Trip.com’s Guide to Select the Best Beach Tote for Summer

Trip.com has picked out the best beach tote in a range of different categories to help you make the important decision – what are you going to bring to the beach?

Maybe you’re planning on a walk or a hike and need something sturdy but lightweight. Maybe you have kids in tow and need serious organization. Maybe you just need something simple for a relaxing day on the sand. You’ll find great ideas for the perfect beach tote below.

And you have plenty of time to prepare for summer 2023! So take your time – act in haste, repent at leisure…

The beach tote can express your innermost desires... Source: Kevin Grieve / unsplash

Tips for Selecting the Best Beach Tote

You’ll find the beach tote in many different fabrics, colors, and patterns. Lightweight but strong materials like canvas and cotton are very popular, as well as woven fabrics like jute. And if you’re seeking high fashion, you’ll find a tote bag that can be made in leather, too.

There’s a sensible list of criteria you can bear in mind when selecting the tote bag that’s right for you. First of all, what are your own personal needs? Who is this bag going to take care of? Is it just for your sunglasses, sun lotion, and a paperback book?

The beach tote can hold everything that's dear to you! Source: Julia Kicova / unsplash

Then, you’ll also need to think about the size of the bag. If you’re just out for a spot of sunbathing, you’ll not be looking for anything too big. But if you’re off on a hike along the coast, then the beach tote you bring will need to be suitable.

Perhaps you’ll need the beach tote for a picnic or sharing a cold bottle of wine on the sand. That means you’ll be wanting a beach tote with a cooler compartment. Keep reading to see Trip.com’s recommendation!

Next on the list is the material. Canvas, straw, cotton, rubber, or something truly waterproof like nylon or polyester? All of these materials have their strengths and weaknesses, and you’ll find representatives of each below.

A crucial aspect of the beach tote is its handles. Because you might be carrying it for some time, and it might be quite heavy sometimes, the material of the handles is very important to consider. You might even think about buying a beach tote with a shoulder strap – then you’ll keep both hands free for other things!

Finally – and most importantly, for some! - there’s the color you choose for your beach tote. Some of the best bags come in a range of customized designs, letting you select the colors you’ll be sporting on the sands this coming summer. Some even let you customize even more than that!

Keep reading to find the beach tote that’s right for you!

The beach tote can carry some surprising things, too... Source: Pineapple Supply Co / unsplash

Beach Tote Recommendations

The Original Beach Tote: L. L. Bean Boat and Tote

For this purpose, the tote bag had to have all of the characteristics we see today – it needed to be big, sturdy, and durable. And of course, when a bag has all of these strengths, it can be used for much more than ice! That’s why we have the beach tote today, which is a perfect marriage of form and function.

The design of the L. L. Bean Boat and Tote can’t be faulted. It’s been strength tested to 500 lbs of weight, and is available in multiple sizes from small to extra-large. In its transition to a fashion accessory, L. L. Bean has augmented the functional tote with all manner of decoration – leather handles and bottoms, zips, and even monogrammed initials.

The L. L. Bean beach tote became a symbol of a specific kind of fashion – upper class, East Coast, preppy, and WASP. For these reasons, it was an aspirational item to have. In recent years, however, it’s been re-appropriated by a new generation of stylish youth who love the personalized monograms – that can be made to express whatever sentiment you choose!

There’s a range of color schemes on offer – including regatta blue, red wine, lawn green, and faded jaded – as well as strap lengths, and open or zip-top models. With prices starting at just US$29.95, and a monogram for just an extra US$8.00, it won’t even hurt your pocket too much.

The Iconic Everyday Beach Tote: IKEA FRAKTA Shopping Bag

What they found shocked them – many customers actually had to leave some desired items behind, because they had no way of carrying them all to the cashier. And so the idea of a sturdy tote bag was born.

There’re no bells and whistles on the IKEA FRAKTUR. You won’t find customized monograms, leather straps, or zips and pockets in this straightforward beach tote. What you will find is the ultimate in functionality – durable polypropylene, two shoulder straps, spacious interior, and on top of all that, it’s simple to store flat.

Use it for the beach, bring it to IKEA with you, pack your groceries in it, or even your laundry – the IKEA FRAKTUR is endlessly versatile.

