The Calpak Luka Duffel Is My Favourite Journey Bag

As an expert gear tester and Journey + Leisure senior testing editor, I’ve tried journey luggage from nearly each common baggage model on the market, and Calpak is considered one of my favorites. The truth is, I’ve been touring with Calpak luggage for over twenty years. Out of all of the weekenders and duffels I’ve tried, the Calpak Luka Duffel is my holy grail as a result of it is as fashionable as it’s purposeful, with a puffy polyester exterior that retains it light-weight and an incredible quantity of pockets for optimum group—together with a laptop computer pocket and an exterior shoe compartment.

This Oprah-approved bag is tremendous versatile, whether or not you’re touring domestically, internationally, or utilizing it as your at-home gymnasium bag. I like the Luka Duffel a lot that I personal it in three sizes, and I get tons of use out of every one. There’s one thing so interesting in regards to the playful, puffy form, which can be waterproof, scratch-resistant, and helps cushion belongings. Plus, the colour selection is unmatched. I’ve traveled with my Luka Duffels on greater than a dozen journeys—right here’s why I like all three sizes.

Calpak Luka Duffel

The iconic Luka Duffel is my go-to private merchandise bag for home flights as a result of it’s completely sized to suit beneath an airplane seat and might maintain my in-flight necessities, like headphones, my laptop computer, a e-book, a sweater, and snacks. I’ve owned this bag for 2 years and brought it with me all throughout the U.S., together with journeys from New York Metropolis to San Diego, Seattle, Denver, Austin, Nantucket, Salem, and the Hamptons.

As an expert gear tester, I all the time look at the organizational options of a bag, and I’ve decided there’s no such factor as too many pockets. That’s my favourite factor about this bag: It has 9 pockets whole, together with zipper pockets, slip pockets, a hidden anti-theft pocket contained in the trolley pass-through sleeve, a laptop computer pocket, and even a shoe compartment (the perfect packing hack to maintain your soiled footwear from touching the remainder of your belongings). 

I like how lengthy the handles are as a result of I can comfortably carry the bag over my shoulder, and it additionally comes with an adjustable crossbody strap. The duffel is presently obtainable in 10 colours, although new hues come and go typically (the glazed assortment simply launched this month with a moody cherry hue and a glossy, shiny black).

Calpak Luka Massive Duffel

Once I inform you I’m an overpacker, I imply it. I often fly with a big journey trunk as my checked suitcase after which take the Luka Massive Duffel as my carry-on bag for worldwide flights and longer journeys, sliding the trolley sleeve over the deal with of my suitcase. Sized to slot in an overhead bin at 19 x 14.25 x 9.5 inches, this duffel is extremely spacious for after I want much more packing area than the common Luka. To check the 2 sizes, the common Luka has a 25-liter capability, whereas the Luka Massive has a 42-liter capability, making it much more spacious than some carry-on suitcases with wheels.

I not too long ago took this bag on a visit to Iceland and match a floor-length puffer coat folded up inside in addition to a fleece jacket, a sweatshirt, two toiletry luggage, a pair of mountaineering boots, a hair straightener, a laptop computer, headphones, a 600-page novel, and extra. This duffel was additionally a lifesaver on my journey to Japan in April—I packed the empty duffel flat inside my checked suitcase and ended up filling it with my purchasing hauls. I’ve additionally taken it to London, Paris, and Mexico Metropolis within the two years that I’ve owned it.

Although I take advantage of this to complement a bigger bag, for those who’re a extra intentional packer, you can completely use this as your important carry-on for a week-long journey. It has the identical variety of pockets because the common Luka, besides most of them are a bit bigger, and it additionally has a useful shoe pocket, which you can too use to maintain your soiled laundry separated. The Luka Massive presently is available in 9 colours; I’ve the brilliant lilac and extremely advocate it for those who like a pop of colour.

Calpak Luka Mini Duffel

This compact bag is the most recent addition to my Luka assortment, and I like that this can be a extra reasonably priced choice for those who’re seeking to spend beneath $100. The 14-liter measurement is extra versatile for on a regular basis use (I take advantage of it at dwelling whereas working errands in New York Metropolis). 

It has the identical form and puffy materials because the bigger Luka duffels, however with out the outside shoe compartment or crossbody strap. The shoulder straps are about two inches longer than the common Luka, and the pockets are designed slightly otherwise. In comparison with the bigger Luka designs, this Mini has fewer pockets inside, with the addition of a phone-sized pocket on the outside. The bag has the identical giant exterior pocket as its bigger counterparts, however because the bag is smaller general, I can’t match my laptop computer there. There are presently 10 colours obtainable, together with neutrals, monochromatic hues, and limited-edition shiny shades.

Even after testing dozens of journey luggage, I all the time come again to the Calpak Luka Duffel, which I like for its light-weight really feel, lengthy straps, and pockets. With three sizes and so many enjoyable colours to select from, the Luka Duffel assortment has one thing for everybody, and I get use out of all three sizes, rotating my bag based mostly on the size of my journey.

If you wish to improve your journey gear even additional, maintain scrolling for extra Calpak luggage and equipment that can maintain you organized in transit.

Extra Calpak Journey Baggage to Store: 

Calpak Hue Carry-on

Calpak Medium Clear Cosmetics Case

Calpak 5-piece Packing Cubes Set

Calpak Haven 15-inch Laptop computer Tote Bag

Calpak Terra 26L Laptop computer Duffel Backpack

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