The best wash bags for men who groom on the go
Take your grooming seriously? Then a plastic security bag just won’t cut it. To schlep your best toiletries, moisturiser, aftershave and the like in style you’ll need wash bags of repute. Or at least one that’s on a par with the effort you put into scouting an exfoliator worth its salt.
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That’s why we’ve done our research to find the best wash bags for men to ensure you’re carrying your skin and haircare solutions in a gentlemanly fashion. From Rains to Aspinal of London, these picks will marry with a suitcase, gym kit, duffle or backpack, or simply as a stylish tool to store any bathroom counter overspill.
Shop GQ's edit of the best wash bags in 2026…
Best overall wash bag
- Fabrication: Polyester
- Colours: Navy, green, cream (+10 more)
If you already own a raincoat from Scandi-born brand Rains, you'll know that the waterproofing implied by the brand name holds true. Nominative determinism continues in the arena of its wash bags: this smooth zipped bag is watertight and simple in its design, with more than a few colour options available for perusal: matching with your parka, optional
Best leather wash bag
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Brown, red, black, navy
Polyester is waterproof, sure, but do you know what else is? Leather. If you'd prefer a little grandeur with your morning ablutions then take a trip to Aspinal of London dot com and hit up the Reporter, a pebbled, full-grain pouch complete with rubber feet and hanging loop, plus a zipped compartment for things like contact lenses and condoms. Add your monogram for an additional cost of £20.
Best large wash bag
- Fabrication: Faux Leather
- Colours: Brown, red, black (+12 more)
A Tardis-like wash bag that should see you straight on even extended travels, this large bag unfolds down the back of a door from a metal hook and should easily fit all of the tinctures you'll be needing, including shaving creams, shampoos, a beard trimmer, and other such larger grooming items. With several zipped compartments, pouches and a removable wash-bag-within-a-wash-bag, it's the most thorough option on this list, plus it comes in 15 different colours.
M&S
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black, brown
You can always count on Marks & Spencer to provide affordable menswear accessories that give the illusion of a much heftier price tag. This wash bag is just one example: it's been shaped from 100 per cent leather and features a handy carry strap at the side for easy transportation.
The North Face
- Fabrications: Recycled polyester
- Colours: Green, black, blue (+5 more)
A lot of guys will say that you shouldn’t have a £1,000 wallet if you don’t have the same amount in cash to slot in there. There's no worrying about all that nonsense with a wash bag. Like, for example, the North Face's Voyager comes in at the price of a weekly round of meal deals. And its perks punch above its weight class, too, offering a full open, multiple interior zip pockets and skin that's fully built out of a recycled polyester.
Bleu de Chauffe
- Fabrications: Leather
- Colours: Brown
If you think this Bleu de Chauffe wash bag looks like it’s been sculpted in a luxury leather house, boy, do we have something to tell you. Since 2010, this house's products have been handcrafted by one individual in Saint-Georges-de-Luzençon, a region in France renowned for its leather making. The Zazou bag is a great representation of that. With its flat silhouette, pristine leather that’s begging to be patinaed, and small buckle handle, this is truly a beautiful thing to behold.
NN.07
- Fabrications: Recycled polyester
- Colours: Beige, black
If you’ve been into skincare for a while, odds are you’ve compiled quite the collection. Realising that you’ve hoarded enough products to support the rest of your bloodline is a hard realisation to come to, so having a bag that fits just the essentials is, well, essential. NN.07 has a compact washbag made out of recycled polyester, which comes in beige and black for all you monochromatic lovers. Plus, it’s malleable, so it’s easily stuffed into your suitcase or travel bag.
Finisterre
- Fabrications: Recycled polyamide
- Colours: Brown, sea green
Picture this: it’s 2 am, your holiday Airbnb has god-awful lighting, and you’re using your phone torch to try and find your earplugs because your mate is snoring like a baby bear. Unique experience? Maybe. But this and many other such scenarios could all be made simpler with Finisterre’s Mako bag, which almost completely unzips, letting you consult your toiletries like an open-face sandwich. Plus, it has two inner pockets on either side, so you can locate all of those loose ear plugs at pace.
Saint Laurent
- Fabrications: Leather
- Colours: Black
When does going classic ever fail you? Classically tailored suits, trained chefs, cars. Well… maybe not the last one, but you get the gist. Saint Laurent offers its wash bag in that long, rectangular shape most dudes are after. It’s been boosted with a full-grain leather exterior and a roomy interior that has enough space to slot in all of your boujee skincare.
Horizn
- Fabrication: PVC-blend
- Colours: Black, blue, green (+3 more)
Since most wash bags are covered in canvas, it's easy to throw too many belongings inside and run the risk of overflowing them with clutter. Fortunately, with this design by Horizn Studios, you won't make that mistake, as its silhouette is entirely (and stylishly) transparent. Swapping plastics for animal-friendly materials in its creation, it's finished with a branded logo patch at the front and also complies with airport size regulations – meaning you can use it at home or abroad.
Paul Smith
- Fabrication: Leather
- Colours: Black
You know who made this wash bag the moment you spot the multi-coloured barcode that makes up Paul Smith's Signature Stripe — and so will everyone else who spies you taking it to the aeroplane bathroom. A leather jobbie with an ample hanging loop and an internal mesh pocket, it's a useful thing but, perhaps more importantly, handsome too.
How we chose the best wash bags for men
We take our recommendations for wash bag and luggage very seriously here at GQ. We wouldn't want you walking around with a broken suitcase or wash bag that wasn't up to the job because nobody needs that when travelling. This guide has been written up by fashion lover Marcus Mitropolous and Senior Commerce Writer Jessie Atkinson. Both have more than their fair share of moisturiser-related travelling mishaps and are well versed in the importance of a solid wash bag.
To compile this guide, they've used hands-on experience with high street and up-market collections alongside the advice and nudges of GQ editors, who have the received wisdom of many decades on what looks great and which brands are doing it well at their respective price points. For a product to go from ‘wow, this wash bag looks sick’ to the contents of this guide, we take material, style, number of pockets, waterproofing and spaciousness into account.
What is the best fabric for a wash bag?
We tend to fill our wash bags with a variety of oils, creams and ointments that, when the victim of a pressurised air cabin or particularly bumpy car ride, can result in quite the sticky mess within your wash bag. It's for that reason that you'll most commonly find wash bags in a range of leathers or synthetic nylon, both being especially durable, tear-resistant and able to be simply wiped clean.
How do you clean a wash bag?
Whilst some wash bags will be able to go in the washing machine (the label should let you know), a spot of soap and hot water will often work just fine. When it comes to leather wash bags, we recommend cleaning the inside with a damp cloth while gently wiping the outside panels with either a mild soap or an upholstery-specific wipe.
