Zoe Vanderweide is a fashion and accessories writer who has personally tested nearly 500 bags, jeans, bras, shoes, and more.
One day your trusty bag contains a laptop and a few books, the next day it contains three bunches of celery and a melon from the farmers market.
Regardless of size or composition, a tote bag should be easy to pack and unpack, useful whether you’re heading to a coffee shop or the office, and cute and versatile enough to take to dinner.
We’ve found five stunning tote bags to suit every taste, need and budget. Our recommendations include a practical canvas bag, a luxurious open leather bag, a heavy-duty canvas bag, a sophisticated twill bag with leather handles and an elegant genuine leather bag.
This durable tote features a 40-inch adjustable shoulder strap and a top handle for a variety of carrying options. However, the thin canvas material may allow you to feel the contents of the bag or even get a prick.
NOTE: The Zip Duck is a slightly redesigned version of our original Baggu Tote. The updated version has a zip closure instead of snaps. The internal zip pocket has been replaced with a patch pocket. Otherwise, the size, material, and overall look of the bag are the same. We are testing the new model and will report back soon.
Are you looking for a simple and beautiful canvas bag? If you want a soft, casual, versatile and durable bag, check out the Baggu Zip Duck.
It’s a versatile bag. We can’t boil down the Duck Bag’s benefits to a single feature, but that’s what makes it great: Its practical simplicity makes it more popular than any other tote we’ve tested.
It seems like everyone at Wirecutter has used the Duck Bag, and we got a lot of positive feedback about its style during our testing. Overall, the Duck Bag was our favorite of all the canvas bags we tested because it’s understated yet flattering to look at.
The Duck Bag is 11 inches wide and nearly 16 inches tall, and can hold a lot of stuff thanks to its flexible seam design. “You could fit a whole yoga mat in there,” one tester told us.
It’s worth noting that the shoulder strap is 40 inches long, which is twice as long as most bags we tested. Wear it over one shoulder, crossbody as a messenger bag, or by the short top handle.
However, if you use the long straps and the bag fits snugly against your body, be aware that the canvas material doesn’t provide much protection for the bag’s contents. (Some of our testers, who were about 5’3″, complained that the bag poked in awkward places when they slung it over their shoulders with a laptop inside.)
It’s sturdier than it looks. After weeks of testing, the bag felt very durable and barely collected dust. In our experience, these bags last a long time. Leslie Stockton, senior writer and food stylist for Kitchen Team, has owned a Duck Bag for over a decade and uses it for everything from carrying rolls of knives and heavy wooden clogs to hauling a huge food processor around New York City. The bag is still fully functional and mostly intact, with only a few small rips in places and a small hole in the seam that shows it’s seen a lot of use. Leslie said the hole is easy to fix (she just hasn’t gotten around to it yet).
Baggu recommends machine washing the Duck Bag (most canvas bags need to be hand washed or spot washed) and then hanging it to dry, but you can also hand wash it. Leslie says the fabric stays silky and soft even after countless washes.
Duck Bag Company offers a one-year warranty against common defects in materials and workmanship found in tote bags.
The top-zip design makes it easy to store your belongings. The Duck Bag’s spacious main compartment features a top-zip closure to store your belongings. (Older versions of this bag had a snap closure; they’ve discontinued that.) And unlike an open bag, you don’t have to worry about being seen. “Throw your tampon in there,” one tester said. “No one will know because you won’t even see it!” The Duck Bag features an interior slip pocket for keys, sunglasses, or a wallet.
Dimensions: 11 x 15.75 x 4.75 inches Weight: 13 ounces Strap Height: 40 inches Closure Type: Zipper Colors: Seven patterns and colors, including natural mesh, tan wavy check, and embroidered small flowers
Crafted from soft Italian leather, this freestanding tote is lightweight yet roomy. But with only one small interior pocket, it’s not very convenient for storage.
The Cuyana Classic Easy Tote is a sleek and lightweight leather bag. Beyond rugged outdoor adventures, the soft leather and naturally flowing lines give this accessory a relaxed, understated sense of luxury that will easily transition from casual to formal occasions. It’s roomy enough to hold everything you need throughout the day and features two sets of different length handles, making it easy to carry over the shoulder or in your hand.
We love the easy access of this open design, but if you prefer the security of a closed design, Cuyana also sells a zippered version of this bag for about $30 more.
This is a long-term investment. The Easy Tote is a beautiful leather bag that retails for around $270. While it’s the most expensive tote we recommend, we think it’s worth the money. The soft, grainy texture of the Italian leather feels luxurious without being too over-the-top for everyday use. The bag’s loose, slightly baggy shape is both stylish and effortlessly chic.
The Easy Tote comes with a two-year warranty, which is longer than any of the bags we recommend except the Filson, which comes with a lifetime warranty.
It’s too big. At 21.5 inches wide and 12.25 inches tall, the Easy Tote is quite large—big enough for an actress to hide her pregnancy on TV—and very roomy.
The beauty of a large open tote is that it can hold a lot of stuff and is easy to carry. The Easy Tote has just one interior open pocket in addition to a roomy main compartment that’s big enough for a few essentials like a small wallet, phone, and keychain. This bag isn’t for those looking for extreme storage, but if you really need it, Cuyana has a cool, albeit pricey, $100 organizer that’s the perfect size for this bag.
The Easy Tote has multiple carrying options and comes with two sets of handles of varying lengths. The long handles are 10 inches long and are perfect for carrying over the shoulder. The other pair of handles are 6.25 inches long and are perfect for carrying in the hand or on the forearm. The handle is soft and flexible, making it very comfortable to carry and carry without feeling bulky.
