25 Best Tote Bags for Work, Travel, Beach Days & Beyond

We love our cute minis and designer shoulder bags, but they’re not always the most practical day-to-day. That’s where the best tote bags come in. Sure, they can get a bad rap for being unseemly large, but if you’re wondering, should you use tote bags? The answer is an emphatic yes.

The best totes function with plenty of space and pockets to lug everything from laptops to school materials, grocery hauls to packed lunches, and workout gear to commuter essentials (obviously, always leave the house with headphones, a change of shoes, and reading material in tow). Snaps for letting your pragmatic side shine.

Best Tote Bags 2023:

Totes are usually made of durable materials from leather to liquid-resistant nylon (JIC in were wondering what’s the best fabric to use) and are often multifunctional—styles with double shoulder handles and detachable crossbody straps are MVPs. And naturally, the ultimate tote is every bit as stylish as the other bags in your closets, be it emblazed with your fave logo, accented with hardware, or impeccably pared-back (quiet luxury lovers, we see you).

No matter your vibe or lifestyle, tote bags are tried-and-true wardrobe essentials—whether you commute by train in a big city and don’t have a car to stash stuff in, are a parent constantly schlepping your little one's stuff, live the student life, or are zipping from the gym to the office to dinner afterward.

But a fact remains: Everyone’s tote bag needs are different (students and college graduates, city dwellers, and parents everywhere really feel us on this one). It may come down to details like what color work tote is best (we say neutrals like black, brown, camel, ivory, gray, and white all the way). The current season is a factor, too, in which case you may favor suede, water-resistant leather, or natural fibers like raffia and crocheted cotton. Of course, with summer in swing, extra-roomy styles for beach days and weekenders for travel excursions are currently top of mind—prioritize enormous woven and cotton canvas travel totes (extra bonus points if they have carry-on sleeves and zip-tops).

Since we’re real ones here at Glamour, we did the hard work for you, testing out tons of tote bag options to bring you an edit of legitimately spend-worthy designs. We even tapped the online shopping community (read “scoured thousands of reviews”) to deliver more raved-about finds. Let’s get into it.