Honorable Mentions
Photograph: Lo & Sons
Lo & Sons Upcycled Patchwork Tote for $66: This is probably what you picture when you think of a tote—it has one large compartment with two smaller internal pockets and it doesn’t snap or zip closed. Still, it comfortably fits a laptop, books, and day-to-day accessories so it could be used as a work tote bag or for a night away. Fun fact: it’s made from returned and damaged Lo & Sons bags.
Lo & Sons Catalina Supreme Tote for $135: Lo & Sons is one of our favorite brands, and former reviewer Medea Giordano says this travel bag is brilliant for weekend getaways. It’s capacious with a bottom compartment for a pair of shoes. Don’t need a separate compartment? Just unzip the bottom of the main compartment to create one larger space. The Catalina Supreme is made from a durable recycled material that keeps its shape even when empty. For what it is, though, it’s hard to justify the hefty price tag.
Bellroy Tokyo Tote for $129: This is the runner-up to our top pick from Moment. It’s similarly pocketed, with a soft sleeve to cradle a 13-inch laptop, two 5-inch pockets for a phone, wallet, cables, or a small notebook, and larger “pop” pockets on either end that extend to hold a water bottle, umbrella, or shoes. It’s made of recycled plastic bottles, and its straps have a nice rubbery grip to keep it on your shoulders.
Photograph: Lux and Nyx
Lux and Nyx Origami Tote for $288: The Origami Tote is stunning, with a design that can transition from work and the gym to dinner or the airport. There’s a padded laptop sleeve, two interior side pockets that can hold mini-umbrellas or even a flat shoe, a small zip pocket hidden inside the exterior V-shape sleeve that holds a phone, and a luggage pass-through on the other side. There are two versions, one made from neoprene and satin, but neither biodegrades.
Fjallraven Kånken Totepack for $100: We love the Kånken backpack. Its Totepack is essentially the same bag but can convert from a tote to a backpack. The downside is its size, with only a 13-inch laptop pocket and two side pockets for water bottles or a small umbrella—but they’re tight, so don’t expect to fit a 1L Nalgene in there.
United by Blue Convertible Carryall for $118: This is our favorite recycled bag and a solid, water-resistant laptop bag that you can wear as a tote on one shoulder or unzip the hidden straps and sport as a backpack. Former reviewer Medea Giordano says it’s great for camping trips and outdoor getaways. Some of the main features include a padded laptop sleeve, internal organizational pouches, and two side pockets with expandable straps.
-Offwhite-Background-SOURCE-Dagne-Dover.jpg)
Photograph: Dagne Dover
Dagne Dover Petra Convertible Tote for $285: The Petra is made from recycled polyester and plastic bottles. It’s durable and huge—it fits a 16-inch laptop and is almost 17 inches tall. It’s probably too big for an everyday bag. But the hardware is heavy-duty metal, and the laptop compartment is padded. For parents, this is also a decent diaper bag.
