This Type Of Carry-On Is A Game Changer For Traveling With More Clothing In One Bag

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With airline baggage fees spiraling out of control, passengers are getting creative. There's the sensible, like packing a capsule wardrobe, to the slightly desperate, like stuffing every pocket with socks and chargers. And then, bordering on the absurd, there's wearing all your clothes to the airport at once, like a traveling burrito. But luckily, companies are coming up with ever-more creative ways to help passengers save money.

One innovative product is the garment duffel bag, a two-in-one design that lies flat like a garment bag and then zips up into a duffel. It might sound like a gimmick, but it's surprisingly practical. Here's how it works: You unzip it and lay it out like a garment bag. In go suits, dresses, shirts, and anything else you don't want to arrive at your destination looking like a paper bag after a rainstorm. Then, you zip and fold it into a duffel and pack your other items. Most of these bags have multiple pockets for shoes and smaller items, too.

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The O.G. in the garment-duffel world is the Halfday Convertible 2-in-1 Garment Duffel Weekender Bag 45L, a TikTok superstar selling for $128. There are many other versions available, from budget-friendly options under $40 to an almost $400 version that comes with a lifetime repair service. But the real question is, can the bag really fit more clothing than a regular one?

Users say the garment duffels are surprisingly spacious and can easily hold a few days' worth of clothes. Many have a 45-liter capacity, about the size of a large carry-on, so while they won't replace a huge suitcase, they're fairly roomy. The true genius is in the two-in-one design, which allows you to travel with just a carry-on rather than a suitcase or duffel plus a garment bag. The trade-off is that you can pack so much that the bag becomes heavy, and without wheels, that can be a drawback for some people.

The bags are also sold as a way to prevent creases and wrinkles when you pack your clothing. While a bag like this can't perform miracles, reviewers agree that wrinkles are reduced when compared to a regular duffel, making it a game changer for traveling to weddings or on business. One user in Reddit's r/HerOneBag forum shared that the bag can sag when fully loaded as it doesn't have a reinforced bottom, but this could be solved with well-distributed packing cubes. If style and space are on your packing list, the garment duffel is a TikTok trend that's actually worth trying.