Sometimes, we go to the beach with an entire beach wagon in tow, hauling everything from chairs and coolers to shelters and snacks. Other times, you hit the sand with a lot less gear, requiring just a single bag and little more. That’s when we find the beach tote such a handy companion.
Like other tote bags, beach totes offer wide openings and spacious main compartments that make it easy to dump all your gear in one place. Sure, you’ll have to rummage around to find that sunscreen bottle or those waterproof earbuds, but the fact that it stays open the whole time makes it easy to take stuff in and out any time you want. They’re convenient to use, easy to carry, and so simple they make for the perfect bags to have when kicking it back on the sand.
Some of the best beach totes are packable, so you can use it to carry food and disposable supplies, then fold it back up when empty. Some are made with water-resistant materials, while some are designed to keep sand off from sticking all over. There are smaller beach totes for carrying personal supplies and bigger ones for hauling a small family’s worth of items. Suffice to say, there’s a wide selection of these beach-friendly bags, so you’ve got plenty of choices when looking for one to take to your summer adventures.
These are the best beach totes for hauling your gear around this summer.
LL Bean Boat and Tote
Pros
- Very durable
- Four size options
- Two handle size options
Cons
- Very plain styling might not appeal to some
We love the simple yet reinforced build of this beach tote, which is made from heavy-duty 24oz. cotton canvas with a double-layer base, handles fully-stitched all the way down to the bottom, and nylon double-stitching at the seams. This thing is so well-built that LL Bean actually claims it’s rated to hold up to 500 pounds. Yeah, nobody’s going to be carrying anywhere near that weight to the beach. It comes in four sizes (small to extra large) and two handles (regular and long), with prices ranging from $29.95 to $44.95, so it’s plenty affordable, regardless of which size you get. Suffice to say, if you want a simple canvas tote that can hold up for multiple summers, this is the way to go.
The Foldie
Pros
- Packable and expandable
- Multiple interior compartments
- Water-resistant fabric
Cons
- Might not be big enough if you’re packing for the family
As you can probably guess, this beach tote derives its name from being a foldable bag. Specifically, it can fold entirely into the rectangular exterior pouch, allowing you to easily pack it down once emptied. This makes it a great tote bag to squeeze inside your luggage during holidays. At 40L volume capacity with the bottom expanded, it’s a decent-sized tote bag that should let you pack enough for a day trip to the beach, although you might need something bigger if you’re packing for your whole family (we suggest making them carry their own bags). We love the little details here, from the water-resistant fabric and the multiple interior pockets to the interlocking zippered opening and a water bottle sleeve. Heck, they even threw in a trolley sleeve if you decide to bring it along with your luggage.
Scout 4 Tote Bag
Pros
- Holds shape even when wet
- Zippered closure protects your stuff/li>
- Water-resistant woven plastic build
Cons
- Boxy shape makes it a little awkward to carry
- Not the most stylish bag
We love this beach tote’s boxy profile, which allows it to stand upright when set down on a flat surface, making it easy to take and put back stuff while you’re lounging on the sand. It holds its shape the whole time, too, which can get awkward when carrying it on your shoulder, but really comes in handy when it gets wet, since it maintains the box shape even when dripping. Measuring 24 x 19 x 12 inches (width x height x depth), it’s a great bag to take when you’re taking a bunch of kids and all their stuff along with you, although, as we said, it can get a little awkward to carry because of the boxy profile. The whole thing also folds flat when empty, so you can tuck it away in a drawer somewhere when you get back home. According to the outfit, it’s woven plastic body is rated to hold up to 75 pounds.
Aloha Day-Tripper Tote
Pros
- Summer-themed prints make for perfect beach aesthetic
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Zippered closure with expandable height
Cons
- Might not be big enough if you’re packing for kids
This beach tote comes in a variety of fun summer-themed prints that give it the perfect beach aesthetic. More than the looks, though, it’s a really well-made tote that’s easy to carry and lightweight (it tips the scales at under 9oz), all while fitting enough stuff for one or two people looking for some fun in the sun. We love the zippered opening, as well as the expandable top, which adds a couple of inches to the bag’s height, in case end up with a little more gear than you planned to bring. Other nice details include two interior pockets, one exterior pocket, water-resistant double-ply tech fabric construction, and nylon straps. Do note, this isn’t machine-washable, so you’ll have to clean off any stains by hand.
