One for the Road

The Retrospective Weekender is a beautifully made bag from Think Tank. Like every Think Tank product I’ve ever tried, the quality of craftsmanship and materials is outstanding. The leather trim is soft and doesn’t scuff with a fingernail dragged across the surface. The stitching is gorgeous, and the 100% cotton canvas is soft, strong, and durable.

The bag design is minimal but includes well-considered features. It’s a lightweight bag (2 pounds 5.75 ounces with shoulder strap) that’s functional and comfortable to carry. The strap combines heavy-duty ribbed nylon webbing that feels like canvas on the buckle ends with supple leather backed by cushy neoprene on the shoulder support. All buckles, strap snaps, D-rings, and zipper pulls are metal, and the leather attachments are reinforced. The grab handles are wrapped in leather for comfort and attach with the same ribbed nylon as the strap.

The bag stands upright for easy packing, and the wings can be unhooked from the sides to create a wide opening. The wing hooks are the same efficient design as used on Think Tank’s other Retrospective gear. The Weekender’s 29-liter capacity offers plenty of room for what you’d typically need for a two- or three-day getaway. The interior is lined with soft twill. Two pockets—one exterior and one interior—provide organizing options and easy access. They complement the bag’s functionality, where more pockets would just add complication.

You won’t find a laptop sleeve here, but having a weekend away from your computer sounds nice, doesn’t it? The bottom doesn’t have any extra reinforcement, but I don’t think it’s necessary for the kind of car- or plane-to-lodging use it’s designed for. One final bonus is that the bag folds flat for storage when not in use.

If you need a light weekend bag that will likely last decades, the Retrospective Weekender is well worth the $179.95 investment. Check out the Retrospective Travel Series for additional add-ons and baggage options. 

Joan Sherwood is a senior editor.