The good, the bag and the ugly

By FIONA HAWTIN

A weekend away is not like a month in Provence, there is no need for premeditated packing. An easy weekend in the country is about grabbing a few things, shoving them in an overnight bag and getting out of the city.

Make it easy on yourself and get a bag that gives you that freedom to go at a moment's notice without giving you room to pack a third pair of shoes just in case. It's all about mobility and being able to walk tall with a pleasing bag that won't do your back in with all that excess baggage.

That's why weekend bags were invented. We've hunted down six fine specimens.

Louis Vuitton Evasion Sports Bag

Louis Vuitton started off as a luggage company in 1854 before they went in for handbags, fashion and shoes. Anyone who's anyone or wants to be someone has LV bags, from footballers' wives (Victoria Beckham famously had a few of hers stolen at Heathrow) to old money. And when you're part of the in-crowd, a weekend excursion is no excuse to let the side down.

Evasion is a monogrammed leather sports bag with a separate shoe compartment. The specs are: 41 x 37 x 25cm. That means it's fine as a carry-on bag. Compact and lightweight, the oh-so fashionable design has a zippered compartment at the bottom to pack shoes away from the rest of your gear because you don't want your shoes touching your clothes.

Roomy enough for a change of clothes, an evening dress and some suitable shoes, this bag means business. Rest assured you can turn up to the finest country lodges and staff will treat you well.

Looks like something the elegant Grace Kelly would have thrown in the back of a convertible before taking off round the Riviera. $2080 from Louis Vuitton.

Futura cabin bag

This is a futuristic-looking case. It's the sort of thing George Jetson and his family from cartoon TV programme The Jetsons would probably take for a weekend to Mars. Theirs probably carries itself. While this snazzy number made from a type of fibreglass doesn't quite do that, the pull-up handle and wheels make it as easy as possible to cart about and it's long enough for tall people not to have to stoop. And, should you feel the need to actually pick it up and carry it, it comes with not one, but two handles. Brilliant for weekends involving a spot of flying.

At 53 x 33 x 22cm it is acceptable as carry-on luggage for international flights and a mere 3cm over for domestic. To meet international and domestic carry-on luggage standards the specifications can't exceed a total of 115cm or 105cm on domestic flights on anything other than a Boeing. It would be an officious airline employee to not let you off with 3cm. There's a combination lock and key lock, a separate zip-up compartment ideal for shoes and an elastic clip to keep clothes in place when the going gets bumpy. $99 from the Luggage Centre.

Florian Oilskin weekend bag

An oilskin bag is very Southern Man but this hold-all bag looks cool enough to satisfy even the most urban apartment-dweller. There's so much room in this 76 x 41cm bag you could even manage to squeeze a month in Provence worth of gear into it if you were disciplined. But if you did fill it to the gills, I imagine this could be quite heavy and awkward to carry.

Florian has been making leathergoods for more than 30 years. Although this is predominantly oilskin, the handles and do-up dome are leather. One quibble: the whiff of oilskin is not the most pleasing of smells. It does fold away to nothing though, so storage is never a problem. And this would be a handy bag to pack inside another if shopping was on the agenda. $99.95 from nest.

Puma Retro LE Sports Grip

This bag has street cred. While many sportsmen are au fait with Puma's bags, the retro range is for cool, young things. This one can pack a weekend into a single sports bag. The zip-up compartment at the bottom is ideal for keeping papers flat if you absolutely have to take your work away with you.

At 45 x 32 x 23cm this certainly qualifies as carry-on. The sponge vinyl is the same stuff Puma made bags with in the 70s and 80s. In your everyday life, this bag could also come in handy if you were so inclined to go to the gym. $79.95 from The Bronx, Paris Texas, Divo and Destiny (in Wellington).

Gubb & Mackie Naval Kit Bag

Based on the original naval kit bag that was standard issue for the Royal New Zealand Navy until the mid-70s, this handsome bag measuring 63 x 38 x 32cm can fit just about all you'd need if you were at sea for six months. That may be a slight exaggeration if you're a clotheshorse, but a weekend away is nothing to this oh-so-hip boat canvas and leather-trimmed bag.

The attractive grey and blue trim option is probably more practical than the camel one - it shows the dirt less. The wide leather strap means it won't dig in as much as a mean little thin one if it is packed tight. Looks so good, it becomes a vital accessory for any stylish traveller when it's slung across your back. Doesn't open up completely so if you've got something you need to get to in a hurry, pack it on the top. $398 from Gubb & Mackie.

Kathmandu Weekender Bag

Secret squirrels will find this bag of many pockets and compartments a treat. It can be just about anything you want it to be. It has a secret compartment that opens up to reveal backpack straps so you can use it like a pack, or stow them and you've got a bag with a shoulder strap. There's also a handle on the side if you want to carry it as a briefcase.

It zips out completely to reveal a mesh inner compartment you could stow shoes or whatever you fancied. And the outside also has multiple compartments. This will have appeal to the super-organised who like a place for everything. Vital statistics: 49 x 33 x 18cm. Built to last.

This is a good bet for those whose idea of a good weekend includes a decent hike. $179.90 from Kathmandu.