Dimensions: 12.25 x 21.5 x 5 inches Weight: 1 pound 10 ounces Strap Height: 10 inches Clasp Type: None (a zip version is also available for around $30) Colors: 11 colors including black, caramel, cappuccino, stone, dark olive, ecru, various seasonal colors
This timeless structured bag is made from durable, long-lasting canvas and is available in a variety of colors, sizes and handle lengths.
LLBean’s iconic open boat bag is a compact and durable bag that’s perfect for daily trips to the beach or grocery store. This boat-shaped bag can be customized more than any other bag we found, in terms of size and handle length.
The Boat and Tote bag will never go out of style. You’ve probably seen this bag — if not in your city’s trendy neighborhood, sitting next to a bunch of cool twenty-somethings, then most likely at the beach, where your parents use it to smuggle in a bottle of Negroni.
It’s designed to stand upright, and the open top allows for easy access to your belongings. Even though the bag is lightweight, it almost always stays upright, making it easy to access from the back seat or when you’re getting out of the car in a hurry.
The Boat and Tote is extremely customizable. It offers a wide range of options to help you create your own style. In addition to being available in a dozen colors, it comes in small, medium, large, and extra large sizes, as well as two handle lengths. The standard 6-inch handles are more comfortable to use, while the 11-inch handles are more suitable for carrying larger items or for wearing the bag comfortably over your shoulder.
The medium open-top boat bag we tested measures 13 inches by 12 inches, slightly wider than it is tall. As advertised, it’s open at the top, so there’s no storage space, though LLBean also has a zippered version for a slightly higher price. (The zippered version without pockets is about $10 more, while the one with pockets is about $20 more.) The open-top model is great for shopping trips and other outings where you need easy access and visibility.
It is exceptionally strong and durable. The boat and bag are made of heavy cotton canvas; its overlapping seams are double-stitched with nylon. Thanks to the colorful design on the bottom, we did not notice any flaws during several weeks of trial use. (LLBean recommends spot cleaning.) The fabric is stiff and difficult to fold and store in a dresser.
LLBean claims the bag’s straps are rated to support up to 500 pounds; however, we couldn’t confirm this as we couldn’t hold more than 150 pounds.
Our friends who love the Boat and Tote bags are convinced that this is the best bag you can buy. Admittedly, it works very well. Although LLBean no longer offers a lifetime warranty, its guarantee is still valid: you can return your product within one year of purchase, after which the company will consider returning the product due to defects.
Dimensions: 13 x 12 x 6 inches Weight: 1 pound 8 ounces Band Height: 6 inches Clasp Type: None (a zipper version is also available for about $10 more) Colors: 12 colors including black, blue, dark green, red, natural
This roomy bag combines the durability and practicality of a canvas bag and even comes with a lifetime warranty, while elegant leather handles give it a sophisticated look. Plus, it has several handy outer pockets.
If you want the practicality of a canvas bag but still want a sleek, sophisticated and functional look, choose the Filson Denim Tote. This open twill bag features a simple yet sophisticated design and leather handles, making it perfect for everyday travel or a night out.
Stylish Look: The Filson Tote has a simple, elegant design with sleek leather handles, making it look more sophisticated than your average canvas bag. “I feel like I can go anywhere with this bag,” said one tester.
It can hold a lot of stuff. At 14 inches wide and 14 inches tall, the Filson Tote is wider than other canvas bags we recommend. The roomy main compartment is great for bulky items like shoes or sweatshirts. Four spacious pockets on the outside provide more storage space. Each of the bag’s wider sides features a full-size exterior pocket that can fit a 13-inch laptop; one of them also comes with a keychain. There are several smaller pockets on the end of the bag that are just the right size for a water bottle or umbrella.
If you need more capacity, Filson also makes a larger, 15-inch-wide version with a zipper (instead of an open top) for about $20 more. We haven’t tested this option yet.
It’s both durable and sophisticated. The name means “durable,” and it lives up to its name: the bag is made from 100% cotton, durable, and water-resistant twill. The fabric is stiff enough to allow the bag to stand on its own, and the interior seams are taped to prevent unraveling. The bottom of the bag is also reinforced. Filson recommends cleaning the bag with a cloth or brush.
The Filson Tote is well made and looks like it will last for years to come, plus it’s the only one of our picks that comes with a lifetime warranty.
Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 5.25 inches Weight: 1 pound 12 ounces Strap Length: 29.5 inches Closure Type: None (a zip-up version is available in larger sizes for about $20 more) Colors: Beige, Oar Green
This simple, slouchy bag is sophisticated yet lightweight, with soft, genuine leather that feels great to the touch. There are also practical internal pockets, one of which has a zip fastening.
The Leatherology Uptown Vertical Tote is a beautiful and versatile unstructured bag made from genuine leather; it exudes a casual, bohemian elegance and is easier to style than a similarly colored canvas bag. But perhaps most strikingly, it looks and feels like a butt.
Everyone loves this bag. When the judges voted, the Uptown Vertical Tote easily beat out all the other leather bags we looked at — everyone loved it. One judge raved, “My favorite! I love it. It’s so soft, like butter! It has such a nice texture.” Another judge agreed, “I want to hold it forever. It’s so soft.”
The interior is lined with black cotton twill to protect against stains and dirt. Leather experts advise wiping the outer layer of leather dry when it gets dirty.
Perfect size. The Uptown Vertical Tote measures 14.75 inches wide and 15.5 inches tall. “It’s the perfect length,” said one tester. “I can put my laptop in there and no one will notice.”