Just a little diversion from my Japan blog and life in general, let me talk about some of the bags I gravitate towards whenever I travel, which I think could help a soul or two in figuring out which ones they should bring to their trip.
(2025 Nicole here, I originally have this in my drafts file since 2023! But despite that, I still feel whatever "insights" I had 2 years ago remain the same 💁)
I am very fortunate to be able to go to South Korea, China, Thailand and Japan for the past 2 years, and during these trips I think I paid a little more attention to the bags I bring with me. Not to brag, but during the pandemic I did accumulate a couple of mid-range designer bags (pre-loved, of course!), and now that we are slightly out of the woods I would like to flaunt 'em!
To cut it all short, let me share a thing or two about some bags I 100% believe are travel-friendly- and adding some dupes as well!
1. Marni Hobo Bag
Yes, let's start it strong with Marni! I am not quite sure about the exact name of the hobo bag I have, but this is definitely one I will bring with me to any trip I will have in my life, Ang OA hahaha! Usually, my go-to option is a trusty old backpack, but due to how much of a hassle it is to get travel docs and snacks from it as a tamad girl I opted for a roomy hobo bag instead.
PROs:
💓 Despite it being made of leather, it's very light.
💓 The color makes it easy to pair with anything- I don't know how, but most of my outfits work well with this bag.
💓 It is legit roomy! I can put a 14" laptop + 11" iPad + Nintendo Switch without any fuss!
💓 Durability 100%!!! I have brought this bag in almost ALL of my trips in the past 2 years, and it's still going strong despite the fact that I got this 2nd hand!
CONS:
💔 It doesn't have any structure, and there's basically only 1 pocket/compartment. Without any contents, it's quite flappy haha!
💔 Speaking of structure, when you use this type of bag the tendency is your stuff will be swimming around your bag, making it quite a hassle when you need to look for something. This bag will make you want to buy a bag organizer PRONTO!
💔 While I mentioned that this is durable, I still have some qualms with regard to its type of leather. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but it's not waterproof. In fact, if you drop water, or God forbid alcohol which HAPPENED ALREADY, It leaves a mark or stain 😖
💔 Since this is a 2nd hand/pre-loved item, I don't think they sell this design anymore. If I'm not mistaken, I assume this style is from waaaay back Marni circa 2013 (?)
DUPES:
2. Manu Atelier Cylinder Bag
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| Very on-the-go bag! |
Cylindrical bags need more spotlight! Aside from looking like baby duffle bags, surprisingly you can fit a lot of items! You wouldn't believe if I tell you that I managed to bring an umbrella, a huge-ass 20,000 mAh powerbank, an instax camera (with 1 extra film), phone, wallet, and a snack inside this Manu Atelier bag! This Cylinder bag comes in different colors, materials, and sizes, so if you're on the more petite side you can get the xx mini size ✌
Quick background, Manu Atelier has a rich legacy from Istanbul, where the founders are daughters of one of the oldest leather manufacturers in Turkey. Aside from the Cylinder, they have several chic designs with price range of around $400-900 a piece.
PROs:
💓 Leather is buttery soft yet scratch resistant.
💓 The Caramel Brown color is very versatile and could complement a lot of outfits. Also, I think this bag is the perfect day-to-night bag where you can wear it casually during daytime then dress-it-up at night.
💓 It can fit a lot of stuff! I have a lot of things inside my bag, from wallet, phone, instax camera, a snack, and even an umbrella! It fits without any fuzz!
💓 Easy to pack! Since it's made of soft leather, I have no worries on whether it'll get misshapen when I smush it inside my luggage.
CONS:
💔 The gold hardware is kind of heavy. I actually tried using a different strap/sling for it, and I can assure that the bag itself is light, but the hardware is a different story.
💔 Speaking of hardware, after hours of using it as a crossbody or a shoulder bag, the strap tends to put quite a strain on the shoulder. Perhaps it's because of its chain-type strap that's why it kinda felt it's digging on my shoulders.
