From roomy canvas carryalls to sleek leather work bags, a good tote is a travel essential.
Totes are one of the most essential travel items you can own — the best tote bags are endlessly versatile and tend to have room for everything you could need while in transit. For some travellers, a sturdy leather tote is a no-brainer essential for taking on a long flight: It’s bigger than most bags, so you can more easily fit a laptop, water bottle, and all other plane accessories inside. For others, an easy-to-fold cotton option might be the item you break out mid-trip for a visit to the beach or marketplace. Parents will also attest a travel tote is a must when flying with a baby – the multitude of pockets ensures a toy or snack can be grabbed quickly to avoid any mid-flight meltdowns.
Whatever your style, a tote bag you love is a must-have piece of carry-on luggage, and we’re here to help you find the right one. Below, we’ve pulled together the best tote bags to travel with — from value buys to investment bags you’ll get compliments on for years to come.
Antler’s tote is light on features – there’s no internal pockets here, and it doesn’t zip up at the top – but what it lacks in pockets, it makes up for in size. This is one of the roomiest totes in our round up, and the canvas material means it folds up small, ready to pack in your suitcase to house all your travel essentials. Beach towels? Chuck ’em in. Spare outfit? Absolutely. It’ll even fit an 18″ laptop, should you need. The modest price tag is a sweetener, too.
Dickies’ unisex quilted tote is a favourite of our editors, being the go-to for our social media manager, Lucy Bruton, who rates its sturdiness (thanks to the tough nylon material) and handy inner pocket. It has a relaxed, oversized fit that’s roomy enough for all the day’s gear, and an outer bottle pocket claws back extra space and keeps your water close to hand.
There’s lots to like about the Beis tote: it’s made from recycled plastic, comes in four shades that match the brand’s luggage range, and it can be worn two different ways thanks to the removable crossbody strap. Inside, there’s plenty of dedicated space for all your essentials: a laptop sleeve, mobile phone pocket, key leash, and a water bottle holder. All that, and it looks effortlessly chic, too, in keeping with Beis’s signature minimal styling we know and love. This is one of the roomiest totes the brand offers, so it’s a good choice for travellers – comfortably fitting a spare change of clothes or your in-flight essentials.
For everything you want in a tote, the smart Bellroy style hits all the marks. The streamlined bag is light to carry, while there’s plenty of packing space and pockets to keep everything neat and organised. The main compartment can be fully zipped up and contains a laptop sleeve, two pockets for bottles and umbrellas, as well as smaller mesh pockets for valuables. The external pocket features a place for a phone, two pens, a passport, and other travel essentials. The water-resistant, woven material folds up easily too, making this space saver a travel essential.
It’s easy to see why the large tote from July is a best-seller and often sold out. Firstly, the size – the large tote has room for 22 litres, plenty of space for packing a whole weekend’s worth of items. When testing it, I managed to comfortably fit four different packing cubes of clothes inside, as well as a wash bag. Then there are the organisation options – a dedicated laptop sleeve, a drink bottle holder, a pocket for a phone and wallet, as well as a zip-up pocket ideal for storing a passport. There are two external pockets, one that’s hidden and secured with a magnet, as well as a sleeve to slip over a luggage handle, so it can easily sit safely on top of a suitcase. The bag is made from a light machine-washable cotton canvas and comes in natural, navy, and black, as well as a small size option.
Some of the best tote bags serve as a solid backup when you don’t want to use your everyday purse or backpack. This minimalist leather and nylon tote from Longchamp comes in several neutral colours. Since it’s water-resistant, it’s a great bag to bring along if you suspect inclement weather. But the best part about this bag? You can fold it up into a tiny square and snap it closed, making it an easy choice to toss into your checked luggage.
Renowned French brand Delsey made this tote with travellers who love to shop in mind. It can easily be folded up in your suitcase or carry-on, so you won’t have to limit the number of souvenirs you bring back. Made from recycled water bottles and vegan leather, this bag will come with you on holidays for years to come.
With the option of being carried as a backpack or tote, the Borealis tote from The North Face is a go-to for outdoor adventures. The interior houses a laptop sleeve while the exterior offers two deep water bottle pockets; store drinks, umbrellas, or even a small tripod in there. The durable, water-repellent finish seals the deal for this tote.
Looking for an investment tote to splurge on? As far as designer tote bags go, we highly recommend this leather tote from Gucci. The subdued shades of the brand’s signature hues create a statement piece that will last season after season. It’s got a roomy interior lined with suede-like microfiber, a duo of leather handles, and comes with a matching pouch for storing smaller items.
This capacious cotton canvas tote bag folds up with ease, which is essential when you’re packing it up for a trip. The interior has three storage compartments, and a full zipper to secure all your odds and ends. It’s plenty big enough for a laptop, so you can also use it as a work tote if you like. Shop the bag in black, beige, seafoam green, blue shadow, and more.
The North Face Borealis tote is both stylish and functional, perfect for your travel needs whether you’re heading to the office or an outdoor adventure.
