Best Tote Bags for Every Occasion in 2024

Tote bags are just about the most useful and versatile types of bags money can buy. Fusing practicality with style, they're often super spacious inside, providing plenty of room for all sorts of items. Some people do their grocery shopping with nothing but totes, others use them as an extra piece of luggage when taking a flight or stuff them full of beach towels and sunscreen for a happy family beach day.

Whether you're out on the town, heading to work, or just doing some daily errands, a classic tote can be your best friend. But, with such a variety of bags to pick from, finding the perfect tote isn't always as easy as it should be. This guide's here to help with that, as we'll go through the best tote bags money can buy.

Best Tote Bags

Whether you're looking for a trendy tote to show off to your friends, a lightweight tote that won't weigh you down, or some reliable everyday totes for your shopping trips, here's a list of the top options to consider.

Canvelle Crossbody Tote

As one of the bestselling tote bags on the market today, the Canvelle Crossbody Tote is the embodiment of versatility. Equally at home in day or night settings, it's the perfect bag for work, travel, and play. This premium tote is made of top-notch materials, with half a dozen colors and several size options.

Key Features:

• Multiple Sizes: From Extra Small, like a classic black toiletry pouch, to Extra Large, with more than enough room for all your everyday items.
• Color Options: Whether you want a neat black tote bag, or something a little more out-of-the-ordinary, like olive green or cornflower blue, Canvelle's got you covered.
• Interior Organization: A zippered pocket along the top, interior pockets for small, important items, open pockets to grab what you need, and even a padded phone slip pocket, too
• Durability: This bag's built to last, with a durable, hard-wearing design, ideal for everything from long-distance train travel to days at the office.

Best For: People who want the functionality and spacious interior of a tote, with flexible size options, lots of colors, and inimitable style that'll never go out of fashion.

Dagne Dover Daily Tote

 

Available in a couple of classy color options, the Dagne Dover Daily Tote was designed with organization in mind. It has lots of interior compartments, including an insulated pouch for your bottle.

Key Features:

• Spacious: Big enough to store a 16-inch laptop.
• Compartments: Lots of interior compartments for everyday items, devices, and more.
• Sizes: Choose between medium and large alternatives.

Best For: People seeking a spacious, organized tote bag for day-to-day use, such as running errands or heading to work.

Everlane Day Market Tote

Simple, chic, free of frills or fancy add-ons, the Everlane Day Market Tote is a great partner for shopping trips and casual outings.

Key Features:

• Roomy: Lots of space on the inside to store your purse, keys, phone, and purchases.
• Leather Design: Made of a leather-like material, crafted from plant-based proteins for eco-friendly fashion.
• Colors: Choose between black, chocolate, and brandy-colored variants.

Best For: Those seeking a tote that's both practical and fashionable, with sustainable manufacture.

J.Crew Montauk Tote

Super stylish, the J.Crew Montauk Tote has a comfy shoulder strap and plenty of space inside for laptops, travel essentials, and work files.

Key Features:

• Large Interior: There's more than enough room in this tote to store all you need for days out.
• Front Pocket: The handy front pocket lets you store items for easy, on-the-go access.
• Sizes and Colors: Pick from varying sizes and colors to match your needs and taste.

Best For: Busy professionals who want something stylish and functional, all in one.

Freja Paloma Tote 

Bringing to mind top-tier designers like Marc Jacobs and Vera Bradley, the Freja Paloma Tote is classy, modern, and elegant, with a smart, structured design to help you store lots and stay organized.

Key Features:

• Pockets: You'll find tons of pockets inside the Paloma for laptops, documents, and more.
• Vegan: The Paloma is made from vegan fiber material, ideal for the eco-conscious buyer.
• Sophisticated: A super smart design from top to bottom, ideal for the modern businesswoman.

Best For: Users who want a polished, formal look, while still being able to carry lots of stuff.

Everlane Studio Bag

With a simplistic, minimalist design, this elegant tote is sure to serve well and last a long time, thanks to its tough leather exterior.

Key Features:

• Adjustable Shoulder Strap: To help you get the most comfortable carry.
• Exterior Pocket: With plenty of space to put your phone, keys, and other important items.
• Colors: Several colors to suit buyers of differing tastes.

Best For: Busy professionals who want a long-lasting bag for their laptops and workday essentials.

MZ Wallace Medium Metro Tote

Functionality is the name of the game with the MZ Wallace Metro Tote. It's got lots of storage and a lightweight design, making it ideal for day trips or long-term adventures.

Key Features:

• Lots of Pockets: Five outside, six inside, giving you lots of room to get organized.
• Luggage Sleeve: This transforms your everyday tote into a dream travel bag.
• Detachable Pouch: For your most personal, precious items.

Best For: Travel addicts who need lots of storage and compartments.

Cuyana System Tote

Cuyana's System Tote simply exudes class with its super sleek, curvy design, where the shoulder straps seamlessly blend with the body of the bag.

Key Features:

• Thick Attachable Strap: Attach the strap to carry your bag even more comfortably.
• Lots of Extras: Includes a tech carryall, a flap bag, and a zip pouch insert.
• Monogramming Option: Customize your bag for a truly one-of-a-kind tote.

