Wolff Studios / Getty Images
A tote bag is one of those essential items you underestimate until it’s gone. Whether you’re wandering through market stalls on the coast of a Greek island or racing down Oxford Street in the heart of London‘s West End to spend your hard-earned travel dollars on a new outfit, there’s always that moment when your hands are full and you wish you’d packed the trusty tote you left collecting dust at home.
A tote bag is in itself a travel essential. With a seemingly bottomless capacity to carry all your in-flight must-haves, including your trusty laptop, a water bottle, toiletries, snacks, a book or a rain jacket etc., it’s the perfect companion for most journeys.
And there really is a tote bag for everyone, from the chic raffia style your effortlessly stylish aunt takes on her luxury wellness retreat to Koh Samui, to the pocket-filled design with expandable compartments and a padded laptop sleeve for the fashion-forward city girl navigating the Lower East Side of New York City.
But what separates a great travel tote from an average one? Below, we’ve curated the best travel tote bags, highlighting the features most shoppers overlook – especially when packing for your next journey abroad.
You might also like The best luggage brands for travellers who want to go the distance in style
GT‘s Editor’s picks
- Best for beach holidays: Mimmi Terra Eco Tote, $139
- Best for flying, carry-on & long-haul: Eden Leather Large Tote, $395
- Best for weekend getaways: Longchamp Le Pliage Original Large, $310
- Best luxury travel tote: Khaite Lotus Medium Woven Tote, $3760
- Best for city breaks & sightseeing: MM6 Maison Margiela Shopping Bag,
$1430$643.30 - Best for work trips: A.Emery The Ellis Bag, $620
Best for beach holidays
A good beach tote is equally large and lightweight, with room for a towel, sunscreen and a book. It also needs to be made from a material that shrugs off sand, sun and the occasional seaside splash, such as canvas, mesh, nylon and raffia, though the latter is more delicate and harder to clean.
The long straps on the REISS Raffia-Effect Embroidered Tote and Chloé Horse Medal Basket add that extra bit of comfort and support. The most practical of the list is the Mimmi Terra Eco Tote, which is hand-woven entirely from recycled plastics like bottle caps and lids, making it lightweight, durable and water-resistant.
Jacquemus Le Panier Soli Tote Bag,
$920 at David Jones
Chloé Horse Medal Basket,
$350 at Camilla and Marc
Raffia-Effect Embroidered Tote Bag,$435 $255 at REISS
Mimmi Terra Eco Tote,
$139 at THE ICONIC
Best for flying, carry-on & long-haul
For your carry-on, versatility and convenience is the main attraction of a tote bag. Features such as a secure zip-top, a laptop sleep and compartments for quick-access essentials like a passport and phone make all the different. The tote bag should also be durable enough, ideally with a luggage strap to survive hours of airport handling.
Business flyers should take a look at the Sydney Tote by Wolff Studios, featuring a zipped main compartment, padded laptop sleeve fitting up to a 16″ MacBook, an exterior slip pocket that converts into a travel-ready luggage sleeve and an integrated key clip. The July Eden Leather Large Tote also features a padded 16″ laptop sleeve, removable drink holder and considered pockets.
The Antler Heritage Tote Bag is a more affordable alternative in a water-repellent Oxford weave cotton canvas and scratch-resistant leather trims, and at a manageable 1.31kg and 22L, it makes for a durable flyer’s bag.
Sydney Tote,$669 $634.90 at Wolff Studios
Eden Leather Large Tote,
$395 at July
Heritage Tote Bag,$265 $206.50 at Antler
Heritage Ashby Tote,
$1500 at Carl Friedrik
Best for weekend getaways
A great weekender bag balances capacity and weight, with room for a few days of clothes, toiletries and cosmetics and a laptop, without becoming its own burden. Ideally it also has a secure closure, a slip-over-luggage feature, and a material tough enough for planes, taxis and pavements.
