A Guide to the 5 Best Totes for Everyday Carry

Grab-and-go convenience that every guy should have.

You’re already halfway out the door, and just remembered that you’ll need to carry something extra home from the office, or the grocery store, or the jobsite. Your usual EDC bag is already packed, safely nestling away your wallet, keys, phone, and laptop.

So what do you reach for?

A sturdy, uncomplicated, reliable tote bag.

Tote bags don’t get much press these days, owing to their simple style and (sometimes) lack of organization potential. But if you look hard enough, you’ll find a core range of totes from top bag-making brands — each of them worthy of a place on your coat hangers, just waiting to come in clutch at the right moment.

And after hands-on testing of five top-of-the-line tote bags, we’re here to help you decide which one — if any — is right for you.

Hardmill Grocery Tote

The first bag of the day has a name that perfectly describes what it does — Hardmill’s Grocery Tote.

This heavy-duty, small-capacity tote bag focuses on simplicity and elegance of design, all while offering a significant upgrade to a standard cloth grocery bag. It’s made with 18 oz waxed canvas, 8 oz full-grain leather bridle straps, and handsome copper rivets.

In addition to the main pouch area, the only other storage space you’ll have is two interior pockets. All said and done, that makes it a perfect choice for exactly what it’s advertised for: Carrying groceries, but in a much nicer and more durable bag (that you’ll likely never have to replace).

Plus, the Grocery Tote has all of its leatherwork and detailing finished in Seattle, which is a big plus.

• Dimensions/Capacity: 13" x 13" x 5", approximately 14 liters
• Materials: Waxed canvas, full-grain leather, copper rivets
• Notable features: Heavy wax coating, minimalist design
• Best for: Groceries!
• Country of origin: Leather and accents finished in Seattle
• Price: $120

Sympl All-Terrain Tote

On the complete opposite end of the tote bag spectrum from the Grocery Bag featured above, you’ll find Sympl’s All-Terrain Tote. Designed more as a do-anything bag to throw over your shoulder, it’s equipped with plenty of pockets and organization features, as well as high-tech fabrics and accessories.

First, the materials: This tote is made with a fully waterproof VX21 X-Pac fabric, which also has excellent abrasion resistance. Paired with YKK Aquaguard zippers all over the bag, that makes it a capable companion for any sort of weather.

Pockets include a large, zippered front pocket on the front, stash pocket on the back, water bottle holder on the side, a padded laptop sleeve on the inside (large enough for a 16 inch laptop), and two nested pockets on the back interior sleeve. That’s a lot of storage for “simple” tote bag.

• Dimensions/Capacity: 19" x 14" x 5", 20 liters
• Materials: VX21 X-Pac fabric, YKK Aquaguard zippers
• Notable features: Excellent waterproofing, plenty of pockets
• Best for: Anywhere, any weather carrying
• Country of origin: A
• Price: $149

NutSac Work Tote

The third bag in this review is one of our very own: the NutSac Work Tote.

As with all NutSac bags, the Work Tote starts with a heavy duty 18 oz waxed canvas, and only gets more durable and long-lasting from there. That darker colored fabric on the bottom of the bag is an extremely abrasion-resistant twill, and it’s finished off with cotton webbing straps and full-grain leather accents.

Simplicity meets versatility in the Work Tote’s arrangement of pockets: Six looping the perimeter of the bag, and six on the inside as well. That makes it perfect for quick and easy organization on the go, whether in use as a diaper bag, tool bag, work bag, music bag, or more.

Versatile, durable, rugged, and able to stand up on its own for loading and unloading, the Work Tote is a fantastic answer to life’s daily problems.

• Dimensions/Capacity: 13" x 9" x 12.5", 24 liters
• Materials: Waxed canvas, cotton twill, leather accents
• Notable features: Standup design, effective pocket system
• Best for: Buy it for life, use it for everything
• Country of origin: United States
• Price: $149

Stubble & Co. The Tote Bag

If you haven’t heard of them before, Stubble & Co. is a British bagmaker that focuses on urban commuters, offering stylish and functional storage options in a wide range of sizes. Their Tote Bag carries that same refined style, with a minimalist design and thoughtful features that make it perfect for travelers.

Sturdy recycled materials make up both the inside and outside of Stubble & Co.’s Tote Bag, giving it a sleek look and feel. The contrasting color interior is an especially nice touch here, allowing for easy access and searching within the bag’s nested laptop sleeve and pockets.

And while it’s not quite as rugged and heavy duty as many of the other bags on this list, we think Stubble & Co. has done an excellent job of upgrading the classic tote style with modern urban sophistication. 

• Dimensions/Capacity: 16.9” x 12.9” x 5.3”, 21 liters
• Materials: 900D Recycled PET (main), Ripstop 200D Recycled PET (top), Recycled Nylon Webbing
• Notable features: Padded laptop sleeve, zippered pockets, water bottle pocket
• Best for: Frequent flyers, regular travelers.
• Country of origin: China
• Price: $150

Readywares Zipper Tote

Readywares’ Zipper Tote is different from the other tote bags featured here today in one major way — and just from the name, we’re sure you can guess what that is.

Rather than being a traditional open-top design, the Zipper Tote uses a sturdy full-length YKK metal zipper across the entirety of its top opening. Aside from that though, it functions much the same as any other minimalist waxed canvas tote, with one exterior pocket and one interior pocket in addition to its main storage space.

Perhaps of particular note here is the price of the Zipper Tote — it’s the only bag on this list that comes in under $100. And while the materials may not be quite as durable as the other bags we’ve featured, if you’re looking for an affordable option to test out the style, it’s a great choice.

• Dimensions/Capacity: 20" x 14" x 7"
• Materials: Waxed canvas, YKK zippers, cotton webbing straps
• Notable features: Zippered top
• Best for: Budget-conscious buyers
• Country of origin: Designed in Seattle, manufactured overseas
• Price: $70

Why Buy A Tote Bag?

If you’re the sort of person that already has their EDC bag selection pretty well squared away, with a suitable backpack, messenger bag, sling bag, and maybe a duffel, you might wonder whether you need a tote.

Here’s our take on it: Tote bags are perfect for bulkier items that you’re going to be transferring in and out of the bag quickly. Without any zippers to get in the way, they’re perfectly suited for use as grocery bags, diaper bags, tool bags, and more. And while they won’t have as many organizational possibilities as other EDC bags, they’re still a great option to have hanging near your front door for quick-access storage while running errands.

Frequently Asked Questions

And to wrap things up, answers to some of the internet’s most popular questions about tote bags.

What are the advantages of tote bags?

Tote bags are some of the best grab-and-go, large capacity bags around. They’re easy to reach for, offer ample storage space, and often come in at a very reasonable price.

What are the disadvantages of tote bags?

Most tote bags lack significant organization options, favoring a large central pouch instead. Very few tote bags have laptop sleeves, for instance; backpacks or messenger bags will be a better option if you need significant organization for your everyday carry.