8 Best Garment Bags of 2023, Tested by Experts

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No more rumpled dresses and dress shirts.

Garment bags can take many forms, from shoulder-strapped to rolling to flat inserts — but regardless of the style, there's a few different reasons you might opt for a garment bag instead of a suitcase. They're ideal for keeping suits well-pressed and wrinkle-free in transit, and great for business trips where you might not need (or want) a full suitcase just for a couple days. And with all of the drama that comes with checked luggage getting lost, you might want one for special occasion dresses — like a wedding dress, a bridesmaid dress or a special uniform — so you can keep them near you instead of checking them.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab tests all kinds of bags for travel, including duffel bags, travel backpacks, carry-ons. In fact, we tested over 80 luggage brands to find the best suitcases of 2023. This winning selection of garment bags includes our experts' top-tested picks, as well as popular products with rave reviews from brands we trust.

After shopping our top garment bags for your trip, keep reading to learn more about what we look for in a top-performing garment bag as well as a buying guide from our fiber science and travel experts.

If you're checking a larger bag, a garment bag that fits inside of your suitcase instead of a carry-on is an option if you already have something you'd like to bring on the plane. The Centerfold Garment Sleeve from Away is designed to fit into their Bigger Carry-On, but it would be a great addition to any suitcase. It clips inside of luggage and has tiered loops to accommodate multiple hangers. It can also be carried if you prefer to not fold it up. When you reach your destination, unzip the bottom to allow your garment to fully hang instead of staying bunched up at the base. There's only two zippered pockets for accessories or other small items. The nylon is water-resistant, but not fully waterproof.

About the size of a briefcase, this compact garment bag has a strap across the back of the bag that you can slide over your suitcase handle so there's less for you to hold as you make your way around the airport. If you do choose to carry it, there's an adjustable shoulder strap as well. There's a front organizing pocket for easy access to smaller electronics like a phone and a tablet, making it a convenient carry-on bag. Unfolded, this water-resistant bag hangs at 47 inches, so it's too short for full-length dresses, but it's a great size for jackets, short dresses and dress shirts. The panel that flips out is also full of pockets for stashing jewelry, accessories, shoes and ties.

If you're looking for a no-frills, grab-and-go garment bag, this water-resistant Amazon Basics one is a great option. It comes with a shoulder strap for comfortable carrying and multiple pockets for shoes, undergarments and other items. There's also a front pocket for additional storage and a strap along the back for hooking on your luggage handle. In our testing, we've found the luggage from Amazon Basics to be easy to pack. While it might not be the best quality out there, you can't beat their price.

Most wheeled garment bags unfold from the top or bottom, so you end up with luggage that's wider than it is tall, which can get weird when trying to shove in an overhead bin (especially for airlines that are strangely particular about how you put bags up there). Briggs & Riley's 22" Carry-On 2-Wheel Garment Bag folds out from the side, so it's shaped like a regular suitcase — taller than it is wide. There are two sections, one for flat packing and one for hanging garments, with lots of little pockets in the unused space to make maximum use of the bag. While Briggs & Riley bags are pricey, they come with a lifetime guarantee that will cover all repairs if the luggage is broken or damaged. They have authorized repair centers to fix luggage, will repair or replace with the closest matching part and they even have DIY repair kits if you're feeling a little handy.

Hartmann is definitely on the expensive side, but their classic nylon tweed fabric never goes out of style, plus it's treated to be water- and stain-resistant. But what's really great is the Tweed Legend Voyager Spinner has four spinning wheels so you get the ease of a spinner suitcase with the function of a garment bag to make whizzing through the airport terminal a breeze. There are plenty of compartments to keep organized, along with two triangle-shaped pockets to utilize the space by the shoulders of the garments. Hartmann is a top performer in our tests and it even landed as "best for frequent fliers" in our best luggage brands of 2023. While we haven't tested this specific garment bag, we love their spacious interiors that are easy to pack and wheels that are smooth and comfortable to maneuver.

When you think "garment bag," the first thing that comes to mind probably isn't a compression cube, but this one from Eagle Creek is designed to compress your clothes to take up less space while keeping them looking sharp. The water-resistant polyester case comes with a folding board with printed instructions on how to fold dress shirts and slacks to fit into the bag and how to use it to reduce wrinkles. If you're using a duffle bag or a backpack, packing cubes keep all of your times organized, and with this one, now you can take your fancy threads in the duffle, too.

