10 Foldable Travel Bags That'll Leave You With Room to Spare on Your Next Trip (2024)

10 Foldable Travel Bags That'll Leave You With Room to Spare on Your Next Trip (1)

Whether you tend to pack light — and hate the idea of lugging around any more than necessary — or always seem to come back from vacation with more than you arrived with, foldable travel bags can come in quite handy. They typically don’t take up much space but the extra room they provide makes all the difference. The best ones come in an array of shapes, sizes, and silhouettes at any price point — which means options abound, depending on your specific needs and preferences.

To help narrow things down, we’ve gathered testing insights for our favorite foldable travel bags, plus researched other top picks from brands like Calpak, Longchamp, Samsonite, and more.Our top picks combine fashion and function, while prioritizing key features like durability and portability at the same time.

Why We Love It

  • Made with water-resistant nylon, this lightweight backpack offers plenty of built-in organization, making it ideal for those on the go.

What to Consider

  • The soft material means that larger items can sag down or poke out noticeably.

If you’re looking to dip a toe into folding bags for travel, it’s hard to get more practical than the Paravel Fold-up Backpack. Whether you’re using it at your destination or as your in-flight personal item, it’s roomy enough to hold an extra pair of clothes, a 15-inch laptop, and more in the main compartment, plus small essentials such as chargers, a smartphone, and travel documents in the zippered front pouch. There's an interior zip pocket to keep smaller items separated and safe like keys or a wallet, as well.

We’ve used this bag on our travels and as a personal item and love that the back pocket doubles as a luggage sleeve as needed. It’s also worth mentioning that its lightweight, water-resistant nylon material is made from 15 upcycled plastic bottles.

When it’s time to unpack, just fold and zip the backpack up into itself — with no extra pouch (to lose). Coming in six colors including canyon yellow, safari red, and scuba navy (plus a mini version we’ve also tested and loved), opt for personalized initial embroidery to add a custom touch to the shade of your choice.

The Details: 13 x 16 x 9 inches (unfolded); 6 x 6.5 x 2.5 inches (folded) | 0.63 pounds | Nylon

Why We Love It

  • It folds down very small compared to its size when open.

What to Consider

  • The nylon material is ultra-thin and the bag has minimal structure.

Coming in at 43 liters, Away’s Packable Carryall is spacious enough to hold pretty much all of your essentials, from clothes to books to a laptop. It weighs around half a pound and folds down to around 4 x 6 inches, making it a compact and lightweight secondary bag, too. With that in mind, we recommend packing this inside your main carry-on or checked bag to use as a backup personal item for souvenirs and other travel trinkets. While the carrying strap is thick, we did find the bag itself lacks the structure that would allow it to stand on its own (so, if you set it down with your items inside, they all melt toward the ground). On a similar note, although the built-in luggage sleeve can come in handy, you’d have to make sure to pack well — with weighty things in the middle — to keep the bag from slipping off your suitcase.

Despite how thin the recycled nylon construction (which comes in four colors) is, it does happen to be water-resistant, making it an excellent choice for the beach or pool. Alternatively, because it’s so spacious inside, it could also serve as an overnighter or weekender bag as part of a longer trip.

The Details: 15 x 19.7 x 9 inches (unfolded); 6.3 x 4.3 x 2.4 inches (folded) | 8.8 ounces (with pouch), 8 ounces (without pouch) | Nylon

Best Expandable Bag

Longchamp Le Pliage Expandable Travel Bag

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Why We Love It

  • This chic bag, which expands in height up to 20 inches, can be carried several ways, making it among the most versatile picks on this list.

What to Consider

  • Overpackers may be burdened by how heavy it gets when stuffed with weighty items.

We’re big fans of Longchamp bags in general, and the Le Pliage Expandable Travel Bag in particular for its ability to be expanded and contracted in a matter of seconds. Leather trimming adds extra flair whether you’re using it as a daily bag at its shorter 14-inch height, or fully expanded at 20.5 inches for a trip instead. In fact, our team has used the bag in both sizes on nearly every occasion: A three-week trip to Europe, weekend visits to the beach, strolling around on hot summer days, long road trips, plane rides, or as an everyday purse.

This bag pulls double duty as both a handheld and hands-free bag thanks to top handles and a long adjustable strap (for crossbody or shoulder carrying instead). Meanwhile, the interior lining and zippered closure offer an extra sense of security, protecting against leaks and other mishaps. We found the nylon material incredibly easy to clean in the event of spilled water, coffee, or even food. We especially love how easy it is to use just about anytime since it folds up into a small square that can be thrown into another bag, perfect for trips where you return home with more than when you left.

