One of the trendiest luggage brands on the market, Béis has amassed a following of super fans who are vocal about their love for the brand’s smartly designed suitcases and travel bags but also aren’t afraid to express what they think when the company could do better. That’s what happened with Béis’s iconic Weekender Bag, part of the core collection.
Though it was loved by our consumer testers and millions of online shoppers, the Weekender Bag wasn’t my favorite. I test luggage for a living in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, so I’m pretty opinionated about weekender bags and carry-ons and chalked it up to my particular taste.
However, it seems as though many shoppers actually felt the same, so Béis claims it has revamped its core collection, adding upgrades based on real-world use and feedback from actual customers. I had the chance to check out the updated Weekender Bag at its launch, and I have thoughts.
What are the updates?
According to representatives from Béis, “The renovated Weekender styles enable easier packing, durability, and accessibility, while maintaining the organization and stylish silhouette that made the bag a cult favorite.” I agree that the changes are for the better. I can finally fit what I want inside! Some of the most notable updates include:
- A frame-free opening. My favorite update: The old Béis Weekender Bag had a metal frame around the zippered opening, giving the bag a structured, rectangular shape. The new bag nixes the frame, making it easier to store when you’re not using it and easier to pack, since it’s more flexible.
- Connecting compartments. The bag has two main packing spaces, including a bottom shoe compartment. Now, you can roll back the material separating the primary and shoe compartment to create one larger packing space. It’s less of a struggle to fit things inside, especially if you aren’t bringing along a pair of dirty shoes.
- Improved straps. The carrying handles are reinforced where they connect to the bag for added durability, and the removable crossbody strap is heavily padded, making it more comfortable to lug around.
- Safer zippers. I’ve never seen a bag with zippers quite like these. For an added element of safety, the zipper pulls have a small clip built into them, allowing them to connect to each other. That way, it’s much more difficult for someone to unzip your bag while you’re not paying attention.
I can’t wait for my next trip
I usually schlep a backpack and a carry-on bag when I head to the airport, but I’m anxiously awaiting my next trip so that I can really put the updated Weekender Bag to the test and bring it instead of my backpack.
I had the chance to pack both the old and new bags with a standard packing load and I was seriously impressed by how much more I liked the new design. From the flexible canvas exterior to the padded carrying handle to the transformable packing space, the updated bag could easily become my go-to personal item.
