The 10 Best Tote Bags for Men

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.AmazonTechnical enough for Mount Everest, subtle enough for your daily commute.Steele Canvas is America’s best bag maker. The classic canvas numbers are good, but we really appreciate this polyvinyl beach tote. After a long day at the shore, knock the sand out and hose it down—easiest bag to care for.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowIf carrying all (and I mean all) of your shit is the priority here, you gotta go with a Yeti. It’s the preferred tote of soccer and beach dads everywhere. Anytime you need anything for yourself plus two kids, the Yeti comes out because it can just carry so damn much. This 35 liter one is the perfect size for family trips to anywhere, and it’s waterproof, too, so don’t worry if you forgot to check the weather. It even comes with to help organize or remove for one huge space to just throw everything into, if that’s your style.Basically, this is the tote you get when you want to max out utility. It’s not a daily-use bag, more of what you use when it’s time for fun.For those rainy days you can’t avoid by faking a cold, you need a waterproof tote. And yes, the Yeti is technically rainproof, but it doesn’t have a full-length zipper; this tote from Rains is fully equipped to keep everything as dry as a bone. It is designed from Rains’s own performance fabric, which is fully waterproof in a light rain. Beyond that, it’s still pretty resistant and comes with a few different straps so you can carry it over your shoulder or with a handle, just depending on what your load demands.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowPart of the appeal of the beach tote is you don’t care if it gets sand-ridden or otherwise trashed. It’s the beach. This $40 L.L. Bean tote is probably the most stylish and durable one you can get where you still won’t feel bad if something happens to it. This is a basic canvas bag, elevated by an accent that comes in something like a dozen different colors. Sturdy, simple, and it looks good. Check, check, check.If you need a tad more security on your beach day, L.L. Bean also sells a version with a zip-top for $10 extra.If you want a tote as a backpack replacement, that’s basically what Troubadour has done here. This bag offers serious protection from the elements (hence Elemental), has multiple compartments, and goes from handheld to over-the-shoulder without much fuss. If you need to fill it with wet items (shoes, swimsuit, drenched shirt, etc.), it comes with a fully waterproof detachable internal pouch where you can keep your phone and car keys. Like a backpack, there’s also a water bottle pouch on the outside. I can’t think of any other tote that offers that.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowFilson makes some of the best-looking affordable rugged goods out there, and this tote is absolutely not an exception. It comes in three classic colors, each subtle and accented by solid brass zippers. The handles are made from bridle leather and the outer fabric is waxed for water resistance. There are two large stow pockets on each side, and when you open it up, there’s 25 liters of space to work with. There aren’t a ton of pockets, but what it lacks in utility it makes up in pure size and higher-class aesthetics at a great price point.This one is like the other luxury leather bags on the list, but it’s got more backbone. Every Bennett Winch bag our editors have ever used has been used hard. Not just because it can take it, but because it relishes it. That leather—or the suede, or the canvas versions—wears in so beautifully that you’d be doing your purchase a disservice to not rough it up a little.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowOkay, so it may not actually be the best designer tote because as long as you are willing to pay more, you can get something better. Sky’s the limit at Balenciaga, for example. But as far as luxe totes go, this leather Loewe bag is going to carry all your goods while accomplishing the goal of turning heads and raising questions about where you got the tote. That’s kind of the whole point of spending this much on an alternative to a bag you could get for free.