Patagonia has spent the past 50 years winning over everyone from matted mountain rogues to private wealth managers with its prolific apparel and environmentally conscious approach. Along the way, the beloved outdoor brand also started making luggage—really, really good luggage—that resulted in a robust collection complete with options for all environments and modes of travel.
Whether you’re gearing up for a trip down the road less travelled or seeking a ludicrously capacious tote bag for grocery hauls, Patagonia’s luggage offers refined grit for the modern traveller, city dweller, and adventure seeker. Here are our top picks from the collection to help you shoulder the load of your next adventure.
The Best Patagonia Luggage, According to GQ
- The Best Duffel Bag: Black Hole Duffel 55L, $169
- The Best Sling Bag: Atom Sling Bag 8L, $65
- The Best Backpack: Fieldsmith Roll-Top Pack 30L, $129
- The Best Hip Pack: Ultralight Black Hole® Mini Hip Pack 1L, $35
- The Best Checked Bag: Black Hole Matte Wheeled Duffel 100L, $419
- The Best Carry-On Bag: Waxed Canvas Tote Pack 27L, $149
- The Best Tote Bag: Black Hole Gear Tote 61L, $119
- The Best Waterproof Bag: Guidewater Sling 15L, $259
- The Best Backpacking Bag: Terravia Pack 36L, $189
- The Best Packing Cube: Black Hole MLC Cube 12L, $65
The Best Duffel Bag: Black Hole Duffel 55L
Patagonia’s Black Hole collection is built for your most rugged adventures, whether you’re trekking above the tree line or persevering through the New York City subway during rush hour. Designed to be knocked, thrown, scuffed, and rained on, this duffel’s durable body is made from a 100% recycled ripstop material that resists water and abrasion, and laminated with a recycled TPU film that gives it its hardy matte finish. The handles are reinforced to manage heavier loads, but you can also carry it like a backpack using the easily removable padded shoulder straps. An especially handy feature for quick access to essentials is the voluminous zippered compartment that can be accessed from either inside or outside the bag—and acts as a carry case for the duffel, which conveniently folds down to a fraction of its size when empty.
The Best Sling Bag: Atom Sling Bag 8L
A sling bag is the perfect in-between option for days when you’ve got too much stuff to jam into a hip pack but you don’t want to commit to a backpack. Designed to fit your essentials plus a few extras, the main body of this pack includes an internal divider to keep things organized, as well as a padded sleeve that can fit a tablet. On the outer layer, a zippered external pocket gives you easy access to everyday carry like your wallet and keys, while a stretchy stash pocket on the padded shoulder strap is designed to fit phones of all sizes. The sling’s surface area is coated with a water-repellant finish to protect your belongings in the event of a surprise downpour. In the event that you need just a little extra room, the two tuck-away straps on the exterior of the pack allow you to tack on an extra item, like a jacket or yoga mat.
The Best Backpack: Fieldsmith Roll-Top Pack 30L
The roll-top backpack doesn’t get enough credit. Unlike the standard-issue zippered satchel, with its strictly finite capacity, the roll-top bag gives you that little bit of extra space when you need it. This simultaneously compact yet spacious option from Patagonia comes with an internal 15-inch laptop sleeve that can also be accessed from the outside, plus side pockets for a water bottle or two and zippered compartments on both the interior and exterior for your various odds and ends. In the event that you need more room, the main enclosure’s fastener adjusts to free up additional space. Another benefit of the roll-top design is the inherent protection it offers against water; to boot, the Fieldsmith is finished with a durable water repellent finish to help keep your goods dry.
The Best Hip Pack: Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack 1L
As an unofficial rule, hip packs—or fanny packs, if you must—are at their best when they can fit roughly the same volume as your pants pockets. Any more than that and you’re entering sling bag territory. Available in a range of colorways to complement your fit, this mini hip pack features two zippered compartments—the main enclosure plus an exterior pocket that also conceals a tethered clip for your keys. Equal parts lightweight and strong, the bag’s body, lining, and webbing are made using durable, 100% recycled materials, including weather-resistant nylon ripstop. The waist belt is fabricated with a soft, herringbone webbing and adjustable between 8–36 inches, allowing you to comfortably wear the bag around your waist or as a bandolier if that’s the look you’re going for.
