A good, reliable, and durable piece of luggage is obviously a must-have for every collection. But it’s also wise to consider sustainability — that is, something produced using a low level of carbon emissions and crafted with recycled or recyclable materials. When looking at the standout suitcases and smaller bags tested by the Travel + Leisure team, we also considered these additional attributes when making our recommendations here.
After putting each piece through rigorous tests in our New York City lab, we picked 10 top performers that are made entirely, or mostly, from recycled materials or other sustainable processes. We checked the bags for capacity, design, value, durability, and maneuverability, and completed research to determine just how sustainable each piece really is. The bags listed below met our expectations, and we will continue to test them over a period of six months and update this article with any new findings.
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Troubadour
When it comes to sustainability, you won’t find a luggage piece better than the Orbis 1-pocket Backpack. Not only is it designed with Troubadour’s innovative Circular Collection concept (which features zero-waste luggage that can be recycled over and over again, making it totally “circular”), it’s also impressively spacious; we found it could fit just as many items as a carry-on-sized backpack. And don’t let the whole “1-pocket” thing fool you — that merely refers to the large exterior pocket. The Orbis actually boasts 11 pockets in all, making it a dream for organized travelers. It even has a dedicated padded sleeve for laptops up to 16 inches long.
Speaking of padding, it’s one of the features that stood out the most to us throughout the testing process. The straps’ extra cushioning feels extremely plush on the shoulders, and we’d go as far as to say it’s the most comfortable backpack we’ve ever used. The straps are even S-shaped and adjustable, so they expertly conform to the shape of the body and relieve pressure points to allow travelers to wear it for hours on end. To top it all off, the backpack is actually quite sleek and stylish, so you’ll always feel confident and cool wearing it through the airport or while sightseeing at your destination.
Price at time of publish: $295
The Details: 11.8 x 16.5 x 5.5 inches | 17.6 liters | 3.3 pounds | Recycled polyester, vegan leather
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Paravel
Known as the “world’s first carbon-neutral carry-on,” Paravel’s Aviator Carry-on Plus is a top-notch choice for travelers who prefer sustainable gear. It’s crafted using recycled materials and vegan leather, and the company offsets the carbon emissions created when constructing the bag and shipping it, plus from your first trip using it.
We especially liked how roomy this spinner is — we could fit everything we needed for a trip with room to spare thanks to its ultra-deep main compartment, removable interior zippered divider, interior pockets, and separate laundry bag. During our tests, we also couldn’t help but admire its beauty: the exterior is stylish, the leather embellishments are chic, and the metal corners add elegance in addition to durability. Combination-locking zippers add to its high-end feel.
Price at time of publish: $425
The Details: 14.7 x 22.7 x 9.6 inches | 46.6 liters | 8.5 pounds | Recycled polycarbonate, recycled aluminum, vegan leather, nylon
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Samsonite
If you’re on the lookout for something spacious yet eco-friendly, consider Samsonite’s Eco Advance Large Spinner. As its name suggests, it’s oversized and environmentally kind thanks to the brand’s Recyclex fabric made of 100 percent recycled plastic bottles. It’s one of the largest, deepest luggage pieces on our list, yet it felt surprisingly light during our tests. There are a ton of pockets (almost too many), and the included compression strap allows for worry-free travel since it keeps everything in place. After throwing the suitcase off a counter and smacking it with a baseball bat, we were pleased to see there were no scuffs or breakage. While the telescoping handle took some getting used to (you have to press down on both sides to extend it in 1-inch increments), we appreciated how easy the spinner was to maneuver on everything from gravel to carpet.
Price at time of publish: $300
The Details: 30 x 19 x 13 inches | 11.75 pounds | Recycled polyester
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Delsey Paris
We love this compact little suitcase because, while it’s definitely small, it’s equipped with quite a few features, including exterior and interior pockets, a trolley sleeve, and a TSA combination lock. You can choose to roll it behind you using a hidden telescoping handle and two wheels, or you can simply lift it up and carry it by its top handle (it’s light enough to do so, after all). Through our tests, we discovered it can take a beating, as there was nothing more than a few minor scuffs after being pushed off a table — and everything inside stayed nicely in place. While it was slightly tight when stuffed under a mock airplane seat in our lab, it definitely did fit, and it looked remarkably stylish in the process, thanks to an eco-friendly fabric made from recycled water bottles.
