Amazon reviewers have their own language when it comes to describing standout products, which makes it easy for shoppers — and shopping editors, like me — to cherry-pick the best of the best. One of their go-to superlatives is ‘holy grail,’ a term that’s the highest honor, and one I recently used to identify Amazon’s 12 best travel items sitewide. Now I’m narrowing my focus to the best Holy Grail travel bags: duffels, weekenders, backpacks and beyond with thousands of five-star ratings and bragging rights like the “best travel bag ever” to their credit.

The arbiters of style, function and quality in Amazon’s comments section tend to look for a few important criteria before granting the holy grail label to a travel bag. These include the capacity to “hold a surprising amount of stuff,” especially in various clever compartments, while fitting easily into small spaces, like under seats and in overhead compartments. Other qualifiers include versatility, security and a demonstrated ability to hold up for years on end.

If you’re in the market for a travel bag that’s going to be your trusty, trouble-free companion for all kinds of trips, then check out the 12 bags below that have earned their rock-solid reputations.

Ododos Everywhere Belt Bag

Amazon is the home of many affordable copycats of Lululemon’s iconic Everywhere belt bag, but this identical ODODOS one is “the holy grail of waist bags.” It has the squared-off shape and adjustable belt that wearers love, it’s as roomy as a small purse for all the essentials, and it comes in more color options than other lookalikes on the market.

Wear this one sightseeing, for sports or for any situation in which you want your valuables close to you and within sight. “Perfect for travel, short errand trips and dog walking,” wrote a fan. “It is perfect for traveling specially with little ones. This will also be my go to gym bag,” another shopper wrote.

Lovevook Laptop Backpack 

Nurses and teachers rely on it. TikTokers call it the perfect travel backpack. And Amazon shoppers have anointed the lovevook laptop backpack ‘the Holy Grail of bags.’ Let’s dig in to see just why this colorful cutie (it comes in dozens of hues and patterns) is such a sensation. Firstly, it has a padded compartment for a 15-inch laptop and a tablet slot — and it’ll keep your gadgets all charged up thanks to a built-in USB port. It also incorporates an anti-theft pocket in the back where you can keep valuables hidden against your body, and the bag is water-resistant for all-weather protection.

“Best backpack/travel bag I’ve ever had,” another wrote. “Good as a weekend travel bag, a messenger bag, or even as an everyday bag. Great quality and price, very light but sturdy. Room for everything, laptop, tablet, phone, even clothes and toiletries.”

And right now, you can pick this travel backpack up while it’s 50 percent off, coming in at a cool $20.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Carry-On

When you’re dealing with Travelpro — a luggage brand famously used by flight attendants and pilots — you’re automatically buying into a holy grail name. So it’s no surprise that the Maxlite 5 Softside carry-on tote bag lives up to the hype, with at least one shopper calling it “the holy grail of personal bags!”. 

Travelpro is known for its rugged construction (as a travel writer, it’s become my own favorite brand), and this tote is also lightweight, which is a huge plus since it’s not on wheels. It has strong zippers that can withstand a bit of overpacking, and the outer fabric is treated to be water-resistant, so it’s safe to keep your electronics in here. It’s also designed to fit seamlessly under the seat in front of you.

“Simply put, this is the best personal travel bag ever made,” wrote another Travelpro devotee who replaced their previous one of 15 years with the Maxlite. “My current one has outlasted four sets of luggage and hundreds of travel stays. My prior one has been washed multiple times, and zippers still work. Inner seam ripped, but still functional. Worth every dollar.”

Veken Packing Cubes, Set of 8

Amazon’s number one best-selling Veken packing cubes are a travel must, according to their 19,000+ five-star ratings. “If you are an overpacker…this is your holy grail! Gone are the days where I spent hours trying to figure out how to precisely fold every garment to fit into my carryon,” reads one glowing account.

The set of eight packing cubes of four sizes, from small to extra large. One functions as a toiletry bag, two can fit your outfits, two are best for undergarments and smaller clothes, and the rest are for accessories, shoes and dirty laundry. They’re made of thick, water-resistant fabric and mesh for breathability.

Tibes Weekender Bag

The Beis weekender bag is a legend unto itself — and a viral sensation on TikTok  — and Amazon has a ton of knock-offs at a major discount, like this Tibes Weekender Bag for about a third of the price. It has all the best features, like a zip-off shoe compartment on the bottom, a trolley pass-through to attach the bag to your suitcase, and lots of little compartments.

But the Tibes duffel has something extra — or two things extra, in the form of a matching crossbody purse and a toiletry bag. This set is three bags in one and has your entire weekend trip covered. Genius!

“Perfect for lightweight travel without having to take bulky suit cases,” a shopper wrote. “This bag is great perfect for both overnight and overseas travel. Love its versatility,” another added.

Matein Travel Laptop Backpack

Amazon shoppers are wild about the Matein backpack, with more than 83,000 giving them a five-star rating, and a slew calling it the “best travel bag ever.” One “avid traveler” added, “I can say that, hands down, this is the best [backpack] I have ever owned. I call it the “magic bag”. It is so compact yet fits every inside of it. It keeps it protected and even though I am rough on everything I own, this thing has stayed in amazing shape after years of constant use.”

