Holdall Explained

In brief: A holdall is a soft-sided travel bag sized for a short trip, with a wide opening, twin top handles and usually a detachable shoulder strap. Often called a weekender or duffle, it is built to swallow a couple of days of clothes and essentials while staying carry-on friendly. Designer holdalls bring fine leather and considered hardware to a hard-working travel format.

What is a holdall?

A holdall is a soft travel bag designed for short trips. The format is instantly recognisable: a wide, often cylindrical or barrel-shaped body, a long zip or wide opening across the top for easy packing, two handles that meet in the middle, and frequently a detachable, adjustable shoulder strap. The name describes the job, holding all you need for a night or a weekend away. Because the body is soft rather than rigid, a holdall packs down when empty and flexes to take an awkward extra item, which makes it more forgiving than a hard case for casual travel and gym use alike.

Holdall, weekender or duffle?

These names describe much the same bag with slightly different emphasis. Holdall is the traditional British term for the soft travel bag. Weekender highlights the size, enough for roughly two to three days away. Duffle, originally a military bag named after the town of Duffel in Belgium, refers to the cylindrical soft-sided shape and is often used interchangeably. In practice, a designer weekend holdall and a leather duffle are usually the same kind of bag. What matters more than the label is the size, the quality of the opening and zip, and whether it meets the cabin baggage limits if you plan to fly with it.

Choosing a holdall

Think about how you will travel. For flying, check the dimensions against cabin baggage rules, since a holdall that is too full can be pushed over the limit. A wide, sturdy two-way zip makes packing and retrieving things far easier than a narrow opening. A detachable shoulder strap, ideally padded, saves your hands and arms when the bag is full. Leather looks superb and ages well but adds weight, so a part-canvas or coated body can be more practical for frequent trips. Internal and external pockets help keep a passport, charger or shoes separate from clothes. A reinforced base protects the bottom of the bag when it is set down.

Holdall at OD's Designer Clothing

At OD's Designer Clothing we stock designer bags and accessories from premium labels, including travel holdalls built for short trips and weekends away. We look for strong zips, comfortable straps and quality materials that survive real travel, not just the showroom. We offer next-day delivery and free click and collect, and customers in the North West are welcome to see the bags in person at our St Helens store.