I know, I’m like you: I’ve been wanting my adorable tote bags to work out for travel. On the train, I would have an assortment of three or four totes, each with a stamp of personality and a funky flair that suited my personality. But, as my shoulders and back would tire from their flimsy straps and uneven weight dispersion, I was forced to rethink my travel choices. Hence: the great backpack vs. weekender bag debate. Let's chat about it, shall we? Weekender bags and backpacks: both their utilities and pitfalls and our recommendations.

Backpacks

The well-loved bag of choice for schoolchildren, college students, and now, you. I must admit—I’m a bit biased towards backpacks: they’re durable, relatively hands-free, have several compartments and hidden pockets, and can be easily loaded/packed.

Pros:

1. No arm, shoulder, or elbow pain. Maybe a bit of strain on your back—but that might be worth it. Your hands are completely free for your plane tickets, your cup o’ joe, your wallet, or your other bags. 
2. Backpacks can—and should—be used beyond travel purposes. If you need a handy way to travel with your groceries on the subway or you’re going hiking, a travel backpack can easily accommodate these situations. 
3. Pockets! Most backpacks have ample pockets for you to organize your smaller items.

Cons:

1. If you’re traveling with a backpack, you might want to invest in packing cubes, which help organize your items (e.g., a cube for toiletries, a cube for pants, a cube for undies, etc.). Although a useful addition, this can tack on extra costs. 
2. Some backpacks don’t have water bottle holders. Yikes.
3. If you’re focused on the aesthetic of travel, you might think that backpacks look frumpy or childish. That’s totally fair! You want to invest in something you know you’ll use; if you know you won’t want to use a backpack, definitely opt for the weekender.

Recommendations:

Cotopaxi’s Allpa 35 L bag

It has different compartments, can fit 35 liters (liters!) worth of items, is sustainably sourced, and has a lifetime warranty. That means that although the bag is an initial investment, you can get your bag repaired or swapped at any time. The straps are padded—ease of wear—and the design of the bag is intuitive and optimal. Plus, the bag is still small enough to be used as a carry-on.

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Patagonia’s Refugio Daypack 26 L

Waterproof material. Patagonia lifetime warranty. Unique colors. Water bottle holders. What’s more to love? Although the Refugio is a bit smaller than the Cotopaxi, it’s still versatile enough to take you overseas or through the woods.

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Weekender Bags

Although a newer advent compared to the more traditional backpack, weekender bags are fantastic for, well, weekend travel. They’re not too bulky, have different pockets/compartments for all of your travel needs, and are fashioned like a really practical tote bag. This means there are different straps, a reinforced interior, and a kind of “insulation”—compared to the more flimsy or awkward tote. They’re a cross of backpack functionality and tote aesthetic.

Pros:

1. Most weekender bags fit perfectly in the overhead compartments of planes, so they can double as your carry-on. Woohoo!
2. Most weekenders also have built-in laptop sleeves, so you don’t need to bring your bulky case with you—this, we’re sure, frees up a decent amount of space. 
3. The tote “feel”—i.e., you can hold it like a tote bag, without flimsy or uneven straps.

Cons:

1. Weekenders aren’t necessarily as versatile as backpacks. Of course, they can be used for travel—but they’re a bit awkward for groceries, hikes, or dynamic travel.
2. Although perfect for shorter trips, they might not have enough room for longer trips. This might mean more bags to lug around (or even a checked bag).

Recommendations:

Kånken Weekender

30L of spacious goodness. Lifetime warranty. Reputable and sustainable brand. Kånken is the weekender. Its straps can be adjusted for cross-body, tote, or backpack wear, which makes this an even more appealing (and versatile) option.

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Béis: The Weekender

Of course, how could we talk recommendations without recommending the originators of the “Weekender” themselves: Béis. Béis has created a durable, fashionable, organization-based workhorse of a bag. With 49 liters of space, this bag blows our other recommendations out-of-the-water, in terms of size. It comes equipped with compartments and a laptop sleeve. What a steal!

Weekenders and backpacks are both phenomenal options—think about your style, the ways in which you plan to use the bag, and how much space and organization you might need. Happy travels!