We gave our Gear Lovers one job:
Find the best and most popular products and review them.
Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.
Where to buy:
Stubble & Co has been making some interesting bags defined by function and form. The Weekender is the company’s premium travel bag designed to accommodate overnight getaways and weekend-long business trips. Its dimensions make it a carry-on that will fit in the overhead compartment of a plane and its design will appeal to travelers that might want something a little more elegant.
This “Designed in London” duffel will immediately appeal to those traveling with a trolley bag. It has both a laptop sleeve and a trolley sleeve for a complete, carry-on-only setup.
But after getting to know this bag, it seems designed for something a little more too.
Its water-resistant canvas material with a hardened body extends the bag’s area of use as far as glamping. Depending on the gym or country club, it will also do well as a sports bag too.
There are some nice features on this 40-liter weekender bag–typical of the British company’s small, but adroit lineup of bags.
After using this bag for camping, sailing and a weekend trip to the lake, our review measures the success of this travel bags’ intention against our expectations and actual experience.
Our Overall Review
We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think:
Things we like:
-
An elegant travel bag with an optimal traveling size -
It comes with a 15-inch laptop compartment
-
The exterior and interior are made from durable yet pleasant waterproof fabrics that won’t tear or rip
-
Smooth and snag-free zippers
-
Comfortable shoulder straps that can be detached
-
Compression straps to max out capacity and easily come down to size
-
The trolley sleeve for rolling suitcases
-
Brass studs that protect the bottom
-
An inner pocket
Things we don't like:
-
40 liters isn’t enough for you -
Trolley sleeve is narrow and won’t fit wider suitcase handles
Specs & Features
- Material: Water-repelling British Millerain Tekwax canvas, full-grain leather, 100% cotton lining
- Packed Dimensions: W 55 (22) x H 30 (12) x D 25 (10) cm (in)
- Weight: 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs.)
- Capacity: 40L
- Style: Weekender
- Size: Cabin-sized
- Colors: Black, Olive, Pirate, Navy
Unlike some of the other duffel bags, Stubble & Co’s The Weekender isn’t just practical but also stylish. It comes in four color options to help coordinate the weekender with your check-in luggage or choose the one that will go with most outfits.
Like the Stubble & Co Adventure Travel Backpack, The Weekender has some smart features. But it’s more elegant and more durable. The fabric, Millerain Tekwax, is both water-resistant and stain resistant.
Note that if you’re looking for a travel bag that will accommodate a week-long trip, The Weekender might not have the capacity. That’s where the Weekender XL picks up the slack. Otherwise, check out Travelers Club Xpedition Rolling Duffel or Dakine Upright Split Roller.
Construction and Design
This classy weekender acquits itself well in a crowded field. Its canvas material is a type of waxed cotton, a new technology called Tekwax–which really refers to the waterproof coating. The handles, straps and base are a full-grain leather that bolsters durability. Even during the days when the rainfall seems to have no end, your weekend bag is guaranteed to keep your essentials safe and dry.
When testing The Weekender, we liked that the manufacturer thought about protecting the base of the bag and built the brass studs into its bottom. To stress check this, we threw a fully packed Weekender into the flat bed of a pick-up many times. The results were very promising, leading us to conclude that this bag will be suitable for roughshod trips in the outdoors too.
It’s nice to have a weekender bag with a padded shoulder strap that can be detached. Solid, aluminum clips–that also rotate to avoid getting twisted–are easy to attach and detach. If suddenly want to check it in at the airport, removing the strap is easy (and smart).
Aside from the few pockets that are easy to access, The Weekender’s biggest perk is the 15-inch laptop sleeve. You can even get away without having a sleeve on your laptop before storing it in your travel bag; that’s how protective the bag compartment for your laptop is.
Another great feature is the compression strap at either end of the zipper tracks. When zipped shut, they fold down through the shoulder strap D-ring onto brass knobs. This makes packing to the max and shutting the bag easier. It looks quite elegant too with the brass and full grain leather straps. Especially on the Olive Green canvas.
Final Thoughts
Would we recommend this weekend bag to everyone? If you already have a duffel bag in your collection that does the job well, you might not need to use a weekender bag. If you’re looking specifically for an overnight bag that has a rustic, elegant flair with useful features for accessories we do recommend this one.
The aesthetics of it are really nice–at least the green option we have–and it’s hard not to like the laptop sleeve. That’s where duffel bags, like the North Face Base Camp, won’t do the job–both in terms of style and functionality.
The Weekender by S & C provides something more substantial and tasteful. Packing and carrying it gives you something satisfying. It’s hard to find any fault in this overnighter, which just leaves individual budgets as the ultimate decider.
The bag’s zippers glide smoothly, the handles are soft to the touch and comfortable to carry, and the fabric is sturdy enough to withstand heavy use without showing signs of abuse. It’s a manageable size at 40 liters. The bigger option, the 60-liter XL, might be nice for longer trips, but this bag’s size makes it casually and comfortably portable.
A nice edition to Stubble & Co’s catalog and a good option for individuals with the means to buy a premium weekender bag.
Related Reviews
Our Overall Review
We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think:
Things we like:
-
An elegant travel bag with an optimal traveling size
-
It comes with a 15-inch laptop compartment
-
The exterior and interior are made from durable yet pleasant waterproof fabrics that won’t tear or rip
-
Smooth and snag-free zippers
-
Comfortable shoulder straps that can be detached
-
Compression straps to max out capacity and easily come down to size
-
The trolley sleeve for rolling suitcases
-
Brass studs that protect the bottom
-
An inner pocket
Things we don't like:
-
40 liters isn’t enough for you
-
Trolley sleeve is narrow and won’t fit wider suitcase handles
Frequently asked questions about Stubble & Co The Weekender
Typically designed for short trips, a weekender bag is the best option for a weekend getaway. Its size is between carry-on luggage and a backpack, thus making it spacious enough for your essentials but not too bulky.
The most significant difference between a weekender and a duffle bag is the zipper placement. Most weekender bags have the zipper located at the top, whereas duffle bags are built with a zipper that goes around the top of the bag. Weekender bags also tend to have two carrying handles that can be used to carry them on your shoulder like a tote bag.
When buying the overnight bag that will last you throughout many trips, you should pay attention to the quality of the fabric, the amount of space, and the number of compartments. The more bulletproof the weekender’s shell is, the better are the chances of it holding up well for years to come.
If you already have a comfortable duffel bag in your collection, you probably won’t need a weekender bag. That said, getting a weekender bag might be a smart idea if you’re looking for a bag strictly to use on your short trips to the countryside or two-day business trips. It could also be used as your carry-on if you take frequent plane trips.
Comments