If you've been contemplating taking a weekend trip, science says a three-day getaway can be better for your mental health since there is less stress planning them and they are more cost-effective than extended vacations. Sounds like a win-win to us. One of the other perks is you can pack less.
Well, if you're not a known over-packer (which we can all be at times). To help you stay effortlessly fly while you fly, I have tracked down eight weekender bags that not only have enough space to hold your stuff but are stylish too.
*This list is specially curated by the xoNecole team and some links are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, xoNecole might earn a small commission.
1.LOMAO Travel Duffel Bag
Amazon
What stood out to me about this bag when I was scrolling through Amazon was the pricing and the design. I've bought a couple of bags from Amazon, and some haven't held up as well as I hoped. Since this bag is made with waterproof and tear-resistant Oxford fabric, this one might just hold up!
2.Delsey Helium 360 Weekender Bag
Vacationers, this weekender was made for you! With this sleek lightweight bag, it's safe to say this bag should be in the running as your new weekender. Though compact, this bag is rather spacious with an extra pocket and pouch for easy and convenient access to your travel essentials. Get your long weekend on in style!
3.Pardon My Fro Tribe Yellow Duffle
I am a long time fan of Pardon My Fro. So when I saw the line expand into travel accessories, I added their duffle to my wish list. Their nylon bags come in two sizes, and if you ever check this bag, you won't have any trouble finding it at baggage claim.
4.BÉIS The Weekender
Need to buy a new travel bag and want to empower and educate girls around the world? BÉIS' weekender bag made with a water-resistant liner, a padded laptop sleeve, and an external pocket to store items you'll need as you make it through airport security will help you stay organized on the run — and your purchase will support Girl Up.
5.Sole Society Mason Weekender
I love a good faux leather bag. The Mason has a spacious leopard print lining, a bottom shoe compartment, and a removable crossbody strap.
6.EVERLANE The Twill Weekender
The EVERLANE brand prides itself on providing high-quality clothing and accessories at affordable price points. Their weekender bags are no different. Their water-resistant, cotton twill bag comes with sturdy leather straps, and one reviewer said it was so roomy, they packed "four days of stuff in here, including two pairs of shoes."
7.365 Large Landon Neoprene Carryall Duffle Bag
If packing cubes are a must-have for you, the carryall bag is made with you in mind — as the bag does all of the organizing for you. You can store your laptop (up to 15 inches), water bottle, shoes, and of course your clothes in this 100% neoprene, hand-washable tote.
8.AWAY The Weekender
The AWAY suitcase came onto the travel accessory scene and shook the table with its sleek, durable design. In April, the company added The Weekender to its line up. Designed with a padded laptop pocket and separate shoe compartment, you'll be able to organize your travel gear without too much thought.
Featured image by Getty Images
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
5 Discreet Vibrators That Will Fit Into Your Carry-On
9 Packing Hacks To Help You Travel In Style
The Best Luggage To Buy Right Now
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
