The 9 Best Foldable Travel Bags of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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We found the best backup bags, backpacks, and totes for travel days.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure

When I vacation, I like to pack a backup foldable travel bag. It takes up minimal space in my luggage and comes in handy throughout my trips as a day bag, shopping tote, or even a personal item for the journey home to hold all the worldly souvenirs I’ve accumulated. If you use a foldable travel bag as your primary luggage, it's easy to stow when not in use. Travel + Leisure editors tested a variety of foldable travel bags and put together a comprehensive list of the best picks—ranging from belt bags to rolling suitcases.

It’s extremely light, but still offers an 18-liter capacity.

It lacks padding and only has a few organizational features.

If your trip includes daytime adventures like hikes, consider bringing a lightweight, packable backpack. This budget-friendly version only weighs 5.3 ounces and is quite pliable thanks to its limited pockets and light padding. While it’s not suited for hauling a heavy load for an extended period of time due to its lack of padding, we found it makes a perfect day bag for essentials like a jacket, sunscreen, bug spray, a wallet, and a small water bottle. “This backpack is the lightest thing in the world—it's like it's not even there,” says T+L senior testing editor Jackie Cucco. “It packs down into an itty-bitty mini square that feels as light as a feather. It literally takes up no room at all, and you'd be able to pack this anywhere, even in your pocket.”

Though the nylon fabric looks a bit thin, it’s actually quite durable and can withstand wear and tear. The larger main compartment unzips with easy pull tabs, and inside you’ll find a small zippered pouch and a key clip, but limited pockets. The two stretchy slip pockets on the outside can hold water bottles or shoes.

The Details: 7.48 x 8.66 x 16.54 inches (unfolded) | 5.3 ounces | 18-liter capacity | 40D high-tenacity nylon

The water- and stain-resistant material is lightweight and durable.

It’s pricier than other options on this list.

This duffel stands out even among nonpackable bags for offering four (yes, four) ways to carry it: as a crossbody with one long strap, over the shoulder with two medium-sized straps, by hand with two additional short straps, and hands-free thanks to a strap that slides onto your suitcase handle. Another clever design feature: the storage pouch snaps inside the fully open duffel bag, serving as an extra interior pocket with enough room to store keys, a wallet, headphones, and other small items. This prevents the storage bag from getting lost or becoming wasted space. There are also two exterior side pockets.

Despite a lightweight, compact shape that packs down nicely, we found the nylon duffel surprisingly roomy. We packed four dresses, two pairs of shoes, pajamas, and a toiletry bag with plenty of room to spare. Though it’s great as a gym bag or personal item on flights, it can handle an overnight stay or a concise packing list for a weekend trip. It’s a splurge, but we believe the durable fabric makes it worth the investment. You can even customize it with an embroidered monogram.

The Details: 10.3 x 18.9 x 10.3 inches (unfolded) | 1.1 pounds | Nylon

This foldable carry-on can be packed inside a checked suitcase.

It rolls on two wheels, which can be more difficult to maneuver.

The most dedicated souvenir collectors can benefit from an additional carry-on suitcase that will securely accommodate their haul. With the push of a button, the structured bag compresses fully to fit inside a checked suitcase, so you can pack it on the first leg of your trip, and use it on the return flight. People with limited storage space at home will also appreciate the luggage’s minimal bulk when collapsed. Still, we were able to fit three sweaters, a dress, two pairs of jeans, a jacket, a toiletry bag, and a pair of loafers into the lightweight rolling suitcase, which was easy to hoist into the overhead bin. Three interior zippered pockets and a large exterior pocket kept our undergarments, shoes, and quick-access items organized.

The bag only uses two wheels to help make it collapsible. In our lab tests, we still found it fairly easy to maneuver through obstacles, though some people will prefer a suitcase with four wheels for smoother rolling. The softside fabric proved durable, and the wheels and handles are made from sturdy plastic that’s built to last. Despite its durability, it has an elevated look compared to more rugged bags.

The Details: 21.7 x 14.6 x 8.7 inches (unfolded) | 5.2 pounds | Nylon

The unique checked suitcase compresses 10 inches and can be stored under a bed or couch.

We wish there were more organizational features inside.

Large checked suitcases can be a pain to store, especially for those living in smaller spaces. We love the innovative design of the Jollying Pebble 30-inch Trunk that becomes a full 10 inches thinner once compressed, making it easy to tuck in the back of a closet or store under your bed. The bag is made with hard polycarbonate panels on either side with durable polyester fabric in the middle, so you can seamlessly expand or compress it without compromising quality. This material configuration also makes the suitcase fairly light (13.2 pounds) for being such a large bag.

