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A beloved duffel bag is hard to find. My all-time favorite was one my dad got through his job at Coca-Cola from the 2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and passed down to me. And while I have been unable to find for about two years now, I refuse to admit that I lost it. It had great pockets, structure and space for everything I needed on weekend trips or just schlepping stuff around. And while I’m aware there are a bazillion bags like that out there, I was attached to that one specifically. Sigh. Life is fleeting.
In its wake, I sought a simple but effective weekender that might fill the duffel bag shaped space in my heart (and closet). While we’ve written about many a such bag, I landed on trying Carl Friedrik‘s iteration, since we’d only ever tested their suitcases.
Review: Carl Friedrik’s Carry-On Should Be Your Short-Trip Mainstay
Spacious, well-designed and pleasingly minimalist, the luggage is a joy to wheel aroundCarl Friedrik’s Compact Weekender initially drew my eye because of it’s pared-back, minimalist look that couples beautifully with elevated details like vachetta leather. The nylon exterior is virtually indestructible, which is incredible news for someone like me whose work tote bag has seen any number of questionable spills that never fully came out of the fabric (including banana, I know, it’s bad). But nay, I feel confident this Weekender can handle a full cup of coffee thrown at it and still come out unblemished, though I don’t recommend doing that voluntarily.
The best duffels also have the best pockets. The Weekender has two interior pockets, one wide zipped pocket and a small, external slip pocket. And there’s a longer strap you can put on if needed. In short, it’s a bag that’s got you covered for a couple of days away. Bonus: it should fit soundly underneath a plane seat, too, depending on how full you have it.
My only knock is that there’s no suitcase handle sleeve. It may not look as chic but it sure does make life easier.
Final Thoughts:
The Carl Friedrik Compact Weekender is a strong contender for your new favorite weekender, and thanks to its lifetime warranty, will hold up for just that.
Shop the Carl Friedrik Compact Weekender:
Why We Love It: Made of durable-yet-sleek nylon, this bag holds everything you need for the gym, your commute or a weekend away.
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