Your go-to tote bag can carry three bunches of celery and a melon from the farmers market one day and your laptop and a few books the next. Regardless of its dimensions or material, a tote should be simple to put together and take out, practical for office and coffee shop use, and stylish and adaptable enough to wear to dinner afterward.
We have identified five excellent tote bags that will accommodate different budgets, carrying requirements, and tastes.
Our Laptop Tote Bags Selections Include
- Duck Bag Baggu
- Cuyana Classic Easy Tote
- Bellroy Tokyo Tote Second Edition
- Tory Burch Perry Triple-Compartment Tote Bag
- EaseGave Laptop Bag
Duck Bag Baggu - Versatile Workhorse
With its top handles and 40-inch adjustable strap, this sturdy tote offers you several carrying options. But because of the thin canvas material, the contents of the bag could feel like needles sticking out of you.
It's a player with utility. The Duck Bag's genius lies in its practical simplicity, which makes it a more universal option than any other tote bag we tested. We need help pinpointing one feature that makes it superior to another.
The Duck Bag can hold a lot of stuff because of its flexible seams. It measures 11 inches wide by almost 15 inches tall.
Interestingly, its shoulder strap stretches to 40 inches, twice as long as most of the totes we tested. The tote can be carried by its short top handles, or you can wear the strap across your body or on one shoulder like a messenger bag.
However, be advised that the canvas material provides little protection against the items inside the Duck Bag if you use the long strap and the bag is pressed against your body. (A few of our testers, about five feet three, complained that the laptop tote would hit them in an uncomfortable place when they carried it over their shoulders.)
It appears easier than it is. After several weeks of testing, this tote felt resilient and didn't gather much dirt; in our experience, these bags have held up remarkably well. Lesley Stockton, our food stylist and senior staff writer on the kitchen team, has owned a Duck Bag for more than ten years and has utilized it for a variety of tasks, such as carrying a massive food processor across New York City and heavy clogs. Besides that, the bag is still functional and has remained mostly intact despite its age.
Though you can also wash it by hand, Baggu suggests machine-washing the Duck Bag and line-drying it (most canvas bags require hand washing or spot cleaning). Lesley claims that even after numerous washings, the canvas of the bag is incredibly soft.
Like most tote bags, the Duck Bag is guaranteed for a year against defects in material and workmanship. Its 100% cotton canvas construction contains 65% recycled materials.
Specs
- Dimensions: 11.75 by 15.75 by 4.75 in.
- 13.4 ounces in weight
- Length of strap: 40 inches
- Snap button closure type
- Colors: more than a dozen designs and hues, such as wavy gingham brown, natural grid, and embroidered daisy floral
Cuyana Classic Easy Tote - Shape-shifter
Price at time of publish: $27.00 at Amazon
This unstructured tote is sophisticated, portable, and roomy and made of soft Italian leather. It isn't easy to stay organized, though, with only one tiny internal pocket.
The Cuyana Classic Easy Tote is a sophisticated, thin leather purse. Except for strenuous outdoor excursions, we'd wear it almost anywhere because of its unstructured shape and soft, supple leather, giving it a laid-back, elegant vibe that works well in casual and formal settings. With its two sets of handles of varying lengths, you can carry the bag by hand or sling it over your shoulder with ease. Its spacious interior can accommodate everything you might need for a long day.
Although we appreciate the convenience of the open-top design, Cuyana also offers a zippered version of this tote for about $30 more if you'd rather have the security a closed-top bag provides.
It's an investment in the long term. The Easy Tote is a gorgeous, roomy leather bag that costs roughly $270 at retail. We've concluded that it's well worth the money even though it's the priciest tote we suggest here. The Italian leather's soft, pebbled texture feels opulent, but the bag's unstructured, slightly slouchy shape elevates it to a cool, casually elegant look perfect for daily use.
Except for our Filson choice, which is warrantied for life, all totes we suggest have shorter warranties than the two years the Easy Tote offers. It is enormous. The Easy Tote is big—we're talking about concealing an actress's pregnancy for TV—and incredibly roomy, measuring 21.5 inches wide by 12.25 inches tall.
The capacity to fit a lot of stuff inside and carry it everywhere makes a large, open-top tote appealing. The Easy Tote has one internal open pocket that is big enough to fit the necessities, like a small wallet, a phone, and a set of keys, in addition to its roomy main compartment. However, if you're looking to be highly organized, Cuyana makes a stylish but pricey $100 bag organizer that is the perfect size for this tote. Still, this is not a bag for that kind of person.
It can be carried out in various ways. There are two sets of handles on the Easy Tote, each with a different length. The longer set is sized perfectly for carrying the bag on your shoulder, with a 10-inch drop. The other is perfect for holding the bag in your hand or sliding it over your forearm, with a 6.25-inch drop. The soft, flexible straps are cozy and comfortable to wear and carry without appearing clunky.
