I tried it: This luxe garment-bag duffel is a true weekend warrior

I’ll admit it: I’ve never been much of a duffel bag traveler. Carry-on wheeled suitcases have long been my go-tos. But there’s a cost to cramming multiple pairs of shoes, toiletries, hair-styling accessories and clothes into a box on wheels. Once I reach my destination, whatever I’ve packed is usually in rough shape, and needs to be folded or steamed to look presentable. Not a fun task after a day of travel!

That’s what makes garment bags so appealing. Your wrinkle- or crease-prone items are nicely arranged on hangers and arrive in the same shape they left — a miracle! But carrying a giant garment bag around isn’t easy either. That’s why I was very intrigued by Vessel’s Signature Garment Duffel Bag — a garment bag that you can zip into a duffel.

The bag is composed of easy-to-clean premium synthetic leather. It has a luxe look and a supple yet durable feel. The single-zipper system means the bag can be completely unzipped and laid flat while packing. While there’s room for three items on hangers, for a recent two-night trip out of state, I laid several items in the garment bag portion: pants, tops, swimwear, the works, as well as two pairs of shoes in the included compartments. I wondered where I might put my toiletries and other accessories, like my favorite hair-styling tool. But I quickly got an answer when I zipped up the bag: I was shocked by how much capacity was still available in the middle! There was plenty of room for bulkier items and miscellaneous accessories. I have yet to take the bag for a spin on a longer trip but have no doubt it would be up to the task.

I also appreciated the removable shoulder strap, which, when worn crossbody, enabled me to have two hands free to help my kids with their items as we trekked from the car to the hotel room and back. The best part? No ironing needed! The clothes I packed in the zipped garment bag, even without being secured by hangers, were in perfect shape upon arrival.

One caveat: At full capacity, the bag may be slightly too large to qualify for the overhead compartment dimensions required in an airplane, but there’s an included trolley sleeve to attach the bag easily to your rolling luggage. For a road trip or as a piece of checked luggage, this bag is definitely a top performer, and I’m excited to make it my weekend-trip staple.

Check out the bag in detail below, and click the link to buy now from Fairway Jockey.