Best For: Buyers who want a personalized tote they can freely adjust to fit their needs.

LL Bean Tote

There's only one real way to describe this bag: extra-large. The LL Bean Tote has an oversized design you can use for weekends away, long commutes, and so on.

Key Features:

• Durable: Made from strong, long-lasting canvas.
• Capacity: Tons of room inside for all your stuff.
• Sizes: Choose the size that suits your lifestyle best.

Best For: Buyers who want a robust, travel-friendly tote.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Tote Bag

 

 

We've seen some of the best tote bags on the market. Now, let's dig a little deeper into how to pick the one that's right for you.

Material

First up, material. When most people think of totes, they think of classic canvas totes, which are known for being quite hard-wearing, able to withstand pretty harsh conditions and last for years of use. The average canvas tote will be very difficult to rip, tear, puncture, or break, and strong canvas bags can handle lots of weight, too. Canvas also has the eco-friendly advantage, made of natural, renewable material.

But canvas isn't the only option when buying a new tote bag. You could opt for a classic black leather tote, for example. Some are made of genuine leather, sourced from cows or other animals. Others are imitation leather. Naturally, genuine leather bags will last longer, and a classy Italian leather tote can be a fab fashion accessory. But, leather is heavier, more high-maintenance, and less good at coping with water than canvas.

Beyond classic canvas and supple leather, you might also opt for a nylon tote. Nylon has a bunch of advantages. It's soft and smooth to the touch, for instance, and nylon totes work well to keep out moisture. You can usually toss them in the washing machine to clean them, too, and they're nice and lightweight. On the other hand, they lack breathability and aren't always the comfiest to carry about.

Overall, the material has a big impact on the look, feel, and longevity of any tote. Canvas is the best all-rounder, but nylon and leather have their plus points, too.

Size and Capacity

Totes come in three basic size options: small, medium, and large. You may find XS (Extra Small) and XL (Extra Large) options among a good range of tote bags, too. There's no right choice with size, as it all depends on what you plan to use your tote for. The most important thing is to select a tote that has enough interior space to store your stuff without being too big or awkward to carry.

A small tote has limited use cases but can work similarly to a fanny pack or toiletry pouch. A medium or large packable tote will be more versatile, with ample space inside for the likes of travel essentials, personal items like wallet, keys, phone, and so on, or even a packed picnic with water bottles and snacks. Consider your intended usage to choose a tote that offers enough space.

Organizational Features

The best tote bags come with helpful extras to let you organize your bag's contents, like zipper pockets for your most valuable trinkets or external pockets to store the kinds of things you need quick and easy access to. Having one with lots of pockets is useful if you're carrying a mix of items, but a more minimalistic tote may cost less money if you're on a tight budget.

Style and Versatility

Of course, we can't talk about the best tote bags without mentioning their style factor. Just like how a classic black fanny pack can put the finishing touch on an outfit, a stylish, sophisticated tote can help you look and feel your best when you're out and about. Some luxury tote designs even feel like full-on fashion accessories, completing your outfits for every occasion.

A trendy leather bucket tote, for instance, can be a fine fit for a shopping trip in the city, while a sleek canvas tote is an excellent add-on to your beach day outfit. Again, there's no singular "right choice" here. It's up to you to think about your style, your preferences, and your lifestyle to find the right tote. Consider looking for chic, timeless styles that transition nicely between work, travel, and casual settings to maximize your value.

Conclusion

All in all, no other bag can quite match that distinctive blend of practicality and style that the best tote bags bring. They're so useful in all walks of life. Whether you're on your way to work and need space for your devices, folders, and files, or you're hitting up the big city and planning to head home with lots of new items, a canvas or classic leather tote bag is always the right option.

But you won't want to end up with a tote that is the wrong size or not quite of a style that suits you. So, think carefully before you make your choice. Consider your own tastes and, more importantly, how you intend to use your future tote bag to pick one that won't let you down. Check out the full range of Canvelle tote bags to find the one that fits just right.

FAQs

Which company tote bag is best?

That all depends on what sort of tote you want. But, for most situations, if you want a roomy tote that's all stylish, hard-wearing, and available in a wide range of materials, sizes, and colors to suit every taste and personality, Canvelle totes are the way to go.

What is the most popular tote size?

In general, medium and large are the two most popular sizes, with medium often being most people's go-to choice. A medium tote gives you that interior room you need to store lots of items, without being too big and bulky to weigh you down.

What bag do people take to work?

People take all sorts of bags to work, like over-the-shoulder bags and backpacks. Totes work super well for workers, too, thanks to how roomy they are. You can have a laptop tote for your working devices, for example, or a tote with lots of internal pockets for key work items and documents.

Are tote bags business casual?

Yes, tote bags can absolutely fall into the "business casual" category. They're not as formal and business-like as briefcases, but the best tote bags still have a certain elegance that makes them equally suited to the workplace as they would be to a day at the beach, a walk around town, or outdoor adventures.