Shop

The Best Tote Bags for Flying, Shopping, and Just Living Your Life

A cute clutch is perfect for a night on the town, but most days we really just want to live our best Mary Poppins' life. That’s when you leave the house (or get on a flight) knowing you’ve got aspirin, and tissues, and a book, and an extra phone charger, and maybe even a snack stashed in your bag. That’s where the tote bag comes in. In leather or nylon, in sleek business black or in wild animal print, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite totes to hold everything you need—and then some. You'll find at least one you love, we totes promise. 

See recent posts by Angela Serratore

1

Best Tote Overall

Cuyana Classic Leather Zipper Tote.

Cuyana Classic Leather Zipper Tote 

Cuyana’s leather totes are the gold standard in everyday bags—sturdy and rendered in gorgeous leather that only gets better with age. The zipper is one of the sturdiest we’ve ever come across—meaning your wallet and belongings are super secure. We love this tote in burgundy: it’s different enough to stand out but neutral enough to work with any look. Don’t forget to personalize with your monogram!

Shop Now
2

Best Leather Tote Bag

The Soft Day Tote.

Everlane Soft Day Tote

Everlane changed the game for elevated, sustainable basics, so we knew they’d totally nail the tote game, too. This one is big enough to hold a laptop and a lunch, making it ideal for a work commute. The unstructured leather gives off subtle boho vibes while remaining luxe enough to be office ready.

Shop Now
3

Best Suede Tote Bag

The Medium Transport Tote: Corduroy Suede Edition MADEWELL.

Madewell The Medium Transport Tote

It’s suede. It’s corduroy. It’s the best of both worlds! This Madewell tote bag comes with a removable shoulder strap for days when you want to switch it up, plus an interior zippered pocket to keep smaller items secure. We especially love the Midnight Spruce color, which in the corduroy suede manages to look both green and blue. Versatile! 

Shop Now
4

Best Canvas Tote Bag

L.L. Bean Boat and Tote, Zip-Top.

L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Zip-Top

OK—it’s impossible to talk totes and not talk L.L. Bean, whose iconic boat-and-totes have been holding school supplies, beach gear, and picnic essentials for decades. The classic red perfectly captures the brand’s Maine spirit, and the zip-top offers extra security, making this the tote bag you’ll want to bring, well—everywhere. 

Shop Now
5

Best Nylon Tote Bag

LeSportsac Gabrielle Medium Snake-Embossed Nylon Box Tote.

LeSportsac Gabrielle Medium Nylon Box Tote

If you want a tote that feels indestructible but still looks stylish, that combination is LeSportsac’s whole thing! Rendered in easy-to-clean, hard to tear nylon, this practical and stylish tote (it also has multiple straps and a strong zipper) would be ideal for a European vacation—it’s perfect for filling up with souvenirs! 

Shop Now
6

Best Expandable Tote Bag

Longchamp Le Pliage Club Large Shoulder Tote.

Longchamp Le Pilage Club Large Shoulder Tote 

Whether you’re actually strolling through the cobblestone streets of Paris or just daydreaming of a French vacation, only Longchamp will do. The French cool girl’s bag of choice, this tote folds up neatly in larger bags and then expands to hold wine, cheese, and baguettes (or, you know, a laptop and a phone). And in the gorgeous plum shade? Très magnifique!

Shop Now (plum)
7

Best Foldable Tote

Able LARGE EMNET FOLDOVER CROSSBODY.

ABLE Emnet Large Foldover Crossbody Tote 

ABLE is doing more than making bags—95 percent of the brand’s employees are women, and the company is committed to paying fair and livable wages to workers around the world. This foldover tote is made of buttery soft leather in Ethiopia. The smart design is a versatile option for a tote that can be styled a few different ways.

Shop Now
8

Best Travel Tote Bag

The Longitude Tote.

Away The Longitude Tote 

Away has totally upped the travel game with its instantly beloved suitcases, and they’ve brought that big packing energy to their tote. It has a bunch of pockets for keeping electronics safe and files organized, and the sleek, shiny leather is both chic and professional. We love it in this dark green for a pop of color on your way to an important business meeting. 

Shop Now
9

Best Status Tote Bag

Voya Tote.