The Best Checked Bag: Black Hole Matte Wheeled Duffel 100L
We love a sleek, aluminum hardside suitcase, however some trips—especially those veering off from the beaten path—call for something a little more versatile. The down-for-whatever wheeled duffel is one such option, designed to comfortably go the distance whether being carried over natural terrain or rolled across glossy airport terminal floors. An especially practical benefit of this model in particular is the collapsible design, which will save you a ton of space in between trips compared with more structured baggage. As for capacity, it’s available in three sizes, each offering ample interior storage along with easy-access zippered compartments throughout. Given the unpredictable conditions at the far-flung locations to which Patagonia expects you to haul this luggage, it even includes a spare wheel axle for easy repairs on the go.
The Best Carry-On Bag: Waxed Canvas Tote Pack 27L
Chances are you already have a couple of borderline disposable tote bags in your closet. Those are handy for quick trips to the grocery store to top up on kale, but we wouldn’t trust them crossing state lines. Patagonia actually has three tote bags we love, the other two being the over-achieving Black Hole Gear Tote (see below) and the nonchalant Recycled Oversized Tote. The Waxed Canvas Tote Pack occupies the space between those two, providing a great balance of capacity and comfort along with a few extras. The zipper on the main enclosure is a simple yet practical feature that we appreciate, especially for air travel, and the stashable shoulder straps give you the option to go hands free. The small external pocket means you won’t have to dig around for your Airpods, and stealthy side pockets provide space to sheathe a water bottle.
The Best Tote Bag: Black Hole Gear Tote 61L
When you really just need to move a bunch of stuff from point A to B, capacity is all that matters. Patagonia’s Black Hole Gear Tote is built for these moments, offering a large, 61-liter space to toss all your cargo. Whether you’re hauling groceries or sports equipment, this bag seems to be able to manage it all—and then some. While the primary feature of this bag is its massive main compartment, there is also a zippered pocket on the front side for smaller items you’d rather not sacrifice to the void. Built to withstand anything you could throw at or in it, the tote is constructed using an extremely durable nylon ripstop material, laminated with a TPU film to provide resistance to weather and abrasion. Just as important, the handles are reinforced to help you shoulder any load.
The Best Waterproof Bag: Guidewater Sling 15L
You probably won’t need a fully waterproof bag most days, but you’re going to want a dependable one for the days you do. Whether you’re spending a day out on the water or heading out for a standup paddle boarding session, Patagonia’s Guidewater Sling is the perfect size to protect all of your essentials without weighing you down. The bag is fully submersible, meaning it will keep your gear dry even while immersed in water, and the dual oversized zippers add extra convenience for quickly and easily opening and closing the bag without fuss. The bag is also available in a backpack version, although we like the sling configuration for its simplicity, given the types of situations you’re likely to use it in. The adjustable strap can be worn on either shoulder, and a secondary shoulder strap is included for more stability when needed.
The Best Trekking Bag: Terravia Pack 36L
Nothing says “out of office” like a trekking bag. Regardless of whether you’re backpacking through nature or couch-surfing across Europe, when you’re rocking one of these, you’re all about seizing the day. Unlike traditionally gorpy backpacking bags, we like the minimalist design of this one and how it maintains a streamlined form factor despite having tons of useful storage features. This is the largest trekking pack that Patagonia offers, so it’s been kitted out with everything you need to stay comfortable while on the move, like a breathable mesh used for the back panel, shoulder straps, and hip belt, as well as handy zippered pockets along the sides that ensure your essentials are always within reach. The bag also includes a stealthy rain cover, which can be whipped out in an instant and fitted over the entire bag.
The Best Packing Cube: Black Hole MLC Cube 12L
Packing cubes are next-level luggage game, especially for longer trips where all organizational law and order goes out the window after a few days. While standard packing cubes typically consist of a main compartment and occasionally a flat zippered pocket, Patagonia’s take on this pragmatic travel accessory offers considerably more versatility. For one, the cube uses a roll-top enclosure for its main compartment, instead of a zip, which means you can adjust its size both up and down as needed. When rolled down near the bottom, the bag’s clasp can even be used as a handle, turning the cube into a grab-and-go tote. The bag also features a well-placed zipper enclosure that runs along the bottom of the case, providing more than enough space for any essentials and other items you might need easier access to.
