Hands-On: Line of Trade Weekender XL Duffel

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I ask two things of a travel bag. First, it needs to be foolproof. I’m terrible at organizing, so I want the luxury of mindlessly throwing my belongings in there without anything getting lost in the pile. I’m packing, not merchandising a store window. Second, it needs to be versatile but casual. Fancy-looking designer bags just aren’t for me. Meanwhile, my old gym bag has that ease factor I love but doesn’t go with my suit. My boss wouldn’t appreciate me showing up to a client meeting with a mesh duffel built for sweaty sneakers.

Enter the legendary Line of Trade Weekender Duffel. I’ve been traveling all over with their XL model. Starting in November and well into February, I travel a lot. There are the holidays, the busy season in my industry (art auctions), and the fact I’m from LA, live in New York, and have in-laws abroad. During these months, I see more airports than a Boeing 737 does.

That said, I now understand why the Weekender Duffel constantly sells out. Here’s my experience with this bag and some tips on how it can best serve your needs.

Line of Trade Weekender XL Duffel Hands-On Review

Line of Trade Weekender XL: Specs

Let’s get the clinical information out of the way:

  • Dimension: 22″ long, 13.5″ high, and 10″ wide
  • Exterior: 100% cotton canvas, backed with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
  • Leather accents and handles
  • Metal frame opening with a hard bottom

So what does this all mean?

First of all, it’s bigger and stronger than the Weekender classic, which measures 21″ x 13″ x 7″. The 100% canvas construction with TPU backing means it’s not only abrasion- and puncture-resistant but also UV-resistant.

Both Weekenders, however, are more than enough for everyday travel. The XL just comes with a few more perks. I’ll discuss the storage options in detail before moving on to the materials and, of course, the style propositions.

Line of Trade Weekender XL Duffel Shoe Garage

Clever Engineering: That Magical Side Compartment

I’m going straight into my favorite part of this bag, a brilliant feature that significantly upgrades the XL from the Classic: the shoe garage. Shoes are the worst thing to pack, in my opinion. After all, you don’t want your dirty soles touching your clothes. Even throwing them in a plastic bag before putting them in your duffel isn’t perfectly sanitary unless you’ve packed that duffel unmovingly tight. Otherwise, your outsoles are just going to dirty up every inch of that bag’s interior as it moves around.

On one side of the Weekender XL is a collapsible, zippered side compartment. This shoe garage easily fits a pair of sturdy boots. And, I’ve managed to stuff two low-profile sneakers in there, myself. It’s so smart, so easy, and a testament to how truly thoughtful the design team over at Line of Trade is. Pro-tip: stuff your shoes with socks or even underwear. This will give you more room in the main compartment.

Line of Trade Weekender Duffel Shoe Garage Closed

I’ve used the shoe garage for any item I want separate from my clothes. It’s great for pens and other EDC, water bottles, or even a flask or two (or three). I’ve used it for accessories like an extra watch, cufflinks, and even rolled-up ties. It’s also an effective option for items you want easy access to but aren’t flat enough for the front zip. Think chargers and other technology or rolled-up magazines. This prevents you from having to fish through the main compartment or squeeze your hand into the front zip on those occasions you’ve packed a bit too densely.

Line of Trade Weekender XL Duffel Main Compartment

Vast Array of Easy Storage Options

The main compartment has more than enough space for a weekend away. In fact, I’ve packed a over week’s worth of clothing in there during several travels. Keep in mind that I usually only need two pairs of pants and tend to rewear t-shirts and dress shirts unless I’ve stained them. Furthermore, the solid bottom ensures garments stay in place and avoid wrinkling.

Line of Trade Weekender XL Duffel Main Compartment View

The padded laptop sleeve is perfect for your computer, tablet, or notebooks. I’ve been able to comfortably store my MacBook Air, file folder, and planner in there. The sleeve is athletically stitched onto the interior and fortified with metal hardware. And, of course, there’s a snap-close at the top.

The laptop sleeve’s exterior has a handy zip pocket. Often, I’ll take my ID, some cash, and one credit card out of my wallet. I’ll attach it to a clip, pocket that, and then leave the rest of the wallet in that pocket. It’s my go-to spot for emergency cash and passport. I don’t like having something as important as my passport just sitting in my pants pocket.

Line of Trade Weekender Side Pocket

Finally, the bag’s exterior has a zip compartment for items you might need to grab in a pinch. I’ve put reading material, my tablet, and earbuds in there. There’s even an attractive leather pull tab tied to the end of the zip that adds both convenience and a sophisticated look.

Handsome Construction: Form, Meet Function

Both the XL and Classic boast strong construction and pragmatic details. Even more, it’s this very quality that makes them strapping, classy, and unstuffy bags. Line of Trade designed the Weekender to look like a stone mason bag, which is brilliant. As with trench coats and field watches, invoking classic workwear is a great way to provide timeless men’s style.

Line of Trade Weekender XL Duffel Side View

You can take this duffel camping or to business meetings. When I meet offsite clients, I have to carry a lot of visuals, and the Weekender does the trick both practically and aesthetically. 

The metal frame and the antique brass hardware provide strength and structure. One side of the frame tucks tightly into the other side, but not so much so that they’re difficult to separate. There are two beautiful leather fasteners at the top incase you want to further secure the opening. Truly, I almost never needed to use them if I was holding the bag by its straps—which is convenient if you’re in a hurry. Still, one side of each strap is equipped with a brass buckle, while the other side has a snap closure. We’re talking options here. Personally, I never undid the buckles and stuck to the snap closures.

Line of Trade Weekender Back Pocket

The metal frame paired with a hard bottom made packing so easy. The Weekender stands upright, and the metal frame sits wide open. You can very literally, throw your items in there, basketball-style.

I already mentioned the benefits of the canvas construction, but it also makes the bag look pretty cool. I have it in olive, so it has a sort-of military vibe to it that partners naturally with essentially any kind of menswear. It’s workwear enough to look intentional with cargo pants and sophisticated enough to go with suit pants.

Line of Trade Weekender XL Duffel Handles

Carrying Made Easy

And finally, there are three main ways you can carry this bag.

You can hold it by hand using the sturdy leather straps. This is a great option when you want to look more professional since that’s how you hold a briefcase. When I’m heading to a work meeting, I wear it like a messenger until I enter the office, when I stow away the strap and enter the office briefcase-style.

Line of Trade Weekender XL Duffel Bottom

The heavy web shoulder strap allows you to carry it messenger-style. Each side of the strap connects to reinforced metal D-ring clips. Big thank you to Line of Trade for having a good system for attaching a strap. I’ve seen this detail overlooked on bags ten times the price of the Weekender. Plus, the D-rings add to the industrial yet dapper look.

Ever practical, this duffel also has a trolley strap. It’s like a sleeve, but with an opening at the top and the bottom. This allows you to attach the bag to the handle of a rolling suitcase. What’s more, you can button the strap down so it isn’t just catching on things when you aren’t using it. Is the Weekender the most considerate bag ever? It’s possible. You can also tie a scarf around it. By the way, doing this makes the bag easier to spot when it comes around the airport pick-up conveyor.

To conclude, I no longer have one nice duffel and one casual duffel. The Weekender XL is comprehensive enough.

Price: $125

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