You've probably spotted people carrying Lo & Sons bags at the airport or on the street — we reviewed 8 best sellers so you can decide which to buy
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- Lo & Sons bags are made of high-quality materials and feature thoughtfully placed pockets and compartments, plus other travel-friendly details.
- The company's first bag it created, the best-selling O.G. Overnight Bag ($275), is designed with an innovative suitcase-handle sleeve that makes traveling much more convenient.
- Lo & Sons currently has more than a dozen travel-bag styles to choose from, including the roomy Catalina Deluxe Large Weekender Travel Bag ($148) and the Claremont Leather Camera Bag ($298).
- The Insider Picks team has reviewed eight different Lo & Sons bags so far. Keep reading for our thoughts on each so you can decide which one(s) to buy.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the company, Lo & Sons makes stylish, travel-friendly bags that optimize on space and function.
Founder and CEO Helen Lo originally launched Lo & Sons with the mission of creating a travel bag that alleviated the back pain she developed in her mid-60s. If this was hindering her from enjoying her wanderlust, then it must be affecting others as well. This need sparked an idea that birthed the O.G. overnight bag, a smartly designed shoulder bag with a suitcase-handle sleeve for easy transportation.
From there, Lo & Sons' success drove the team to developed over a dozen other bags, including overnight bags, laptop bags, camera bags, clutches, backpacks, and more — for both men and women. Lo & Sons prides itself on only using high-quality materials to make its bags, careful placement of pockets and compartments, and travel-friendly details, like the aforementioned suitcase-handle sleeve, so you spend less time fumbling with your belongings and more time exploring.
At first glance, some of the bags probably seem kind of pricey, but consider what you're getting for the money: Many of the bags convert to multiple styles (the $128 Edgemont goes from backpack to tote in just a few steps) and all of the bags feature useful pockets and compartments, for everything from your shoes to your laptop depending on their size. There's none of that, "What am I supposed to do with this?" business. It's obvious how much designing and testing Lo & Sons has done before launching each travel bag.
The Insider Picks team put eight different bags to the test, traversing New York City with them and even traveling across the country and overseas with the bags in some case. Our travels and daily commutes were much improved as a result. Keep reading for our thoughts on each bag so you can decide which one(s) to buy.
Edgemont Convertible Backpack Tote
Edgemont Convertible Backpack Tote, $128
Read our full review of the Edgemont here.
With its structured form, multiple well-designed compartments, and ability to convert between two different styles in just a few steps, this backpack tote boasts value that far outweighs its $128 price tag. I've been using it as a work-to-gym bag, and it fits all the essentials for both purposes, but still manages to feel fairly light and very comfortable on my back or shoulder.
Its stash pockets, perfectly placed under the arm, make it easy to access IDs, keys, and MetroCards, and are one of my favorite features of the bag. I also love that the material is eco-friendly and water-resistant, and specifically the Navy Camo pattern is subtle but stylish. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter
The O.G. Overnight Bag
The O.G. Overnight Bag, $295
Read our full review of The O.G. here.
The O.G. Overnight Bag has quickly become my go-to personal item on flights. Its suitcase-handle sleeve is a game changer; now I can rest assured that when I rest my personal item atop my carry-on it won't fall off. Inside the bag are some even cooler features, like a padded laptop sleeve, a separate shoe compartment, and tons of pockets for organizing everything from my pens to my earbuds. The O.G. also comes with a messenger strap for easy and comfortable carrying across your body or over your shoulder, and it's made of a durable and water-resistant nylon, so there's no need to worry about it being ruined by coffee spills or bad weather. — Ellen Hoffman, director of content strategy for Insider Picks
With all of all the smart features, I've found I'm able to fit just about everything I need for a weekend away in this one bag, unless it's winter (because sweaters and coats are just too bulky). Even though the bag is so structured, it's really lightweight, making it really easy to carry, even when loaded with clothing and toiletries. While pricey, I think it's worth the $295 investment. — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter
Catalina Deluxe Large Weekender Travel Bag
Catalina Deluxe Weekender Large Travel Bag, $148
I took the Catalina Deluxe Weekender Large Travel Bag on a couple of short road trips. Packing a bag is easier than lugging a suitcase around, but I usually travel with the weekender version of this blue and white striped nylon Baggu tote. It's weightless and holds a lot, but it lacks structure and organization.