Senreve Voya Tote

Designed by (and for) glamorous businesswomen and hand-constructed in Italy, Senreve is the status tote you didn’t know you needed—until now. The Voya tote in a luxurious pebbled black leather has a whopping eight pockets, plus a removable laptop sleeve. This is a tote bag that says you’ve got it all, and you look great doing it.

Shop Now
10

Best Affordable Tote Bag

Target Reversible Tote Handbag.

A New Day Reversible Tote

Target is the ultimate destination for practical shopping, so it’s no surprise they’d take it to the next level with this faux-leather tote. Not only is it affordable (as in, under $40 affordable), it’s also reversible—black one day, warm brown the next! What could be better than two styles for the price of one?

Shop Now
11

Tote Bag with Best Interior Organization

Allyn Tote.

Dagne Dover Allyn Tote

This Dagne Dover tote has a place for everything. Pens? There are cute leather straps for that. Laptop? A dedicated compartment. Want to keep your water bottle upright? Dagne Dover thought about that, too. Since it’s so practical on the inside, we love the idea of getting this in a fun color like bright red.

Shop Now
12

Best Convertible Tote Bag

BUCKET CONVERTIBLE SHOULDER BAG TOTE.

Timbuk2 Bucket Convertible Shoulder Bag 

This convertible tote, in a stylish olive green shade, will take you from the classroom to…any room you want. In shoulder bag mode, it’s perfect for a computer and notebooks. Remove the straps and you’ve got a more traditional tote that’s full of organizational compartments. Bonus points that it’s totally waterproof. 

Shop Now
13

Best Slouchy Tote Bag

Heritage Suede Hobo Bag.

Free People Heritage Suede Hobo Bag

Free People is basically synonymous with boho chic, which is why we turned to the brand for the perfect slouchy bag. In soft brown suede, this is the tote bag we’d take to Coachella. The unstructured style means you’ll be able to hold all your essentials—and can wear it hands-free for selfies. 

Shop Now
14

Best Beach Tote

Venti Beach Tote.

Reformation Venti Beach Tote

Leave it to beloved sustainable fashion brand Reformation to come up with the beach tote of our dreams. Seriously: this jute tote is begging you to fill it up with a book, some sunscreen, and a towel—and hit the sand. If a seaside vacation isn’t in the cards, we love this for a stroll around a weekend farmer’s market, too. 

Shop Now
15

Best Vegan Tote Bag

SCHLEPP Tote Bag - Cosmo.

Matt & Nat Schlepp Vegan Tote Bag 

High quality vegan leather is the best of both worlds—it looks super luxe, but it’s gentle on the environment (and often on the wallet). This Matt & Nat tote bag is big enough to hold a laptop or a tablet, plus your other essentials. It’s made from recycled nylon, which makes it an especially good choice if ‘eco-friendly’ is at the top of your wish list. 

Shop Now
16

Best Printed Tote Bag

molly leopard large tote.

Kate Spade Molly Leopard Large Tote

Say it with us: leopard print is a neutral! And leave it to Kate Spade to come up with the cutest leopard tote we’ve ever seen. In warm browns and soft pinks, this tote will go with everything—and since it’s lightweight (thanks to the vegan leather fabric), it’ll hold everything, too.

Shop Now
17

Best Everyday Reusable Bag

BAGGU Puffy Tote.

Baggu Puffy Tote

Leave it to Baggu, the ultimate reusable tote brand, to come up with a cozy winter parka…for your stuff. We love this bag for an after-work trip to the grocery store—the padding will keep even the most delicate fruits and veggies intact, and it’s light enough to fill with essentials while keeping your shoulders happy.

Shop Now
18

Best Goyard Saint Louis Tote Bag Dupe

Gemini Link Coated Canvas Tote TORY BURCH.

Tory Burch Gemini Link Coated Canvas Tote

The Goyard Saint Louis is a status bag with a status price tag—the French bags start in the four figures. If you love the look but don’t want to drop that much coin, this Tory Burch tote is the perfect alternative. It’s got a similar chevron print, and the coated canvas is both durable and easy to clean. Truly, the perfect dupe. 

Shop Now

The Three Items We Always Carry in Our Tote Bag

Related Stories

All products have been hand-picked by our writers and editors. Items purchased through links may earn us a commission.