Staff Selects - Weekend Bags

  What Weekend Bags do the Heddels team rely on for a weekend on the road? Check out this edition of Staff Select to find out.

Daniel Rockburn |  April 17, 2023

Weekend Bags always come in clutch when it’s time to hit the road for just a few days, but with all the options available out there, we thought it was a great category for our Staff Select series. It’s always inspiring to get a glimpse into other people’s preferences in gear, and we hope this gives you some pointers toward investing in a Weekend Bag you can roll with for life.

What type of bag does the Heddels team overwhelmingly prefer? Is it roomy technical backpacks, extra large totes, duffle bags, trash bags? Check-in and find out for yourself.Why trust us? Well, we’ve all been in the game long enough to have field-tested a range of quality clothing, and the Heddels operation puts us onto some of the best clothing in the world week in, week out. Whilst our opinions and experiences shouldn’t be taken as definitive, this series will provide you insight into what has worked for us and why. 

Daniel – TOM BIHN Synik 30

I’m kind of obsessed with TOM BIHN’s bags. I’ve had multiple Synapse backpacks, which are also suitable for travel, but the 

Synik 30

 is absolutely perfect for me when I need a bag for just a few days. The front pocket organization system on the Synapse/Synik is the same, but the Synik features a clamshell design, so you can easily pack out the main compartment with packing cubes, folded clothes, pouches, etc.

My Synik is all black, but my Synapse is Burnt Orange, all of their colors are so well-considered and handsome. Unlike the Synapse, the Synik features a laptop sleeve, making it perfect for hitting the road while still being tethered to work projects.Aside from the incredible Made in USA construction from fun and colorful durable ballistic-grade nylon Cordura, it’s the front pockets that I really go crazy for. Everything has a dedicated roomy compartment that does not eat into the other compartments (unless your main compartment is completely packed out to the gills, and even then it’s not so bad), even your water bottle has it’s own pocket, so accessing small items like headphones, sunglasses, or keys is really easy – and it never feels like I’m at a loss for organizational space, there’s always more room to shove small items into.It’s carry-on compliant, making it a go-to bag for air travel, but I take this thing everywhere. I’ve even shoved medium-sized USPS boxes in it while commuting if I need to hit the Post Office on the way to work. I don’t really see myself changing my weekend/travel bag setup for now, if anything, I’ll be adding more of TOM BIHN’s bag ecosystem into my rotation – they have bags, pouches, wallets, lanyards, and even some of the finest face masks I’ve ever tried. The Synik is just one of their amazing lineup of travel bags… if you need more room, check out the Aeronaut 45! 

David – REI Co-op Big Haul 40 (Double) Recycled Duffel

REI has a section of their store where they resell returned merchandise in reasonably good condition at massive discounts. It’s like going to adopt a dog at the pound. I saw it, it saw me. $50 later it was mine.This is the biggest bag I will travel with. Whether it’s for three days or three months.I haven’t checked a bag in over five years and the dimensions of this Big Haul 40 are all within a half-inch of what they let on the plane. The 40 is for 40 liters, meaning it can fit about five days worth of clothes plus a pair of shoes and sandals.It’s made of a ballistic nylon body with a ripstop rubberized nylon that will shed water in a rainstorm. It also has handles on four of six sides, a shoulder strap, tuckaway backpack straps, one exterior pocket, and two internal organizer pockets. All that, and it weighs in at just two pounds.I lived out of this bag for about six months and it still has years of life left in it...

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