This Samsonite Duffel Bag Fits More Than You Think

It can feel so easy to sling everything you need for a quick trip over one shoulder—no cumbersome suitcase to drag across sidewalks or lift into overhead bins, just you and a weekender packed with your essentials. Those who swear by duffel-bag-only travel know the feeling.

As freeing as it can be, packing this way can actually be quite technical and intricate—you’ll need a weekender bag that’s up to the task. Enter: Samsonite’s Better Than Basics Weekender Duffel, a so-called “workhorse” that reviewers say fits at least as much as their rolling carry-ons, sometimes more. Even better, it’s only $100 at Amazon.  

Samsonite Better Than Basics Weekender Duffel

The bag is about 19 inches tall, 14 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. While the standard carry-on size is actually 22 by 14 by nine inches, many reviewers say it “fits just fine in the overhead bin” on several airlines. 

On the outside, it’s “very stylish in a sort of minimal way,” with clean lines and subtle features. You get a front zipper pocket, a back pass-through strap for stacking it on a suitcase, and the structured bottom compartment that keeps your shoes or dirty laundry separate from other items. It’s very similar to the chic Béis weekender bag in size and price and has an impressive 15,000-plus five-star ratings—except one traveler said they like it even more: “Got this after buying two Béis bags that broke after two uses,” they wrote, adding that even though the design is similar, “the Samsonite quality is far superior, and they offer a free warranty.”

What shoppers like most is the “amazing” capacity. The interior is wide open, not “over-designed” with pockets—just one convenient 14-inch padded laptop sleeve. To test how much they could fit inside it, one person transferred everything from a “fully packed carry-on suitcase” into the duffel and “surprisingly, it fit easily,” they said, “even with some room to spare.” Another reviewer had no problem packing “two pairs of shoes and a couple rotations of outfits” for a four-day weekend. One even said they had “a Mary Poppins moment” unpacking the duffel because of how much it held.

Samsonite Better Than Basics Weekender Duffel

As with any Samsonite luggage, you can be sure this duffel is made from a durable polyester that will last years. The detachable, adjustable shoulder strap is padded for comfort, and the two carrying handles are smooth vinyl. The bag keeps its shape with the rigid bottom compartment and top zipper, designed to create a rectangular opening for easier packing. It’s “by far is one of the toughest duffel bags I’ve ever owned,” one reviewer wrote.

Based on abundant positive reviews, the Better Than Basics duffel lives up to its name as a weekender bag that does more than most. It comes in just colors—black and limestone gray—and costs just $100. Shop more highly rated duffel bags that are “better than basic” at Amazon, below.

More Travel Duffels at Amazon

Herschel Supply Novel Duffel

Samsonite Virtuosa Weekender Duffel

Vera Bradley Cotton Weekender

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-on Weekender

Baggallini Modern Everywhere Travel Duffel

At the time of publishing, the price started at $100.

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