Long or voluminous formal dresses can be a real pain to travel with because they're so big and cumbersome. Not to mention, if you're traveling to an important event with a wedding or bridesmaid dress, you do not want to keep it in checked luggage, lest you be stuck in an airport — sans dress — at the customer service counter trying to track down your suitcase. For full-length dresses, you need a long garment bag to fit the entire garment without it bunching up and wrinkling at the bottom of the bag. This 72-inch-long garment bag has a 10-inch gusset so it can expand to accommodate styles with a particularly puffy lower half (like dresses designed with layers of tulle, crinoline or a train). Available in five different colors and patterns, the water-resistant polyethylene material will protect clothing from damage. Keep in mind that it is a pretty bare-bones garment bag, so there are no extra pockets or other bells and whistles like the other bags on our list.

Calpak finds a nice balance between functionality and fashion with unique styles that are well-made with plenty of features. The Compakt Large Garment Bag can either be carried on its own or it can be placed inside luggage and unpacked upon arrival. Made of water-resistant ripstop nylon, it's 48 inches long when unfolded, so it's a great size for short dresses, and there are seven pockets that fit two pairs of shoes and other accessories. Long dresses will hang out the bottom of the bag, but once the bag is folded up it will cover the hem. The Calpak garment bag comes six fashionable colors and prints that are mostly the same across their product line, so you can coordinate your luggage and bags to match, too.

To get a sense of what makes a good garment bag, our Textiles Lab pros weighed in using their years of expertise in their field. We combed through online reviews of the most popular garment bags on the market, considering material, size, extra features, durability and ease of use to determine top picks. This list includes our experts' top-tested picks, as well as popular products with rave reviews from brands we trust.

Garment bags help keep your clothing pressed and wrinkle-free while traveling, so you can just take out and hang clothing once upon arrival. They're ideal for clothing you don't want to fold or roll into a suitcase, like a suit, dress shirts, dresses and skirts. Some are designed to be folded compactly and placed inside a suitcase, while others can be carried as luggage. Most bags will fold in half or thirds, but they are made with padded interior straps to keep clothes from shifting around in transit and prevent creases. Just be sure to lay garments completely flat before folding into a bag to help reduce wrinkles.

Garment bags can make a great carry-on when flying. However, it's important to note the garment bag's dimensions to ensure that it complies with the airline's listed size restrictions. If you're taking a short trip and you'll be bringing nice clothing, you can use a garment bag as a carry-on along with a small duffle as your personal item to save you the trouble of having to check a bag. Plus, anyone who's felt the pain of an airline losing a suitcase knows that when it comes to important items that can't be replaced— special clothing like a uniform, bridesmaid dress or wedding dress, for example — you might just want to go with a garment bag and carry that clothing with you at all times.

✔️ Size and shape: Garment bags are available in different lengths, so it's important to consider the linear dimension to ensure the garment bag is long enough to accommodate your clothing. Otherwise, if the garment bag's length is on the short side, the bottom of your garments may have to be folded or bunched at the base of the bag, which will increase the chance of wrinkling. Longer garment bags are great to hold formal dresses, jumpsuits or a full suit. For shorter clothing like tops, jackets and mini dresses, a smaller bag should work just fine.

✔️ Materials: Just like any travel bag, you want a style made of durable materials. If fabric denier is listed in the product description, the higher the denier, the thicker and stronger the fabric is. Nylon is known to be durable and water resistant while polyester is more affordable. Leather is a luxury pick that should last long term, but make sure to follow the care closely. Opt for water-resistant finishes too, especially when traveling with your favorite clothing items.

✔️ Features: To make the garment bag more comfortable to carry around, choose features like a padded shoulder strap, easy access handles and accessible front pockets to hold necessities. If you're considering taking a garment bag instead of a suitcase, make sure it has large enough pockets to hold any other items that you're packing (like shoes, accessories and undergarments).

During her time working at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Abigail Bailey has tested, researched and written about everything from Japanese knives to hammocks. She worked with Emma Seymour, a senior textiles product analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, to research this article.

Emma has been with Good Housekeeping for over three years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests for walking shoes, luggage, tampons, pillows, sheets, period underwear and more. She also has worked on multiple travel features on backpacks, travel dresses and packing cubes. With a degree in fiber science and apparel design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience, particularly focused on athletic wear. As a lifetime sewer with previous product development experience, she has a strong fashion background with expertise in proper fit and construction.

Abigail (she/her) covers everything from kitchen gear to mattresses and smart blinds for the Institute, as well as assisting the General Manager in any number of projects. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.A. in creative writing, as well as earning her M.S. in publishing digital and print media from New York University. Before GH, she worked at LSU Press and The Southern Review literary magazine. In her free time you can find her quilting, cross-stitching or trying to figure out how to squeeze one more bookshelf in her tiny apartment.

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