💔 Price point: To be honest with its quality I think the $500+ price tag is justifiable, but I remember a couple of years ago they sell this type of Manu Atelier bags for only $300+ only 😓 Hence 2nd hand/pre-loved market is the way to go!
DUPES:
3. Strathberry MC Mini bag
Now this one is my ultimate favorite bag, I use this both during travels and even in my daily life-to the point I am already calculating how much I need to save in order to buy myself a replacement considering how much I abused this! Strathberry is a Scottish brand BUT each piece is beautifully crafted in Spain! A lot of famous women (including HRH Princess Catherine!) have been sporting Strathberry bags over the years, so rest assured this brand packs in the quality and style. Similar to the Manu Atelier bag before this, don't be fooled by how 'small' it appears because it can definitely carry all the essentials and non-essentials HAHAHA!
Aside from practicality, the design is just 😘👌 It's pretty unique that I can only recommend 1 dupe and it's not really that affordable lol sorry.
Now this one is my ultimate favorite bag, I use this both during travels and even in my daily life-to the point I am already calculating how much I need to save in order to buy myself a replacement considering how much I abused this! Strathberry is a Scottish brand BUT each piece is beautifully crafted in Spain! A lot of famous women (including HRH Princess Catherine!) have been sporting Strathberry bags over the years, so rest assured this brand packs in the quality and style. Similar to the Manu Atelier bag before this, don't be fooled by how 'small' it appears because it can definitely carry all the essentials and non-essentials HAHAHA!
Aside from practicality, the design is just 😘👌 It's pretty unique that I can only recommend 1 dupe and it's not really that affordable lol sorry.
PROs:
💓 This is the lightest Strathberry bag I have! I think the biggest culprit to the weight is the chain, which this bag doesn't have.
💓 The unique design! You can wear it for both casual and dressier occasions.
💓 You can fit a phone, power bank, a thin wallet, and an Instax Mini 12 cam inside.
💓 Its boxy shape gives it structure, so you sort of feel more put together when you use this. Also, packing this in your luggage is easy breezy since you can just fill it in with anything to retain its shape.
CONS:
💔 I don't think they sell the MC Mini style anymore 😕 But you can still buy it pre-loved from sites like Carousell or The Real Real.
💔 The material is not scratch-resistant, although I'm pretty sure it's a different store IF the bag is made from pebbled leather. Anyhoo, if you see my bag you'll definitely spot a ton of scratches.
💔 Strathberry is starting to get pricey if you wish to buy one brand new. If you want to buy in-store here in The Philippines, you can only buy it in Rustan's and their designs are quite limited.
💔 Also, as I have mentioned their other designs (because of their heavy but good quality chain straps) tend to be on the heavier side, so choose a design without the gold chain if you want a light bag.
DUPE:
Just one, and that is the Cambridge Satchel The Music Case. However, since it is marketed as a unisex bag, Cambridge Satchel doesn't have all the yummy pastel colors Strathberry has. Quality-Wise, Cambridge Satchel is top-notch but their leathers are quite stiff.
4. Ferragamo Vintage Gancini Bag
Ah yes, my grand dame of all the bags I own. This Ferragamo Gancini bag has been with me FOR AGES! I'm not sure if this is my mom's or my grandma's hand-me-down, but this bag has been with me during the happiest and saddest seasons of my life hahaha! I usually use this as my carry-on bag since it's actually easy to open and close, and roomy enough to bring my essentials and some small snacks. I swear, if I win the lottery tomorrow one of the things I will buy first thing is a Ferragamo Hug bag, because Ferragamo bags last a lifetime!
I think if I want this to last even my future daughter's lifetime, I should probably bring this for a restoration because of the scratches on both the bag and the hardware 💥
No more pros and cons, if you manage to find a vintage Ferragamo Gancini bag at a friendly price, don't think, just buy it!
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| I couldn't agree more! |
And that's it! Basically, I just rambled on about different bags and what items you can fit inside hahahaha! Hopefully, dear reader you'll be able to find your own version of The Best Travel Bag!
Love Always,
Nicole