The Details: 17.75 x 9 x 14-20.5 inches (unfolded) | 1.56 pounds | Nylon with leather details

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Best Belt Bag

Paravel Fold-Up Belt Bag

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Why We Love It

  • This fold-up belt bag can be worn three different ways; plus, it’s made with recycled materials.

What to Consider

  • It’s pretty small in size, so it’s really only ideal for those who travel light.

Whether you call them belt bags or fanny packs, there’s no denying this budget-friendly pick from Paravel is exceptional since it folds flat and zips into a discreet pouch. Despite its small size, this belt bag offers a zippered front pocket plus a main zippered compartment so you can store all of your essentials (think: credit cards, cash, a smartphone, earbuds, sunglasses, and even some snacks) within arm’s reach. We also love how the bag is crafted with recycled, water-resistant nylon and recycled zippers. All you need to do is adjust the strap to sling it over your shoulder, wear it crossbody, or buckle it around your waist. The bag comes in six colors and can be monogrammed for an additional $10.

The Details: 8 x 5 x 2 inches (unfolded); 5 x 3.75 x 1 inches (folded) | 5 ounces | Nylon

Why We Love It

  • This backpack can be folded up into a pouch that also serves as an interior pocket when it's open.

What to Consider

  • It’s constructed with polyester, which may be less durable than nylon.

Searching for the perfect carry-on backpack? Look no further than the Samsonite Foldable Backpack. While suitable for everyday use, it’s especially convenient for travel thanks to its compact, functional, and lightweight construction (at less than half a pound!). The spacious main zippered compartment is perfect for storing souvenirs, while the exterior comes with one large zippered pocket and two side mesh pockets. After your trip, all you have to do is fold up the backpack and stick it inside the interior pouch, which, when in use, also doubles as an interior pocket. We’d be remiss not to mention the adjustable mesh shoulder straps for optimal comfort and support, too.

The Details: 18.5 × 13 × 6 inches (unfolded); 5.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches (folded) | 7.4 ounces | Polyester

Best Suitcase

Rollink Flex Carry-on Spinner Suitcase

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Why We Love It

  • This collapsible carry-on is chock-full of functional features like spinner wheels and interior pockets.

What to Consider

  • While the suitcase meets carry-on requirements for most major U.S. airlines, you may want to opt for the international carry-on size for those flights.

The Rollink Flex 360° Carry-on Spinner Suitcase weighs just over six pounds and offers a durable, impact-resistant polycarbonate hard shell. However, what makes it stand out from a regular carry-on is the fact that it folds flat to just 5 inches thick (from 9 inches), so you can easily stow it in a closet or under the bed when not in use. Meanwhile, the interior has two slip pockets and one zippered compartment. Its smooth-gliding, 360-degree spinner wheels, built-in TSA lock, and adjustable telescopic handle are all bonuses. Select from eight colors, including bright yellow, warm gray, and rose pink.

The Details: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (unfolded); 22 x 14 x 5 (folded) | 6.2 pounds | Polycarbonate

Best Duffel

Tumi Voyageur Just in Case Duffel

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Our Ratings

  • Capacity

    4.5/5

  • Organization

    4.5/5

  • Design

    4.5/5

  • Value

    4/5

Why We Love It

  • This versatile duffel can be carried four different ways.

What to Consider

  • The bag can feel flimsy if not filled completely.

We’re huge fans of the Tumi Just in Case Duffel for its clever design — there are not one, not two, but four different ways to carry it: crossbody with one long strap, over-the-shoulder (with two medium-sized straps), by hand (with two additional two straps), and, lastly, hands-free (thanks to the sleeve, which slides onto your suitcase). Also, when fully open, the storage pouch actually snaps inside the duffel bag, serving as an extra interior pocket that’s roomy enough to store keys, a wallet, headphones, and other small but essential travel items. This is especially noteworthy because, in many cases, the folding bags’ storage case ends up 1) becoming wasted space and 2) is only too easy to lose. An additional front slip pocket also offers easy access to essentials such as your smartphone, ID, and boarding pass.

Additionally, despite the bag’s seemingly compact size, it offers a surprising amount of storage space: In fact, we were able to fit four dresses, two shoes, a pair of pajamas, and a toiletry bag — with room to spare! Available in four colors, this foldable duffel is constructed with lightweight nylon, which is water- and stain-resistant. Shoppers also have the option to add embroidery for an extra-special personalized touch.

The Details: 10.3 x 18.9 x 10.3 inches (unfolded) | 1.1 pounds | Nylon

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Best Set

Calpak Compakt Bundle

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Why We Love It

  • With both a duffel and a tote bag, this two-piece set offers plenty of value and weighs in at just one pound total.

What to Consider

  • Both items lack luggage sleeves.

