All the Best Reusable Shopping Bags We’ve Written About on the Strategist

If you’re over the Baggu craze but still looking for something similar in size, shape, and functionality, author Curtis Sittenfeld loves these reusable bags that also fold up into a pocket-sized package. They also “hold the equivalent of two grocery bags,” she adds.

Another obvious choice for a shopping bag is the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote, which we’ve written about at least six different times. This sturdy canvas tote was originally designed for hauling ice, but Strategist writer Hilary Reid uses her set for carrying laundry, water bottles, books, and any other knickknacks she needs to transport (including a desk lamp). Chris Black calls the Boat and Tote “the answer” to the question of whether or not adults should wear backpacks. (Answer: “No. Carry the Boat and Tote.”) The structured canvas tote comes in four different sizes and two different handle lengths, and we’ve found the large size hits the sweet spot for grocery excursions.

If you like the size and shape of the classic Boat and Tote, but you’re looking for something that has less of a chance of staining or getting dirty, try the Hunter’s tote. According to designer and potter Jonathan Adler, it’s the “bargain of the century.” Plus, the tote has a thermoplastic interior coating, making it more water-resistant than its preppier canvas sister. And for those supporting heavier loads, an extra layer of polyester reinforces the bottom.

The Lands’ End tote bag is the more secure, customizable cousin to the open-top L.L. Bean Boat and Tote. It’s zippered and slightly less-expensive, but there are still embroidery options, so you can get a little dog or steamboat sewn on the side if you want. According to Strategist editor Alexis Swerdloff, the totes are sturdy and arrived quickly to her door, and are, like the Boat and Tote, stain- and water-resistant. The medium size and zipper are ideal for those smaller midweek grocery trips, or for securing your laptop during your commute.

The status bag of two summers past, the netted bag still reigns as the premium produce tote. The flexible cotton netting protects your squash just like a plastic produce bag, and the stretchy cotton accommodates a range of sizes — Parisians even used them in the ’60s and ’70s as market bags for toting baguettes.

This nylon mesh tote, outfitted with eight pockets, is both stain-resistant and waterproof, even more so than the L.L. Bean Hunter’s tote. You can spot clean or rinse it out in the sink, though the mesh repels both dirt and liquid by design. The various compartments will keep your produce organized while still allowing it to breathe, and one reviewer praised its long straps for being “very comfortable, even when the bag is loaded down.” For frozen items that might sweat on the trek home, this option won’t show any water marks either like a cotton tote might.

Chris Black also recommends these basic totes with reinforced straps for everyday grocery shopping and is confident that “any one of them can safely carry a case of Oatly home from Whole Foods.” Sturdy straps aside, they fold up flat, making them easy to stack and store when not in use. They are also surprisingly roomy — one reviewer fit over $100 worth of groceries “with lots of room to spare.”

Though this tote has top handles, snap closure, and a little inner pocket, the adjustable cross-body strap is really what makes Baggu’s Duck Bag stand out. The cross-body strap prevents the bag from sliding down your shoulder, especially when you’re wearing a thick puffer. It’s machine-washable and the seams are taped, meaning you won’t have to worry about stain removal or tears. It easily fits a 15-inch laptop too, so you can still stuff in a few extra groceries on the way home from work.

Akin to the plastic shoppers you see people lugging around Chinatown here in New York City, this enormous shopping tote designed by Danish design company Hay is, according to Strategist editor Anthony Rotunno, “impressively sturdy and big enough that I can fit inside it.” Its expandable size can rival your carry-on, and, if you’re really trying to scale back, you could probably fit an entire grocery trip inside of it. While Rotunno picked his up while on a trip to China, it’s worth the extra shipping costs, he assures, to buy it from the Finland-based Finnish Design Shop.

While the plastic bag ban doesn’t apply to produce bags, it doesn’t hurt to cut back on all types of single-use plastic. Environmental-lifestyle expert Danny Seo, of Naturally, Danny Seo, loves these “game-changing” cotton produce bags: “They’re breathable, lightweight, all-natural, and hold everything from loose lettuce to lemons.” Cotton bags are better than plastic for keeping greens fresh, so you’ll actually be able to finish that head of kale before it wilts.