The Best Tote Bags For Serious Schleppers, Tested & Reviewed
Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
We've carried our lives in these totes, and they've carried us through life.
InStyle / Jaclyn Mastropasqua
There is no bag more universal — nor more practical — than the humble tote bag. Its construction is deceptively simple: two or three sides are stitched together with one or two top handles, which are designed for shoulder or crossbody carry.
Its simplicity, however, is exactly what makes it ideal for just about any errand: Made from cotton, leather, canvas, or even nylon, its unstructured, expandable shape offers a foolproof option for those with lots to schlep. In the right size and in the right material (ideally with an inner pocket or two), a tote bag can make carrying cumbersome contents across town — like groceries and running shoes — that much easier.
We know that a tote can look pretty online, but the real test is if it can survive the true wear and tear of everyday life. So we commuted, traveled, and camped on the beach to see which totes truly held up their promises and which let us down. After testing the totes over a few months to a few years, we graded them on their storage, organization, comfort, and durability. Here are the totes that performed best in our real-world testing.
Best Overall: Baggu Horizontal Duck Bag
What We Love: The long, adjustable strap — which can be worn over the shoulder or as a crossbody — stays in place, and the top interior pocket keeps keys and cards close at hand.
What We Don't Love: It could use another pocket or two.
With a roomy, laptop-friendly interior, an adjustable shoulder strap, zippered interior pocket, and under-$40 price tag, Baggu’s duck bag has become our go-to tote for work, school, and everything in between. The canvas is lightweight yet substantial (ideal for carrying heavy books and groceries), and the lightly structured shape keeps items organized and secure when on the go. And while tote bag straps tend to slide off of our shoulders — especially when wearing a thick winter coat — the Duck Bag’s adjustable crossbody strap stays put. Plus, because it’s made from easy-to-clean cotton, ours has withstood dozens of washes (and stood up to several stains) in the washing machine. Even after years of daily use, it still looks new, making it possible to carry our laptops, full-size water bottles, books, medications, and snacks without a problem.
Price at time of publish: $38
Colors: 11 | Material: Recycled cotton canvas | Straps and Handles: Top handles, adjustable crossbody strap | Closure: Button
Best Value: Baggu Standard Baggu Nylon Ripstop Tote
What We Love: BAGGU’s reusable bags are lightweight and virtually indestructible.
What We Don't Love: The straps slide down your shoulder.
Perhaps the most ubiquitous tote on this list, Baggu’s under-$15 nylon bags are ideal for carrying items you wouldn’t necessarily want in your purse, like fresh produce, sandy beach gear, or dirty running shoes. They’re machine washable and lightweight — and even fold up into an accompanying carrying pouch — making them exceptionally easy to throw into your car or suitcase. And unlike most totes on this list, the in-stock prints and colorways are vast: Baggu releases new patterns every season, like trippy checkerboard, nautical stripes, and bright florals, plus extra-large and mini sizes.
It’s worth noting that the bag was modeled after a standard take-out bag, which, while charming, is also the Baggu’s greatest downfall. The short, thick straps and lack of structure will have it sliding down your arm, especially when wearing bulky layers. If you’re going to be carrying your items long distances, you’re better off with a traditional tote bag, like the Baggu Horizonal Duck Bag.
Price at time of publish: $14
Colors: 50+ | Material: Ripstop nylon | Straps and Handles: Top handles | Closure: Open
Best Splurge: Freja New York Lafayette Tote Cappuccino
What We Love: The vegan leather looks and feels real, and it’s generously sized.
What We Don't Love: Given the size, it could use an interior divider to keep contents more organized.
If you’re in the market for something more polished than a canvas shopper, genuine and vegan leather totes are more durable than cotton, meaning they can hold up for decades with proper care. The only problem with leather bags, however, is that they can often feel heavy — especially for those who walk or take the subway to work. But according to InStyle Former Senior Fashion Commerce Editor Chloe Anello, that isn’t the case with Freja’s generously-sized NY Lafayette tote.