Our top pick is the Oroton Lilly Weekender Tote, which features a spacious main compartment, a hanging pocket, room for a 16″ laptop, a back slider tab for suitcase handles, and a hidden pocket for quick phone access, all in a 24L capacity. For something larger, opt for the generous Camilla and Marc Soki Tote or the Anine Bing Large Rio Tote for seaside weekends that are a little more casual. And of course, there’s the iconic Longchamp Le Pliage Original Tote, which at just 290g, can be folded into the size of a paperback book for packing.
Lilly Weekender Tote,$699 $279.60 at Oroton
Soki Tote,
$350 at Camilla and Marc
Anine Bing Large Rio Tote,
$749 at David Jones
Longchamp Le Pliage Original Large,
$310 at Longchamp
See also Australians are ditching suitcases for these luxury weekender bags in 2026
Best luxury travel tote
When it comes to a luxury or designer tote: premium, durable materials such as full leather or reinforced canvas/raffia are key to making a smart purchase. The devil is in the details: think roomy yet softly structured shapes, comfortable straps that don’t make deep, irritable shoulder marks and a secure, well-constructured closure.
The Row Georgica Raffia Tote Bag,
$4190 at Net-A-Porter
Khaite Lotus Medium Woven Tote,
$3760 at Net-A-Porter
Proenza Schouler Days Leather Tote,
$2600 at Net-A-Porter
Toteme Canvas-Trimmed Raffia Tote,
$915 at Net-A-Porter
Best for city breaks & sightseeing
Have a little more fun with a tote for your next city break. The best tote for this type of holiday is lightweight enough to carry hands-free and chic enough that you can dress it up with a fun outfit for dinner or drinks. Texture and sculptural accents such as woven leather, knot details or raffia will add a little more interest to your outfit. Depending on your destination, always keep safety in mind when shopping for a tote; otherwise opt for a travel backpack or crossbody bag to keep all your belongings secure.
Ferragamo Leather-Trimmed Raffia Tote,
$2550 at Net-A-Porter
Yuzefi Large Mochi Leather Bag,
$1290 at The New Trend
MM6 Maison Margiela Shopping Bag,$1430 $643.30 at THE ICONIC
Woven Large Tote,
$739 at St Agni
Best for work trips
A work tote needs to be structured, with a secure closure, dedicated room for a laptop and documents, comfortable straps for commuting between meetings and a durable material that holds its shape through a week of travel.
For travel specifically we love the Reese Market Tote from Brie Leon thanks to its shoulder strap for hands-free commuting. A.EMERY’s The Ellis Bag is an east-west tote with a structured silhouette, two sculpted top handles and an open top secured by an internal D-ring closure, if you’re after a more polished look that transitions effortlessly from workday to weekend. The OROTON Mille Work Tote also comes with a central zip compartment, multiple internal pockets, brass hardware and shoulder straps and fits a 16″ laptop effortlessly for organised, secure carrying between meetings, but is slightly heavier than the other options.
The Ellis Bag,
$620 at A.Emery
Brie Leon Reese Market Tote,
$299 at David Jones
Oroton Mille Work Tote,
$965
Margot XL Mushroom Woven Tote,
$599 at J Vestirsi
A great tote bag for travel has a mix of practicality, versatility and style. Lightweight construction is a priority; nothing is worse than walking 20,000 steps with a bent spine. When travelling, the ideal travel tote should fit comfortably under an airline seat while still offering generous storage. If you’re packing it as a secondary bag, it should be able to fit into or fold into a suitcase without losing its shape. A trolley sleeve is another essential feature for a carry-on tote. Other important but not essential features (depending on your trip) include multiple organisational compartments, water-resistant materials, a secure zip closure, comfortable shoulder straps and durable materials that won’t lead to excessive wear and can withstand years of travel.
Durable, travel-friendly tote bags can be found at Australian retailers specialising in luggage, outdoor gear and premium accessories. Look to brands such as Antler, July and Samsonite for well-designed options using durable materials, smart organisation and travel-focused features.
July, Oroton, Wolff Studios and Carl Friedrik in particular are best for leather/nylon durability with travel-specific features such as trolley sleeves and laptop pockets. David Jones and THE ICONIC stock multiple durable brands online.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