The Matein is more than just a backpack, though. It’s an ergonomic back designed to go easy on your back, and it has compartments to fit two laptops as well as a key fob and a USB charging port. It’s water-resistant and incredibly rugged, too, and it comes in a ton of colors.

“Best travel bag ever! This backpack is perfect for airline travel. It is narrow, so when you’re wearing it and walking down the aisle you don’t bump anyone,” another traveler pointed out.

Nishel Travel Toiletry Bag

Put an end to the madness of pouches and sandwich bags holding your toiletries and invest in this Amazon’s Choice pick, the large-sized Nishel travel toiletry bag. This bag holds it all and keeps it organized and protected from leaks and explosions. Needless to say, it’s an official ‘holy grail’ travel item and one that’s “perfect for fitting in a suitcase and will hold all your makeup.”

It has four separate compartments, with two deep enough to hold the lion’s share of your shampoos, soaps, cosmetics and more. The others are zippered pouches for smaller stuff and things you want to keep extra clean, like contact lens supplies, cotton swabs and teeth-whitening trays. And it conveniently hangs on a hook for easy access to everything.

“This bag is perfect for traveling, I don’t have to cram anything in. Everything has a place and I have tons of room! Great quality!” summed up one reviewer.

Bago Duffel Bag

There are so many kinds of trips and activities that the Bago duffel bag is ‘perfect’ for, according to Amazon reviewers from all walks of life. “It was the perfect size for a United Airlines carry-on,” one wrote. It’s also “perfect duffle bag for camping,” “perfect when traveling and knowing you’ll buy ‘stuff,’” and an “amazing and perfect bag, the Holy Grail of bags as far as I’m concerned.”

Those are seriously glowing reviews for this spacious, 80-liter bag (there are even bigger versions, too) that weighs drastically less than a suitcase of its size and has padded handles and sturdy zippers, buckles and clips designed to bear a heavier load. It has a separate zippered compartment ideal for shoes, dirty laundry or wet swimsuits as well as other zippered compartments inside and out. Choose from black or a variety of other colors including green, pink and red.

Holyluck Drawstring Backpack

Whether you’re a gym rat or an outdoor adventurer, this drawstring backpack is the Amazon number one best-seller you want on your back and the “super thick, high-quality holy grail of drawstring bags!”.

In addition to its machine-washable, water-resistant fabric and sturdy drawstrings, it has a zippered outside pocket, which you don’t find on all drawstring bags. Another big ‘draw’ is the playful assortment of patterns it comes in too, including checkers, animal print and polka dots. But it also comes in black or white for a more versatile look.

“Perfect for travel,” wrote a jet setter. “My husband and I travel extensively outside of the United States. I wanted a durable bag to carry while touring different sites. The Holyluck bag is perfect! It’s sturdy enough to carry water, umbrellas, etc. The zippered pouch offers extra security and easy access for money and glasses.”

Car Cache Purse Holder

Road trippers, your solution to a messy vehicle is right here in a package that costs less than $8: It’s the Car Cache purse holder, a mesh catchall to keep your purse suspended from the seat backs and safely within arm’s reach, even if you’re the one driving. Of course there’s room for other essentials, too, like snacks, tissues and a phone charger, and you can grab this handy travel bag for almost 60 percent off right now.

“Um, holy grail!” proclaimed a fan. “You guys, this is amazing! I haven’t been out much since the lockdown, but the few times I’ve used it was amazing. It keeps my purse in place and doesn’t slip out on either side. It took all of two minutes to install.”

A pet owner added, “We travel a lot with our little dog and it’s nice to have treats, etc., handy on our road trips. This is perfect to hold a toy or two along with his treats that I can easily reach when he starts to get bored or restless.”

Pincnel Backpack Purse

If a mini backpack is your ideal travel purse, the Pincnel backpack purse is the one to reach for, as it has anti-theft features that give you peace of mind while you’re out and about. Instead of zipping open in front, the purse zips open in the back, revealing a spacious interior large enough to hold an iPad and umbrella along with your other essentials.

At first glance it looks like leather, but it’s actually made with faux leather and water-resistant nylon that keeps your stuff safe and dry inside. As with any great backpack purse, the straps are adjustable, but the bag also comes with an additional strap for carrying it sling style.

“My holy grail bag. I always come back to this bag after switching to a different one briefly. It’s lightweight and cleans easily, it’s the perfect size and I love that the zipper is against my back so someone behind me couldn’t open it,” wrote a safe traveler. “Best travel bag ever! Bought for vacation now my to go bag for any event,” another shopper said.

Lenovo Laptop Bag

The Lenovo laptop bag was practically born for business trips with its clean-lined construction and capacity for a laptop up to 17 inches and all your other essentials, from a phone to a wallet. The charcoal gray shoulder or messenger bag can also be carried like a briefcase. Best of all, the bag is on sale for a stunning $13 right now.

One fan called the bag a “simple design perfect for travel,” while another wrote, “storage is great, traveling is easy, and everything fits perfect.”

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