It’s made from a lightweight vegan leather — the “best looking (and feeling) faux leather I’ve ever seen,” she says — that never feels “far too heavy” when full. It holds “everything” she needs for work, including a 16-inch laptop, various chargers, and a water bottle, and even has a double magnetic snap closure that stays put while on the move. When you consider the four interior pockets and detachable key leash (and the five luxe colorways), we think it’s a worthy splurge.
Price at time of publish: $378
Colors: 5 | Material: PU leather | Straps and Handles: Top handles | Closure: Magnetic
Best Canvas: Utility Canvas Mini Field Tote
What We Love: The structured bottom and interior pockets keep contents organized.
What We Don't Love: It doesn’t have a crossbody strap.
When we set out to find the very best canvas tote bag, we had very strict criteria in mind; It needed to have a structured bottom, inside pockets, long-ish straps, and some sort of closure to keep contents secure and organized. It also — we hoped — wouldn’t be exorbitantly priced, given that canvas totes are so often free. When we asked Hayley Cavagnolo, interior designer and founder of petites clothing line Hayley Bridget, about her work bag, it was clear Utility Canvas’s Mini Field Bag really couldn’t be beat.
“It’s my go-to everyday tote. People stop me on the street to ask me about or compliment on the bag,” Cavagnolo says. Despite the “Mini” in its name, it’s the “perfect size for my laptop, lunch, and coffee mug,” she assures, while the side pockets are “super useful” for keeping essentials close at hand. It’s made in the US from durable 18-ounce cotton canvas, which is easy to clean and durable enough for heavy use. (For reference, the BAGGU Duck Bag is made from 16 ounce cotton canvas.)
The thin, rounded straps are long enough to stay put, and the structured bottom keeps items in place, meaning you won’t have to dig around to find your wallet or keys. Its one and only flaw is that it lacks a detachable crossbody strap — which is why we gave first place to the Duck Bag — but it does tick all of the other boxes.
Price at time of publish: $100
Colors: 4 | Material: Cotton canvas | Straps and Handles: Top handles | Closure: Snap
Related: The 12 Best Straw Bags to Take With You on Every Adventure
Best Extra Large: L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Bag
What We Love: It holds up to 500 pounds and can last decades. Plus, it’s monogrammable.
What We Don't Love: When full, the 24-ounce cotton canvas gets heavy.
At the peak of prep, L.L. Bean’s virtually indestructible Boat & Totes were carried by just about every coastal New Englander. “My parents have been using L.L. Bean totes since before I was born,” says Gracie Wiener, who runs @ironicboatandtote, an Instagram dedicated to ironically monogrammed Boat & Totes. “They are the most durable bags in the world, they’ll outlive all of us.” Wiener owns several, including the extra-large size, which, she recently found out on a post office run, can hold 10 medium-sized packages.
We were excited to test the hype for ourselves and learned first-hand that all the rumors were true. We've taken it everywhere from the office to the beach to long weekend camping trips. The zipped version even gave us some security, knowing things wouldn't topple out even as we bent over to pick up our kid's fallen items off the floor.
All sizes come in two handle lengths, though Wiener prefers the longer straps for more versatile carrying and the medium size for everyday wear. But if you have some serious stuff to schlep, the extra-large, which measures 17 inches high, 19 inches wide, and 10 inches deep, can fit just about any cumbersome item. (While moving, we once fit two table lamps into the bag with room to spare.) And of course, it wouldn't be an iconic L.L. Bean tote if it weren't for their monogramming capabilities. While we do wish it came with a few more zipped compartments for keys, phones, and wallets, it hasn't been a deal-breaker for us so far.
Price at time of publish: $35
Colors: 10 | Material: Cotton canvas | Straps and Handles: Top handles | Closure: Open or zip
Best Leather: Madewell The Zip-Top Medium Transport Tote
What We Love: The durable leather can last decades.
What We Don't Love: It can feel heavy when full.
Is there a more popular tote than this Transport Tote from Madewell? After schlepping it around town, to the office, and on trips, we understood why it's amassed such a cult-like following. To start, the size is just perfect, comfortably fitting books, water bottles, and laptops without completely getting lost in a black hole. Next, the few compartments allowed us to keep our wallets, phones, headphones, and chapstick easy to grab.
