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9 best men’s wash bags for packing all your grooming essentials

Up your luggage game – or finally organise that bathroom cabinet – with these oh-so-trendy toiletry bags

Luke Abrahams
Tuesday 16 August 2022 12:00 BST
Choose from those with secret pockets, snazzy zippers and waterproof materials
Choose from those with secret pockets, snazzy zippers and waterproof materials (iStock/The Independent )
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The chances are that you probably already have a toiletry bag. But here comes the major question, is it the best men’s toiletry bag? No. We thought not.

While the lockdowns basically screwed up our 2020 travel plans, you were probably doing what the majority of the world was doing – scrolling through your Instagram news feed and scouting the coolest hotels and locations to check your luggage into this (or next) year.

Wash bags aren’t just for globetrotting though. If, like us, organisation plays a major role in your daily routine, something to store your essential grooming bits in an orderly fashion at home is, without doubt, a real game changer. Just imagine your sink minus all the clutter – literal heaven come cleaning day.

Another major bonus is that investing in a good one is great for the planet. How so? Those pesky see-through plastic bags and supermarket carriers will be replaced by a chic leather or designer alternative that oozes sustainable longevity.

For those unfamiliar with the world of grooming storage, the best brands out there today kit out their dopp kits with plenty of features designed to suit the mod-con-loving millennial.

These include kitsch designs, fun shapes, secret pockets and bonus features like snazzy zippers and waterproof interiors – fashion houses have even latched onto the craze (hello, Prada).

Now we’ve blatantly tempted you to buy one, here are some of the finest wash bags out there. From quintessentially British brands to chic Italian designers, as well as sporty mega institutions and those adored by the fashion-loving influencer crew, we have one for every kind of shopper.

The best men’s wash bags for 2022 are:

  • Best overall – Smythson Panama double zip wash bag: £410, Smythson.com
  • Best sustainable option – Radley Clerkenwell medium zip-top wash bag: £49, Johnlewis.com
  • Best for outdoorsy types – Fjallraven Kanken toiletry bag: £55, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for luxury – Bennett & Winch wash bag/dopp kit, brown: £395, Bennettwinch.com
  • Best for on-the-go adventurers – The North Face base camp wash bag: £30, Thenorthface.co.uk
  • Best small wash bag – Rains wash bag: £25, Rains.com
  • Best designer wash bag – Prada brand-plaque zipped shell wash bag: £680, Farfetch.com
  • Best leather wash bag – Barbour leather wash bag: £72.95, Eonclothing.co.uk
  • Best for travellers – Away the mini: £45, Awaytravel.com

Smythson Panama double zip wash bag

Smythson panama double zip washbag  indybest.jpg
  • Best: Overall
  • Fabric: Panama crossgrain leather
  • Size: W21.5cm x H12cm x D9.5cm
  • Design: Two zip compartments and internal slip pockets

Panama leather has become somewhat of a Smythson staple. Why? Its sumptuous texture is borrowed from the British brand’s Panama diary, designed by Mr Frank Smythson himself back in 1908. Like its namesake, this Italian-made wash bag is lightweight, super stylish and durable; and with its two zip compartments and internal slip pockets, it packs in more than your average man’s beauty cupboard.

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Radley Clerkenwell medium zip-top wash bag

Radley clerkenwell medium zip-top wash bag indybest.jpg
  • Best: Sustainable option
  • Fabric: Recycled nylon and leather
  • Size: W27cm x H16cm
  • Design: One main compartment

This is one of the most ecoconscious of the bunch. London-based Radley Clerkenwell combines sustainable, recycled nylon with a hint of fabulous leather to its sturdy and supple wash bag. The robust base ensures the dopp retains its shapes while you’re on the move, and the electric orange insides make everything that little bit easier to pick out on those tougher (post-party) mornings. It’s currently out of stock, but we’d recommend signing up to receive stock notifications.

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Fjallraven Kanken toiletry bag

Fjällräven Kånken toiletry bag indybest.jpg
  • Best: For outdoorsy types
  • Fabric: Recycled polyester and cotton
  • Size: 22cm x 15cm x 19cm
  • Design: Two spacious compartment with foam padding

To put it simply, this should be classed as an essential in everyone’s luggage. Part of the Swedish brand’s series of smart accessories for outdoorsy life, major highlights include water-resistant fabric – derived from recycled polyester and organic cotton – and two very spacious foam-padded pockets, which are big enough to keep even the biggest things in your beauty arsenal secure.

