eBags refreshed their Professional Weekender bag and renamed it the Pro Slim Weekender in 2019. I have been a fan of eBags for a while: they produce quality bags at approachable prices for travelers who just want to get out into the world.
We reviewed the Pro Slim Weekender after taking it on our October trip to CVG. So how does this bag stand up to the other carry-on bags we travel with?
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| Pros | Cons |
| + Plenty of internal organization | – Grab handles are minimally padded |
| + Sturdy construction & materials | – Pass-through sleeve wasn’t compatible with my rolling luggage (a Nanuk 935) |
| + Crush-proof case is removable if you need it at your destination (or if don’t like it at all) |
Who is eBags?
In case you have been living under a rock, eBags has become one of the largest online retailers of luggage & bags. eBags produces a huge variety of bags & travel accessories that cater to every type of consumer. There is a good chance that eBags has something that you are looking for, and it is safe to say the carry-on sized Mother Lode backpack has been one of their biggest successes.
The company sells direct-to-consumers via their website or from eBags’ Amazon storefront. Travelers have been trusting eBags to make quality luggage at affordable prices for over 20 years.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 21″ × 14″ × 8″ (L x W x H)
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Material: Polyester
- Zippers: YKK
- Laptop Sleeve: Yes (up to 18”)
- Price: $169.99 MSRP (often available on sale on eBags’ website)
How does the eBags Pro Slim Weekender look & feel?
I love that this bag has tons of external pockets. eBags did a fantastic job of jamming all of these pockets into the Pro Slim Weekender in an aesthetically pleasing package. Every single zipper or flap on this backpack gets wrapped up into a fairly slim profile (hence the name).
Don’t let that “slim” profile fool you, though. This is a large bag and will easily fit 3 days worth of clothing.
I have traveled with eBags’ TLS Mother Lode bag for the better part of the last decade, and this Pro Slim Weekender bag just feels more put together.
The backpack holds its shape very well and is made of the same high-quality material that has stood the test of time on my other eBags backpacks. I appreciate that there is some additional rigidity in this back; nobody will mistake the outer material for feeling “too thin” or “weak”. This is a sturdy bag that feels well-made.
There is a segment of the market that will appreciate the everyday versatility of using this black bag at the office and on the road, but eBags does offer the Pro Slim Weekender in a gray and a bluish “brushed indigo” colorway. If I could do it over again, I probably would have opted for the gray version of this backpack; it is professional enough to bring into the office while still giving the bag a bit more personality.
How does the eBags Pro Slim Weekender fit?
As a backpack, the Pro Slim Weekender is the most comfortable convertible bag that I have traveled with from eBags’ product line.
The eBags Pro Slim Weekender features three massive airmesh pads on the back of the bag. These provide for decent airflow and are fairly comfortable when wearing this bag on your back (via the stowable backpack straps), but they look a bit out of places if you are just carrying this bag as a duffel.
When carrying the Pro Slim Weekender without backpack straps, you have two options: a slim handle on top of the bag and an identical handle on the side of the bag. These handles admittedly take some time to get used to. Both handles feature elastic that helps them retract back into the bag’s profile. They both function well and are comfortable to carry, but you will need to practice grabbing the handles a few times before it becomes a natural movement to find them without looking.
The elastic retraction of these handles is a simple yet effective way to keep the eBags Pro Slim Weekender true to form: this bag packs a ton of thoughtful features into a compact & sleek profile.
Features of the eBags Pro Slim Weekender
Tons of internal organization
The front flap pocket on the Pro Slim Weekender features no less than 9 unique pockets, zippers, or sleeves that you can slip small items into (as well as a couple pen holder loops to boot).
A deeper pocket on the front is large enough to throw electronics & charging cables to ensure quick access to them when you need it. Alternatively, most toiletry or dopp kits will fit perfectly here.
eBags decided to keep the zippered water bottle pocket here in case you want to pop it out. One of my grips with the original eBags Mother Lode bag was an unstructured water bottle pocket, and the Pro Slim Weekender’s pocket is definitely sturdier. If you aren’t carrying a water bottle, this space is large enough for a deck of cards or small external battery pack.
Removable crush-proof case
This pocket is a bit puzzling to me. When I hear about a fleece-lined, crush-proof case, I think of small fragile items like glasses or camera gear.
What eBags has actually included is a huge box that’s at least a foot wide. Throwing just a pair of sunglasses in here would mean a lot of bouncing around while traveling. I suppose it provides peace of mind if you need to store something in here, it just seems larger than it needs to be.
One of the cool features of this bag is that this case can be removed. I think modular options like this are great when they are included with the bag (I’m no fan of features that are sold separately). If the hard-sided case is cramping your packing style, feel free to pull it out before your next trip.
Clamshell opening
In the world of travel backpacks, clamshell bags are easily the most popular because of their versatility & ease-of-use. The ability to pull this bag wide open means you will be able to maximize every inch of available storage space.
The front half of the clamshell offers a zippered panel that allows access to an area with a tablet sleeve. This same pocket has a quick-access zipper that allows you to reach into it when the back is closed up.
The backside of the clamshell (the part of the bag that sacrifices some storage area due to the removable crush-proof case) offers a zippered divider and an elastic sleeve to keep some items separated.
Verdict
I think eBags hit it out the park with this one. The Pro Slim Weekender is a three-way convertible travel bag that seems to have a solution for everything.
The backpack carrying option is much more comfortable than other convertible bags I have used in the past. We found that the build quality is top-notch, and the price point is very competitive when compared with other bags that we have reviewed.
While I don’t think it could be comfortable to tote this bag around as a duffel if you have loaded it up with 50+ pounds, I think the vast majority of eBags’ customers will be traveling much lighter than that.
Recommended For: travelers who need an organized 3-day bag that doesn’t look (or feel) like a bulky hiking bag.