Available in 15 color and pattern options, the two-piece Calpak Compakt Bundle includes a duffel and matching tote bag, both of which collapse into themselves for space-saving storage. Together, both items clock in at just one pound, which means they won't weigh you — or your suitcase — down. The duffel offers several interior and exterior pockets for optimal organization, making it great for travel or commuting. The tote bag also features a crossbody strap for easy, hands-free carrying and works well for groceries, beach essentials, souvenirs, and pretty much everything in between. For longer trips, consider folding the tote into the duffel to be used as an everyday bag-slash-backup personal item for souvenirs while on the go. Each bag is constructed with water-resistant nylon.

The Details: 18 x 12 x 8 inches (duffel, unfolded); 21 x 20 x 6 inches (tote, unfolded) | 0.75 pounds (duffel); 0.25 pounds (tote) | Nylon

Best Oversized Weekender

Caraa Baby Hospital Bag

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Why We Love It

  • Made of water-repellent cotton, this oversized bag can be carried as a backpack or tote thanks to its long cushy straps.

What to Consider

  • At nearly $300, this foldable bag isn’t exactly a bargain.

Don’t be fooled by its name: The Caraa Baby Hospital Bag is so much more than a hospital bag — in fact, this chic foldable bag is especially ideal for travel. The ultra-spacious bag is outfitted with several compartments, including a zippered interior pocket for magazines and other in-flight reading materials and two zippered side pockets that are roomy enough to hold shoes, water bottles, tablets, and more. The interior also feature a water-repellent cotton lining to protect your belongings from accidental spillage.

Travelers can carry the bag by the straps, which feature a fashionable bow detailing. It’s also worth mentioning that the straps are long enough for the bag to be worn as a backpack or carried like a tote bag. When not in use, simply roll, fold, and stash the bag away in the corresponding pouch. Oh, and did we mention it’s constructed with water-repellent cotton and machine-washable, too?

The Details: 12 x 24 x 14 inches (unfolded) | 2.2 pounds | Cotton

Best Budget

Baggu Nylon Ripstop Tote

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Our Ratings

  • Design

    5/5

  • Performance

    5/5

  • Capacity

    5/5

  • Easy to Clean

    5/5

  • Durability

    3.5/5

Why We Love It

  • This machine-washable reusable tote can hold up to 50 pounds.

What to Consider

  • There are no zippers.

Baggu’s signature reusable tote is a fan favorite for its ultra-lightweight construction, and affordable price. A compact design, which folds into the corresponding pouch for convenient storage, is an added bonus. Despite the fact that it weighs less than 2 ounces, this one-of-a-kind bag is sturdy enough to hold up to 50 pounds. It’s also machine-washable and made with recycled nylon. Lastly, the durable bag is available in 20 colors and patterns to suit anyone’s style preferences from pistachio green to a raspberry print.

The Details: 25.5 x 15.5 × 6 inches (unfolded); 5 x 5 inches (folded) | 1.9 ounces | Nylon

Tips for Buying Foldable Travel Bags

Decide how much space you need

While shopping for folding travel bags, it’s important to consider how much room you’ll need for gear and other essentials. For example, if you want it for everyday use, you’ll want to prioritize a smaller bag you can easily carry as backup. If you tend to take a fair amount of shorter weekend trips, you likely won’t need a large piece of luggage. Instead, you can probably get away with a duffel bag, travel backpack, or even a large tote. On the other hand, if you often embark on longer trips, buying a larger bag, like a compressible checked suitcase, is a good idea.

Consider how compact the bag gets

As you narrow down your top picks for foldable travel bags, you’ll want to take into account how compact they actually get — because, in this case, size truly does matter. Can the bag fold small enough to fit in your pocket or purse, like the Paravel Belt Bag? If it’s a bulkier piece, such as a rolling suitcase, make sure it can fold flat for easy storage.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What can I put in a foldable travel bag?

    Foldable bags function the same way as standard bags, except they’re even more convenient for travel. Put simply, what you can fit inside all depends on the size and type of foldable travel bag you’ve purchased. The folded bags can be carried inside another day bag while at your destination, and used for souvenirs, groceries, and other purchases. For fuss-free organization, consider snagging one equipped with built-in zippered or slip pockets to maximize space.

  • Can a foldable travel bag be a carry-on or personal item?

    Foldable travel bags come in an array of shapes and sizes. With this in mind, it’s worth flagging that foldable travel bags can serve as a carry-on or personal item, depending on the specific one you’ve purchased. Just keep in mind that in order for your foldable travel bag to count as a personal item (as opposed to a carry-on) it has to fit underneath the seat in front of you. As always, check with your carrier before bringing it onboard.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this article, T+L contributor Lauren Dana Ellman used her personal experience as a freelance travel writer and editor to choose the very best foldable bags for every type of trip.

