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Overnight bags, sometimes referred to as weekender bags, are designed to be small, compact, and capacious — able to fit a few essentials you’ll need for a day or two, including clothes, a laptop, water bottle, and toiletries. If you do a lot of travel, need to pack for work or the gym, or are just a parent who wants something more elevated than a diaper bag, these overnight bags are both stylish and pragmatic. 

Why should you consider sustainable luggage? 

Modern luggage often contains the latest scratch- and water-resistant features. But that means, like other manufactured products, luggage can off-gas and release harmful materials like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Sustainable bags use renewable or recycled materials — cutting down on the carbon footprint and emissions more than their non-sustainable contemporaries — and skip harmful toxins without compromising high-quality manufacturing.

What should you look for in your overnight bag?

Your perfect overnight bag will vary depending on your specific needs, but generally there are a few factors to consider.

Construction: How many pockets does the bag have? Are they the right size and number for what you need? Is there a dedicated place for a laptop? What about a water bottle? Are the straps thick and substantial? Do they have padding? Do they fold or roll up so they don’t snag or tear? Does the bag have a sleeve so that you can slide it onto the handles of a roller bag? Is the size small enough to fit in an overhead bin or under the seat of an airplane? (The same consideration should factor in if you’re traveling by train or bus.) This isn’t a complete list, but check the features of each of our options and see what is most important to you.

Materials: A sustainable bag still needs to be durable, and the materials are an important part of that. Is it lined? What about waterproofing or scratch resistance? Is the base of the bag protected from whatever’s on the floor, or will you need to clean it? Can you clean the bag? Check out whether it’s machine washable, hand washable, or dry clean only. 

Comfort: Think about the bag as if you’re looking at it before heading out on a very busy overnight or weekend trip. Are the straps long enough to hang on your shoulder? Does it lay evenly against your body, even when it’s full? Can you use it like a backpack or roller? Does it fit everything — and can you still carry it?

Our criteria:

Our team has spent years researching sustainable, nontoxic overnight bags and testing options as we undergo our own travel plans. For this guide, we researched the best bags available today, compared materials and value, and read through thousands of customer reviews to curate our favorite options for every budget (with prices starting at $75). We update this guide regularly with new brands and styles that meet our criteria below.

• SUSTAINABLE & NONTOXIC | These brands focus on using better materials to make their bags, focusing on manufacturing processes that minimize the use of toxic materials, and thinking critically about their shipping and supply chain. There are multiple ways to be sustainable, and these brands are iterating on how to do it. 
• BUILT TO LAST | Just because these bags are sustainable doesn’t make them more prone to falling apart. The goal of an overnight bag is to stand up to a lot of wear and tear depending on how frequently you use it, and we’ve prioritized brands that keep that in mind. 
• DESIGN & EASE | From the most minimal bag with a small pocket all the way to the most intensely designed bag with a space for everything and several strap options, there’s an overnight bag that fits your needs. Regardless of their design process, each is made to make the process of traveling easier. 

For more resources on bags, we’ve got detailed guides on sustainable luggage, backpacks, and handbags. 

1. Lo & Sons

Best for | Storage
Features | Canvas and poly options, shoe compartment, carry-on friendly, adjustable sleeve, multiple colors
Price | $151

Lo & Sons is a family-owned, direct-to-consumer brand that specializes in more thoughtful travel bag options. They have a bunch of weekender bags that range from sleek and minimal to large duffel options, and your best option will depend on how involved your trip will be. But their bestselling Catalina, also known (by the brand) as “the most duped weekender in the world,” was the first popularization of the bottom shoe compartment design. That signature section — which you could also use for toiletries, dirty clothes, or even a smaller bag — also has a padded insert that you can take out and clean when it gets dirty. 

The Catalina will work as a carry-on when you’re flying (note: it’s too large to be considered a personal item), and it slides onto the handles of a suitcase with a sleeve that has adjustable double-sided zippers. Or, if you’re carrying it over your shoulder, the strap has padded memory foam, and the bag also has double straps for you to carry it in your hand. When it’s not packed full, it can sometimes even fit underneath an airline seat.

The Catalina comes in 10 pretty colors, and the bag is made out of either eco-friendly canvas or recycled poly made from plastic water bottles. Materiality is only one of the brand’s sustainability commitments, which range from circularity and upcycling to elimination of single-use plastics in shipping. 

Customer Review | “Classic look. Navy is a true navy color. Great weekender bag for an over packer. Bottom compartment is actually large enough to hold shoes plus. Zippers open wide enough for easy access. Straps are comfortable and material seems to [be] durable. What a pleasure it was arriving with my pocketbook and just this one bag to maneuver. So happy I made this purchase.” – Barbara C. (Read more reviews.)