By comparison, Lo & Son's weekender is made out of thick canvas — it's heavy duty, but can be folded when not in use. I have yet to max out the large bag on a weekend trip, even with packing sweaters and bulkier items. If I were traveling to a warm-weather destination, the bag could easily fit a week's worth of clothes. The bottom compartment comes in handy for separating out shoes and heavier pieces of clothing, but I did find the zipper hard to maneuver when the bag was empty, since the weight of the canvas bag weighs it down. Overall, this is a well-made travel bag and one that I will definitely continue to use. — Lauren Lyons Cole, director of Personal Finance Insider
Waverly Convertible Leather Crossbody
Waverly Convertible Leather Crossbody, $148
Small but functional, this bag is perfect for taking on the go while running errands, exploring new cities, or toting around during the day. It's big enough to fit a phone, wallet, and other small essentials, plus the interior has three small card pockets that can help save some space if your wallet takes up too much room.
The best part of this bag, though, is the exterior — it can be worn four different ways! Adjust the straps to wear it as a crossbody, a belt bag, a shoulder bag, or a wristlet. I've worn this bag on days when I'm just walking around the city. The size is small enough to bear holding for long walks, but big enough to hold all the essentials for a casual weekend day. The light grey color is unlike any bag I've owned before, but it has a minimalist chic look that I'm excited to incorporate more for spring. — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter
Claremont Leather Camera Bag
Claremont Leather Camera Bag, $298
I've had a DSLR camera for six years. During that time, I've probably taken it on vacation with me once or twice — and at least one of those times, it didn't make it out of my suitcase. The problem is that it's clunky, no lightweight or attractive travel purse fits it, and wearing it around my neck like a heavy medal is not appealing. It also becomes a risk in museums, when I worry every time I lean over if it will swing it into a neoclassical treasure like a cannonball.
Lo & Son's Claremont camera bag is a game changer. It's attractive, lightweight, and built specifically to house and protect my DSLR as well as the other tourist essentials, like my passport and money in the easily accessed back pocket. Its organization is helpful but not overwhelming — meaning that I can convert it to a crossbody bag, or make full use of the SD memory card pockets and the soft and protective divider. After trucking it around NYC, I can't wait to use it on my European vacation in a few weeks. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter
Hanover Deluxe Backpack
Hanover Deluxe Backpack, $148
Read our full review of the Hanover Deluxe here.
I was honestly shocked how much I was able to fit inside this backpack. There two side pockets and one exterior pocket, plus the main compartment has a removable insert designed to organize all your stuff. I was able to fit well over 20 items, including multiple outfits, a pair of shoes, laptop, Kindle, and random electronics and toiletries, with ease. On top of that, the memory-foam shoulder straps are very comfortable, so much so that I almost forgot I was carrying 15-20 pounds on my back. I'm not sure I'll ever use another travel backpack if I'm being honest. — Francesca Rea, Insider Picks content producer
Rowledge Convertible Nylon Backpack Tote
Rowledge Convertible Nylon Backpack Tote, $375
The newest Lo & Sons bag, the Rowledge, marries style and function for one of the company's most-wanted bags to date (there's currently a wait list for it). It does have a hefty $375 price tag, but it has a lot going for it to justify the cost: It converts three ways so it can service you whether you're in work mode, travel mode, or weekend mode. It has a laptop sleeve, key leash, and many other useful compartments, like exterior side pockets that can be unzipped to store your water bottle, or zipped up for a sleek, virtually invisible, look. I use it to commute to work so that I can ditch my gym bag. — Francesca Rea, Insider Picks content producer
Pearl Crossbody Bag and Clutch
The Pearl Crossbody Bag and Clutch, $248
This leather crossbody looks small but holds everything I need to go out shopping during the day. The main compartment located in the middle of the bag is perfect for items I need to access quickly, like my phone and wallet, and the smaller zip pockets on the outside are optimal places for loose cash. It also includes this neat little leash that I could hook onto my keys. I hate digging for my house key in the bottom of my purse (especially when it's raining outside), so this was perfect! The leather feels high-quality; although I only used the bag a few times so far, I can tell it's going hold up well and not going to scratch easily." — Megan Foster, Insider Picks intern