There aren't many organizational features inside, but we found the bag to be extremely spacious and had no issues fitting everything on our packing list during testing. All zippers and handles rolled smoothly, and we found it easy to maneuver the bag on various terrains. We weren't sure how it would stand up to our durability tests considering it's collapsible, but we were pleasantly surprised to see just a couple of minor scuffs that could be washed off. If you want a large checked bag for your travels but don't have room to store a traditional suitcase, this is a great option.

The Details: 29.13 x 15.35 x 16.93 inches (unfolded); 29.13 x 15.35 x 6.69 inches (folded) | 13.2 pounds | Polycarbonate, polyester

This chic two-in-one bag is expandable if you need extra packing space.

In the way of organizational features, it only offers two small open-top pockets.

Longchamp’s signature Le Pliage line is beloved for its simple, practical, and elegant designs. This versatile version scored extra points in our tests for its ability to expand to 20.5 inches (with a 50-liter capacity) or contract to a 13.8-inch height (with a 30-liter capacity) in a matter of seconds. In its smaller state, the bag functions as a handheld purse (with leather handles) or crossbody bag (with a thick, adjustable shoulder strap). Unzip the middle to transform it into a stylish tote and unleash an extra 20 liters of packing space. The fully expanded 50-liter bag is equipped to handle a four-day vacation packing list and more. The only downside is a lack of interior pockets, but that can be solved with packing cubes.

Though Longchamp bags are a splurge, T+L editors who are longtime fans of the brand can attest to their longevity and durability. The nylon material is easy to wipe clean in the event of spills or other mishaps, and the leather trimming is expertly crafted. The fact that this design pulls double duty makes it even more worth the investment, in our opinion.

The Details: 17.75 x 9.1 x 13.8-20.5 inches (unfolded) | 1.56 pounds | 30-to-50-liter capacity | Nylon with leather details

The compact design keeps your essentials close so you can go hands-free.

The bag’s athletic look isn’t suited for dressier events.

A belt bag is great for travel because it’s a lightweight, hands-free option to keep your essentials close—especially useful when flying. We love that this foldable iteration from Paravel is tiny enough to slide into a small backpack pocket. When folded down, it fit in the palm of our hands and was thinner than a notebook. We found the nylon material, which is made from seven recycled plastic bottles, holds its shape well, and is durable enough to take on a hike or other rugged adventure—though it may be too casual for some settings. It's supremely lightweight, and you can even customize it with embroidery.

The Details: 8 x 5 x 2 inches (unfolded); 3.75 x 5 x 1 inches (folded) | 4.96 ounces | Nylon

The lightweight, water-resistant bag has well-thought-out design features.

The straps are difficult to adjust when the backpack is on.

Some folding bags can feel like a puzzle to close up, but this one requires just two folds and a zip for easy stowing. That makes the mini backpack the perfect just-in-case companion for traveling, running errands, or hikes. Crafted from water-resistant nylon, the compact rucksack is high-quality but still lightweight, and we were impressed to find zippered pockets inside and out—a rarity for folding bags.

Another design highlight: the supersoft straps. During our lab tests, we loaded it with two T-shirts, a water bottle, hand sanitizer, a wallet, keys, and a phone. Even when stuffed full, the wide straps kept the backpack comfortable with no chafing or rubbing, though the straps can be difficult to adjust while wearing the bag. Available in multiple hues with contrast straps and gold-tone hardware, the stylish bag also has an option for you to monogram it (like most Paravel luggage).

The Details: 10 x 12 x 6 inches (unfolded), 4.5 x 5 x 2 inches (folded) | 7.04 ounces | Recycled nylon

The chic duffel offers a whopping 66.6 liters of room.

The large interior compartment lacks organizational features.

True to its name, this spacious duffel makes an excellent choice for a hospital bag. However, it’s much more versatile than that, and we’ve gotten plenty of additional use out of it for weekend getaways. T+L editorial director Jamie Hergenrader swears by this bag, saying she used this as her hospital bag when her baby was born and has continued to use it beyond that time for travel as well. With over 66 liters of packing real estate, she was able to fit everything her baby needed for a weekend trip including outfits, bibs, burp cloths, toiletries, medications, toys, books, a package of diapers, two baby blankets, and more, though there are not many organizational features inside. We also love that you can carry the adorable tie straps two ways: as a backpack or a duffel.

The water-repellent organic cotton shell is quite durable, and it survived being squished in a car trunk multiple times without sustaining any scuffs. If you do happen to get it dirty, it’s conveniently machine washable. Though we’d ideally like the bag to have a few more interior compartments, we appreciate that it folds down nicely to about the size of a travel pillow.

