Our favorite travel bags

We are really good at finding the best of the best in the Lonely Planet office. Finding the best place for an aperativo in Sicily, hunting down the best coffee shop in Lisbon, and purchasing silk scarves wherever we go. We love an assignment. That's why we knew that we only had too poll the staff to find the best travel bags on the market. From pouches to personal items to that roller bag you can't live without, our staff has tried them all. These are their favorites.

Pouches

Weezie toiletry bag

I love a Weezie bag for toiletries or to hold products in my personal item. They're waterproof, have interior pockets and can fit so much. And they come in the prettiest prints – I have the light blue gingham. It also makes a fabulous gift.

–Ann Douglas Lott, Digital Editor

Abiudeng makeup bag

I recently thrifted this Abiudeng makeup bag that I am loving. It is bright orange (I love color) and really spacious. The top opens up so you can actually see what you've brought. It is bigger than what I have traveled with in the past, but I love to bring toiletries, so it works.

–Chamidae Ford, Digital Editor

Aloha mid pouch

Aloha’s mid pouch comes in fun prints and is water-resistant, easy to clean and great for toiletries or wet swimsuits. It can even double as a clutch in a pinch. Also, the female-founded and -owned company donates 5% of its proceeds to Hawaiʻi conservation efforts, which is always a plus for me.

–Bridget FitzGibbons, Brand Marketing Director

Personal items

Baggu crescent bag

Baggu's medium crescent bag is the right size for daily city exploration while traveling. It fits all of the essentials, plus a water bottle, a guidebook and an extra layer. I have it in two colors.

–Emily Dubin, Creative Manager

Lo & Sons OG

Lo & Sons OG is my favorite personal item bag. I've had it for 10 years now, and it still looks new. It's perfect for a laptop plus a change of clothes, which you should always have in case your luggage gets lost.

–Melissa Yeager, Destination Editor for the Western USA and Canada

Elk Innset bag

Since getting pickpocketed in Cusco, Peru (my camera was stolen and, with it, all my photos from a 4-day trek on the Inca Trail), I've been searching for the perfect travel purse. I think I've found it in this Innset bag from Australian brand Elk. It is made of responsibly sourced leather and features two interior zippers and an exterior magnetic flap closure, so would-be thieves would have to open a flap and unzip not one but two zippers to get at any valuables. The back zippered pocket, which sits closest to my body, is passport-sized.

–Jessica Lockhart, Destination Editor for Oceania

Ölend Ona bag

The Ölend Ona soft bag has become my ideal airport and cabin companion The bags are made in Spain and come in a range of colors, though I’m an animal-print girl at heart and always will be. It fits everything I need for a flight – a book, my laptop, snacks, a drink, toiletries – without ever feeling overstuffed or chaotic. The padded strap and soft handles are genuinely comfortable to carry, which you really appreciate when you’re navigating security and duty-free, or standing around on a jet bridge. It also has a secret compartment to keep money and passports secure. It’s practical, unfussy and reassuringly well made.

–Fionnuala McCarthy, Digital Editor

State Lorimer backpack

I saw my sister's Lorimer diaper bag from State and loved the material, so I bought the regular Lorimer backpack as my go-to personal item for flights (and carrying groceries in NYC). It fits so much without looking bulky, plus I had no issues washing it in cold water and air-drying it after bringing it on a dusty safari.

–Deepa Lakshmin, Director of Social Media

Carry-ons and checked luggage

Briggs & Reilly spinner

I've had my Briggs & Reilly spinner over a decade, and it's paid for itself hundreds of times over. I also carry a ludicrously capacious Rothy's tote that fits my laptop; an iPad; little bags of things; a notebook; loads of tissue packs; a sack of cords, headphones and chargers; and my beloved Patagonia Bend water bottle. My checked bag is either a 70L or 100L Patagonia Black Hole roller.

–Brekke Fletcher, Senior Director of Content

Calpak Luka duffel

The Calpak Luka duffel is such a good size. It has a shoe pocket and lots of space inside, with even more pockets. I particularly love the suitcase sleeve. Plus, it's a great price.

–Serina Patel, Lifecycle and Programming Lead

Away carry-on

The Away carry-on is practically indestructible. I love all the color options, because it's always easy to find my pretty pink bag. It has a built-in lock for the zippers, which keeps the bag from popping open and keeps your valuables safe.

–Acacia Gabriel, associate editor

Patagonia duffel

I have three sizes of the Patagonia duffel – 40L, 55L and 70L – in addition to a black hole roller. We travel as a family, with two kids and two adults, and we like snow sports. I can pack both the kids in separate packing cubes plus most of the family's outer layers in the 70 L, then I pack myself in the smaller 40L duffel or the roller and carry the larger bag on my back. Because it is so lightweight, its easy to get from one place to another, or on and off a train. As the kids get older, everyone will be carrying their own 40L, and we'll be a duffel family.

–Sarah Stocking, Digital Editor