“I’ve had this bag for nearly a decade now, and while I can’t say it looks brand new — it definitely looks worn in — it has held up over the year, even through a substantial amount of abuse,” says Anello of this no-frills leather tote, one of the brand’s longtime bestsellers. The zippered closure has made it excellent for travel, although it did tend to get heavy when overfilled, she notes. Using the recommended crossbody straps allowed us to shift the weight around more comfortably.
Price at time of publish: $188
Colors: 3 | Material: Leather | Straps and Handles: Top handles | Closure: Zipper
Best Designer: Coach Rae Tote in Colorblock
What We Love: It comes with a detachable zippered pouch.
What We Don't Love: You can't zip it closed.
We recently had a guided tour through the Coach store, and found all the best bags and shoes worth splurging on. One of those items was this Rae tote, which immediately stood out for its superior leather, size, and design. There weren't many compartments inside, but it did come with a removable zipped pouch for you to store any creams or essentials in. The tote itself was extremely spacious as well. We were convinced you could easily stuff spare shoes, sweaters, books, laptops, and more in. Does that make it a little heavy in combination with the substantial leather? Yes, but it does have an extra long shoulder strap to spare your hands. And while we always appreciate a zip top for extra security, we recognize that would change the aesthetics of this bag. All in all, we simply fell in love with how luxurious this bag looked and felt. It will withstand the test of time and remain a classic piece to own forever.
Price at time of publish: $750
Colors: 4 | Material: Glovetanned leather | Straps and Handles: Top handles, shoulder straps | Closure: Open
Best Mini: Everlane The Italian Leather Mini Studio Bag
What We Love: It’s small yet functional, and the crossbody strap is comfortable.
What We Don't Love: The suede lining is difficult to clean.
Similar to Madewell's Transport tote, Everlane's leather tote is basically the same thing — but mini and zip-less. This teeny bag didn't fit a ton, but for those days out when we didn't need to bring a laptop or a big water bottle, it was ideal. The tote still fit a good book and a journal, making it much more useful than a standard purse. With one inside pocket and one outside, we could easily compartmentalize our items and ensure our phones stayed within reach. And while it doesn't have a zip closure, it does have a single button to at least keep the top semi-closed. We also liked the canvas shoulder strap, as it felt durable and comfortable to use as compared to a leather strap. We realized we needed to be careful with what we put inside the bag, however, because the suede lining was not easy to clean.
Price at time of publish: $198
Colors: 2 | Material: Leather | Straps and Handles: Crossbody | Closure: Snap
Best Beach Bag: Weezie Hat Holding Beach Tote
What We Love: There are straps on the exterior to carry your wide-brimmed hat.
What We Don't Love: You can't zip the bag closed.
We've brought many tote bags to the beach so far, but none have been as perfectly designed for the ocean like this one from Weezie. The exterior is made of terrycloth fabric, not unlike your beach towel, while the interior features an easy-to-clean, wipeable polyester fabric, so we never had to worry much about spills ruining the bag.
Most notably, there were straps to carry our beach hat on the exterior (!!). As hat girlies ourselves, we can't express how convenient it was not to have to distort our hats and stuff them into our bags when we didn't want to wear them. It completely changed the game in traveling with hats. And of course, there was plenty of room in this tote for towels, water bottles, books, and more. Our biggest fear is losing our keys or phone at the beach, so thankfully, the zippered compartment allowed us to secure our valuables. The only con truly is that we couldn't zip the top closed, which could have added a layer of security.
Price at time of publish: $88
Colors: 1 | Material: Terrycloth | Straps and Handles: Shoulder straps | Closure: Open
Best for Travel: Beis The East To West Tote
What We Love: There's a compartment for just about everything.
What We Don't Love: The top zip doesn't close all the way.
