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12 Travel Totes That Do the Most

SmarterTravel

A good tote bag is one of the most versatile tools in a traveler’s packing arsenal. Travel totes can hold all your stuff, fit pretty much anywhere, and come in all shapes and sizes to suit your style. Plus, if you need to push the envelope on how big your personal item can be, there’s no better bag to rock than a travel tote bag. Here are some of my favorite tote bags for travel that will totally come in handy on your next trip.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

Away Everywhere Bag

The Everywhere Bag from Away in light pink
Away

The Everywhere Bag from Away is the perfect carry-all for your flight, with a modern silhouette and thoughtful features that keep what you need at hand. This bag is designed to slide over the handle of any suitcase (or slide onto your shoulder) and is made with pebbled leather or durable nylon that can stand up to anything—and look good doing it.

MZ Wallace Punch Metro Quatro Tote

MZ Wallace Punch Metro Quatro Tote in pink
MZ Wallace

Puffy bags like the Punch Metro Quatro Tote are not just for show; they blend function and fashion by offering your items a little extra protection. This travel tote is the best choice for the traveler who isn’t checking a bag and needs to fit stuff a few more pieces of clothing in their personal item. 

Osprey Arcane Tote Pack

The Osprey Arcane Tote Pack in blue
Osprey

Osprey’s Arcane Tote delivers dual functionality, with both comfortable tote straps and padded, comfortable tuck-away backpack straps for two ways to carry. The top-zip main compartment can be made even more secure with a roll-and-fold closure, and interior organizational pockets (including a padded laptop sleeve, document sleeve, and key-stash pocket) keeps belongings in place. Made from recycled bottles, the tote comes in a range of great colors.

Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Weekender Bag

Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Weekender Bag

If you’re packing as much as possible into your personal item, the Catalina Deluxe Weekender Bag from Lo & Sons will have your back on everything from weekend trips to week-long vacations. Lightweight and super functional, it has a place for your laptop, shoes, and more with plenty of color options to choose from.

Eddie Bauer Bygone Backpack Tote

The Eddie Bauer Bygone Backpack Tote in black
Eddie Bauer

For another choice when shopping for a convertible travel tote bag, the Eddie Bauer Bygone Backpack Tote has function (organizational pockets and storable shoulder straps to convert from a tote to a backpack) and style (sleek design and leather handle grips) all in one. It is also made from super durable polyester and features a padded laptop sleeve.

Longchamp Le Pliage Tote

Longchamp Le Pliage Tote
Nordstrom

Nylon is an incredibly useful material for travel bags, but unless it’s designed thoughtfully, it doesn’t always look great. Longchamp’s Le Pliage Tote is a great example of how to do nylon right. It’s water-resistant and folds flat without wrinkling, so you can rock the signature style of a Longchamp.

Ban.do Getaway Weekender Bag

The Ban.do Getaway Weekender Bag in multicolor stripe
ban.do

Whether you’re away for the weekend or for any other amount of time, this weekender bag is here to make your trip as easy as can be. It’s got plenty of space for the essentials, a detachable mesh pouch inside (that you can fold the whole bag into for easy storage), and a sleeve on the back for a luggage handle that makes it the ideal carry-on.

Jemma Birdie 43 Tote

The Jemma Birdie 43 Tote
Jemma

 A modern travel tote for the fashionista, the Birdie 43 Tote from Jemma is a beautiful vegan handbag that fits your 13″ laptop, shower essentials, change of clothes, plus anything from boxing gloves to your dance shoes—and maybe even both.  The bottom shoe compartment (holds two pairs of shoes) has a mesh strip for ventilation to ensure your clothes and smelly shoes will be able to air out properly. Also included are a cosmetics case and laundry bag, and there’s a zipper pocket on the back that becomes a trolley sleeve.

Tumi Sheryl Business Tote

The Tumi Sheryl Business Tote
Tumi

Traveling on business? You’ll need a business travel tote you can take straight from the plane into your big meeting. The Sheryl Business Tote makes a strong impression with a clean and straight design. Plus, the exterior sleeve lets you easily attach it to the handle of your wheeled luggage. 

Vera Bradley Cotton Vera Tote

The Cotton Vera Tote from Vera Bradley in a sunflower pattern and in bright blue
Zappos

Express your personality with the spacious Cotton Vera Tote. Available in multiple colors and patterns, this large tote bag is great for travelers who tend to overpack their personal item. Plus, its padded exterior will offer your belongings a little extra protection from bumps and drops.

The Calvin Klein Ellie Large Tote

The The Calvin Klein Ellie Large Tote in black
Amazon

For an elegant and expensive-feeling tote, the Ellie Bag is a great option. While technically a shoulder bag, you will not be left wanting for space with its triple compartment design and multiple organizer pockets. The bag also features a magnetic snap closure, giving you the peace of mind that all your valuables are staying put while still allowing easy access. 

S Zone Vintage Leather Tote

S Zone Vintage Leather Tote in brown and black
Amazon

If you’re just looking for a straightforward tote bag, the Vintage Leather Tote from S-Zone is a simple and functional option. It has two compartments big enough to hold your devices and other items, is made of sturdy leather, and has lots of pockets for keeping organized.

Dagne Dover Signature Tote

Dagne Dover Signature Tote
Dagne Dover

An elegant travel tote available in four basic and two seasonal colors, the Dagne Dover Signature Tote is a functional work bag that can hold a 13-inch laptop and all of your day-to-day accessories at the same time. It’s designed for long days, which means it will be the perfect companion for train ride or as a personal item on a plane.

Jamie Ditaranto is a writer and photographer always looking for her next adventure. Follow her on Instagram @jamieditaranto.

Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product.

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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