A good tote is for the schlep. One day your trusty tote bag transports your laptop and a couple of books, and the next it holds three bunches of celery and a melon from the farmers market.
No matter its size or composition, a tote should be easy to pack and unpack, useful whether you’re heading to a coffee shop or an office, and attractive and versatile enough for you to bring it along to dinner afterward.
1. A casual-cool canvas tote: Baggu Duck Bag
The Duck Bag is 11 inches wide by nearly 16 inches tall, and thanks to its flexible seams, it can accommodate a large volume of contents. We love that the Baggu Duck Bag’s multiple straps—including a pair of sturdy top handles—allow you to carry it in a variety of ways.
2. A luxurious open-top leather bag: Cuyana Classic Easy Tote
The Cuyana Classic Easy Tote is an elegant and lightweight leather bag. We’d wear it just about anywhere (barring rugged outdoor adventures), as its soft, supple leather and unstructured shape give it a relaxed and subtly luxurious vibe that can easily transition from casual outings to more formal settings. It’s large enough to carry everything you could need for a long day, but you can also use the bag’s internal ties to cinch it, creating a more purse-like silhouette for lighter loads.
3. A structured open-top tote made from heavier canvas: L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Open-Top
The iconic L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Open-Top is a structured and ridiculously sturdy tote bag, well suited to handling the abuse of regular trips to the beach or the grocery store. The Boat and Tote also offers more customizability than any other tote bag we found in terms of size and handle-length options.
4. A sophisticated and structured open-top canvas tote: Filson Rugged Twill Tote Bag
When you need the utilitarian qualities of a canvas tote and want to look stylish, polished, and like you’ve got it all together, turn to the Filson Rugged Twill Tote Bag. The simple but elevated design of this leather-handled twill bag makes it an equally appropriate companion for a day of running errands or a nice evening out.
5. An unstructured, open-top leather tote: Leatherology Uptown Vertical Tote
The Leatherology Uptown Vertical Tote is an attractive and versatile unstructured full-grain leather bag; it has a relaxed, bohemian elegance that makes it easier to dress up than similarly drapey canvas bags. Perhaps most notably, it looks and feels like butt-ah.
6. An inexpensive, structured vegan leather tote with a zippered top: Universal Thread Hayden Tote Handbag
The Universal Thread Hayden Tote Handbag is a good option if you like the look of leather, but you’re on a tight budget or steering clear of goods made from real cowhide. This is a simple, functional vegan tote. And unlike many totes, it has a zippered top, allowing you to close it up and secure the contents.