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The travel experience is by and large defined by the conveniences and little luxuries we afford ourselves while in transit. First-class flights and accommodations are not always the only comforts that can enhance the journey. Sometimes, discovering hole-in-the-wall treasures to dine in or catching a beautiful view of the sunset are enough for an unforgettable adventure.
The kind of bag that will keep you company from takeoff to landing can also make all the difference. Whether on a quick road trip or a long-haul flight, a good travel bag will help you stay organized. Size matters in that your bag has to be big enough to accommodate your essentials yet compact for easy mobility. Bags for travel also come in varied designs, each conceived for both form and function. Pockets, compartments, straps and other details of exceptional travel bags are never integrated onto design randomly. For this year’s top picks of investment travel bags, everything—from size, shape to hardware and even the lining—was put in place for very specific reasons.
Smythson Greenwich Holdall
Durable lacquered cotton is handcrafted to take on the shape of a bag that can carry everything you need while traveling. Calf leather trims add to the quiet sophistication of the Greenwich Holdall. Pockets are integrated for easy access and organization of essentials. Leather top handles with removable tabs, as well as adjustable shoulder straps, offer easy options for carrying your travel musts. Removable luggage labels, Nile Blue hand-stitching and suede lined pockets are small yet luxe details that distinguish Smythson from the rest.
Boss Large Tote Bag With Striped Trim
Totes are great for fast and easy packing of travel essentials. They are a fuss-free option especially for individuals who like to use their travel bags for other activities like going to gym, doing weekend errand runs or breezing through big board meetings. BOSS reworks this classic shape by integrating lush calf leather with sportif stripe trim details. Double leather handles are crafted for comfortable handling while linen interiors take the luxe quotient of this tote a few notches up.
Valextra Soft Avieta Pilotina Travel Bag
Valextra is the ideal travel companion for individuals with a preference for understated yet distinct luxury products. Decidedly austere designs are conceived with function in mind. Case in point: the timeless Avieta Pilotina. It is a 48-hour briefcase type bag that can accommodate enough work items and clothing for long journeys. Interiors are crafted with compartments, slip slots and adjustable buckle straps for keeping essentials organized and intact even while in motion. Dimensions fit in the overhead compartment of an aircraft. Calfskin leather, black Costa lacquered piping, silver hardware and option for monogramming bring old world elegance to a travel bag that will keep you company for years on end.
Globe-Trotter Riviera Holdall
The Riviera Holdall is the newest addition to Globe Trotter’s luggage collection. Inspired by the sparkling waters and golden skies of Cote d’Azur, this piece is handcrafted in the UK using only fine-grained bull leather. Handles drop to 14” for easy handling, with the option to use padded detachable shoulder straps. The Riviera is done in a sandy tan hue that coordinates well with other luggage from Globetrotter. It also recalls joyful days of coastal living.
Longchamp Le Foulonne Travel Bag
There are several ways to carry the classic Le Foulonne from Longchamp: attached to a trolley, by hand or slung over the shoulder. First launched in 1975, the Le Foulonne is a travel bag shaped in the likeness of a doctor’s bag with various compartments to suit every jet setter’s needs. Drum-grained cowhide leather is meticulously crafted to highlight design that is timeless, versatile and ideal for discovering the world in style.
Goyard Ambassade MM
The distinctive hand-stenciled Goyardine coated canvas of the Ambassade makes it an immediate stand out. Shaped like a briefcase, this classic is ideal for both travel and everyday use. It is sized so it can accommodate travel essentials especially during business trips. Top handles and a detachable shoulder strap are adjustable for comfort. Leather trims surrounding the bag, with slit pockets on the exterior add emphasis to a sleek silhouette. Interiors are lined in Goyard’s unique marigold linen and come with dual pockets. In true Goyard form, the Ambassade is the everyday, everywhere kind of bag that will keep you company for years.
Moynat Limousine Voyage Travel Bag
French luxury trunk maker Moynat knows how to craft exceptional pieces for travel. Its beloved bag, the Limousine Voyage, is an expression of uncompromising artisanal standards. Inspired by a limousine’s trunk bottom, this piece is meticulously crafted using supple Taurillon Gex leather. It is shaped and sized for full capacity of various everyday items and essentials. Detachable and adjustable shoulder straps in canvas and leather allow for easy handling even on long days in transit.
MCM Travel Weekender Bag
A capacity (with some audacity) for having fun is at the core of MCM’s DNA. This extends more especially to its travel luggage and bags, which take on the brand’s distinct, edgy prints and color ways. The Travel Weekender in MCM’s trademark Visetos coated canvas highlights the label’s current obsession with military design details. It features striking logo webbing straps in neon orange, a luggage loop, cobalt hardware and leather top handles.
Louis Vuitton Astralis 50
Louis Vuitton knows luxury travel. Whether in the form of iconic leather trunks, a tote with logos strewn all over or a classic Speedy, a life in voyage inspires pieces bearing the LV initials. The Astralis 50, made of supple Taurillon leather, is a more understated, timelessly elegant option for a travel bag. Done in delicate shades of Galet or Magnolia, this piece features leather top handles and shoulder straps that give ease to handling. A soft silhouette gives it effortless appeal while gold hardware, padlocks, a leather name tag and external flat pockets emphasize Louis Vuitton’s savoir faire for crafting elegant travel bags.
Hermès Wallago Cabine
Unlike its more widely famous sisters from the Hermès ateliers, the Wallago is a rather quiet, nondescript style from the renowned French luxury maison. But just like the Kelly or the Birkin, this piece is a stellar expression of luxury, comfort and timeless elegance. Crafted specifically for the jet-setting pack, the Wallago’s most striking feature is its supple, well-rounded Togo calfskin. Large pockets at the front and back make it easy to pack and access important travel essentials while in transit. A wide zippered opening gives this impeccably crafted piece more room for other items. The Wallago is also shaped and sized so that it can sit perfectly in the overhead cabin or next to you in your first-class suite.