Price at time of publish: $240
The Details: 15.75 x 8.25 x 16.5 inches | 20 liters | 6 pounds | Recycled polyester
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Amazon
Unlike most duffels that are floppy and easily collapsible, this 35-liter bag is constructed with a rigid, 100 percent nylon canvas shell that keeps it standing upright even when empty — but doesn't add excess weight. The bag still fits plenty of necessities inside, plus there are several exterior hooks to clip on things like water bottles. Its carrying strap and top handles are both quite padded for comfortable transportation, and we immediately recognized the bag’s sturdy, high-quality material and hardware. Upon running it through lengthy tests in our labs, we feel this weatherproof and stylish bag is built to last through years of travel — and is 100 percent carbon neutral, too.
Price at time of publish: $140 for 35 liters
The Details: 22 x 14 x 10 inches | 35 liters | 2 pounds | Recycled nylon, leather, hypalon, aluminum
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Backcountry
If you mean business when you travel, it may be time to get your hands on a rolling duffel bag. Based on our tests, our favorite is Patagonia’s Black Hole Wheeled Duffel Bag 100L. It’s sustainably made due to 100 percent recycled body fabric, lining, and webbing, and it features the best of both worlds when it comes to luggage: you can roll it like a wheeled suitcase, and you can also stuff it full of gear and carry it by its top handles like a true duffel. We were particularly impressed by the bag’s spaciousness, abundance of large pockets, sturdiness, and structured build. The fabric also appeared to be weather-resistant during our tests, and we appreciated that there were handles on either end (in addition to the telescoping handle and snapping top handles) so it was easy to carry in any position. It had virtually zero scratches, scuffs, or tears after we roughed it up, so it could truly be considered a once-in-a-lifetime purchase.
Price at time of publish: $419 for 100 liters
The Details: 32.6 x 16 x 13.7 inches | 100 liters | 9.3 pounds | Recycled polyester, TPU
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Maisonette
This bag is one of the smallest weekenders we tested, yet it fits just as much as many bulkier pieces (if not more!). The 100 percent upcycled EcoCraft canvas and recycled vegan leather accents look and feel soft, but the weekender manages to keep its shape and protect its contents through vigorous travel. We especially liked the unique placement of the detachable shoulder strap; it hooks onto the middle of the bag rather than the ends, which makes it feel more balanced, like an oversized purse. Other features we found to be helpful were two sturdy top handles, small hardware feet on the bottom of the bag, a trolley sleeve, two large zippered pockets on the inside, and a 15-inch laptop slot. Despite all its extras, the weekender easily fits under plane and train seats.
Price at time of publish: $295
The Details: 15 x 15 x 8 inches | 2.4 pounds | EcoCraft canvas, recycled vegan leather
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Solgaard
A travel backpack that fits all your clothes, gear, and toiletries is awesome — but a backpack that additionally has a dedicated, cushioned compartment for your laptop is even better. Our tests proved the Solgaard Lifepack Backpack is the best sustainable laptop backpack around thanks to its 100 percent recycled Shore-tex fabric, plus a roomy interior with a built-in USB charging port and an innovative solar bank to charge your devices without needing a wall plug.
But, beyond the backpack’s cool tech features, it’s also surprisingly comfy. After wearing it to walk around and repeatedly taking it on and off, we found the Lifepack didn’t cause any pain or discomfort on our back or shoulders. A useful chest strap also helped sturdy the pack and prevent it from rubbing or smacking against us as we moved. On the inside, there are a ton of pockets of all shapes and sizes — and upon shaking the backpack around, we were pleased to see everything stayed in place.
Price at time of publish: $245
The Details: 11.6 x 18.5 x 7 inches | 17 liters | 4 pounds | Recycled Shore-tex fabric (inner and outer)
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Mystery Ranch
This is the ultimate take-everywhere backpack — and we know that because we personally brought it with us on multiple hikes, around town, to the park, and beyond. On our day travels, we packed it with a lightweight down jacket, device chargers and batteries, and a water bladder, and it all fit beautifully without weighing us down. We also love all the extras that similar backpacks don’t have, like the tri-zip closure that opens the backpack up completely, as well as chest and waist straps that keep it super sturdy on your body. The unique removable waist straps even have padding and pockets for added convenience. The Coulee also has tons of oversized pockets, so we felt we could truly fit anything we’d ever need in the 100 percent recycled nylon bag.
