Peak Design Travel Duffel 35L

The pick for anyone who hates a duffel that slumps into a puddle of fabric. A little rigidity along the zippers of the main compartment helps the 35-liter body keep its shape, so it stays easy to pack and easy to dig through. The shoulder strap is padded across a generous length, which matters more than any feature list once you are walking a long terminal. At about 2 pounds empty it is one of the lighter bags here. The trade-off is the backpack mode, which works in a pinch but is not a comfortable way to carry it any distance. Peak Design sells it as carry-on sized, but at 22 inches long it fits the strict carry-on limits of only 19 of the 146 airlines Pack Hacker checks, so it is happiest in a trunk or on a train rack.