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10 Foldable Travel Bags That'll Leave You With Room to Spare on Your Next Trip (2024)

FAQs

What is the biggest personal item bag for flying? ›

The majority of domestic airlines allow personal item bags up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches, but it does vary slightly between airlines, so check yours specifically before your flight.

What is the best type of bag to travel with? ›

In general, I prefer a soft-sided suitcase. Hard-sided bags tend to be expensive, and even the ultra-light models are still a pound or two heavier than most soft-sided bags. Their major advantage is the protection they offer any breakables you're hauling home.

What kind of travel bag is suitable for short trips? ›

Weekender bags are great for short trips. They are spacious enough to fit all of your basic necessities and quite a few extra items all while leaving a bit of extra space for anything unexpected. On top of that, they're easy to carry and also look great.

Is a tote bag a personal item on a plane? ›

Backpacks, totes, and crossbody bags are typically considered personal items too. The key to remember is it must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on is a type of hand luggage that you bring into the plane cabin with you and is larger than a personal item.

What size bag will fit under an airplane seat? ›

According to airline policy, any personal items stowed beneath seats should not exceed 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches.

Can I take a 22.5 inch carry-on bag? ›

The combined dimensions of carry-on baggage should be less than 45 inches, with individual items measuring no more than 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

Do airlines prefer hard or soft luggage? ›

Do Airlines Prefer Hard or Soft Suitcases? While you can find some sources claiming airlines prefer hard suitcases over soft-side luggage, airlines don't have a preference. Airlines are more concerned with the size and weight of checked and carry-on bags than with the bag's construction.

Is hard or soft luggage better? ›

Here's a quick lowdown: hard cases offer total protection for your belongings, they keep things nicely organised, they're easy to clean and some models expand for more room; soft cases are tough, the side pockets are great for quick access, the material is long-lasting and it's easy to stuff in a little bit extra at ...

What bag to take to Europe? ›

So, if you're travelling between countries, getting an anti-theft bag is a smart move to keep your stuff safe. A minimalistic crossbody bag is a must-have for European travel. With a small, practical, and stylish exterior, the minimalist design helps to keep your hands free as you explore your destination.

What is a smart travel bag? ›

A smart bag is any piece of luggage—a carry-on, roller bag, backpack, etc. — that has one or more electric components like a power bank, charging port, tracking chip, or built-in scales, and in some cases, can even move through the airport on its own or convert into an electric scooter.

What size suitcase is best for 5 day trip? ›

Sizing
  • Small checked bag – 24x17x10. 5 inches; ideal for 4 to 7-day trips.
  • Medium checked bag – 27x18. 5x14 inches; ideal for 7 to 10-day trips.
  • Large checked bag – 32x22x14x inches; ideal for 7 to 14-day trips.
Dec 28, 2021

Can I bring a purse and a backpack on a plane? ›

In most cases, an airline will allow you to bring one carry-on baggage and one personal item. A personal item is normally something like a purse, laptop, backpack or camera case. Personal items should always be small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you.

Can I bring a purse and backpack as personal item on plane? ›

A personal item can be anything from a purse or tote to a backpack, duffel bag, or briefcase. As these items must fit underneath the seat in front of you, they are smaller, measuring no more than 18 x 14 x 8 inches. Sizes vary – so please check the baggage policy on your airline's website.

Does a pillow count as a personal item? ›

But while you'll have no problem bringing a full-size pillow through security, it's up to the airline to decide if it counts as your personal item. According to Executive Flyers, American Airlines, United, and Delta all consider a pillow to be a personal item.

What is the largest personal item? ›

While the exact dimensions of what's considered a personal item vary by airline, they're typically a maximum of around 18x14x8 inches and up to 22 lbs. In general, think small backpacks, large tote bags or purses, or small, wheeled bags that will fit underneath the seat in front of you on an airplane.

Is TSA strict about personal item size? ›

Pros and Cons of Personal Items

Personal items are free of charge, and any free luggage is a bonus, but you need to consider size restrictions when shopping for this bag. Typically, your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you and measure no more than 18 x 14 x 8 inches, although this varies by airline.

What if my personal item is one inch too big? ›

Airlines may sometimes ask you to buy a new seat in order to fit your big item. Then, the additional fee will be significant. Even worse, if your personal item is too large or heavy, it is possible that you have to leave it or be denied entry.

Do airlines measure personal item size? ›

While these sizes vary by airline, a personal item will typically measure no more than 18 x 14 x 8 inches or 45 x 35 x 29 cm. If your bag does not fit within these dimensions, the airline will likely consider it your 'carry-on' bag and charge you accordingly.

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