Best alternatives to Thirty-One travel totes
Thirty-One's travel and weekender bags were built to carry more than a lunch or a purse: a few days of clothes, shoes, and toiletries in one structured, soft sided bag. Here are five picks that cover the same ground, from a full featured weekender to a packable everyday companion.
For an all-around weekend trip, the HOTOR Travel Duffel is the closest overall match, with a dedicated shoe compartment and a matching toiletry bag included. For a hospital or labor and delivery bag, the TOPBAG Waterproof Weekender with a trolley sleeve is purpose built for that use. For the classic structured Thirty-One tote silhouette, the BALEINE Large Utility Tote is the closest shape match. Full comparison below.
Why the original travel tote mattered
Thirty-One Gifts closed its direct sales operations at the end of 2024. Its travel and weekender totes filled a gap between a plain duffel bag and a rolling suitcase: structured enough to hold its shape when half packed, with dedicated pockets that kept shoes or toiletries from tangling with clothes, and soft sided enough to squeeze into an overhead bin or under a car seat.
When we looked for alternatives, we weighted three things: a genuine separate compartment for shoes or wet items rather than one open pouch, a shape that holds up when the bag is packed light, and a size that realistically suits a weekend trip rather than a single overnight.
Anatomy of a weekender bag
The features that separate a good travel tote from a plain duffel are almost always the same handful of compartments. Here is what to look for on any listing, illustrated below.
How many nights it actually fits
None of these listings state an exact liter capacity, so instead of guessing at a number, here is our editorial read on the length of trip each bag realistically suits, based on its stated compartments and how it is marketed.
TSA quart bag checker
The TSA's 3-1-1 rule limits carry-on liquids, gels, and aerosols to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters per container, all inside a single quart-sized bag, one bag per passenger. It governs what goes inside your travel tote, not the tote itself. Use the slider for a rough idea of how many travel-size bottles that leaves you room for.
How many travel bottles fit
A standard quart bag holds roughly 8 to 10 travel-size bottles, depending on their shape. This is a general estimate, not an official TSA figure, so leave a little room.
Find your match
Answer two questions and we will point you to the pick that fits, out of the five compared on this page.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Original Thirty-One travel tote | Closest alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Semi-structured, printed exterior | Ranges from soft sling to structured, reinforced base totes |
| Compartments | Main compartment plus a few pockets | Dedicated shoe or wet pockets on most picks |
| Trolley sleeve | Not standard | Included on one pick, useful for rolling luggage |
| Waterproofing | Not specifically | One pick explicitly waterproof |
| Personalization | Monogram available, discontinued | Not available, color or pattern is the closest substitute |
Top 5 alternatives, ranked
Five picks, each suited to a different reason people search for a Thirty-One travel tote replacement.
Best overall weekender match
HOTOR Travel Duffel Bag
A full featured weekender with a dedicated shoe compartment and a matching toiletry bag included, which covers the two things people most often ask for in a Thirty-One travel tote replacement in a single purchase.
Pros
- Dedicated shoe compartment
- Includes a matching toiletry bag
- Sized for a carry-on or overnight trip
Cons
- No personalization option
- Exact liter capacity not stated
Best for: a weekend trip or gym bag that needs real organization, not just one open pocket.
Check price on Amazon →
Best for hospital or labor bag use
TOPBAG Waterproof Weekender Duffle
Marketed specifically as a hospital bag for labor and delivery as well as a general weekender, with a waterproof exterior and a trolley sleeve that slides over a rolling suitcase handle for the trip to the hospital or airport.
Pros
- Waterproof exterior
- Trolley sleeve for rolling luggage
- Purpose marketed for hospital bag use
Cons
- No personalization option
- Exact liter capacity not stated
Best for: a labor and delivery bag, or anyone who wants a weekender that can roll alongside a suitcase.
Check price on Amazon →
Best structured tote shape
BALEINE Large Utility Tote Bag
The closest match to the original Thirty-One tote's silhouette: a structured, open top tote with a reinforced bottom and multiple pockets, marketed toward nurses and everyday work travel rather than airline weekend trips specifically.
Pros
- Reinforced bottom holds shape
- Multiple pockets for organization
- Foldable for storage
Cons
- Open top, less secure than a zippered duffel
- No dedicated shoe or wet pocket
Best for: nurses, everyday work travel, or anyone who wants the classic open tote shape.
Check price on Amazon →
Best wet-pocket versatility
Large Women's Travel Duffle Bag
A large duffle with a dedicated wet toiletry pocket, marketed across enough use cases, overnight trips, yoga, gym, business travel, and hospital bags, to work as a genuine do-everything travel tote rather than a single-purpose bag.
Pros
- Dedicated wet pocket, keeps damp items separate
- Works across several use cases
- Carry-on friendly sizing
Cons
- No personalization option
- Exact liter capacity not stated
Best for: anyone who wants one bag to cover the gym, business trips, and weekend travel.
Check price on Amazon →
Best packable companion bag
Nanobag Sling
Not a suitcase replacement, this ultralight crossbody sling packs down small enough to fit inside your main travel tote and unfolds into a second bag for day trips, grocery runs, or extra items on the way home.
Pros
- Packs down extremely small
- Doubles as an everyday crossbody
- Useful as a second bag on a trip, not just at home
Cons
- Not sized for overnight packing on its own
- No dedicated shoe or wet pocket
Best for: pairing with a main travel tote as a packable day bag or grocery companion.
Check price on Amazon →What to check before you buy
- Separate compartments. A true shoe or wet pocket, sealed off from the main compartment, is what actually keeps a travel tote organized, not just a description that says "multiple pockets."
- Airline carry-on limits. Airlines set their own carry-on size limits individually rather than following one federal standard, so check your specific airline before assuming a bag will fit as a carry-on.
- Base and strap reinforcement. A reinforced bottom and stitched strap attachments matter more once the bag is packed heavy for a multi-day trip.
- Trolley sleeve, if you check a bag too. A sleeve that slides over a rolling suitcase handle is a small detail that makes airport transfers noticeably easier.
- Real dimensions. Compare listed measurements against your old Thirty-One tote rather than assuming a size label like "large" means the same thing across brands.
Common questions about Thirty-One travel totes
Is Thirty-One Bags still in business?
No. Thirty-One Gifts closed its direct sales operations at the end of 2024 and is no longer producing new inventory, including its travel and weekender totes.
What made the original Thirty-One travel tote useful for trips?
It combined a structured shape with dedicated pockets for shoes or toiletries, giving it more organization than a plain duffel while staying soft sided enough to squeeze into an overhead bin or under a seat.
Will a weekender bag fit as a carry-on?
Most soft sided weekender bags fit under a seat or in an overhead bin, but carry-on size limits are set by each airline individually, not by a single federal standard, so check your specific airline before flying.
What is the TSA 3-1-1 rule and does it affect my travel tote?
The TSA's 3-1-1 rule limits carry-on liquids, gels, and aerosols to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters per container, all fitting in a single quart-sized bag. It applies to what you pack inside your travel tote, not the bag itself.
Can I still get a travel tote personalized like the original?
Not through Thirty-One directly, since the brand's personalization service is no longer available. A distinct color or pattern is the closest new alternative for a personal look.
What size travel tote do I need for a weekend trip?
A weekender sized for two to three nights is usually enough for a short trip, while a larger duffel with a separate shoe or wet pocket suits four nights or more, sports trips, or hospital bag use.