Garment bags are one of the many types of bags at a man’s disposal. Their sole purpose is for transporting your favorite blazer or slacks in a safe and relatively unwrinkled manner.
Whether you are a road warrior or an infrequent traveler, below are some garment bags we think you will like:
1. Victorinox Werks 6.0 Folding Garment Sleeve
When you look for a garment bag, you want something that allows your suit to breathe, but is also sturdy enough to stand up to the wear and tear of travel.
Many suit bags are either too thick and trap moisture, or too thin and tear very easily.
The Werks garment bag is a perfect blend between the two, made with sturdy nylon to ensure breathability and durability during transportation.
This folding bag has straps to carry your garments comfortably, as well as zippered pockets that hold important valuables such as identification, accessories, and ties.
The zipper all around the outside of the garment bag ensures that dust cannot get in, keeping your suit fresh and clean as though it was right out of the dry-cleaners.
At about 20 inches long, it does stand a bit small. Those with long or extra-long jackets may have to do some impressive folding to keep the jacket from getting too wrinkled. Regular and short jackets should have no problem fitting into this carry bag.
The size keeps it airplane-friendly, and the semi-sturdy structure will keep it from crumpling in case it gets bumped around.
2. Alpha 2 Tri-Fold Carry-on Garment Bag
Folding garment bags are usually still very long when folded up, and are really only good for hanging in your closet or for very short trips lest they get crushed.
Bags that get rolled up are nice but lack a lot of functionality found in tri-fold bags.
However, the Alpha 3 Tri-fold garment bag is a sophisticated mix of function and style, giving you everything you need for your next business trip. It has a fully compacted length of 15”, and is 22” wide, which leaves you with more than enough room to not only pack your suit but also your little necessities as well.
The garment bag is built from ballistic nylon, making it extremely durable when taking it on a plane.
Because it is only 15 inches high, it’s easily carried on your shoulder via the adjustable shoulder straps.
The only downside to this bag is that it can hold two suits at the most; any more, and you risk overcrowding which then leads to more wrinkles.
3. Briggs & Riley Baseline Classic Garment Cover
Pockets are great for holding all sorts of things, but they are invaluable for holding small accessories such as tie clips, cufflinks, and pocket squares.
When you purchase a garment bag, you want options to hold everything that goes with your garment as well.
The Baseline Classic garment cover is one of those bags that features ample pocket space to keep everything you could ever need with your outfit.
Exterior zip-up pockets can hold money clips, important papers, and small documents for easy access, while the inner mesh pockets are great for your shirts and accessories. No matter what you keep in your pockets, it is all within easy reach.
The bag closes all the way using a full-length zipper.
Your clothes will remain dust-free thanks to the secure seal this gives you. Fold the bag in half, and you have an easy-to-carry bag that fits on any airline flight without needing to be checked in.
Travel in style with this bag, and be reassured that everything will arrive at your destination when you do.
4. Baseline Luggage Compact Tri-Fold Garment Bag
Tri-fold garment bags are all the rage, with their compact size and numerous pockets for storing other necessities.
It is hard to look at anything but, especially if you want to take your suit with you on a plane.
You want a bag that is sturdy and effective in carrying all that you need and more, so why settle for just a simple roll-up garment bag?
The Baseline Tri-Fold garment bag is made to last on those long, rough flights, thanks to its ballistic nylon exterior that resists dust and dirt. The external pockets when it is all folded up make grabbing your wallet or your passport easy, and when you reach your destination, your suit is in near-perfect shape to be used.
The interior of the bag is roomy and can fit one or two full outfits comfortably.
There are also additional spaces within the main compartment for shirts, ties, socks, and other necessities to complete your outfit.
This Baseline product is great for short business trips where you do not need to pack too many suits.
5. DEGELER Travel Garment Bag
Traveling on planes is a complicated matter, especially if you are traveling with delicate garments that need protection.
Suits are prone to wrinkling, and putting them in with your regular luggage makes more work than you should have to deal with.
You are not always going to have time for that last-minute iron before the big meeting.
DEGELER has made a garment bag that is the ideal bag for the busy businessman.
Featuring a multitude of pockets that can hold everything from important notes, to spare shirts, to even a small laptop, this is almost a dream come true.
The bag itself is simple in design, with three external pockets for your small documents and toiletries, as well as the large laptop pocket. The inner pockets are designed for shirts, shoes, and ties to keep your outfit together.
Essentially, this garment bag is a portable office without a desk. It is perfect for long flights or road trips across the country, and you can be sure that when you arrive you will look perfectly fresh for whatever business you have.
6. Gravely Garment Bag
Leather has always been a mark of refined tastes.
Leather wallets, leather jackets, even leather belts can make a statement on the right man. This leather garment bag is a statement all on its own and shows the world who you are.
The Gravely garment bag is made primarily of waxed canvas, which keeps out water and dirt while remaining clean-looking. The leather trim and handles feel good in the hand, and resist scratches and scuffs while traveling.
This bag is lightweight, easy to carry, and easy to hang thanks to the large handles on the top of the bag.
Folding and unfolding the bag feels effortless, and your suits are just as nice as when you packed them. The bag is soft around the canvas area, so it is prone to scrunching, but if you keep it in your hands it should not be too much of an issue.
The bag looks good, feels great, and does exactly what you need it to do without being too complicated.
How to Choose a Garment Bag
What type of garment bag works for you?
As you can see below, garment bags come in a variety of styles including bi-fold, tri-fold, roll-up, and a single sleeve.
For short trips (i.e. only a couple of hours) any of the popular garment bag designs should prove to be more than adequate in transporting even your most beloved custom-made suit.
However, for the long haul (i.e. cross-continental flights), you will want to typically go for a garment bag with fewer folds.
But if you want to have more of a stylish approach to your garment bag, you simply can’t go wrong with a roll-up garment bag. It allows for a much smaller form factor similar to a duffel bag that is also easy to carry.
Lastly, tri-fold garment bags also keep a relatively small profile which can be great for those narrow overhead bins or if you are traveling with a separate carry-on piece.
Does material of the garment bag matter?
When researching garment bags, you will find that most are made from lightweight ballistic nylon. This synthetic material is incredibly durable which should withstand the toughest conditions, especially if you decide to check your bag at the airport.
While leather can look classy, it is also much heavier than nylon.
Natural fibers such as cotton or linen aren’t nearly as durable – especially from ripping or liquids.
Be mindful of airline size restrictions
Many garment bag manufacturers take into consideration the strict carry-on restrictions set by airlines across the world.
When purchasing your next garment bag, it’s always best to just double-check that it adheres to your favorite airline’s size restrictions as they can vary from one airline to the next.
Here is a list of some of the more popular airlines (55 in total) and their restrictions for carry-on luggage:
For the most up-to-date information, be sure to search on Google “[AIRLINE]” + “carry on dimensions” (i.e. JetBlue carry on dimensions).
Shawn Burns is the founder and senior editor of Tools of Men. He started this site with the goal of teaching men proper grooming habits and sensible style. Shawn’s expertise includes in-depth product reviews and how-to articles. Shawn was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal for his expertise.
