It’s a little more utilitarian than a traditional suit bag, but it has the cajones to make up for it: the ballistic nylon used on its outer is normally used to make motorcycle gear. Needless to say, it’s not going to scratch easily.
Best Budget Garment Bag: Wallybags Deluxe Slim Travel Garment Bag
Considering its entry-level pricing (and admittedly absurd brand name), Wallybags’ garment bags punch quite significantly above their weight. This one holds up to six hangers (although we’d recommend calling it at around three) with space for shoes and toiletries. It’s also designed to clamp hangers in place, saving garments from slipping to the base of the bag and crumpling.
While its polyester fabrication might not be the most glamorous on this list, it’s lightweight, functional, and highly water repellent. And for under sixty bucks, we’d say that’s pretty good going.
Best (Slightly Less) Budget Garment Bag: Nomatic Water Resistant Travel Garment Bag
Consider this your solid, middle-of-the-road contender. It comes in under $200, and will do pretty much exactly what you need it to: carry up to three outfits, with extra space for shoes, belts, and watches. Aesthetically, it’s a little featureless, but it’s capacious enough and comes with a useful detachable shoulder strap. It’s water resistant, too, so you’re covered for inclement weather.
Is it likely to turn colleagues and friends green with envy? No. But will you arrive at your destination with a trio of wrinkle-free suits? Absolutely.
Best Designer Garment Bag: RIMOWA Trifold Garment Bag
The LVMH-owned travel brand RIMOWA might already have appeared on your radar for their buzzy, instant sell-out collabs with everyone from Dior to Supreme. But their core collections are also well worth admiring for their unfussy, hard-wearing and elegant travel accessories.
The Trifold garment bag is a remarkably compact and lightweight design: when fully zipped up, it could pass for an ordinary briefcase. But opened, it can carry one or two suits (depending on their thickness), which will attach to the internal coathanger. Plus, it’s made from tough recycled nylon, and is likely to last longer and withstand the battering of the airport better than many other styles. It’s even guaranteed against damage.
Most Stylish Garment Bag: Métier Closer Full-Grain Leather Suit Carrier
If the thought of carrying a synthetic bag through the flight lounge makes you feel squeamish, you’re not alone. In that case, consider the British accessories brand Metier, who make handsomely designed versions of practical accessories. Their philosophy might as well be “make it work, but make it look good.”
Métier’s take on the suit carrier is a case in point: made from Italian leather, it’s smart and discreet, opening out to reveal a host of inner compartments. It even includes space for your cufflinks. While leather won’t withstand the elements quite as well as a synthetic, this one is made from a sturdy full-grain, which means it’ll only look better as it ages.
Best Suitcase-Secured Garment Bag: Victorinox Crosslight Garment Bag
Victorinox built their name on the success of their signature Swiss army knives. It’s fitting, then, that their take on the suit bag is a real three-in-one: a duffel bag with an attached garment sleeve, which is also designed to attach neatly to the top of your suitcase.
Its neat, boxy shape makes this the perfect accompaniment to sit atop a larger case, but it’s hard to top this as a standalone carry-on, too – it scores highly for storage, fitting two suits alongside the duffel space. Admirably, it’s also made from recycled water bottles, for those aiming to buy more responsibly made products.
Best Garment Bag for Short Trips: Porsche Design Roadster Garment Bag
If you’re breezing in for one night only, you’ll need something streamlined and easy to maneuver. It fits, then, that Porsche Design—the apparel arm of the automotive giant—has the solution. This bag cuts a slimmer, sleeker silhouette than many of its competitors: even when filled, it’s less bulky than many others. The gently padded folding sections help to minimise creasing, while the inner lining helps to protect against both wrinkles and spills. Its lighter, more compact shape means it’s best for one suit only, so this is the perfect option for overnight trips, or weekends where you’re unlikely to need many changes.
Best Garment Bag for Longer Trips: Bennett Winch Suit Carrier and Holdall
If you’ll be away for a few nights, but still want to avoid lugging a suitcase, the British accessories brand Bennett Winch has developed a rather brilliant solution. Its garment carrier neatly wraps around an enclosed holdall, meaning you get the capacity of two bags, but only need to carry one. Plus, a separate waterproof bag holds your shoes or toiletries – so there’s no risk of reaching your hotel room only to discover an exploded toothpaste tube sprayed across your suit.