The Calpak Luka Duffel Is My Favorite Travel Bag

As a professional gear tester and Travel + Leisure senior testing editor, I’ve tried travel bags from just about every popular luggage brand out there, and Calpak is one of my favorites. In fact, I’ve been traveling with Calpak bags for over two decades. Out of all the weekenders and duffels I’ve tried, the Calpak Luka Duffel is my holy grail because it’s as stylish as it is functional, with a puffy polyester exterior that keeps it lightweight and an amazing amount of pockets for maximum organization—including a laptop pocket and an exterior shoe compartment.

This Oprah-approved bag is super versatile, whether you’re traveling domestically, internationally, or using it as your at-home gym bag. I love the Luka Duffel so much that I own it in three sizes, and I get tons of use out of each one. There’s something so appealing about the playful, puffy shape, which is also water-resistant, scratch-resistant, and helps cushion belongings. Plus, the color variety is unmatched. I’ve traveled with my Luka Duffels on more than a dozen trips—here’s why I love all three sizes.

Calpak Luka Duffel

The iconic Luka Duffel is my go-to personal item bag for domestic flights because it’s perfectly sized to fit underneath an airplane seat and can hold my in-flight essentials, like headphones, my laptop, a book, a sweater, and snacks. I’ve owned this bag for two years and taken it with me all across the U.S., including trips from New York City to San Diego, Seattle, Denver, Austin, Nantucket, Salem, and the Hamptons.

As a professional gear tester, I always examine the organizational features of a bag, and I’ve determined there’s no such thing as too many pockets. That’s my favorite thing about this bag: It has nine pockets total, including zipper pockets, slip pockets, a hidden anti-theft pocket inside the trolley pass-through sleeve, a laptop pocket, and even a shoe compartment (the best packing hack to keep your dirty shoes from touching the rest of your belongings). 

I love how long the handles are because I can comfortably carry the bag over my shoulder, and it also comes with an adjustable crossbody strap. The duffel is currently available in 10 colors, though new hues come and go often (the glazed collection just launched this month with a moody cherry hue and a sleek, glossy black).

Calpak Luka Large Duffel

When I tell you I’m an overpacker, I mean it. I usually fly with a large travel trunk as my checked suitcase and then take the Luka Large Duffel as my carry-on bag for international flights and longer trips, sliding the trolley sleeve over the handle of my suitcase. Sized to fit in an overhead bin at 19 x 14.25 x 9.5 inches, this duffel is incredibly spacious for when I need even more packing space than the regular Luka. To compare the two sizes, the regular Luka has a 25-liter capacity, while the Luka Large has a 42-liter capacity, making it even more spacious than some carry-on suitcases with wheels.

I recently took this bag on a trip to Iceland and fit a floor-length puffer coat folded up inside as well as a fleece jacket, a sweatshirt, two toiletry bags, a pair of hiking boots, a hair straightener, a laptop, headphones, a 600-page novel, and more. This duffel was also a lifesaver on my trip to Japan in April—I packed the empty duffel flat inside my checked suitcase and ended up filling it with my shopping hauls. I’ve also taken it to London, Paris, and Mexico City in the two years that I’ve owned it.

Though I use this to supplement a larger bag, if you’re a more intentional packer, you could totally use this as your main carry-on for a week-long trip. It has the same number of pockets as the regular Luka, except most of them are a bit larger, and it also has a handy shoe pocket, which you can also use to keep your dirty laundry separated. The Luka Large currently comes in nine colors; I have the bright lilac and highly recommend it if you like a pop of color.

Calpak Luka Mini Duffel

This compact bag is the latest addition to my Luka collection, and I love that this is a more affordable option if you’re looking to spend under $100. The 14-liter size is more versatile for everyday use (I use it at home while running errands in New York City). 

It has the same shape and puffy material as the larger Luka duffels, but without the exterior shoe compartment or crossbody strap. The shoulder straps are about two inches longer than the regular Luka, and the pockets are designed a little differently. Compared to the larger Luka designs, this Mini has fewer pockets inside, with the addition of a phone-sized pocket on the exterior. The bag has the same large exterior pocket as its larger counterparts, but since the bag is smaller overall, I can’t fit my laptop there. There are currently 10 colors available, including neutrals, monochromatic hues, and limited-edition glossy shades.

Even after testing dozens of travel bags, I always come back to the Calpak Luka Duffel, which I love for its lightweight feel, long straps, and pockets. With three sizes and so many fun colors to choose from, the Luka Duffel collection has something for everyone, and I get use out of all three sizes, rotating my bag based on the length of my trip.

If you want to upgrade your travel gear even further, keep scrolling for more Calpak bags and accessories that will keep you organized in transit.

More Calpak Travel Bags to Shop: 

Calpak Hue Carry-on

Calpak Medium Clear Cosmetics Case

Calpak 5-piece Packing Cubes Set

Calpak Haven 15-inch Laptop Tote Bag

Calpak Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.