If you’re on a road trip, getting your suits from point A to B unscathed is as easy as hanging them from the oh-shit handle. Air travel, though? Not so simple. Unless you stumble across a carefully curated list of the eight best garment bags for suits, it’s true. It would help to have a good garment bag to keep your new suits and dress shirts wrinkle-free and ready to pop on immediately. For weddings. For client meetings. For your big presentation to that group about the thing. Good news: Your travel cup runneth over with budget bags, luxury bags, rolling bags, you name it–your new garment bags await.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
My search for the best garment bags for suits involved giving particular attention to thoughtful details, durable construction, and keeping your cases looking as good on the other side as they did when you packed them. The Victorinox Traveler 6.0 Garment Sleeve is an impressive union of form and function, while the Amazon Basics Tri-Fold Garment Bag represents the budget contingent.
OVERALL BEST GARMENT BAGS FOR SUITS: VICTORINOX TRAVELER 6.0 GARMENT SLEEVE
The Traveler 6.0 Garment Sleeve from Victorinox is the best garment bag for suits on this list for several vital reasons. Chiefly among them is its exceptional attention to detail by way of several thoughtful features and accessories integrated into the bag–no surprise considering it’s from the same company that invented the Swiss Army Knife.
Hanger clamp to help prevent your suit from floundering in-flight: present and accounted for. Foam compression strap to further lock your items into place: that too. There’s also a detachable J-hook for use in your car or hotel room, plus plenty of interior and exterior pockets for storing anything from shoes to casual clothes. This is an approachable-priced, one-suit bag perfect for short work trips or wedding weekends.
BEST LUXURY: MISMO M/S SUIT CARRIER
Copenhagen-based Mismo manufactures impeccable luggage and accessories with a minimalist aesthetic and a devotion to old-world craftsmanship. Their bags are handsome. Their bags are made to last. And their M/S Suit Carrier damn well better be on your person during your next transatlantic flight. Or any other flight.
The point is this refined Grand Herringbone garment bag is peak luxury that can hold its own next to anything from your formal attire to your travel-ready blazer. It can comfortably accommodate up to three suits and features an outside shoe pocket, solid brass hardware, and full-grain leather trim. And did I mention it’s about as close as a garment bag carry-on can get to being considered sexy? If not… it’s almost as close as a garment bag carry-on can get to being considered sexy.
BEST BUDGET: AMAZON BASICS TRI-FOLD GARMENT BAG
If you’re looking for a minimal-frills garment bag on a budget, you know Amazon Basics has you covered. Its Tri-Fold Garment Bag is a polyester workhorse designed for air travel. It holds up to three suits with plenty of room to spare for shoes, accessories, and a few everyday outfits.
Other travel-friendly features include an adjustable shoulder strap, carry handle, and pockets to accommodate pens and earbuds. As you might expect, this is among the least durable options on this list, making it best for the infrequent traveler who takes pride in his various suits but doesn’t find the need to break the bank on a product that’ll end up riding the closet bench more often than not.
BEST ON AMAZON: ZEGUR SUIT CARRY-ON BAG
A strong contender for the best garment bags for suits overall, Zegur comes in hot with a versatile, affordable, feature-rich travel companion. In addition to its three-suit capacity, this bag is lousy with storage options. An interior shoe pocket here. An exterior laptop compartment there. You’d need help finding a weekend-travel detail unattended to.
If you’re so inclined to argue with the almost 7,000 5-star ratings on Amazon, do your thing. But, it turns out, they might be onto something. It fits nicely in an overhead bin and has thoughtfully sized pockets, a waterproof exterior, and a detachable shoulder strap–as good a collection of evidence as any.
BEST CARRY-ON: MODOKER CARRY-ON GARMENT DUFFEL
The best carry-on garment bag for suits is hands down, the Modoker Carry-On Garment Duffel. Like its pricier, higher-quality Shinola counterpart, this bag is a part duffel bag, part garment bag that folds nicely together into a compact carry-on that fits perfectly in an overhead bin.
Made of a water- and scratch-resistant material, the bag features an attachment for rolling luggage, includes a shoe pouch, and plenty of space for toiletries and a few changes of clothes. Regardless of the occasion, it’s all you need for a quick weekend away.
BEST ROLLING: TRAVELPRO PLATINUM ELITE 50-INCH ROLLING GARMENT BAG
This brings us to the best garment bags for men’s suits in the rolling category–the Travelpro Platinum Elite 50-Inch Rolling Garment Bag. What else can I say that the oh-so-clever title hasn’t already? Let’s see; it’s got an integrated lock, a padded roll bar that helps prevent wrinkles, and pockets of all sizes located strategically throughout the bag.
Unlike many other rolling bags, the wheels are made with sealed ball bearings to ensure longevity and durability. If you can think of a detail that does everything to help you travel better, this thing’s got it.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE BEST GARMENT BAGS FOR SUITS
FUNCTION
There are several types of garment bags, each suited to different styles and lengths of trips. If you’re traveling to a black-tie affair, you’ll have other needs from a bag than if you need a few Oxford shirts and some nice pants. From rolling and convertible bags to traditional garment bags and carry-ons, you’ll want to pair the function of the luggage with the actual trip you’re taking.
CAPACITY
Suppose you’re more of a one-suit-fits-all-occasions type of guy, more power to you. Almost any garment bag will do since they all hold at least one suit. But if work takes you away frequently, for instance, and requires you to travel with cases, go for either a giant rolling bag that can accommodate multiple looks or an open-compartment garment bag with plenty of volume. Protip: Make sure there’s room to stash away a few travel-friendly non-iron dress shirts, too.
MATERIAL
Depending on where and what time of year you travel, you’ll want to think about what your garment bag is made of. Rainy environments or wedding weekends in a rustic mountain environment call for water-resistant, durable materials like polyester or ballistic nylon. If luxury travel is more your speed, you can quickly get away with all-leather luggage, for example.