The Best Travel Totes for Every Trip, According to Real-World Testing

Summer is almost here, which means it’s time to pack up and head out. Whether you’re catching a flight, hopping a train, or hitting the road, the right tote can make or break your trip. After months of hauling bags through airports, stuffing them with laptops and snacks, and wedging them under seats, we’ve found a clear winner: Away’s Everywhere Tote ($158). It’s sturdy, easy to clean, and somehow manages to carry both your gear and your stress.

But if that one doesn’t fit your style, we’ve tested plenty of other options. Longchamp’s Le Pliage ($180) folds down like origami and doubles as a work bag, though it lacks internal pockets. For outdoor adventures, the Béis Sport Tote ($88) is a steal at 21 liters, while the L.L. Bean Zip Hunter’s Tote ($65) is built to take a beating. Topo Designs’ Mountain Gear Bag ($159) is a roomy road-trip champ, and Lo & Sons’ O.G. 2 ($378) is a polished weekend warrior.

We also put some lesser-known bags through the wringer. Cincha’s Vegan Leather Go-Tote ($130) survived a multi-week trip to the Philippines without cracking, though it’s heavy. Mission Workshop’s Drift Laptop Tote ($345) is a gadget lover’s dream but won’t fit under a seat. And if you want something ultralight, Aer’s Simple Tote ($139) weighs under a pound and holds two jackets.

One bag we’d skip: Calpak’s Diaper Tote ($195). It’s puffy but loses space to the padding, and its bottle pockets become useless once your kid outgrows them. For our tests, we packed each tote with real gear, checked durability in rain, and evaluated every pocket and zipper. Up next: MZ Wallace’s Large Metro Tote and Baggu’s Small Cloud Carry-On.