2. MZ Wallace

Best for | Investment
Features | Compact enough to be a purse or personal item, two colors available, luxe texture, multiple pockets, modular straps
Price | $425

Private luxury fashion brand MZ Wallace makes lightweight and practical bags that are still gorgeous — and it’s a certified B Corp with ethical sourcing and carbon offsets, to boot. In particular, their travel bags have some ingenious details that do not at all take away from their visual appeal. The Crosby Traveler Duffel is distinctly designed for frequent flyers, if that’s you. It’ll slide under an airplane seat or on top of your roller bag, and it also doubles as a purse throughout the entirety of your travels. If you felt like it, you could also pack it inside your suitcase, empty, and then fill it with the essentials on the way back. 

Looks-wise, the bag is gorgeous. It comes in two colors, sand and black, the latter of which is probably more suitable for heavy travel. (You can, however, spot-treat the bag with a damp cloth if it gets a bit dirty.) The quilted texture breaks up the surface of the bag beautifully and makes it look a little more cushion-y. You can fit up to a 15-inch laptop inside, and there are eight interior pockets, two bottle pockets, and a detachable pouch to fit all your various essentials. There’s also a key ring strap and a phone pocket — there’s literally a place for everything in this bag. The strap options allow you to carry it as a duffel, shoulder bag, or crossbody. For more details, read our editor’s review. 

Customer Review | “This is the perfect size and perfect organization for my toddler diaper bag. I seriously could not have designed a better bag. There is a place for everything, and I can even fit my laptop in there with all of the toddler stuff when needed. Never discontinue this!! I have it in the older model in the navy color.” – Jennifer L. (Read more reviews.)

3. Baggu

Best for | Budget
Features | Inexpensive but not cheap, pocket options, modular purse design, option for additional matching cubes, machine washable
Price | $76 for two exterior pockets, $86 for five exterior pockets

If you’re unfamiliar, Baggu was founded by a mother and daughter. It started with an inexpensive reusable sack made to look like a plastic grocery bag — sustainability has always been an important aspect of the brand — and is now a lifestyle and accessory brand that uses recycled materials and minimizes waste in manufacturing and packaging. 

Their Cloud Carry-On, like much of the brand’s offerings, is inexpensive but great value for the money. It comes in two options: one with two exterior pockets and another with five exterior pockets. It has a trolley sleeve to slide onto your roller bag, will fit into an overhead bin if you want to use it as your primary travel accessory, and can also work as a purse at your destination. It doesn’t hurt that the bag comes in a bunch of fun colors and is super enjoyable to wear. 

Inside, there’s a detachable interior zip pouch. If you want to add in some structure and storage, the brand’s packing cube set comes in similar colors and patterns. You can also add on a puffy laptop sleeve to complete the set — or you can just keep the bag open and spacious for all your things. Everything is made out of recycled nylon from pre-consumer waste and, as an added bonus, is machine washable.

4. Ferm Living

Best for | Simplicity
Features | Simple and beautiful, responsibly made, machine washable, add-on laptop sleeve and small pouch
Price | $75

Ferm Living is a female-owned Danish interior and design brand that’s well-known for its simple and beautiful designs. The name’s derived from “ferm på fingrene,” which means skilled with one’s hands, and balances a Scandinavian design aesthetic with rich materials. Their ethos includes an entire Responsibility Ambition which includes, among others, getting to CO₂ neutrality and using even more responsible materials.

They have a gorgeous Pocket Weekend Bag in off-white that embodies all of this perfectly. Designed in Copenhagen, the bag is made from heavyweight GOTS-certified organic cotton. The unevenness of the outer pockets, combined with the gently frayed edges, makes it look sweetly eclectic but also extremely well-made (akin to a tote you might find in a vintage shop). As such, the design is extremely simple; This is not the bag for someone who wants all the bells and whistles. The bag has a double handle, and there’s a small pocket inside. You can also — like Baggu — purchase some add-ons that will help make this a more complete weekend bag if you wish. There’s a pocket pouch for toiletries or small items and a laptop sleeve for your computer or important paperwork, both in the same color as the bag so as to make a more cohesive look. In part because of its simplicity, you can actually wash this on a gentle cycle when it gets dirty. 

