For a genuine two-to-three night weekend trip, a duffel in the 40-60 liter range comfortably covers clothing, a toiletry bag and a pair of shoes without needing to compress anything. This is smaller than the large travel duffels built for extended trips, which commonly run well past 100 liters.
The right size depends more on what’s being carried than the number of nights — a weekend that includes specific equipment (gym kit, a change for a formal event, camera gear) pushes towards the larger end of that range even for a short trip, while a genuinely minimal weekend can fit comfortably in something smaller.
Convertible backpack straps are worth prioritizing at this size over raw capacity: a weekend duffel is often carried further than a longer trip’s checked luggage, moving between transport, accommodation and activities rather than sitting in a hold the whole time.
Last reviewed 26 August 2026