Is the New Béis Weekender Worth the Upgrade? I Took It on the Road to Find Out

If you’re chronically online, or just a big Béis fan, you’ve heard the chatter about its Weekender bag…and seen the videos of people schlepping through the airport with it on their shoulder, one slight breeze or accidental shoulder check from toppling over. Shay Mitchell has seen them too. After one too many comments to the effect of, “wait, does anyone really LIKE this bag?!”, the mega-popular weekender got a makeover. Relaunched in July, the redesign took some of the internet's critiques into consideration, aiming to make the bag roomier, easier to pack, and more comfortable to carry.I first started using the original weekender in 2021, a few years after it debuted as Béis’s first product, and found myself liking it, but with similar critiques: It’s a great road trip or even train trip bag, but not one you want to take to the airport (more on that later). As with most Béis products though, I appreciated the thoughtfulness that went into designing the bag—it’s always been clear that Mitchell and her team are actual travelers, and think through how to solve certain overlooked problems. So when the new and improved version came out, I was eager to put it to the test—to be honest, lighter weekenders had taken its place in our list of favorites over the last year or two. To properly compare, I had my mom bring along the original Weekender on a trip we took to Rhode Island; here's how it went.A side by side comparison of Béis's original Weekender (left) and the newly upgraded model (right) Madison FlagerWhat’s new and improvedSide by side, the biggest difference I noticed at first glance was the size. The newer model looks larger, especially when the sides are unclipped, which adds a few extra inches of height to the bag. This seemed counterintuitive to solving the oft-repeated problem of these bags being way too heavy to carry when full, but as an overpacker, I did appreciate the added space. I was able to fit everything for my three-night, four-day trip into both bags, but with a bit more breathing room in the new one.The exterior zip pockets on both sides are both larger; there's one regular pocket, and one that opens on the top and bottom to use as a trolley sleeve if you’re placing the bag on luggage. In the previous iteration, the pass-thru pocket didn't zip on top; this is definitely an improvement in my eyes as you can better secure whatever's inside.ProsHas enough room for a four-day tripDedicated shoe compartmentLaptop sleeveBeautiful colorwaysConsNo floor risersMay be too heavy to carry onto the plane when packed completely fullOther changes: The shoulder straps are longer, and the removable crossbody strap has more padding, an upgrade that definitely improves the carrying comfort level. The interior pockets are stretchy instead of just a slip, which keeps things more contained, and there’s an interior water bottle pocket that even has a cutout for a handle. Other small tweaks that I like: a magnetic laptop closure instead of Velcro, which surely will last longer; a stretchy key leash; and the option to roll back the fabric separator if you want the main compartment to be one large area.In place of a faux leather base, the bags are all now made of a sturdy canvas material with a coated canvas base. Besides giving it a more current look, this will seemingly reduce the wear and tear (of which we’ve started to see on the older versions, with a bit of peeling around the shoe compartment). I love that the brand kept the maple colorway; the olive is another nice choice if you don’t want black or beige.Commerce editor Meaghan Kenny is carrying Béis's new Weekender at New York City's Faena Marcus LLoydThe upgraded Weekender was designed without a structured frame, making it more flexible and easier to carry Madison FlagerOne feature I'll miss in the new version: The floor rises that prevent the bottom of your bag from resting on the ground Madison FlagerWhat I wish Béis keptThere are two features I was surprised to see leave: first, the floor risers on the bottom of the bag. These spiky little nubs raise the bag off the ground, so it’s not flat against the floor if you place it down in an airport, subway station, etc. Two: the height of the shoe compartment (3.5" on the new bag versus 4" on the original). I was packing sneakers and sandals, so it was fine, but I imagine the extra half inch would come in handy for packing heels or boots.I compared both weekender bags on a recent stay at Rhode Island's Ocean House Madison FlagerFinal verdictAll in all, I do think the new model is superior to the original. Many of the tweaks make it feel more current, and more comfortable to carry. Because of the wiring, the old bag used to dig into my armpit when carrying it by the shoulder straps; the newer, longer straps and frameless structure avoid this. (However, my mom, who also owned the original and carried this new one to consider the differences, likes the original strap length so that she can hold it from the bottom more easily—ultimately, it’s all a matter of personal preference and height.) That wiring kept the original weekender boxy when empty, but I prefer this new design, especially since the sides are still structured enough so that you’re not having to hold it open while packing or unpacking. I am curious if, over time, the fabric will start to sag.Ultimately, this still isn’t a bag to I'd recommend flying with. If you’re looking for a personal item, opt for the Mini Weekender instead (also recently redesigned), or a tote or backpack. However, if you’re considering upgrading your old weekender, or are in the market for a bag to take on road trips, the changes made make it a great buy.This article is part of Condé Nast Traveler's fourth annual Luggage Week, for which dozens of suitcases, backpacks, and weekender bags were road-tested by our editors.