Price at time of publish: $179 for small/medium
The Details: 20 x 10 x 8.25 inches | 20 liters | 2.6 pounds | Recycled nylon
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Cotopaxi
We’re obsessed with using this backpack as a carry-on because it’s unbelievably spacious and it has pockets on pockets — literally. Several zippered pockets nestle into each other to optimize space and keep your items hidden. There are also multiple entry points into the main compartment, which comes in handy when you want to retrieve something from the backpack while sitting in a cramped airplane seat. Other useful features we flipped over are the backpack’s dedicated laptop sleeve, the colorful rain cover that cinches around the bag, and the hand straps on every side so you can easily carry it or hoist it into overhead bins. Because the bag is so soft and unstructured, it feels very comfortable on the back and shoulders. After tossing it around our studio, we didn’t find any signs of tears, scratches, or other damage.
It’s also worth noting this backpack is part of Cotopaxi’s Del Dia line, which is made entirely of repurposed, leftover fabrics. This helps keep usable materials out of landfills.
Price at time of publish: $190
The Details: 22 x 12 x 10 inches | 35 liters | 3 pounds | Remnant nylon, polyester
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
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Other Sustainable Luggage We Liked
There were other sustainable bags that impressed us in some areas but ultimately fell short of making the winners list.
Béis The Expandable Backpack: We loved its spacious interior and multiple pockets to fit shoes, a bulky jacket, and other smaller items. Still, we didn’t feel it could hold more than a day’s worth of clothes, so we wouldn’t bring this on anything longer than an overnight trip.
Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe: This huge bag — equipped with a separate shoe compartment — is definitely meant for travel, and we love that it’s offered in several colors of 600-denier recycled poly. However, the bag wasn’t particularly comfortable to carry and it felt awkwardly long at times.
Paravel Aviator Grand Checked: This suitcase is extremely stylish but we would have liked to see more interior pockets to keep things in place better. It was also hard to roll over surfaces that weren’t completely smooth.
Everlane The ReNew Transit Backpack: This backpack is sturdy and nice to look at, and we think it’s great for a one- or two-day trip. The downside is it’s quite small and isn’t stretchy so it doesn’t fit much, and the magnetic flap over the top is easily displaced.
Our Testing Process
We thoroughly tested all bags we considered for this article in our New York City studio. More specifically, we weighed each empty luggage piece to make sure it matched the manufacturers’ descriptions and examined the bags’ fabrics, hardware, and features.
Next, we packed each bag for a multi-day trip. While the exact packing list varied slightly for each type (carry-on luggage, checked luggage, and smaller travel bags), we stuffed most pieces with shirts, pants, socks, and underwear, along with a jacket, toiletry bag, laptop, charger, and a water bottle. Once each bag was packed and zipped shut, we rolled each wheeled item around on the studio floor, carpet, and cement pavers to see how it moved over different surfaces (and we even rolled each piece through our maneuverability course at different speeds). For backpacks, we wore them while walking around and moving as we would during our travels. We also hoisted each carry-on-sized bag onto a high baker’s rack to simulate lifting them into a overhead bin.
Finally, we tested durability by pushing the items off counters and ladders three times each and then checked for damage and to make sure they still performed as before. We also smacked each bag with a baseball bat a handful of times to see if dents or breakage would occur. After we finished these lab tests, each item is taken on our actual trips and additional feedback is gathered for another six months.
Tips for Buying Sustainable Luggage
Prioritize transparency
If sustainability is important to you, you’ll want to read product descriptions carefully before buying. Keep an eye out for reputable certifications like B Corp and Climate Neutral to name a few, and look for products that are made of recycled materials and use carbon neutral production. Brands are typically proud of their sustainability and brag about it in their product descriptions — so watch out for unsubstantiated claims and non-demonstrated impact.
Invest in pieces that will last
This is always important, but especially when you’re shopping for sustainable items. After all, the longer your luggage lasts, the less often you’ll have to replace it — and the less waste you’ll produce. Luckily, we feel all the pieces that made our list will last through years of travel.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
For this article, associate commerce editor Hillary Maglin used the T+L’s testing insights as well as her own experience to compile a list of the best, most reliable sustainable luggage pieces on the market.
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