Pack This Bag
9 day bags to throw into your luggage
Last week, I traveled to Toronto for three nights on a fun assignment, which I’ll share when the story’s published on Travel + Leisure. I goofed when I packed, though, and forgot to throw a day bag into my carry on. For three days I bopped around the bustling Canadian city eating ful and Jamaican beef patties and clutching a Baggu tote* around my shoulder, bogged down with my laptop and wallet.
The perfect day bag has to be big enough for those essentials, and also small enough to squish into my beloved Briggs & Riley Weekender Duffle that is 100% probably not supposed to be used as a “personal item” but I do it anyway. (Side note: I’m not taking up extra overhead space—since it’s unstructured, the magical Mary Poppins-esque bag holds a ton of stuff and remarkably always compresses to fit under the seat.)
Anyway, when I got home from my trip, I immediately started researching to find a great new packable day bag. Below are my top contenders, and if you have a recommendation for one you love, please share in the comments!
The Luka Expandable Laptop Tote from Calpak ($69), which comes in dozens of colors and is designed with interior and exterior pockets to keep your stuff organized, plus it expands.
Cotopaxi is one of my favorite brands, and I love this Todo 22 L Convertible Tote Del Dia ($75), which can be used as a tote or backpack. The Patagonia Terravia Tote Pack 24L ($99), is also both a backpack and a tote and folds down into its own tiny bag. (R)evolution 25L Convertible Carryall ($80), is made from 100% recycled materials and can be used as either a tote or backpack, too.
A water repellant tote from Quince ($79.90), made from recycled polyester that can expand for carting home souvenirs, and a Quince quilted backpack ($79.90), if backpacks are more your speed.
The Calia Women’s Luxe Travel Tote ($98, but navy is on sale for $43.97), a squishy bag with a big main compartment, two zippered compartments, and a crossbody strap. (This Bagsmart quilted kind-of dupe is $27.99.)
This slouchy suede shoulder bag ($150), also from Quince, for something a little sleeker. (Note this bag doesn’t have an external zipper. But then again neither did my Baggu?)
*I bring at least one Baggu bag every time I travel. They’re so useful for trips to the local market, to pack damp swimsuits, to bring home souvenirs, or, it turns out, to use it as an imperfect day bag when I forgot one.
**Some of the links are affiliate, so if you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for reading and supporting The Carry On!