We love that the main compartment is deep and spacious and has two tall inner pockets, perfect for water bottles. Unlike standard totes, the front of this bag also has a large zippered pocket that is split into several smaller pockets for even more organization.

What we may have loved most about this convertible tote is the easy transformation and the storage pocket for tucking away the backpack straps, so they don't flop around. We actually wish the design was replicated, so you could store the tote straps when not as use as well (though we were able to tuck them into the top pretty seamlessly). The backpack shoulder straps are padded and they feel great, even when we wore it on a three-mile walk, and we found the tote design to be easier to carry than other totes as well thanks to heavy-duty straps.

The Details: 0.91 pounds | 15.7 x 15.7 x 6.7 inches | 18-liter capacity | Nylon, polyester, and foam | Water-resistant

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Best Sustainable

Nemo Convertible Duffel & Tote

Credit: Nemo Equipment View on Nemoequipment.com Why We Love It

• The capacity and shape are incredibly versatile.

What to Consider

• When using it as a backpack, the duffel handles are right against your back and can get a little uncomfortable.

This Nemo pack is made with Bluesign-approved 420D recycled nylon that is both water-repellent and stain-resistant. We put this bag through the test by hauling it to the gym, the grocery store, on a roadtrip, and even to the pool on a nice day. No matter how you use the bag, it has plenty of room for everything you need in its 30-liter design. We actually found that you could carry even more if you use it as a tote without the top zippers closed (making it a great option for grocery runs and roadtrips).

Switching this convertible bag between the three different modes—backpack, tote, and duffel—is really easy. The most difficult way is when converting it into a backpack and even that is very easy. The zippers are all durable, yet smooth and the side buckles are sturdy and reliable. We also love that this versatile bag packs down easily when empty and is not super structured, so when it's fully packed, you can easily shove it into storage bins and trunks without issue. And, considering it's lower price point, we found this to be an overall great value for a variety of uses.

The Details: 2.3 pounds | 10 x 20 x 9 inches | 30-liter capacity | 420D recycled nylon | Water-repellent

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The 13 Best Sustainable Backpacks for Eco-friendly Travel, Tested and Reviewed

Other Convertible Bags We Liked

We’ve tested hundreds of bags during our travels, and while the following bags certainly featured components we liked, they didn’t impress us quite as much as other options.

Wandrd Carry-all Duffel 40L: We love how there are plenty of pockets inside and outside of this durable bag. However, the straps could be more comfortable and it doesn’t come with a longer duffel strap.

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Modoker Convertible Garment Bag: This bag was easy to use and has a great price point, however it has a limited capacity and minimal storage compartments, so it wouldn’t be as practical for long trips.

Travel + Leisure

Rains Duffel Bag: We think this bag is a solid option for weekend and overnight trips, but the polyester material wasn’t as durable as similar bags we tested, and the crossbody strap wasn’t comfortable for carrying.

Travel + Leisure

Nomadic 40-liter Travel Bag: The bag’s rectangular shape makes it easy to pack clothing and other items, but we thought the straps were a bit stiff and uncomfortable for extended use.

Lululemon 2-in-1 Travel Duffle Backpack: This bag’s backpack straps are incredibly comfortable and well-padded, but the arm handle is too short to comfortably use, making this more of a backpack then anything.

Travel + Leisure

Our Testing Process

Our team tried 417 weekenders, duffels, and backpacks during our travels to determine the best convertible bags for every user. We began by weighing and measuring each bag and evaluating its features. We then packed each bag to its full capacity, utilizing all compartments and organizational features to see how helpful they were. During this process, we made note of structural features of the bag, ease of use, and functionality.

Travel + Leisure

After packing the bags, we tried all of the possible transportation methods including tote handles, shoulder straps, backpack straps, and even wheels. We then noted whether each was comfortable or not and provided details as to why. We placed the bags on the top shelf of a ladder or on a table countertop and pushed them off multiple times while fully packed, with attempts to land on a different part of the bag each time. We then surveyed the products for scratches, marks, or scuffs on the outside and opened the bag to look for damage to items inside. We also carried the bags around again to check for any changes or problems.

We checked each bag for damage or scuffs, and analyzed the bag’s overall quality and construction, noting whether the bag appeared to be durable enough to use over the years or if bags were easily scuffed and needed to be cleaned frequently. Our editors took the bags home and used them in their travels over the course of six months to make sure they were durable and practical to travel with long-term.

Tips for Buying a Convertible Bag

Prioritize desired carrying styles

When investing in a bag, focus on your preferred methods for carrying it throughout any journey and once at your destination. If you know your adventures often call for long-distance commutes or even running through airports, you may want to opt for a convertible bag with the option to wear as a backpack. Similarly, if you know you’re a heavy packer or unable to carry large bags for long periods of time, you should consider a convertible bag with wheels.

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Consider trip length and type

Whether you’re a weekend adventurer or enjoy long vacations, you should be sure your travel bag suits your trip. Convertible bags come in all shapes and sizes, so you’ll want to look for a bag that can fit everything you need and is easy to carry. If you try to avoid checking a bag, make sure the size is small enough to take as a carry-on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Taylor Fox is a T+L editor and outdoor gear expert. She participates in many T+L tests and has tested many convertible bags, duffels, and backpacks on her travels. To select the best convertible bags for this article, she called on her own experience as a traveler, sorting through results from the team and her own experiences to choose her favorite recommendations.

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