Two things that are always lacking during travel: time and luggage space. Beis understood this obstacle and created the perfect bag designed to save you a little bit of both. It's compartment galore in this tote -- there are pockets for your laptop, passport, water bottle, phone, and even a key-strap on the exterior zipped pocket. You won't be caught rummaging around to find your documents and papers as you're rushed through security -- everything is exactly there where you put it. On top of that, each compartment is padded, so valuables are protected from any kind of pushing and shoving as well. Add in the luggage sleeve, and it's destined to become your favorite travel companion.
Even with all these compartments, we found there was enough space to store our sweaters, books, and tsa-approved skincare. We felt comfortable being able to protect everything with the zippered closure, although we're not completely sure why it doesn't close all the way. There are still some open spaces to the left and right of the zip.
Price at time of publish: $108
Colors: 2 | Material: Recycled polyester | Straps and Handles: Top handle, shoulder straps | Closure: Zipper
Best for Work: Dagne Dover Vida Cotton Tote Bag
What We Love: The plethora of pockets make it excellent for work and travel.
What We Don't Love: It’s expensive for a cotton tote.
We don’t own Dagne Dover’s bestselling Vida Cotton Tote, but we did test one in-store — and nearly walked out with it. It’s not cheap, but it certainly isn’t lacking in features; The tote has a total of seven pockets, two sets of straps, an interior keyring, and a neoprene water bottle holder, making it by far the most sophisticated canvas tote on this list. And while some might prefer a leather tote for work, we find canvas totes lighter and easier to maneuver when commuting, especially when taking the subway or bus. The large size can comfortably accommodate a 16-inch laptop and is spacious enough to even be used as a weekender or carry-on. (Though if you don’t have much to pack, the small will fit a 13-inch laptop.)
We were particularly impressed by the shoulder straps, which are a touch thicker and longer — and therefore easier to wear — than those on most totes, and the weight felt distributed evenly when full. Most surprising, however, was the bottom of the bag, which appeared to be treated with a dirt-resistant coating — an excellent feature for city commuters.
Price at time of publish: $175
Colors: 3 | Material: Cotton canvas | Straps and Handles: Top handles | Closure: Open
Best with a Zipper: Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote
What We Love: It’s roomy, lightweight, and can be packed up for easy carrying.
What We Don't Love: The straps aren’t adjustable.
The runner-up to our best travel tote, Longchamp’s long-beloved Pliage tote is a classic for a reason. It’s roomy enough to use as a carry-on (and fits perfectly under the seat in front of you, as we found out during our travels), it folds flat with both a snap and zippered closure, and even has a water-resistant lining to combat spills. Made from durable nylon and embossed leather — both of which are easy to clean — Longchamp’s totes can last decades even with everyday wear. (A friend of ours new-looking Pliage tote, we recently found out, is actually her mom’s from the ‘90s.)
The bag holds up very well, in part due to its sturdy YKK zippers: each one is finished with leather tabs to ensure longevity and seal out moisture. We did find however that the single side pocket in the interior wasn't big enough to hold the larger iPhone versions. It was only good enough for keys and credits cards. It also lacks any kind of adjustable straps. You’re stuck with two (albeit long) shoulder straps, which may or may not slide down your shoulder.
Price at time of publish: $155
Colors: 7 | Material: Nylon, leather | Straps and Handles: Top handles | Closure: Zipper, snap
Best Convertible: Polène Cyme Bag
What We Love: It can be worn in multiple ways and comes with a removable pouch.
What We Don't Love: The straps can dig into the shoulders when the bag is filled to the brim.
There hasn't been a trip, an office day, or a plane ride spent without this tote ever since it came into our possession. While its beautiful design and luxurious leather are big contributing factors to why, it's also its convenient size and convertibility that's made it such a hit for us. The two ends can be folded inward and clasped closed through a magnet, compressing its size and making it more friendly for daily use. The top handle and shoulder straps also offered multiple ways we could carry the bag. Laptops, notebooks, sweaters, and more fit into its big open space with ease, and any little miscellaneous items were placed in the removable pouch that came with the bag. Despite being made of substantial leather, the bag itself does not feel heavy. That being said, where there's a ton in the bag, the thin leather straps can feel like they're digging into the shoulders slightly.
