The Best Bags for Travel
Travelling asks specific things of a bag. You want your hands free in a busy airport. You want your passport and boarding pass secure and easy to find, not buried at the bottom. You want the right size for the trip and for your airline. And you want something tough enough to go under the seat in front, come out at the other end, and still look good.
Here are the Apatchy bags that work for travel, from the light day-trip to the long-haul flight.
What makes a good travel bag
Three things, really. It can be worn across the body or easily on the shoulder, so your hands are free for your case and your coffee. It should have secure pockets, so your documents have a home and you are not patting yourself down at the gate. It should be the right size for the trip and within your airline's limits.
All three below tick those boxes. The difference is how much you need to carry.
The Betty Bag: the hands-free minimalist
The Betty Bag is the one for moving through an airport with only what you need to show. It is a compact camera bag made from soft pebble-grain leather, worn across the body and finished with gold hardware. The front zip pocket holds your passport and phone. A slim zip pocket on the back keeps your cards and tickets close. The main compartment has a full zip closure, so everything is secure and separated without any bulk.
It comes with a detachable, fully adjustable strap, so you can set the length, wear it hands-free, and forget about it until you need your passport. For a city break or a hand-luggage-only trip, this is all the bag you need.
The Harriet Bag: the carry-on companion
The Harriet Bag is the one to have on the flight itself. It is a roomy hobo, made in Italy from pebble grained leather, with the kind of pockets that earn their keep when you travel. The zipped pockets on either side keep a boarding pass or passport secure and easy to grab as you move through the airport. The double compartment interior has a full zip closure down the centre, so your phone and valuables stay safe while you dig out a book or a charger.
It has a sturdy adjustable strap with a reinforced base, so it holds its shape even when full. There is room for the things you actually want on a plane without carrying a second case. If you like to board with your book, headphones and snacks all to hand, this is the bag.
The Rosie Bag: the smart in-between
The Rosie Bag is a softly curved shoulder bag, made in Italy with warm gold-tone hardware, and worn over the shoulder or across the body to keep your hands free. Inside there is a generous interior that holds a tablet or e-reader alongside your purse, phone and the bits you want on hand, with room to spare for travel days. It carries more than the Betty without being as large as a carry-on, which makes it a good choice for a weekend away, a train journey, or a day of sightseeing once you have landed. In burgundy it also brings a bit of autumn colour to your trip.
The Esme Suede Bag: the roomy personal item
For longer trips, size is the point. The Esme Suede Bag has a bold, structured East-West shape with real room inside. It takes an iPad, a pair of flats, and the extras a long flight calls for: a folded jacket, a neck pillow, your headphones and chargers. A belt-buckle fastening keeps it closed and a slip pocket holds the things you want to grab quickly.
If your airline counts a larger bag as your personal item or second carry-on, the Esme is the one to fill. Suede gives it a softer finish that suits the season, and it looks smart enough to carry straight from the airport to wherever you are headed. One thing worth checking before you fly: airline personal-item sizes vary, so confirm the measurements against your airline's limit if you plan to take it on board.
A few travel tips worth knowing
- Keep your passport in a zip pocket, not an open one. It is the one thing you cannot afford to lose.
- Do not overfill. A bag you can close easily is quicker through security and kinder on your shoulder.
- Leather copes well with travel. Wipe it with a soft cloth when you land and it holds up trip after trip.
Find your travel bag
The best travel bag is the one that carries exactly what you need and nothing you don't. Match the bag to the trip, from the Betty for a light escape to the Esme for the long haul. Find yours before your next trip.
