The weekend break is one of the gentleman's most prized traditions. It's lies somewhere deep in the affections between "the dirty weekend" and the romance of elopement.

The only trouble with a weekend getaway is packing sending yourself packing. It's hard to find suitable luggage. You don't want to be laden with a case that resembles a soviet tank. It weighs you down, defeats the purpose. But nor do you want to hit the road with a leprechaun's knapsack. There are some essentials you just need to take.

 

So, Gentry have done the hard work for you and selected the very best weekend bags for men… ensuring that perfect balance of style and practicality. 

 

There's no better place to start, or finish, as with many things, than with leather. A lovely brown or black leather holdall is just the thing for a gent's weekend jaunt. Vintage designs of old-fashioned holdalls are still to be preferred. Refined classics cannot be beat and our prize pick is the Gladstone from Pierre Cardin - a luxuriant holdall with a sturdy metal spine, you'd be hard pressed to find a more swanky holdall anywhere.

 

Competing for top spot in leather is this gorgeous brown hand clipper bag from Mulberry … a versatile piece that can be slung around the Continent, looking all the better when worn. The suede lined interior gives that final touch of class you'd come to expect from such a prestige label as Mulberry. 

 

In a similar style but with a more beefy line is this remarkable Gino Ferrari Etrusco leather holdall. It's something you might have seen Marcello Mastroianni clasp on a whirlwind press tour. Robust and manly in a delicate, European kind of way, it looks best resting on a bench in the afternoon sun. 

 

For something less formal but with its own charm, this bold Lacoste duffel is quite snazzy. It does a fair duty, being both spacious and sleek and for an all-purpose retro-style weekend bag for men, it scores highly.

 

Pick-up any one of these exemplary weekend bags for men and you're sure to enjoy your brief escape.

 

Now, all you need is a destination…