8 Best Garment Bags for Reducing Wrinkles

If you're checking a larger bag, a garment bag that fits inside of your suitcase instead of a carry-on is an option if you already have something you'd like to bring on the plane. The Centerfold Garment Sleeve from Away is designed to fit into their Bigger Carry-On, but it would be a great addition to any suitcase. It clips inside of luggage and has tiered loops to accommodate multiple hangers. It can also be carried if you prefer to not fold it up. When you reach your destination, unzip the bottom to allow your garment to fully hang instead of staying bunched up at the base. There's only two zippered pockets for accessories or other small items. The nylon is water-resistant, but not fully waterproof.

About the size of a briefcase, this compact garment bag has a strap across the back of the bag that you can slide over your suitcase handle so there's less for you to hold as you make your way around the airport. If you do choose to carry it, there's an adjustable shoulder strap as well. There's a front organizing pocket for easy access to smaller electronics like a phone and a tablet, making it a convenient carry-on bag. Unfolded, this water-resistant bag hangs at 47 inches, so it's too short for full-length dresses, but it's a great size for jackets, short dresses and dress shirts. The panel that flips out is also full of pockets for stashing jewelry, accessories, shoes and ties.

Long or voluminous formal dresses can be a real pain to travel with because they're so big and cumbersome. Not to mention, if you're traveling to an important event with a wedding or bridesmaid dress, you do not want to keep it in checked luggage, lest you be stuck in an airport — sans dress — at the customer service counter trying to track down your suitcase. For full-length dresses, you need a long garment bag to fit the entire garment without it bunching up and wrinkling at the bottom of the bag. This 72-inch-long garment bag has a 10-inch gusset so it can expand to accommodate styles with a particularly puffy lower half (like dresses designed with layers of tulle, crinoline or a train). Available in five different colors and patterns, the water-resistant polyethylene material will protect clothing from damage. Keep in mind that it is a pretty bare-bones garment bag, so there are no extra pockets or other bells and whistles like the other bags on our list.

Calpak finds a nice balance between functionality and fashion with unique styles that are well-made with plenty of features. The Compakt Large Garment Bag can either be carried on its own or it can be placed inside luggage and unpacked upon arrival. Made of water-resistant ripstop nylon, it's 48 inches long when unfolded, so it's a great size for short dresses, and there are seven pockets that fit two pairs of shoes and other accessories. Long dresses will hang out the bottom of the bag, but once the bag is folded up it will cover the hem. The Calpak garment bag comes six fashionable colors and prints that are mostly the same across their product line, so you can coordinate your luggage and bags to match, too.

Hartmann is definitely on the expensive side, but their classic nylon tweed fabric never goes out of style, plus it's treated to be water- and stain-resistant. But what's really great is the Tweed Legend Voyager Spinner has four spinning wheels so you get the ease of a spinner suitcase with the function of a garment bag to make whizzing through the airport terminal a breeze. There are plenty of compartments to keep organized, along with two triangle-shaped pockets to utilize the space by the shoulders of the garments. Hartmann is a top performer in our tests and it even landed as "best for frequent fliers" in our best luggage brands of 2023. While we haven't tested this specific garment bag, we love their spacious interiors that are easy to pack and wheels that are smooth and comfortable to maneuver.

If you're looking for a no-frills, grab-and-go garment bag, this water-resistant Amazon Basics one is a great option. It comes with a shoulder strap for comfortable carrying and multiple pockets for shoes, undergarments and other items. There's also a front pocket for additional storage and a strap along the back for hooking on your luggage handle. In our testing, we've found the luggage from Amazon Basics to be easy to pack. While it might not be the best quality out there, you can't beat their price.

Most wheeled garment bags unfold from the top or bottom, so you end up with luggage that's wider than it is tall, which can get weird when trying to shove in an overhead bin (especially for airlines that are strangely particular about how you put bags up there). Briggs & Riley's 22" Carry-On 2-Wheel Garment Bag folds out from the side, so it's shaped like a regular suitcase — taller than it is wide. There are two sections, one for flat packing and one for hanging garments, with lots of little pockets in the unused space to make maximum use of the bag. While Briggs & Riley bags are pricey, they come with a lifetime guarantee that will cover all repairs if the luggage is broken or damaged. They have authorized repair centers to fix luggage, will repair or replace with the closest matching part and they even have DIY repair kits if you're feeling a little handy.

When you think "garment bag," the first thing that comes to mind probably isn't a compression cube, but this one from Eagle Creek is designed to compress your clothes to take up less space while keeping them looking sharp. The water-resistant polyester case comes with a folding board with printed instructions on how to fold dress shirts and slacks to fit into the bag and how to use it to reduce wrinkles. If you're using a duffle bag or a backpack, packing cubes keep all of your times organized, and with this one, now you can take your fancy threads in the duffle, too.