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Bennett & Winch wash bag/dopp kit, brown

Untitledennett & Winch washbag_dopp kit, brown  indybest.jpg
  • Best: Luxury buy
  • Fabric: Full-grain Italian veg-tanned leather
  • Size: H17cm x W14cm x L34cm
  • Design: One main compartment

Luxury meets supreme functionality thanks to Bennett & Winch’s exceedingly slick leather wash bag. Donning full-grain Italian leather with lovely brass zippers, the Brit-made carry companion is lined with waterproof nylon to avoid possible spillages, while its clip-out wet compartment is great for keeping all your grooming gear separate from your cleansers and other wash bag bits. This one gets top marks on packaging too: the chic white presentation box makes it an excellent gifting option come those big days marked in the calendar.  

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The North Face base camp wash bag

The North Face base camp wash bag indybest.jpg
  • Best: For on-the-go adventurers
  • Fabric: Recycled polyester
  • Size: 24cm x 12.5cm x 12.5cm
  • Design: One main compartment

If you are a bit of a lost nomad, The North Face has you covered when it comes to all things grooming on the go. Made to fit nicely to into the brand’s much-loved base camp bag, the satchel’s hook allows easy hanging by your sink side for quick access to all your skincare bits. The nifty built-in-mirror will also keep you looking your best, especially during those more adventurous trips.

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Rains wash bag

Rains wash bag  indybest.jpg
  • Best: Small wash bag
  • Fabric: Rains’ signature waterproof PU fabric
  • Size: W21 x H13 x D11cm
  • Design: One main compartment plus pocket sleeve

Uber Scandi minimalist elegance equals an instant winner. Stylishly muted neutral tones make this Rains wash bag worthy of any bathroom sink, and its two-year product warranty means it’s built to last. Features include a pocket sleeve and one main compartment large enough to accommodate one’s bigger toiletries. It’s also finished off with waterproof fabric and a nifty water-repellent zipper (think easy opening when wet). 

  1.  £25 from Rains.com
Prices may vary
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Prada brand-plaque zipped shell wash bag

Prada brand-plaque zipped shell wash bag indybest.jpg
  • Best: Designer buy
  • Fabric: Recycled nylon
  • Size: 22cm x 12.5cm x 11cm
  • Design: One main compartment plus two pocket sleeves

The devil’s choice of wash bag is, of course, Prada. Its signature nylon accessories never fail, and the multiple interior compartments and hand strap of this wash bag make it a functional, as well as a very fashionable choice. Plus, it’s a statement piece that demands attention, a runway standout for when you plonk it on your next luxe hotel’s marble sink basin. Advice: fire up the Instagram.

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Barbour leather wash bag

Barbour leather wash bag indybest.jpg
  • Best: Leather wash bag
  • Fabric: Leather
  • Size: 25cm x 14cm x 9cm
  • Design: One main compartment

Your next big lavish weekend in the Cotswolds gets an upgrade with this stylish Barbour wash bag. Bound in luxurious leather, it’s a durable number complete with polished fittings and a kitsch heritage tartan lining, all lovingly presented in a branded calico dust bag. The handle also makes it a lot easier to carry. In our books, this is just the sort of country luggage upgrade you needed.

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Away the mini

Away the mini indybest.jpg
  • Best: For travellers
  • Fabric: Polycarbonate shell
  • Size: 17.5cm x 12.75cm x 7.5cm
  • Design: One main compartment with interior mesh pocket

Constant travellers will be aware of Insta-famous brand, Away. Celebs love it, influencers love it, and chances are you’ll love it too. The American suitcase brand has a cult social following and is known for working with some of the top celebs out there (hi, Serena Williams). There’s plenty of apparel to choose from, but our pick goes to the mini. Made with the same aluminium shell as the brand’s aluminium edition suitcases, it’s perfectly designed to keep all your bits and bobs safe. Standout features include an interior mesh pocket and elastic strap to keep things in place, and an exterior D-ring to attach the kit to a key clip or keychain. 

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The verdict: Men’s wash bags

For its genuinely sustainable cred, sleek design and roomy interior, you can’t go wrong with the wash bag from Fjällräven Kånken. But, if like us, you like to splash out on the finer things in life, the Smythson is our best buy, and well worth your hard-earned cash. 

Want to ditch the bulky wallet while out and about? Read our review of the best men’s card holders

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