Travelling can be a small part of our life. But for many, is part of their daily routine.

And it’s not only about the destination. For me, it’s also about the excitement before the journey. It’s about being properly prepared and organised.

Now that is summer, most of us are going on holidays and we’re looking to pack all these necessary toiletry goodies with us.

But you can’t just throw everything inside your bag. You’ve got a very nice safety razor, your beard trimmer and perfumes.

Where are all these going to fit?

Don’t you think that it’s better to have them organised so you know where’s what?

I knew you would understand.

When I was a student at the university, I tried to fit everything into a tight budget. Well, it couldn’t get any tighter. Not to mention when I decided to go on summer vacations.

At that time, I was putting all my toiletries, no matter the material or size, in a plastic bag that you usually get in supermarkets. That was only until one day when a disaster happened in my luggage.

I was travelling with a friend’s car. Driving on bumpy roads can really turn all your stuff upside down. Does it matter if you put everything tightly and tidy? I guess not…

When I opened the bag, I saw my worst fears coming true.

My cologne bottle broke, my toothpaste was all over the place and my shirts were soaked in a very nicely scented shampoo.

Imagine now, I would have had to spend 5 days in the same t-shirt that was already soaked wet with sweat because of the 5-hour drive. Unless I washed everything.

But where we were going, there wasn’t a washing machine anywhere close.Not to mention that I had to stay with the same underwear more time than I was planning to…

I was a student, remember?

That means, travelling to the cheapest destinations, staying in the cheapest hostels, having a bit of a different perception of hygiene, BUT, having the times of our lives.

I’m sure you can relate to this: memorable times, with lots of LESSONS, among which, one of the most valuable was about the way of organising my stuff in a luggage, so that I make sure this won’t happen ever again.

And this is where today’s post comes into place.

We’re going to talk about what’s the best dopp kit a man can get to have a peace of mind while travelling. We’re also going to find out why and how you should select each one of them.

Ever since my personal experience, a dopp kit for me is a must have tool in a traveller man’s arsenal. If you happen to travel for work or recreation, you can appreciate how much a dopp kit comes in handy.

From all the kits that are presented today if I had to choose the best dopp kit for men, I would say it’s the Dopp Admiral Kit.

Why is that?

  1. I’ll say briefly that for starters, this leather dopp kit has a simple yet beautiful design with the right dimensions. Not too large and not small at all.
  2. On the other hand, it’s the traditional dopp kit from Dopp. How much more dopp kit can you get than this?

But let’s get to the specifics of this post.

What is a dopp kit?

Get a healthy and well groomed beard

Image Courtesy: flickr.com/elonardo

A dopp kit is a travel toiletry bag for men. No surprises here right?

Most common dopp kits are made from leather, vinyl or cloth with the main purpose of organising your travel grooming tools and toiletries.

Even though many men are using a dopp kit even when they don’t have any travel plans, it’s extremely useful when you travel.

You probably want a dopp kit that is relatively small in order to fit in a (small or hand) luggage and put all the necessary items you’re going to use during your stay.

What do you put in a dopp kit?

Typically in a dopp kit, someone would have his deodorant, hair styling products, beard oils, razors, trimmers and combs, shaving software, travel size shampoos and shower gels, toothpaste and toothbrush, creams and everything you deem essential for your travel.

You don’t want to overdo it with your toiletries though because it’s a travel kit for a reason.

Why is it called a dopp kit?

The name of the dopp kit derives from the family name of leather craftsman Charles Doppelt. Doppelt was a German immigrant to the United States in the early 1900’s and he was the inventor of the first toiletry bag and hence the name dopp kit came into existence.

Doppelt initially started as as local craftsman and with the help of his nephew, signed a contract with the US army during World War II.

And as you can imagine, all the troops had one during this time and the popularity of the “dopps” skyrocketed and remained as such after the war.

How to select the best dopp kit for your travels?

Choosing the best dopp kit isn’t very difficult. There are however a few things that you would like to pay attention to before you go and get one. Otherwise, you’ll soon realize that you wasted your money.

And I’ll explain what I mean.

Price

Before you even begin searching for a dopp kit, you need to determine the amount that you’re willing to spend.

Prices for a good toiletry bag range from $15 to $50. If you want to go below that range you would struggle to get a decent one that you won’t have to throw away after you first trip with it.

I believe that with $20 you can get a very decent dopp kit Quite affordable and it will do a great job.

Quality and material

leather material for toiletry kits for menAs previously mentioned, the most common used materials are leather, vinyl and cloth.

Personally I tend to prefer genuine leather dopp kit. I’ve got a leather one myself and I wouldn’t go back to a different material at the moment. They feel great, smell awesome and look beautiful.

Vinyl is also great for a dopp kit. I’ve got one of these for my bathroom to keep the extra lathering products I get from time to time.

Most vinyl toiletry bags are very durable and waterproof while their cost isn’t going to cause you any financial trouble.