The Details: 24 x 14 x 12 inches (unfolded) | 2.2 pounds | 66-liter capacity | Water-repellent cotton with vegan leather detailing

The durable tote holds up to 50 pounds.

It gets pretty wrinkled when folded.

Baggu’s signature reusable tote is a T+L editor favorite for vacations and daily use. “I love to shop when I travel, which means I'll collect quite a few things throughout the day that won't fit in my standard travel purse,” explains associate editor Anna Popp. “This foldable tote bag from Baggu is always in my packable bag rotation since it can fit in virtually any size purse or luggage without taking up much room.” The nylon material is durable and held up well for over five years of continued use, although it does get pretty wrinkly, so it’s not the most elegant option. Still, the zipperless bag is perfect as a just-in-case shopping tote to keep in your suitcase, car, or purse since it folds down flat to the size of your hand.

The Details: 25.5 x 15.5 x 6 inches (unfolded); 5 x 5 inches (folded) | 1.9 ounces | Nylon

Some packable bags we tested had standout features that may meet the needs of some travelers, but fell short in other areas.

Tumi Just In Case Tote: While the pricey bag lacks internal organization, we do love that you can snap its carrying pouch inside the expanded tote so you won't lose it. When not in use, it folds up barely larger than a paperback book.

Travel + Leisure

Paravel Fold-up Backpack: More fashionable than a typical foldable backpack, we recommend this spacious bag as a personal item. We don’t recommend checking it, though, as tossing it around in our lab tests caused a small tear to the back.

Travel + Leisure

In order to provide the best foldable bag recommendations, T+L editors put each item to the test in both lab tests and real-world settings. In our lab, we tested each bag’s foldability, paying careful attention to the smoothness of the zippers and the expanded bag’s proneness to wrinkling. Durability tests included stuffing, pulling, and dropping bags to measure their ability to withstand wear and tear. We packed each bag to make sure it could easily accommodate the type of items it's designed to carry, and then carried it to assess its comfort.

In addition, we used these bags on real-life trips to better understand how they functioned in a variety of settings. Testers will continue using the products and collecting insights for at least six months after the initial test to further assess longevity.

Before you choose a foldable travel bag, decide how much space you’ll need according to your intended activities. If you want to use the bag for everyday use, prioritize a smaller style that folds up nicely and can be carried as a backup. Hiking trips or outdoor adventures require more rugged, comfortable styles that can withstand moisture and brushes against rocks or branches.

If you’re intending to use the foldable bag for weekend trips, consider a duffel or a tote with enough packing capacity for clothing, shoes, and toiletries. For longer trips in which you plan to return home with more than you came with, consider a foldable rolling suitcase with a unique design.

Beyond its fully packed capacity, the bag’s compactness when folded is equally important. If you’re looking for a just-in-case bag for daily use, make sure it’s small and lightweight enough to fit in your purse or coat pocket. You’ll also want to ensure it's fairly simple to expand and contract, so you’re not stuck fidgeting in a pinch. If it’s a bulkier piece, such as a rolling suitcase, it should fold flat for easy storage.

Before folding up your bag, make sure it’s completely empty. Close the zippers while pushing out any air, then lay the bag on a flat surface. Make sure any straps are folded flat against the bag’s surface to keep it smooth. Fold the bag carefully according to the manufacturer's instructions, using existing creases when possible to prevent additional wrinkles. Avoid overstuffing, and be gentle with zippers.

Foldable travel bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can serve as a carry-on or personal item as long as they meet the airline’s size requirements when expanded, though some bags on this list would be considered checked luggage. Airline requirements vary, so be sure to check with your carrier before bringing it on board, and check the dimensions of the bag.

A seasoned style writer and avid traveler, T+L contributor Talia Ergas often vacations with a foldable travel bag. Away's Packable Carryall is her personal favorite to use as a beach tote or backup bag. For this story, she spent hours researching each item and combed through T+L editors’ testing notes to understand how each bag performed in lab and real-world settings.

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Anne Taylor is an updates writer at Travel + Leisure where she keeps articles fresh and up to date. As an avid traveler who has been to 26 countries, she is always testing new products to make her trips even better. She has a bachelor’s degree in news media and has been a writer and editor for over seven years.

Jackie Cucco is a senior testing editor at Travel + Leisure, where she plans product tests and writes/edits travel-related product reviews based on in-depth product testing. She previously worked as a travel agent, has a degree in journalism, and has over eight years of experience covering products and gift guides. She has made over 100 TV appearances discussing consumer products and shopping trends.