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Best Travel Tote Bag OverallAway The Everywhere ToteRead more
Best Packable Travel ToteL.L. Bean Zip Hunter's Tote Bag With StrapRead more
Best Leather Tote for TravelLongchamp Le Pliage Xtra M Tote bagRead more
Best (Vegan) Leather ToteCincha The Vegan Leather Go-Tote – NavyRead more
It seems liketotes don't want to work these days. They're floppy, allergic to moisture, and too cool to carry actual stuff. They went vegan, then minimalist, then micro. Finding the best totes for travel shouldn't be harder than finding your gate. You want something spacious, wipeable, and tough enough to survive TSA.
Theseare the best totes for travel. They don't collapse under pressure, don't mind getting dirty, and, most importantly, carry your baggage (emotional or otherwise). We've schlepped them through airports, overstuffed them with travel essentials, and wedged them under seats.
For more travel bags, check out our guides to theBest Metro Totes,Best Laptop Backpacks, andBest Toiletry Bags.
I'll be testingthe Metro Tote from Monos,the Travel Tote from Béis, andthe Suncatcher Daytripper Carryall Tote from Sidney Baron.
For business travelers and solo flyers who pack light, the Away Everywhere Tote is the one-bag solution for back-to-back meetings, red-eye flights, and weekend getaways. Made from water-resistant nylon and accented with leather trim, it was clearly designed by someone who knows the realities of travel: fumbling through security lines, sprinting to trains, dodging coffee spills. It's fashionable enough for client dinners and durable enough to store in the overhead bin or under your seat.
The dimensions are dialed in to meet most airlines'personal item requirements, and it comes in a variety of low-key tones, from coastal blue to clay pink. A full top zipper keeps your essentials secure. There's a trolley sleeve that slides over a rolling luggage handle (though be warned: it looks like the exterior zip pocket, which has caused me more than one accidental drop). Inside, a padded sleeve cradles up to a 16-inch laptop and multiple interior pockets—plus a handy key clip.
Just know this: There's no dedicated water bottle pocket, which feels like a strange omission in 2025.
L.L. Bean's Field Tote is all grit and no gimmicks: a thick, double-layered polyester shell, burly double-stitched seams, and handles that feel industrial. Inside, a thermoplastic lining shrugs off moisture, mud, and mystery goo with wipe-clean ease. It's not fully leakproof, but it's close, and that makes it perfect for hauling damp beach towels, snow-crusted boots, or a post-workout fit.
It's a single, cavernous compartment, with no fussy pockets. There's an open-top version, but we love the zip-top model for travel. WIRED director Michael Calore tested the extra-large, 53-liter version, and it's massive enough for a week's worth of produce, a couple half-gallon cartons of oat milk, and a 12-pack of hard kombucha if you're also planning on going grocery shopping during your vacation.
If you're shopping for a travel tote that's as stylish as it is packable, the Longchamp Le Pliage Xtra M is a jet-setter's dream. This updated model ofthe best-selling Le Pliageis ideal for slipping under the seat in front of you or sightseeing through a new city. The rich leather trim and nylon body complement most outfits, and it comes in eight sophisticated shades (though the cognac brown is a standout). Spacious enough to hold your in-flight must-haves—laptop, snacks, passport, and an extra layer—and it stays pretty compact and lightweight. Best of all, it folds flat, so it's easy to tuck in your luggage.
This vegan leather bag is deceptively huge. The base is 7.5 inches deep, so while it doesn’t look that big in pictures, it holds an astonishing amount of stuff—I’ve packed enough clothes in it for a full weekend trip. I usually have concerns about vegan leather cracking and breaking with use, but Cincha’s soft pebbled fabric does not look or feel obviously plastic. It has stood up to several months of use being tossed in and around car trunks without getting scuffed or cracking.
It has two (two!) mesh water bottle holders in the interior, a laptop sleeve that holds a 13-inch laptop, and three interior pockets (one that zips shut). There is one exterior zip pocket that fits my iPhone for easy access. As far as carrying options go, it has two grab handles, two hidden fabric shoulder straps that tuck away into zip pockets, and my favorite accessory—two loops for the separatetravel beltso you can strap it to the rest of your luggage. However, it is more than 2 pounds heavier than aLongchamp Le Pliage, so this is strictly for when you can sling it around on top of your carry-on.—Adrienne So
The Cuyana System Tote is a modular gear-hauler that shape-shifts with your itinerary. Designed to outlast the churn of fast fashion, this travel tote starts minimal, but the genius lies in its add-ons. Alaptop sleeveorinsert organizercreates a structure on the go, with dedicated slots for your computer, water bottle, and other work essentials.
Instead of stitched-on straps prone to failure, the System Tote's handles are cut directly from its leather body, minimizing points of wear. The main compartment snaps shut rather than zips, something to know if you're the spill-averse type.The Classic Easy Tote ($298)offers a zippered alternative.
Modularity extends to accessories: ASystem Flap Baginsert doubles as a clutch or in-bag organizer, anda detachable, adjustable strap(also available in awide model) converts the tote into a crossbody, perfect for hands-free airport sprints if you're unintentionally trying outairport theory.
What sets BaubleBar apart is its playful personalization. Your chosen icons (up to six depending on the size) are embroidered directly onto the canvas tote. The process is super user-friendly, with predesignated spots to help you visualize your picks. Choose from zodiac signs, cutesy foods, initials, and more. Just note that it's a final sale, so be sure of your design before ordering.
Inside, you'll find a roomy main compartment with a small interior pocket and key loop. The large size fits everything you need for a beach day trip, and the medium and small options are better for light shopping or city exploring. It closes with just a snap button, which isn't the most secure for crowded areas. The quality of the playful embroidery makes it a fun choice for travel.
I recently took this versatile and large tote from Topo Designs to Colorado for a long weekend as a stand-in for my ski boot bag (yes, Arapahoe Basin is still open!) after using it all winter to haul my curling gear to the club. The main compartment, which zips closed, is big enough for ski boots, gloves, and the like, and there's plenty of room to stash socks or other gear in the side pockets. Come July, this tote will make the perfect bag for my cook kit on asummer campingroad trip. When you have a tote this stylish and durable the question is not whether it's coming on the trip but what you're going to use it for.—Martin Cizmar
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