Specs
- Dimensions: 12.25 by 21.5 by 5 in.
- One pound, ten ounces in weight
- Length of strap: 10 inches
- No closure (also available with a zipper for about $30 extra)
- Colors: stone, dark olive, black, caramel, cappuccino, and various seasonal hues.
Bellroy Tokyo Tote Second Edition - A robust and astute commuter
This stylish yet durable laptop tote bag has been thoughtfully designed with features like leakproof zippers and internal popout bottle pockets. However, its outer layer of fabric is rough, which could cause some blouses and sweaters to pill.
Who should buy this: Anyone who wants to look put together but would rather have something more relaxed than a briefcase.
13-inch laptops are the largest size allowed.
Why it's great: The Bellroy Tokyo Tote Second Edition is a stylish, well-made item that works well in conference rooms and coffee shops. It strikes a good balance for professionals who value a polished appearance and some device protection but don't want to go against a semi-casual dress code.
The Bellroy tote we tested is a sturdy, water-resistant, fine-weave polyester made from recycled water bottles. This is the perfect option for those requiring a bag that can withstand stains, drops, scuffs, and frequent overpacking. It will also reassure commuters caught in the downpour that the laptop tote's shell effectively repelled water when we held it under a running faucet. Moreover, the external zip pocket provides an airtight seal to prevent valuables from being destroyed by water.
An interior view of the Bellroy Tokyo Tote shows multiple books, a scarf, and a laptop tucked away in one of the pockets.
Our top picks from the Tokyo Tote's previous iteration, which we tested, were the magnetic pockets that pop out inside to hold a water bottle upright inside the bag. The same pockets they adored are present in the Second Edition. Push the pockets inward when unused, and they will spring back into the tote's frame. These interior pockets, which run the length of the bag, can accommodate a pair of flip-flops or used workout clothes that you wish to keep apart from the rest of your belongings.
Along with two spacious interior pockets (one featuring a key clip), the Bellroy Tokyo Tote Second Edition boasts an expansive exterior zip pocket big enough to fit a Field Notes book, a smartphone, sunglasses, or a wrapped USB cord. Additionally, the padded laptop section securely holds laptops with screens up to 13 inches and offers plenty of protection. Compared to the handles on any other bag we suggest, the carry handles on this one have a 12-inch drop, making them longer and more comfortable. These handles have no-skid rubber coating and padding for added comfort, keeping the bag from slipping off your shoulder when commuting.
Drawbacks, but not insurmountable: The sturdy exterior of the Bellroy Tokyo Tote is reminiscent of the now-discontinued sibling tote that we previously examined. In earlier testing, the tote's exterior pilled knitted sweaters and snagged blouses made of polyester blends, suggesting that this shell may be abrasive against delicate work clothing. During testing, the softer edges of the new handles prevented our shirts from getting snagged as much. Additionally, the straps have no-slip patches that lessen shoulder pilling even more (but not near the bust, where most pilling occurs during carry).
Pet hair is also drawn to the weave of this laptop tote like a magnet. We do not advise getting the black version, which highlights pet hair in all shades if you have a furry friend at home.
Specs
14 by 18.5 by 5 inches in dimensions
Drop to handle: 12 inches
1.4 pounds in weight
Three-year warranty
Colors: bronze, cream, green, black, and navy
Tory Burch Perry Triple-Compartment Tote Bag - A chic open-top purse
This pebbled leather tote exudes sophistication and style if you're ready to spend a lot of money on a high-quality bag. The top of the bag remains open despite the dedicated laptop compartment having a zippered closure.Who should buy this: Those looking for a high-end leather tote with a sophisticated design and a larger budget.
13-inch laptops are the largest size allowed.
Why it's great: Although the Tory Burch Perry Triple-Compartment Tote Bag is pricey, its structured design, supple pebbled leather, and sophisticated styling make it well worth the money. Ours had flawless, non-fraying stitching, luxuriously smooth leather, and an upright design that never sagged or tipped.
The Perry bag has undergone a small redesign since we first reviewed it. Although we haven't tested the updated model, it is even more helpful than the original. It has three tiny internal slip pockets and is now an inch larger.
The Perry is divided into two sections by a dedicated laptop slot in the middle. Finding an upscale leather tote with some organizational structure is difficult, so we appreciate that the division provides it.
The laptop compartment zips closed and can accommodate a 13-inch laptop plus one or two thin documents. Additionally, Perry's compartment is elevated off the bag's bottom, protecting your laptop from dents if you unintentionally drop your bag on the ground.
