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Chic holdalls, duffles and wheelie weekend bags to pack for a mini-break Diaper Backpack
Staycations and short breaks abroad are ideal at any time of year when you can escape to a country house hotel, a sleek city centre or on a spa break - and you'll want to have a weekend bag ready for your mini-break.
Whether you're going on a city break to Bath or a stay at an unusual hotel in Barcelona, a weekend bag is the perfect luggage option for a short break.
Our pick of the most stylish weekend bags for women are ideal for carrying on one, two or three-night trips, from weekends away in the Cotswolds to short breaks at luxurious B&Bs in Yorkshire.
Weekend bags, or weekenders, can help you pack light and allow you to spend less time packing than if you're travelling for longer or further and need to fill a large four-wheel suitcase (you'll want to check out the most practical packing cubes and shoe bags, too).
They come in all shapes and sizes: a travel backpack is great for going hands-free, a wheeled bag is easy to transport and a tote is great if you're looking for something to use at the beach. For something to fall in love with, you'll want to see our favourite leather weekend bag, too.
Check out our pick of the most stylish weekend bags for every budget...
This investment piece by Carl Friedrik has a classic design, with plenty of room for your weekend essentials. It's made from nubuck leather, with space for a pair of shoes, a spare outfit and any can't-live-without travel accessories. The shoulder strap makes it easy to carry, too.
Made to perfectly fit all your weekend essentials in one place, Antler's Chelsea weekend bag is an excellent holdall to pack. Our favourite feature has to be the shoe pocket where you separate your footwear from the rest of your clothes, ensuring they stay clean. There are also leather details and a padded pocket for those who need to keep their tech close, too.
For the style and elegance of vintage-inspired luggage in sophisticated cream and brown, try this weekend bag set, available on Amazon. The large tote weekender is perfect for organising your clothing and other essentials, while the wash bag gives you a matching space for toiletries. We love the expandability feature that allows you to unzip the bottom of the tote for an even larger space. Fans of the bag say it's "amazing" and " so useful for travelling".
Travelling for just a night or two and need something that fits under your seat if you're travelling with Ryanair? Aerolite's Cabin Bag comes in a 40cm x 20cm x 25cm size, the exact maximum allowance for free baggage on Ryanair flights. There's a lockable main compartment and a front zipped pocket for your travel documents, as well as handles to carry it by hand or a shoulder strap to go hands-free.
If you shy away from plainer luggage, this chic striped set could be the perfect weekend bag for you. It comes with a matching washbag. The stylish carry-on is made from a canvas material with leather touches. There's a zipped pocket for essential items such as your ID and phone. Inside, there's a compartment to keep shoes or laundry separate from the rest of your belongings.
For a leather weekend bag that lasts a lifetime, Aspinal of London's Boston holdall is handcrafted from fine full-grain leather with a gorgeous pebble finish. It might be more popular among male travellers but its soft structure and beautiful printed silk lining makes it one we're more than happy to handle, too. A sturdy handles and detachable strap are part of the timeless design.
Currently on sale for Black Friday, this soft holdall is an affordable weekend bag, with plenty of storage space and two wheels to help lighten the load. It's by the brand Nere, which has plenty of budget-friendly luggage designs.
For a weekend bag that's super-lightweight, does what it says on the tin and is versatile enough to use on a mini-break and to carry your gym gear, we love Eastpak's Stand+ style. It folds away easily and comes with a compact pouch for no-fuss storing when you're not using it and it's the perfect cabin-friendly size if you need something that will fit within the guidelines of most airlines.
Classic British brand Aspinal of London has lots of lovely accessories when it comes to travel, from luggage tags to pouches and passport covers. This leather holdall in a timeless charcoal colour is perfect for city breaks, with its lined interior, durable top handles and detachable shoulder strap.
For a wheeled weekender with inconspicuous wheels, Antler's Prestwick holdall is worth considering. The strong and sturdy weekender is ideal for those with extra weight, who can travel with ease thanks to the two bottom wheels. A hidden trolley handle can be pulled out of the opposite side, creating a perfectly practical solution for you to go from security to the airport gate in a breeze. Additionally, there's a laptop sleeve, it's water-resistant and lockable front pockets.
This travel backpack was made to help you get the most out of your cabin space, packing in everything you need for a long weekend, from footwear to an extra dress. It's just as great for camping trips in the UK as it is for checking into one of the best Airbnbs. It features 20-litre capacity and is ideal for travelling on low-cost airlines.
Packing for a longer weekend? July Volume+ Weekender offers enough space and compartments for you to stay a few extra days - in fact, one happy traveller said they were amazed to fit in enough for seven days. The all-round black travel back can be taken from 34-litre to 42-litre capacity thanks to the zipped base. It's also the first weekender we've seen with a front pocket that slides over a suitcase handle for a beautifully-designed travel option.
Need a weekender with the right compartments for your trip? This one comes with a mesh outside pocket for your water bottle or umbrella, a magnetic front pocket for easy access to your passport, interior pockets for your electronics, a laptop pocket, a drawstring bag for your shoes or dirty clothing and a main large compartment. It comes in three colours and offers versatility for carrying on your shoulder or sliding over your suitcase handle.
Looking for a cheap weekender with all the features of a designer bag? Try Kono's highly praised duffle bag that comes with a host of things to love. It's water-resistant, contains a wet and dry bag to separate items easily, and you can unzip the bottom to expand the bag. The holdall has a trolley attachment strap on the outside, plus it has a matching cosmetic bag for you to pack all your beauty products in one place.
For something that offers more than the average weekend bag, try Away's F.A.R Duffle. Firstly, it's huge, as in 70 cm long and giving you enough space for a week if you need it. Then there's the practicality: it's water-resistant, packs flat when you're not using it and is abrasion-resistant for a bag that has adventure holidays written all over it. What's more, there are interior compression straps, it's made from recycled materials and it's just the thing for a weekend staycation that could possibly turn into a longer trip...
We love Eastpak's cases for all the space they give you to pack more into your luggage. Its small wheeled weekend bag is as brilliant as the Tranverz L. Fit in as much as you need for a mini-break and when it comes to storing it away, it packs flat making it ideal if you're short on space.
Antler luggage is always a reliable choice and this soft weekend bag is no exception. It's made from a lightweight but hard-wearing fabric, with a durable lining, reflective bungee cords making it easier to spot and a shoulder strap that can easily be removed. Other features include a waterproof pocket, an elasticated Velcro pocket and a grab handle, plus it has four rubber stud feet for protection on the ground.
This padded weekend bag by popular fitness-clothing brand Lululemon is currently on sale. It has a capacity of 34 litres, making it an ideal piece for shorter breaks. There are extra pockets for easy access to essentials such as your passport or phone, and it also had an outer pocket that's big enough to house a laptop.
If you buy two or more pieces of luggage from Australian brand July this Black Friday, you'll save 20 per cent. And some pieces currently come with free personalisation, too. This classic tote style is the perfect accompaniment for a shorter break – and it easily slots on top of a suitcase handle for trips requiring more luggage as well.
Need a space to keep your shoes separate from your clothes? This clever weekend bag with a shoe compartment is great for extra convenience. It also features two-way zip fastening, a removable shoulder strap and an internal sleeve to store other essentials.
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