I've been to 50 countries and I swear by the travel bag that's gone viral in 2025 – and I've found an £8 dupe

The Sun

21-04-2025

HAVING been to more than 50 countries in the past decade, I've learned a thing or two about packing.
And one of those is finding the right bag, especially when trying to pack light.
My go to is the Longchamp Le Pliage bag, a canvas shoulder bag that folds down - and it's suddenly become trendy again.
The bag first launched back in 1993, with the word "pliage" meaning "to fold" in French.
But not only was it trending on TikTok last year, but a number of fashion experts have named it the top "it" bag for 2025.
Lifestyle website Purewow wrote: "It could be credited to the current '90s/Y2K revival or to a post-pandemic craving for practical-yet-chic wardrobe staples.
"But whatever the reason, Longchamp Le Pliage designs have been popping up literally everywhere I look - my Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest feeds, on the arms of fellow fashion editors and influencers at industry events, [even] slung on the shoulders of women of all ages."
And Realsimple wrote: "The tote was everywhere back in the day, and it's becoming majorly trendy again."
Last year, the bag was John Lewis ' bestseller, which kept selling out on the website.
Famous faces including Jennifer Lopez, Kendall Jenner and Katie Holmes have all been spotted with the bag before.
Even royalty have loved them, with Kate Middleton toting one during her university graduation in 2005 as well as during a number of her travels.
But when it comes to being used as a travel bag, it ticks all of the boxes.
The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her expert packing tips
Made of canvas, it is easy to wipe clean even when drinks and food are spilled on it.
And depending what size you go for, I've managed to pack enough in it for a weekend break to Europe to avoid the strict Ryanair fees.
It fits in a remarkable amount, being a 'Mary Poppins' bag of size.
Mine is still going strong after years of heavy duty use too, thanks the leather handles.
It does come with a cost, being around £110 on most websites.
The durability justifies the steep price, but if you do want a dupe then Amazon has some very highly rated options.
One is the GM Likkie Shoulder Tote, which is less than £8 and has more than 800 reviews, most of which are five stars.
One wrote: "Great dupe for the Longchamp, love the mesh pocket at the top and it's fully waterproof!"
Another wrote: "This is a great dupe for the Longchamp Le Pliage bag. It's easily foldable for travel and the material feels durable."