The tote bags below still came highly recommended for travelers, but didn’t quite make our list of winners. The Elements Tote is no exception in that Totes don’t sit well on my sloping shoulders and tend to slide off, but the clearance is enough for my long arms to comfortably grip the base of the carry strap and not find it awkward or uncomfortable to hold onto. Other duffels or totes I’ve tried are too short in length and make it difficult to do the same, while I found it sit well under my arm and for my wrist.

Several readers recommend bringing a foldable RuMe bag as it makes for a great shopping bag, is perfect for carrying souvenirs and can hold a ton of weight. It is also makes a fantastic beach bag or picnic bag. So one bag for many occasions. And unless the main area has stuff inside, the Elements Tote does not stand on its own despite Alpaka’s claim. There is a gusseted bottom with an actual panel so it does have the ability to, but only if it’s reasonably filled in the main area. Now it’s not necessarily a downer, but enough to raise in case you were hoping to do so. Most likely it’ll be on the surface laying on its side if it’s not filled out from the bottom or against something else. Probably a little more padding added to the bottom would make me feel more comfortable loading out my laptop and cameras too. So what is it like carrying the Alpaka Elements Tote as a non-tote user? Pretty great in fact. The webbing straps fit in the hand nicely and fairly comfortably as it doubles on itself to create a more substantial handle area. There’s more than enough clearance to put my arm through and sling it over my shoulder. There are mostly refinement details that can be built into the current Elements Tote design and would no doubt be perfection for me if they do build those features in. Value for Money

Everyday totes

It works for everything from day tripping on your vacation to carrying your lunch to work once you get home. One reader said that the Flip and Tumble bag is “my favorite. I always have it in my purse! They come in many colors, washable and compact.”

According to another reader “Envirosax make some cute ones that have lasted me for years, and they roll up”. A perfect all round bag! The Ikea KNALLA bag is perfect for traveling light and is only a few dollars. Just fold it up and stash it away at the bottom of your purse until you have need of the sturdy bag.The 46cm length and 34cm height work well to fit long items like my Marshall Middleton speaker, and Sony A7IV camera with a 70-200mm lens. It’s very spacious yet still maintains a reasonable dimension that doesn’t feel overly large or big. The other is using stronger magnets than the current ones. They work fine with light, simple loads, but once it’s filled and with big bulky stuff, the magnet is basically unusable as it caves under pressure. I also found even if it’s not fully loaded, if there are stuff nearly as high as the magnets it can reduce the magnet tension and open up once you start carrying it.

ChicoBags make the perfect durable bag to have in your purse at all times. They designed their bags to be of the highest quality and a long lasting reusable bag to try and minimize the amount of waste we produce. Fortunately, we’ve seen self-healing nylon in action with Peak Design’s Shoe Pouch. Spoiler alert: it works, and it works rather well. The short explanation is that molecules in the nylon fabric are engineered so that they can bond together after breaking, so minor tears and loose threads are patched up neatly—nice! Usage & Features The comfort is about what we expect from a tote bag. Since there’s no padding on the handles, how it feels on your shoulder depends on what you’re carrying. Loading it up with water bottles and other heavy gear causes it to dig some into your shoulders, though it’s not unbearable and is easy enough to switch sides to give one a break. It stays put as we wander throughout the day, too, which we appreciate—it’s rather annoying when a shoulder bag slips off your shoulder constantly, and we didn’t find that happening with the Aer Go Tote 2. Inside The ToteCovering the main compartment is a 10-by-5-inch piece of fabric that closes with a zipper to keep large items contained. However, there is a 2-inch gap on either side between it and the bag edges, so small gear can still fall out. It is easy to open, thanks to the extended zipper on one side and a thin webbing loop on the other. Whether we’re zipping or unzipping the tote, we have something to grab to hold the floppy fabric taut. Foldable tote bags are often considered not durable because many are made of thin material. Even if it’s jelly, there are many that can last a long time. Therefore, before buying, we made make sure the bag is made of sturdy material such as nylon or polyester. Size The design is well-thought and the particular use of the fabrics for the Elements Tote. Alpaka has generally opted for an XPAC material on all their carries but has branched out into exploring other materials including Axoflux, Ballistic Nylon, and recycled XPAC variants – I appreciate this setup best suits the Elements Tote as a travel-friendly, durable, and light carry. Storage & Features One of our readers recommended the ChicoBag because “they are really durable and nicely made.” Not only is it a lovely looking practical bag but you are also doing your part to reduce waste and help the environment!

Enviorsax bags are so popular because of their different and beautiful designs. They come in multiple colors and styles, so there is a bag for everyone! One reader says “I take one everywhere I go. I’ve used them for groceries and shopping, as a beach bag, and as an extra bag just in case. I can’t say enough about them”.They have become a popular new fashion trend available in different materials, colors and designs, so they can even liven up your travel outfit. And when the bag gets dirty, just put it in the washer and then carry on using it. YKK zippers with Hypalon pulls are easy to grab, and the front section snaps closed with a Woojin magnetic fastener. Each zipper pull sports the Aer brand name. It’s also stamped in white on a 2-inch tab of material on the front of the bag. We’re unsure what it is, though it’s soft like Hypalon. Aer Go Tote 2 | Slip the bag over a luggage handle to cruise through the airport. Here, are readers share their recommendations for the best reusable bags that they keep handy in their purses while traveling!