Honorable Mentions
Photograph: Cozy Earth
Cozy Earth Waxed Canvas Tote for $115: If you’re into low-key, functional fashion with a hint of “quiet luxury,” this 12-ounce waxed canvas tote delivers just that. Aesthetically, think Yeezy brand circa 2017 (minus the antisemitism). I love mine in washed navy, but the earthy tones—cedar brown, palm green, and taupe—are just as fashionable. It’s durable enough to endure a farmer’s market spree, an overnight trip, or double as a beach bag. The design is simple but still thoughtful: exterior pockets for quick grabs (keys, phone, an emergency snack) and two interior ones (including a zippered compartment) for keeping your valuables sorted.
Alo Yoga Foxy Sherpa Tote for $288: The Alo Yoga Foxy Sherpa Tote is peak soft-girl aesthetic. It’s made from plush faux fur, with a subtle embroidered Alo logo at the center, no extra frills. It’s roomy enough to serve as an overnight bag, and the ultra-soft handles don’t dig into my shoulders, even when I overpack (which is always). Admittedly, this is more of a fall and winter tote—sherpa in summer just feels criminal—but for cold-weather months, it’s the coziest companion. The only real downside is the $288 price tag.
Ölend Ona Soft Bag for $100: The Ölend Ona Soft Bag is puffy, vibrant, and offered in a rainbow of colors. Made from water-resistant nylon, it’s a clever twist on the standard tote, designed to stretch its usefulness with every new outfit or occasion. You can wear it four different ways: as a tote, handbag, crossbody, or even a backpack. The Soft Bag also includes adjustable side straps. While it fits laptops up to 16 inches, I wouldn’t risk stashing my laptop here because there’s no dedicated sleeve. But the external zipper pocket is a playful touch for stashing small essentials.
Photograph: Lo & Sons
Lo & Sons Upcycled Patchwork Tote for $66: This is probably what you picture when you think of a tote—it has one large compartment with two smaller internal pockets, and it doesn’t snap or zip closed. Still, it comfortably fits a laptop, books, and day-to-day accessories, so it could be used as a work tote bag or for a night away. Fun fact: It’s made from returned and damaged Lo & Sons bags.
Dagne Dover Petra Convertible Tote for $285: The Petra is made from recycled polyester and plastic bottles. It’s durable and huge—it fits a 16-inch laptop and is almost 17 inches tall. It’s probably too big for an everyday bag. But the hardware is heavy-duty metal, and the laptop compartment is padded. For parents, this is also a decent diaper bag.
Fjallraven Kånken Totepack for $100: We love the Kånken backpack. Its Totepack is essentially the same bag but can convert from a tote to a backpack. The downside is its size, with only a 13-inch laptop pocket and two side pockets for water bottles or a small umbrella—but they’re tight, so don’t expect to fit a 1L Nalgene in there.