It's an honor to carry the Perry. According to the manufacturer's specifications, the new version weighs almost the same as the old one, which weighed 1.8 pounds—half as much as many other contenders we disqualified. What shocked us, though, was that Perry's straps—a little thin—made it comfortable to carry for an entire day of commuting—even when loaded down with gear.
A laptop was stowed inside the Tory Burch Perry Triple-Compartment Tote Bag's zippered inner pocket.
An up-close look at the orange leather tag and decorative gold charm that hang from the Tory Burch Perry Triple-Compartment Tote Bag.
The Tory Burch Perry laptop compartment splits the bag in half, offering some interior structure. However, the bag as a whole does not zip shut; only the laptop section does. A laptop was stowed inside the Tory Burch Perry Triple-Compartment Tote Bag's zippered inner pocket.
An up-close look at the orange leather tag and decorative gold charm that hang from the Tory Burch Perry Triple-Compartment Tote Bag.
Leaks can occur in some of the most expensive laptop tote bags we tested, such as the over-$500 Lo & Sons Seville Tote found in the Competition section. So when we learned that the Tory Burch Perry tote is, we were pleasantly surprised. The burnished seams demonstrated a strong and durable performance in our tests, withstanding heavy loads and spills.
Drawbacks but not deal-breakers: Like most open-top bags we tested, the Perry provides little weather protection. The bag could better protect the rest of your belongings because only the laptop compartment has a zipper.
The laptop compartment needs to be cushioned, too. However, we're not concerned about a computer or tablet getting damaged inside because it's raised off the bottom of the bag and not exposed on either side.
Specs
- 14 by 5 by 11.6 inches in dimensions
- Ten inches to handle the drop
- Weight: 1.8 pounds (old model; manufacturer specs state current version is the same)
- Warranty: 30 days for refunds
- Colors include brick, feather gray, bay gray, ivory, light umber, clamshell, black, and natural.
EaseGave Laptop Bag - A cheap imitation leather purse
This bag has many practical features, such as metal feet and a detachable messenger strap, and is reasonably priced and incredibly durable. However, only some people will mistake the exterior for genuine leather because it's stiff and heavy. Who should buy this: Budget-conscious commuters looking for a sturdy, useful tote.
The maximum laptop size for the 15.6-inch bag is 15 inches, and for the 17.3-inch bag, it is 17 inches.
Why it's awesome: The EaseGave Laptop Bag is the least expensive bag we suggest, but it doesn't compromise functionality. Compared to other faux leather bags we tested, like the fragile Dreubea Women's Soft Faux Leather Tote (featured in the Competition section), this laptop tote bag was thicker and more durable because it was made of top-grain polyurethane leather or PU leather. It is identical to the Dagne Dover Signature Tote (also in the Competition section), which costs almost four times as much, with its structured, rolled carry handles and mixed compartments. For a bag at this price point, the adjustable messenger strap and carry handles of the EaseGave allow you to get the perfect fit.
The metal feet on this bag, which elevate it slightly off the ground to keep spills and dirty subway platforms at bay, were also well-received by testers. Apart from its studded feet, the EaseGave did not absorb liquids in our spill tests.
- A close-up of the EaseGave Laptop Bag's handles and crossbody strap.
- A laptop wedged into the EaseGave Laptop Bag's interior pocket.
- An adjustable crossbody strap is included in the EaseGave Laptop Bag.
- A close-up of the EaseGave Laptop Bag's handles and crossbody strap.
- A laptop wedged into the EaseGave Laptop Bag's interior pocket.
There are two sizes available for the EaseGave: 15.6 inches and 17.3 inches. It has a padded compartment designed to hold a tablet or laptop up to 15 or 17 inches. Even though it's not the safest method, the Velcro strap that closes the compartment keeps a laptop from sliding out.
While the testers appreciated the EaseGave's rectangular, structured shape, they occasionally found it difficult to carry on a packed bus or subway due to its extreme rigidity, which prevents it from compressing down when tucked under an arm. These are minor drawbacks, though.
Given this device's price, it is not shocking that the EaseGave's interior is rough and feels like cheap polyester. There is only one side of the laptop compartment that is padded. The other side features a wall-to-wall zippered pocket, but our commuters were concerned about the material's long-term durability because it seems flimsy.
Even empty, the 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch models of the EaseGave weigh 2.3 and 2.6 pounds, respectively, nearly twice as much as the majority of laptop totes we suggest.
Specs
- 15.35 by 4.53 by 12.2 inches and 17.1 by 4.53 by 13.1 inches in dimensions.
- Six inches is the handle drop.
- Crossbody strap length: 27–47 in.
- Weight: 15-inch laptop model: 2.3 pounds; 17-inch laptop model: 2.6 pounds.
- Warranty: 30 days for refunds
- Color: purple
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