Yes, I can respect the fact that many of you wouldn’t mind a dopp kit that doesn’t have an appealing appearance, but we want to find the best dopp kit after all.

Something that you need to pay attention is also the interior materials that the dopp kit is made of. Pay special attention to have waterproof materials.

This is of crucial importance and I will give you the arguments for that:

If something breaks within the dopp kit, having a waterproof interior will keep the mess inside and won’t start leaking. In addition, waterproof is easier to clean and much faster to dry out once wet. See now?

In terms of quality, you will also want to pay attention to the zippers or buttons that the dopp kit has to open and close. If it’s cheaply made, you’ll soon have a broken zipper.

Size

Now, this is quite important as well.

I’ve seen dopp kits that are as small as wallets while there are others that can be considered proper bags. Depending on how you would like to use a dopp kit, you should choose the respective size.

And this brings us to the next criteria on how to choose a dopp kit.

Reason to get a dopp kit

I’ve got two dopp kits at the moment. One that’s quite large with vinyl material that I keep in my bathroom while the other one is a leather and a bit smaller. The leather dopp kit I take it with me whenever I travel.

Depending on the way and the reason you want to buy a dopp kit, you can get different size, material or functionality.

Speaking of which…

Functionality and available compartments

There are dopp kits that are completely empty inside and it’s in a form of a container while other have different compartments and sheaths to fit the respective tool within.

If you like to have your things completely organised, you can consider a dopp kit with several different sheaths. I prefer the latter since you can find everything immediately instead of digging in your bag.

What is the best dopp kit for men? Yes… For men!

Here’s what you came for. I already expressed my preference towards leather dopp kits.

I separated them in sections depending on their material. All of following travel toiletry kits don’t exceed $100 apart from one that I present separately at the end of the list..

Without further delays I present you the ones that I believe are among the best dopp kits you can buy.

Leather dopp kits

AmeriLeather Leather Toiletry Bag

AmeriLeather Leather Toiletry Bag

Seems like a typical leather toiletry kit at first. And no surprises here, you’re not wrong.

This leather dopp kit is made of top grain cowhide leather and has two interior zippered compartments. The dimensions (11 in. L x 6.5 in. W x 4 in. H) are a bit bigger than normal dopp kits but it’s still perfect for taking it with you at your travels.

The interior lining is waterproof nylon so you don’t have to worry about any leaking in case something breaks.

Vetelli Premium Hanging Toiletry Bag

Vetelli Premium Hanging Toiletry Bag

Vetelli is one of the toiletry bags that gives you everything you need and needless to say, looks great.

It’s a foldable dopp with a leather like interior of two large pockets and two canvas fabric small ones. You can literally fit anything inside, carry it, unfold it and hang it. With this dopp kit, your shaving kit can have its own place.

The dimensions when you don’t have anything inside is 12 x 8 x 2 inches deep and the girth can expand to 7-8 inches depending on what you put inside.

One thing that you might want to know in advance is that this particular bag is only available on amazon. Therefore, in case you’re interested in visiting a retail shop this might be a bit challenging if not impossible.

Dopp Admiral Kit

Dopp Admiral Kit

If you’re looking for a dopp kit, it can’t get any “dopper” than this.

This is a leather dopp kit from Dopp and it’s actually the one that I currently have as well.

It really serves its fame and it gives you all you want from a toiletry bag. Its made of high quality and well stitched leather with one compartment. It’s waterproof inside made from nylon mesh and boasts a single razor pouch.

The base of the kit is plastic. I think that this might be better since the leather might wear out with continuous use. Mine at least, looks like new after owning it for two years.

The good thing is that it’s simple enough for a dopp kit, decent sized, and it’s got everything you should expect at great quality.

Deluxe Leather Toiletry Bag from Parker Safety Razor

Deluxe Leather Toiletry Bag from Parker Safety Razor

Wet shaving enthusiasts immediately recognise Parker as a great manufacturer of shaving equipment and more specifically their safety razors, straight razors and shaving brushes. And this dopp kit is no different in quality.

Parker puts love and care when designing and producing this all leather dopp kit.

It’s a simple leather dopp kit that has a very sturdy and ergonomic design. The stiff cowhide leather surface feels great in your hands and with dimensions of 8″ x 5″ x 4″ will easily fit in your hand luggage. It’s not as large as other toiletry bags that we review today, but it makes the perfect travel companion for short trips when necessary shaving kit  and toiletries are required.

Vinyl dopp kits

Kenneth Cole Reaction Men’s Travel Kit

Kenneth Cole Reaction Men's Travel Kit

I’m a fan of Kenneth Cole and I’ve got quite a few products from this brand.

Their dopp kit is simple and inexpensive. I believe it’s the one that has the best value for money among the products that I included in this list.

