1. Motorcycle tail bags come in a dizzying array of shapes and sizes, so we aimed to gather a selection of not-too-big, not-too-small pieces useful to riders for all kinds of trips, from across town to across the country. If you have a luggage rack or sissy bar, River Road’s Medium Sissy Bar Bag might be the perfect piece of luggage for your weekend trips. The largest bag here, it’s made of RoadTex 1680 denier nylon with a PVC coating to repel water, and it features large horizontal and vertical hook-and-loop straps to go around and over a sissy bar. It has four exterior pockets with a large top pocket, reflective piping to increase your visibility, and non-slip material on the bottom to keep the bag secure on your rack or seat. There’s also a convenient carry handle on the back. Soft gray interior lining protects your valuables and makes it easier to find items inside in the dark. Price: $169.95.

2. Maybe the perfect size for everyday use, the Wolfman Peak tail bag from Aerostich has a wedge shape and Tough-tek non-skid flat bottom to make it easy to mount on your bike with the included straps and hooks. It also expands by 4 inches when you need more room and has an integrated bungee cord top for holding more items. The inside features a pocket in the top, along with compression straps to keep whatever you’re carrying inside safely secured. The bag also has reflective side accents to help keep your bike visible at night. Price: $109.

3. Next up is the Laguna tail bag from Firstgear. Made of 1000 denier RoadTex with a PVC coating and UV protection, the Laguna features three external zippered pockets along with a small zipper at the front concealing an attached rain cover. There’s also a zippered pocket on the inside of the top flap that’s perfect for documents, maps and the like. Inside are three more zippered pockets and a large compartment lined in soft flannel, with a movable partition. The bag has two lower flaps to ensure secure mounting to your bike and comes with a shoulder strap for easy off-bike transportation. The main compartment expands vertically by 3 inches for extra capacity, and the bag also has reflective panels to increase your visibility at night. Price: $109.95.

4. The T485 tail bag from Givi is a medium-sized bag made of 1000 denier Cordura. Longer and taller than it is wide, it features reinforced panels to help the bag keep its shape when it’s empty, and the fastening system uses two long elastic bungee straps with rubber-coated metal hooks on the ends to secure the bag to your bike. It features a carrying handle, a shoulder strap for taking the bag with you when you’re off the bike, two zippered external pockets, a small stretch pocket on the inside of the door, and a large interior pocket that holds 17 liters of cargo. There’s elastic web netting on top for extra carrying capacity, and it comes with a rain cover and a waterproof Dry Pak bag inside to ensure your gear stays dry. Price: $138.99 (at Motorcycle-superstore.com).