It’s not just pure function, either. The immediately recognizable bright blue color can be spotted across cities everywhere, reminding us that fashion isn’t always about standing out – it’s also about creating those instant bonds between us.

Accept no substitutes – the IKEA beach tote can be had for just US$0.99, making it a fashion that’s accessible to all. And there’re a few easy tests – provided by IKEA themselves! – that you can do to make sure your IKEA tote is authentic.

First, give your bag a shake. If you hear it rustle, it’s the real thing. Second, you should be able to carry almost anything you like in it – your beach gear, bricks, and even water! Third, any dirt should be cleaned off with a quick hose down. Fourth, try to fold it up. If it folds to the size of a small purse, you know you’ve got an authentic IKEA beach tote. Finally, check for the IKEA tag inside!

Beach totes – the perfect blend of form and function. Source: Debora Cardenas / unsplash

The Beach Tote With the Cooler: FITFORT Mesh Beach Tote Bag with Detachable Beach Cooler Bag

And the ultimate in beach tote with cooler functionality is right here – the FITFORT Mesh Beach Tote Bag with Detachable Beach Cooler Bag. For an equally cool US$29.99, you’ll get this tall, powder blue beach tote with a handy zipper top and side pockets for sunglasses and sun lotion, too.

The cooler itself is on the bottom of the bag, and is spacious enough to hold up to 12 bottles of drink. It’s designed with a seamless interior that prevents any leakages and maintains a steady temperature with ease.

The bag attaches to the main bag with Velcro seals and is secured with buckles, so it’s simple, stylish, and straightforward. It also means you can leave it at home if you just need the bag for a simple shopping trip or an easy day out.

The mesh design of this beach tote means it’s breathable, so a wet swimsuit will still air out a little inside. It’s made from PVC, so anything inside will stay free from odor, and sand on the outside will fall off with a quick shake.

And even when it’s filled to the brim with bottles, lotions, towels, and the rest, you’ll hardly feel the weight – it comes with a pleasingly cushioned shoulder strap to take the pressure off!

The FITFORT Mesh Beach Tote is the bag that’s thought of everything, for the beach-lover who needs to think of everything! At such an affordable price, too, it’s hard to overlook.

The Beach Tote for Moms: SHYLERO Beach Bag

If you’re looking for a bag that will keep you equipped for a sunny day out, then the SHYLERO Beach Bag should be right up your street. It’s built from tear-resistant canvas fabric and styled in nautical blue and white stripes, with thick and tactile rope handles that won’t be breaking anytime soon.

This is a big bag that will fit all you need comfortably inside it – beach towels, swimsuits, outfits, cosmetics, as well as magazines and books. There’re also 2 pockets on the inside, 1 of which has a zip on it for things like keys.

On the outside, there’re 2 exterior pockets for your sunglasses and water bottles, wine bottles, or coffee flasks. The top of this beach tote closes with a magnet, giving you the safety of closing it over, but also the convenience of opening it back up in a hurry.

You’ll find along with the bag itself a bonus waterproof PVC case for any valuables that you don’t want getting wet – phones, jewelry, cash, credit cards, etc.

Like all the best examples of the beach tote, it’s a great fusion of style and substance. You’ll be well-prepared for the beach, and eye-catching too! That makes it perfect for all sorts of other purposes – the shopping trips, the school runs, and the vacations…

A good beach tote keeps things simple! Source: Debora Cardenas / unsplash

Recommended Beach Destinations

Zuma Beach, Malibu

With long white flawless sands, excellent surf, and the cleanest, clearest of waters, it’s easy to understand why Malibu is iconic in American culture. And it’s also easy to see why it’s a playground of the rich and famous!

Sunset at Zuma Beach. Source: Nikola Knezevic / unsplash

Surfside Beach, Nantucket

It’s a great spot for picnics, as well as for flying kites – but you’re best advised to avoid peak hours, as this is a very popular beach.

Dune grasses on Nantucket. Source: Jack Cohen / unsplash

Hapuna Beach State Park

If you feel like being active, there’s ample opportunity for snorkeling, scuba diving, and body-boarding. Otherwise, just lie back and gaze out at the limitless Pacific – you might even spot some traveling whales.

Idyllic Hapuna Beach in Hawaii. Source: Paul Blessington / unsplash

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