Why Use a Packable Bag? The Smartest Travel Addition You're Not Using
TL;DR: A packable bag is a lightweight, collapsible bag that folds into its own pocket when not in use. Designed for travelers who want a compact secondary bag without the bulk, packable bags are ideal for day trips, sightseeing, and overflow storage, without adding meaningful weight to your luggage.
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Most travelers spend all their energy carefully packing their main bag. However, the secondary bag (the one the one that actually gets use every day at your destination) gets almost no thought. Herein lies one of the biggest traveling mistakes.
Dragging a full carry-on through cobblestone streets or cramming souvenirs into your coat pockets are problems a packable bag solves completely. It lives flat inside your suitcase until the moment you need it, then unfolds into a fully functional bag in seconds.
Here's why packable bags deserve a permanent spot in your travel kit.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Packable Bag?
The appeal of a packable bag comes down to three things: size, weight, and convenience.
When folded, a well-made packable bag compresses to roughly the size of your fist. The WaterField Designs Packable Backpack, for example, folds into a 9x9-inch square pocket and weighs just 12 ounces. The Packable Duffel folds to a 9.5x8.5-inch pocket at only 15 ounces. Both fit easily inside a carry-on or checked luggage without sacrificing meaningful space.
That lightness matters more than it sounds. Tacking on a heavy secondary bag defeats the purpose. With a packable bag, you barely notice it's there until the moment you need it.
The convenience factor is just as compelling. Rather than hauling your main bag on every outing, a packable bag gives you a purpose-built option for day trips, market runs, or simply walking around and sightseeing. It's the kind of gear that earns its place by staying out of the way until it's needed.
What Should You Look for in a Packable Bag?
Not all packable bags are built equally. Before buying one, three qualities separate a good packable bag from the rest.
Durable construction. Lightweight doesn't have to mean flimsy. Look for ripstop nylon or a similarly resilient technical material that resists tearing under load. WaterField's packable collection uses a custom-made Taslan material, a high-tech woven fabric, combined with a ripstop nylon lining rated at 400x300 denier. The result is a bag that holds its shape, resists abrasion, and doesn't wrinkle after being stuffed into a pocket for three days.
Weather resistance. Conditions change without warning when you're traveling. A water-resistant coating or hydrophobic material keeps light rain from soaking your gear. This isn't the same as waterproof, but for city travel and day excursions, it covers most situations reliably.
Practical sizing. Too small and the bag becomes useless. Too large and it stops feeling like a secondary bag. For most travelers, 16 to 30 liters covers the sweet spot; enough room for a jacket, water bottle, camera, and daily essentials without becoming its own packing challenge.
What Types of Packable Bags Are Available?
The three most useful formats for travelers are the packable backpack, packable sling, and the packable duffel. Each serves a distinct purpose.
Packable Backpack
Probably the most popular type of packable bag, the packable backpack distributes weight evenly across both shoulders, making it the better choice for longer excursions or days where you're carrying more gear. The WaterField Designs Packable Backpack has a roomy, 16-liter main compartment, features waterproof zippers, water-resistant construction, two wide side pockets for water bottles, and a front pocket with a sewn-in key tether. It was named NYT Wirecutter's "Best Packable Daypack for Travel", a recognition earned by bags that balance packability with genuine daily usability.
Packable Sling/Crossbody/Messenger
A packable sling is generally smaller than a backpack and designed to carry less, making it the better choice for short urban jaunts or sightseeing. Thanks to it's smaller size, it becomes almost imperceptible when thrown over the shoulder, and makes for a great phone, wallet, keys, and handheld camera bag. The WaterField Packable Messenger embodies these qualities. It is slightly smaller than the Packable Backpack, but is just the right size to stash your daily essentials, including a tablet and a small camera.
Packable Duffel
A packable duffel is the better choice when you need more capacity or prefer carrying your bag by hand or over one shoulder. The WaterField Packable Duffel expands by 25% to a roomy 30 liters and features a luggage pass-through for stacking on a rolling suitcase, plus lockable dual zipper pulls for added security. It's ideal for bringing home souvenirs and other travel finds, and has proven itself on thousands of trips.
The Right Bag for the Right Trip
A packable bag earns its place by doing something no other piece of luggage does well: it disappears when you don't need it and performs when you do. Folded into your suitcase, it adds almost nothing to your load. Unpacked at your destination, it handles everything your main bag shouldn't have to.
For travelers who take quality seriously, the difference between a cheap packable bag and a well-made one becomes obvious within hours of use, in how the straps feel, how the zippers hold, and whether the bag still looks presentable after a full day out.
Explore the WaterField Designs packable collection at sfbags.com/collections/packable-bags and find the right packable bag for your next trip.