Bogg Bag X-Large
Pros
- Stands and stays upright on sand
- Easy to clean
- Wide selection of sizes and colors
Cons
- Expensive
- Holes in the body kind of ruin the “waterproof” build
We’ve heard of the Bogg Bag referred to as “the Crocs of beach totes,” which is why it’s just as common a sight as the ubiquitous footwear anytime you’re at the beach. Like Crocs, it’s made from EVA, which makes it perfect for carrying around the water, while the boxy shape makes putting stuff in and taking them out a hassle-free affair. It’s designed to stand upright on sand, with a non-slip bottom and a tip-proof design that ensures your gear doesn’t accidentally spill out. We love how easy it is to clean (just hose it down) and the holes do help get rid of some sand that makes their way inside the bag. It’s also available in a variety of sizes, so you can get exactly the bag you need, along with a whole host of colors that have helped it become Tiktok-famous.
Yeti Camino 35 Carryall
Pros
- Waterproof
- Abrasion-resistant and puncture-proof
- Built-in interior dividers and pockets for organizing
- Allows attaching accessories via nylon grid outside
Cons
- Heavy for a tote bag
It looks like one of Yeti’s soft coolers. However, this bag isn’t insulated, which makes it more useful as a beach tote than a vessel for carrying your refreshments. Like all Yeti products, the rugged build is at the forefront here, with the bag boasting a waterproof, abrasion-resistant, and puncture-proof build that ensures it will hold up for many summers. Seriously, you can bring this thing right to the water without any of the contents getting wet. An EVA molded base keeps it upright any time you set it down, making it easy to get your stuff without worrying about anything falling out. Inside, it gets deployable dividers on either end for separating dirty clothes and general organizing, as well as a pair of zippered pockets for any smaller items you want to keep in their own space. Outside, it also gets the outfit’s Hitchpoint Grid for attaching all sorts of accessories. The bag is available in 20L, 35L, and 50L sizes, although we opted for the mid-sized option in the list.
State Wellington Cabana Tote
Pros
- Uniquely stylish looks
- Durable, water-resistant TPU construction
- Transparent, so you can easily see where each item is
Cons
- Very expensive
Most beach totes just don’t look that pretty, being designed more for utility than style. Such is not the case with this transparent bag, whose chic looks and clean lines make it way more stylish than most totes you’ll probably see at the beach this summer. Yeah, we cant say enough nice things about how good it looks. Aside from the elevated aesthetics, it’s also very durable with its water-resistant TPU construction, while being easy to clean with a simple wipe down. The design is wider at the top than the bottom, so you can cram more things at the brim, with a total 26L capacity that should offer enough room for most people’s beach hauls. Other features include a detachable inner pouch, soft webbing straps, and a certainty that you’re going to be asked multiple times at the beach about where you got your bag.
Hat Attack The Original Straw Traveler Bag
Pros
- Beautiful raffia straw construction
- External straps are designed to secure your beach hat
Cons
- Very expensive
We’ll be honest, we find this beach tote a tad too expensive for what it brings. However, it’s such a clever design with an undeniable summer look that you just can’t help but love, so it had to be on the list. The big feature here is the set of straps outside the you can use to secure your beach hat. That’s it. Why is that a big deal? Because most people either have to carry their beach hats by hand or ruin it by squeezing it inside their totes, leaving them with a scrunched hat that doesn’t quite look as nice as they should. The tote itself measures 20 x 14 inches, with a 10-inch handle drop, so it’s big enough to hold gear for one to two people at most, with a raffia straw construction that gives it a real summer vibe. Inside, by the way, it gets a cotton lining, so your clothes and gear aren’t brushing up against straws the entire time.
