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When traveling from one destination to another it’s always a priority for us to have functional attire and luggage. Over the past few years, we’ve become quite picky with our luggage and travel accessories and are always seeking for the best products that are out there. Once we find something that has all the favorable specs and desirable design, it’s pretty much guaranteed we’ll love and use it for as long as it lasts.

my pup Zooey posing with the Signature 2.0 Toiletry Bag in rose gold.

We were recently introduced to Vessel Bags and decided it was time to look into our travel bags that needed an upgrade. We specifically wanted to add a classic Boston Bag, a new toiletry bag, and a waist bag to our luggage collection. Choosing Vessel to upgrade our bags was the right decision as we could not be happier with the functionality and design of these bags.

Signature 2.0 Boston Bag

Boston Bags make for a great weekend traveling bag and as a general utility bag. It’s a classic design that will probably never go out of style and it looks great with just about any outfit. The only thing that these bags typically lack are practical and useful features; however, that’s not the case with Vessel’s Boston Bags.

Vessel signature 2.0 Boston Bag & skyline Toiletry Bag in Black

Minimal Yet Efficient

At first glance, the minimal design might mislead you into thinking it’s just another typical boston bag, but don’t be fooled. Every detail in this bag is super efficient and a huge plus for those of us that like effortless designs.

vessel signature 2.0 black boston bag and belt bag

vessel signature 2.0 rose gold boston bag

Go Green! Microfiber Synthetic Leather

Before we get into all the specifics, we wanted to note that the material is synthetic leather. This is great news for travelers who are looking for quality vegan bags. Sometimes vegan bags can look cheap but even worse, the material usually wears and tears quite fast.

There is no need to worry about those things with Vessel. They use the best alternative to natural leather and has a very similar structure to genuine leather. The material is known for heat endurability and non-fading so you can be rest assured you’re carrying around quality products.

Trolley Sleeve

This feature is the most important to us, so much so that even our backpacks have to have a trolly sleeve. Not having to carry all that weight on your shoulders is key to traveling with ease and comfort. Another great thing about this trolley sleeve is that it converts into a functional side pocket. There is a zipper closure at the bottom, so if your travels call for an extra exterior pocket it’s there. It’s so versatile!

when trolley sleeve is unzipped, it sits on my suitcase

Separate Compartment-Vented Bottom

Candy has always wanted a Boston bag with a separate compartment for her shoes. Having this separate compartment not only keeps your shoes away from your clothes, but helps you stay super organized. This bottom compartment is especially convenient if you are in-flight and want to change into another pair of shoes for more comfort. An added bonus is the vents that help create breathing room for the contents inside.

I was able to pack two pairs of shoes and a toiletry bag in the bottom compartment. Sneakers & Sandals from Seychelles Shoes — I was able to pack two pairs of shoes and a toiletry bag in the bottom compartment. Sneakers & Sandals from **Seychelles Shoes**

Premium Waterproof Zippers

The zippers are made from the best in the industry, YKK. If you want to ensure that your zippers will last, it’s ideal to stick with the best. This is actually our first bag that is equipped with waterproof zippers. We’ve never been in a water situation with our luggage, but it’s great that the feature is there should we need it.

Customizable Name Plate

Candy has never had her bags engraved and thought it was a great opportunity to add one. Vessel can customize the name plate with up to five characters and her name just so happens to be five characters. This definitely makes for a thoughtful gift.

Signature 2.0 Belt Bag

We carry a lot of camera gear with us (thus the need for a backpack), but sometimes when we aren’t shooting we just want a smaller bag and finally invested in a Belt Bag. A fews years ago when I was walking around Harajuku, Japan I saw a woman wearing a belt bag across her chest and remember thinking to myself that I wanted to style my outfits in a similar way. Since then, I’ve noticed that the belt bag trend has exploded; however, even after three years I still couldn’t find the perfect belt bag. There were plenty of options out there as almost every brand has jumped onboard to selling these bags, but every time I saw one that looked great something was lacking. Either the belt strap was too long and made of cheap material or the bag would rest awkwardly on the chest. Another issue I came across was the size. They were either too large or too small. I don’t even want to bother with a small bag as its functionality would be useless.

I was so happy to finally find a belt bag that was equipped with all the features I wanted and needed. Not only was Vessel’s belt bag the perfect size, but there were plenty of additional features that made this bag optimal for minimal travels.

Back and Front Zipper for Quick Access

Most of the belt bags I came across was only equipped with one zipper at the top. Vessel’s belt bag has a total of three zippers which is awesome when you want to organize your small belongings into different compartments. I like to keep my phone separate from my keys or other small items so that it doesn’t scratch the screen.

Interior Zip Pouch

It’s great that the organizational compartments don’t stop at the exterior. The interior also has a zip pouch to organize the small accessories.

Internal Attachment Point for Keys

Who else digs through their bags for keys in frustration? I used to attach a bell to my keys so that I knew they were somewhere in my bag when I shook it. Having the bell worked to some extent, but I still had to go digging for the keys. Having an internal attachment point eliminates the digging and the annoying bell.

Toiletry Bags

Vessel designs a variety of toiletry bags and there are two designs that we like in particular: the Signature 2.0 and the Skyline. Both are highly functional and are a great size; however, they are slightly different in style and carry different features.

Signature 2.0

Traveling with a well-organized toiletry kit makes for smarter travel and it’s a must-have travel item that any seasoned traveler packs. My current toiletry bag has been great for the most part as long as I didn’t hang it, which defeated the purpose of having a hook on it. The main problem with my hanging toiletry bag was that there wasn’t enough pouches with zippers to keep my belongings from falling out. I was always so afraid things would spill out and break that I hardly ever used the hanging hook feature.

Having a bag with a hanging hook is especially handy if I have limited counter space so that I can hang it on a towel bar or anywhere else that would hold my hook. With my new Signature 2.0 toiletry bag, I no longer have to worry about my items falling out as each compartment is secured either with a zipper or an elastic slip pocket. I also like that the bag has a convenient carry handle.

Signature 2.0 bag securely storing my makeup and brushes

Skyline

The Skyline toiletry bag is just as functional as the Signature 2.0 signature bag, but the features are different. If you aren’t keen on hanging your toiletry bag this one has a full bottom zip compartment. You could possible use this bottom compartment to hold your watch or grooming essentials. Basically, you can store things on the bottom that you don’t want mixed with the top compartment. The top compartment opens up bucket style which makes it super easy to find things. You don’t have to waste time digging through and taking things out. The Skyline toiletry bag also has a durable TPU backing which means that it’s resistant to oil, grease, and abrasion. This bag is easy to clean and is made with premium VSL Nylon.

skyline top compartment with bucket style opening

Filled With Purpose

We love supporting brands that give back and we’re happy to know that Vessel gives a school backpack to a child in need with every bag that is purchased. Inside our Vessel bag we found a message and silver plaque that had a number on it. This number represents the number of bags Vessel has donated.

Vessel’s message and a number indicating the number of bags they have donated so far.

Final Thoughts

We are pleased with our new travel bags and especially adore Vessel’s new Rose Gold Collection. We think it’s a great new addition to their already outstanding line of bags. Black tends to be our go-to as it’s always easier to style things with black, but the Rose Gold’s gorgeous pop of color really caught our attention. Aside from what we have reviewed, Vessel also designs an array of laptop backpacks, tote bags, trolley luggage, and even golf bags. If you are in the market for a new bag, start your search with Vessel.