The Best Tote Bags to Carry You Through Life
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Tote bags have come a long way from their humble beginnings. The word tote, meaning “to carry by hand,” has been around for centuries, but the bag as we know it didn’t emerge until 1944, when L.L.Bean debuted the Bean Ice Carrier: a double-handled canvas bag designed to lug ice blocks. Fabricated from the double-layered material used in conveyor belts, its oatmeal-colored shape could bear up to 500 pounds of weight—ultimately solidifying the tote’s status in the pantheon of carryalls. You need a tote when you need to carry a ton of stuff.
Over the decades, tote bags have evolved from practical workhorses into cultural currency, adapting to reflect the shifting identities of their carriers. In 1965, the Bean Ice Carrier was reinvented as the iconic L.L.Bean Boat and Tote, a taller and arguably more fashionable version that became one of its bestsellers. By the 1980s, totes were utilized as promotional swag, with the Strand Book Store’s original canvas tote bag becoming one of the first of many totes stamped with logos and brand information.
Today, totes are social signals. The ubiquitous New Yorker tote became the uniform of the chic intellectual, and Trader Joe’s reusable bags (though around since the late ’70s) are a badge of brand loyalty. The tote is more than just a carryall—it’s a statement, a friend, and occasionally a subtle flex. In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best totes for every haul and hauler, from meticulous laptop carriers to sustainable designs and fashionable pieces. We also have guides to the Best Laptop Backpacks, Best Fanny Packs, and the Best Messenger Bags (which I'm convinced are making a comeback).
Updated December 2024: We've overhauled this guide with new products.
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How We Tested
We scoured both timeless classics and newcomers, considering everything from capacity to comfort to sustainability. To find the best tote bags, we put each contender through a real-world boot camp. Over the course of several weeks (in some cases, years), we loaded up each bag with everything from laptops and books to groceries and gym gear. We tested totes’ durability in extreme weather conditions: Portland rain, Chicago snow, and New York summer heat. Organization is key, too, so we made sure each tote was intuitive to pack.
- Materials: We prioritized durability, quality, and sustainability, and we included eco-friendly brands for environmentally conscious consumers. We also made sure to include an array of fabrics for stylistic variability.
- Design: We scrutinized every pocket, compartment, and zipper for usability. When it comes to design, we paid attention to the details: interior fabric choices that make contents easy to see, convenient pocket placement, and hardware choices like zippers and zipper pulls. We also paid attention to key design elements, such as the handle length and overall structure.
- Comfort: No one wants straps that dig into their shoulders, so we paid close attention to how each bag felt when fully loaded.
- Price: We considered how each bag stacked up against its price point, ensuring that the quality justified the cost.
Honorable Mentions
Lo & Sons Upcycled Patchwork Tote for $66: This is probably what you picture when you think of a tote—it has one large compartment with two smaller internal pockets, and it doesn't snap or zip closed. Still, it comfortably fits a laptop, books, and day-to-day accessories, so it could be used as a work tote bag or for a night away. Fun fact: It's made from returned and damaged Lo & Sons bags.
Lo & Sons Catalina Supreme Tote for $135: Lo & Sons is one of our favorite brands, and former reviewer Medea Giordano says this travel bag is brilliant for weekend getaways. It's capacious with a bottom compartment for a pair of shoes. Don't need a separate compartment? Just unzip the bottom of the main compartment to create one larger space. The Catalina Supreme is made from a durable recycled material that keeps its shape even when empty. For what it is, though, it's hard to justify the hefty price tag.
Bellroy Tokyo Tote for $129: This is the runner-up to our top pick from Moment. It's similarly pocketed, with a soft sleeve to cradle a 13-inch laptop, two 5-inch pockets for a phone, wallet, cables, or a small notebook, and larger “pop” pockets on either end that extend to hold a water bottle, umbrella, or shoes. It's made of recycled plastic bottles, and its straps have a nice rubbery grip to keep it on your shoulders.
Lux and Nyx Origami Tote for $288: The Origami Tote is stunning, with a design that can transition from work and the gym to dinner or the airport. There's a padded laptop sleeve, two interior side pockets that can hold mini-umbrellas or even a flat shoe, a small zip pocket hidden inside the exterior V-shape sleeve that holds a phone, and a luggage pass-through on the other side. There are two versions, one made from neoprene and satin, but neither biodegrades.
Fjallraven Kånken Totepack for $100: We love the Kånken backpack. Its Totepack is essentially the same bag but can convert from a tote to a backpack. The downside is its size, with only a 13-inch laptop pocket and two side pockets for water bottles or a small umbrella—but they're tight, so don't expect to fit a 1L Nalgene in there.
United by Blue Convertible Carryall for $118: This is our favorite recycled bag and a solid, water-resistant laptop bag that you can wear as a tote on one shoulder or unzip the hidden straps and sport as a backpack. Former reviewer Medea Giordano says it's great for camping trips and outdoor getaways. Some of the main features include a padded laptop sleeve, internal organizational pouches, and two side pockets with expandable straps.
Dagne Dover Petra Convertible Tote for $285: The Petra is made from recycled polyester and plastic bottles. It's durable and huge—it fits a 16-inch laptop and is almost 17 inches tall. It's probably too big for an everyday bag. But the hardware is heavy-duty metal, and the laptop compartment is padded. For parents, this is also a decent diaper bag.