Price at time of publish: $430
Colors: 7 | Material: Calf leather | Straps and Handles: Top handles, shoulder straps | Closure: Magnetic
Best Straw: Terrain Leather Handle Market Tote
What We Love: The leather handle will be more comfortable to hold than straw.
What We Don't Love: It won't be easy to clean, especially if you get sand in it.
For the summer or beachy vacation, we recommend adding a straw tote bag into the mix. We named this our best straw bag before, thanks to its versatility and high-quality construction. With a leather handle, instead of straw, the tote looks more elevated than a traditional bag, and it will also be more comfortable to hold, especially when filled with necessities. Hand-woven in Morocco from date palm leaves, the bag is also sustainable, giving us an even better feeling about this back. We love how on top of being functional, it also looks particularly stylish. It will make a welcome addition to any vacation look. But to clean it, you need to hand wash it with the tiniest bit of vinegar and reshape it clean, which might be a pain.
Price at time of publish: $88
Colors: 1 | Material: Palm, leather | Straps and Handles: Top handles | Closure: Open
Our Testing Process
For this tested story, we tapped into our rich internal source of style experts and received recommendations based on long-term first-hand experiences to find the best tote bags. Nine out of the 14 mentioned products have been individually bought and handled for four months up to over four years. From there, each person gave a detailed review of their favorite tote bag, commenting on the durability, material, ease of use, and portability. Additional perks such as compartments and pockets have been noted as well. From there, we compiled this list of best tote bags, based on our personal experiences.
What to Keep In Mind
Material
While leather bags can provide more structure than relaxed nylon or cotton, they’re also much (much) heavier. If you’re going to be carrying your tote long distances — such as through the airport or to and from the subway — you may want to invest in something lighter, like Beis East to West Travel Tote, that's made from recycled polyester.
Function
Anyone looking to carry a whole lot of stuff should consider opting for an extra large size — like the L.L.Bean tote or Freja bag — because it will prevent you from needing multiple bags, especially if you plan to use it for work. And for those looking to go to the beach or use for workouts, look for something that can air out and breathe to keep the sand and sweat from sticking around forever.
Straps
Because totes bags are designed to be worn over the shoulder, the straps are one of the most important features. Before purchasing a bag, examine the straps to ensure the stitching is high quality and secure — i.e. the straps won't break when you've loaded your tote to the brim. The wider the straps, the better they distribute weight, so look for totes with wide straps if you don't want them digging into your shoulders. For extra versatility, look for totes with adjustable straps and/or detachable ones to wear crossbody. The long, adjustable strap is one of the many reasons why we named Baggu's Horizontal Duck Bag the Best Overall. And remember, never hang your bags in storage, as that ruins the straps over time.
Your Questions, Answered
What's the most durable material for a tote bag?
The durability of your bag will depend on several factors, including frequency of wear, the material, and how the bag is stored when not in use. Generally, leather and canvas are the most durable, and can withstand several years (if not decades) with proper care. Of the two, canvas totes are easier to repair should the bag become ripped, stained, or torn.
How do you wash a tote bag?
No matter the material, it’s best to first check the care tag on your tote before washing. Most leather bags will require professional cleaning, and should not be wiped with or submerged in water. (If you’re just trying to buff out scuffs, however, you can try a leather conditioner.) Cotton and nylon totes are generally easy to care for, and can be hand-washed with a gentle detergent. Machine-drying totes is not recommended, as this can weaken the fabric and cause shrinkage.
Why Shop With Us
Bianca Kratky is a commerce writer with three years of experience covering fashion and beauty. In addition to researching and evaluating our testing results, she also tested several tote bags on her own. Leah Muncy is an accomplished journalist with bylines in New York Magazine, InStyle, Architectural Digest, and more. Together, they interviewed the following experts for their advice on what to look for in a high quality tote bag:
InStyle Former Senior Fashion Commerce Editor Chloe Anello
Gracie Wiener, who runs @ironicboatandtote, an Instagram dedicated to ironically monogrammed Boat & Totes
Hayley Cavagnolo, interior designer and founder of petites clothing line Hayley Bridget
Related: The 20 Best Designer Tote Bags of 2023
For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on InStyle.
