CALPAK Luka Duffel Review

Today I’m sharing my review of the Luka duffel bag from CALPAK. 

Despite recreationally travel-blogging for over 6 years now, I still haven’t quite tightened up my packing game. I’ve been on the hunt for a good duffel bag for YEARS: something that looks pretty and is functional enough for short weekend trips and as an extra carry-on when we go on longer trips with the girls. 

Most importantly, I wanted something that had plenty of interior and exterior compartments to help keep me organized. 

I’ve had my eye on the Luka duffel from CALPAK since last year, and I’m SO excited to share my full review of it today. 

CALPAK is known for their streamlined luggage sets, convenient packing cubes, and hold-everything-in-your-bathroom clear cosmetic cases. 

When this bag arrived, I audibly gasped. I’d been drooling over it on Instagram for months, and it’s even more gorgeous in person.

I have taken this bag on multiple weekend trips as well as all the way to Canada and on our three week trip to Europe with our daughters. 

I’m breaking down all of the details on this bag today. 

CALPAK Luka Duffel Review

Today I am reviewing the original size of the Luka duffel bag, but CALPAK did recently come out with a larger version that might be better suited for longer trips (more on the size differences below). 

Compartments

The CALPAK Luka duffel has nine (nine!) total pockets. On the outside of the duffel, it has a trolley sleeve, allowing this bag to sit perfectly secure on top of a rolling suitcase. 

There is a huge zipper pocket that runs lengthwise on the outside of the bag, just big enough for a book, tablet, or Kindle. This zipper is hidden beneath one of the “puffs.” On one side, there’s an open pocket where you can stash your phone, wallet, or even water bottle for easy access (and for those wondering, this pocket does fit a Lululemon belt bag). 

On the other side, there is a zipper pocket that extends into the body of the bag. This is designed to be a shoe compartment so the rest of your stuff doesn’t have to touch your shoes. But if you don’t need to use the shoe compartment, you can roll up the storage material with a snap inside the bag so it doesn’t get in your way. 

Inside, there are a few open pockets along the side as well as one big zipper pouch. There is also one smaller zipper pouch hanging from the top of the inside of the bag. 

Structure

One thing I love about this bag is the structure. It can stand up on its own, making packing and unpacking a breeze. There is, in my opinion, nothing worse than a floppy duffel bag. 

Straps

There are two strap options on this bag: a pair of shorter shoulder-carry straps on the top as well as a removable longer strap that you can store internally if you aren’t using it. 

Materials 

This duffel is made of a “puffy” water-resistant polyester. I love the material. It’s easy to wipe down and it’s scratch-resistant. 

Weight 

The Luka duffel is incredibly light, weighing in at 1.95 lbs. 

Price 

The Luka duffel costs $128. I did a lot of browsing during my research and found this price very fair for the quality. Away, Lululemon, and Dagne Dover have bags of similar sizes that are upwards of $150-175. 

Colors

I couldn’t say no to the matte black, but this bag comes in SO many other cute colors. You could spend a lifetime trying to choose! The “classic” colors–matte black, a rose quartz (kind of a light blush), oatmeal and chocolate–are the best neutrals. 

And the limited edition colorways are just so, so fun–especially for spring and summer travel: bubblegum, sage, winter sky, and celery. All adorable, all Instagram friendly. 

Calpak Luka Duffel dimensions

The Luka duffel bag is 16 inches long, 12 inches tall, and 7 inches wide.

This bag is TSA approved and–this is important–is technically small enough to count as a personal item with most airlines. I can confirm that this duffel bag fits under an airplane seat, even leaving a little room on the side for your feet (of course this may depend on the airplane!). The bag holds 22L.

This size would probably qualify it more as an “overnight bag” than a “weekender bag.” This size is perfect to use as a gym bag or even a commuter bag. 

I’ll definitely use this as a carry-on bag for flights too–sometimes it’s nice to have the essentials with me and put everything else in my checked bag. 

I also plan to use it for “day trips” up to my mom’s house where I need to pack stuff for the girls’ naps (blankets, sound machine, Lamby and Uni), swimsuits, jammies, and a book, etc. 

For what I was looking for, the size of the classic Luka duffel is perfect. 

HOWEVER, if you are packing for more than two nights and need multiple pairs of shoes, etc, I’d go with the larger Luka duffel size. This larger size has a packing capacity of 45.5 L and would be better suited for a longer stay. The larger size costs $158. 

You also might consider the Stevyn duffel bag from CALPAK which holds 47L. The Stevyn duffel also has an entire dedicated shoe compartment on the bottom that can hold 2-3 pairs of shoes as well as a much bigger main compartment for more sets of clothes. The Stevyn duffel from CALPAK costs $98. 

Is CALPAK worth it? 

There’s no getting around it: the Luka duffel is amazing. I love the structure and how easy it is to keep organized. I’ve had those floppy, black hole-type duffel bags in the past, and those just weren’t going to cut it anymore. When I’m traveling (especially with the kids!), I need to know where everything is at all times, you know? 

I love the compartments, the trolley sleeve, and how chic it looks on top of my suitcase or over my shoulder. 

CALPAK luggage is iconic for a reason. I definitely think this bag is worth the price and can picture myself using it for years to come. 

Where To Buy Calpak Luka Duffel

You can purchase the Luka duffel bag on CALPAK’s website. 

You can also purchase the matte black or rose quartz color from Nordstrom. 

Calpak promo code

If you’re looking to upgrade your own packing situation this year, use my code RUTH10 for a discount on your first order with CALPAK at checkout! 

Other CALPAK faves

My set of packing cubes has come in handy so much that I went and purchase another whole set. 

I also LOVE this clear cosmetic case. I have it in the smallest size and it holds SO much stuff.

On that note…

I just posted a review of the Dagne Dover Dakota backpack. Read more here. 

Here is my full guide for packing for a long trip with kids. 

And here is a list of everything I wore in on our 3 week trip to Europe. 

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