5. CALPAK

Best for | Longevity
Features | Good variety in sizing, scratch-resistant, water-resistant, lots of pocket, roomy interior, lightweight, multiple colors
Price | $118

CALPAK has a reputation for durable and stylish luggage that also happens to use eco-friendly materials and responsible practices. Their weekender bag section shows off an impressive variety of shapes and structures, from expandable totes and backpacks all the way to small roller bags. But their bestselling Luka Duffel, made with their signature puffy exterior, is a nice middle ground between all the options. 

The Luka is made from CALPAK’s classic puffy exterior — scratch-resistant and water-resistant, to boot — and is apparently a great choice for the overpacker who wants options during their short trip. Despite its relatively compact size, the bag has a separate shoe compartment plus nine total pockets and a very roomy interior. The bag itself is light and airy, meaning it’s not giving you added shoulder weight if you’re carrying it on your arm; Furthermore, the padded handles and adjustable shoulder strap give it an extra dose of comfort even when it’s very full. It also has a luggage sleeve and can tuck underneath most airplane seats for a more seamless travel experience. You can choose from a few cute colors, and you can also go with a Luka that’s one size up or down, according to your needs. 

Customer Review | “Of all the travel bags I’ve used/purchased, the Luka duffel is my go-to for everything. I love the amount of pockets and compartments it has and that it’s so easy to clean! The straps are the perfect width and length for me, doesn’t feel too heavy when I’m carrying it. I’ve used this for road trips, flights, and random day trips out with my kid. This bag holds it all and does it all seamlessly.” – Janelle S. (Read more reviews.)

6. Quince

Best for | Mini
Features | Good value, water-resistant, protective feature on the bottom, 10 pockets, detachable pouch, versatile and roomy
Price | $92

For well-made basics, Quince has a ton of variety, from its ethical cashmere to diamond jewelry. When they introduced luggage in 2023, reviewers and critics both noted the striking value for money relative to other brands. There’s also now an impressive variety in their travel bag section, from the lightest belt bags to sturdy backpacks and duffels. 

Quince’s Transit Quilted Carry-All Tote is made out of water-resistant poly from 16 plastic water bottles and Nappa leather trim and protective “feet” on the bottom. It’s compact and could work as an overnight bag in the truest sense: pack a change of clothes, some toiletries, your electronics, and a few odds and ends. But it’s also surprisingly roomy for how small it is: There are five interior and five exterior pockets with a detachable zipper pouch. Reviewers say that it’s incredibly lightweight, which makes it perfect for travel, but actually high quality for the cost. Once the bag is filled, it takes on a boxier shape, looking a little more like a duffel bag. It’s that versatility that makes it such a well-reviewed bestseller. Or, if you want to lay it flat in your luggage, it’s easy to take with you as an extra bag on your trip. 

Customer Review | “Ordered several similar bags from multiple retailers and this was easily the winner. The small details make a big difference – thoughtful pocket placement while keeping a stylish look, nice zipper pulls, comfortable straps etc. Fits under seat for flying but fits a ton.” – Andrea (Read more reviews.)

7. Patagonia

Best for | Duffel
Features | Made from recyclable materials, extremely durable, multifunctional, multiple straps, multiple pockets, multiple colors and sizes
Price | $199

Patagonia was on the sustainability bandwagon long before other brands were, and they’ve kept that ethos: They’re still considered one of the most reputable corporate brands in the U.S. Their duffels are more utilitarian than other options on this list, but that’s not a knock. You know exactly what you’re getting with a Patagonia bag: something durable, reliable, and multi-functional in the very best way. If your weekend getaway includes any kind of outdoor activity, this is the one to choose. 

Their Black Hole Mini MLC Pack holds a whopping 30 liters but still meets carry-on requirements — a perfect balance. Made from recycled materials including postconsumer recycled polyester, the bag has a hip belt that doubles as a shoulder strap, plus regular shoulder straps and grab handles. Wear it like a briefcase, duffel, or backpack — and the straps tuck away when you’re not using them. Beyond some impressive pocket space, including interior and exterior options, there are also external lash points that you can use to tie up more gear. They have a larger 45-liter Black Hole, should you really need the space. 

If you like this but it still feels too pricey, keep an eye on their Worn Wear website for heavily discounted used items (including bags); you can even trade in Patagonia items you’ve worn out for store credit.

Customer Review | “Great for weekend travel! I purchased for the simple reason that it fits under an airplane seat and these days some airlines are charging just for a carry-on. This holds everything I need for a weekend as my “personal item” and looks cute to boot.” – Kristina (Read more reviews.)

Featured image is from Lo & Sons

Katherine J. Igoe is a writer and editor who covers fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, with sustainability at the core of her work. She’s written for The New York Times, The Cut, InStyle, etc., and been a contributing editor at Cosmo and Marie Claire.