It’s a relatively small and waterproof vinyl toiletry bag with dimensions of 5 x 10 x 6 inches. It has one compartment that closes with a good quality zipper and a small pocket in the front for small items.

I’m pretty sure that you’ll be very happy with it. And let’s face it. You get a Kenneth Cole dopp kit with less than $17.

Danielle Enterprises Montana for Him

Danielle Enterprises Montana for Him

I personally haven’t heard of this brand before but this is the least that I would worry about.

This toiletry kit has a very beautiful and waterproof design. It has three compartments so you can organise your shaving goodies nicely and it closes with a single double zipper and velcro.

As for the dimensions of 9″ x 7″ x 5″, they don’t make it the smallest dopp kit in this list, but this doesn’t mean that it’s restrictively bulky.

Cloth dopp kits

LYCEEM 5 Space Mens Hanging Toiletry Bag

LYCEEM 5 Space Mens Hanging Toiletry Bag

I believe that this LYCEEM is the most complete dopp kit you can get. With dimensions of 7.6″ x 11.3″ x 4.7″, you can fit literally everything. I would say that this is not only a complete travel kit but it’s also perfect to keep everything organised at your home.

First of all, it’s waterproof and comes with two side pockets on each side with plenty of space. This makes them 4 pockets in both sides…

The compartment in the middle is even larger. When you open it, numerous different pockets are revealed and available space that you can fit everything a man needs. Last but not least, when you open the central pocket, there is a hook with which you can hang the dopp kit.

Even though I firmly believe that this toiletry bag has been designed for women, there’s nothing to stop you from buying it. It has everything and it looks great.

Yes, in terms of size it isn’t the smallest one, but the functionality will pay off.

Briggs & Riley Baseline Classic Toiletry Kit

Briggs & Riley Baseline Classic Toiletry Kit

I’ve got experience with Briggs & Riley from my luggage and I can say that they make awesome products. When it comes to travel kits, they know what they’re doing.

This dopp kit is similarly great. It’s very simple yet beautiful, with standard dimensions of 5.5 x 10 x4 .5 inches that allows it to fit in packed luggage. A lightweight toiletry kit that it’s waterproof just like most of the toiletry kits being reviewed in this article.

Compared to other dopp kits in this list is a bit more pricey but not something that will break the bank. If you have any doubts, the lifetime warranty should be able to convince you.

Alpine Swiss Hudson Travel Dopp Kit

Alpine Swiss Hudson Travel Dopp Kit

The Alpine Swiss Hudson kit is the last but not least, dopp kit. At the time of review, this costs only $10 and it surely is the best dopp kit you can get for this price. It’s a steal! Even if you’re not planning owning a dopp kit, buy it just to offer it as a gift to your close ones.

It’s a single compartment dopp kit that measures 9.5″ x 6″ x 5″ with high quality build. The interior and exterior is water resistant.

If I judge from their laptop cases, this durable and nicely designed dopp kit will last you for quite some time.

Premium Leather Dopp Kit

Robert Graham Men’s Rago Canvas Dopp Kit

Robert Graham Men's Rago Canvas Dopp Kit

This is (article updated in Jan 2017 with additional products) was the only dopp kit in the entire list that exceeds $100 and there’s a good reason for it.

If you appreciate a beautiful and nicely crafted leather dopp kit, then this might be the ideal for you.

It’s made of both leather and waxed canvas, which makes a great looking combination. It consists of one main compartment that opens with a zipper as well as a small pocket in front for small items.

In terms of functionality, this leather dopp kit won’t give you something more than the previously discussed ones.

The dimensions of this dopp kit isn’t much different than the others, measuring 5.5″ x 8.75″ x 5″. This ensures that you can place inside all the necessary toiletries you’d like to carry while being able to easily fit the kit in your luggage without taking too much space.

Jack Georges Voyager Dopp Kit

Jack Georges Voyager Dopp Kit

Jack Georges is a manufacturer of leather products and this dopp kit is a great example of quality craftmanship.

Handcrafted in leather, this a very beautiful toiletry bag for any man who appreciates a classy design. The interior is made of nicely sewn nylon that allows for easy cleaning.

Although this bag can is meant for used during your travels, it’s wide enough to fit everything necessary for your man grooming routine -and not only. More specifically, this dopp kit measures 12 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ x 4″.

Last but not least, when you open it, the bag boasts a small hanger, making it the most premium hanging toiletry bag reviewed on this guide. Who said that high quality can’t be practical?

If you want something that is closer to the classic dopp kit, you can also look at their Large Leather Toiletry Bag.

Concluding remarks

I hope you got a good idea on how to select the best dopp kit for your next travel and maybe this list helped you find your faithful travel companion.

As you probably understood, there are some great branded kits that won’t necessarily cost you a lot while enjoying great quality and functionality.

What you’d like to carry and how you want your things organised will determine the type of dopp kit you’ll get.

Have I missed any good dopp kits? Which dopp kit do you prefer and why?