How We Researched the Best Canvas Tote Bags in 2021 & Beyond

Best Canvas Tote Bags in 2021 & Beyond Top 5: Best Canvas Tote Bags

Bag Wizard Laptop Tote Bag

Pockets, pockets, and more pockets. Need we say more? If your wardrobe is lacking in pockets, the Bag Wizard Laptop Tote Bag will make up for it. If I could only choose one tote bag to have for the rest of my life, this would be the one.

Design

Even if you’re not an organized person, the Bag Wizard can help you to become one. There’s no need to have to dump out half of your bag looking for something because this bag will keep you organized.

This bag has 12 total pockets inside and out. It has a padded laptop pocket, three pen loops, two large pockets, one zippered pocket, and four pockets around the outside of the bag.

The bag stands up on its own, which is helpful when you need to rummage through it.

Size

The Bag Wizard is 15.75” tall, 4.3” wide, and 13” long. It’s perfect for everyday use without being monstrously large. It’s roomy enough to hold a 15.6” laptop along with everything you might need for an outing: notebooks, wallet, cell phone, changes of clothing, a fold-up umbrella, an eReader, backup battery charger, water bottle, etc.

The Bag Wizard has a 10.5” strap for carrying the bag by your side or over your shoulder.

Durability

We love how sturdy this tote bag is. The canvas straps are reinforced with leather and wrap around the outside of the tote bag with heavy-duty stitching and metal buckles, so you know they’re never going to let you down.

Value

The Bag Wizard comes at a mid-range price. We feel like the bag is priced right for its organization and durability. It is a bag you will want to use again and again. The Bag Wizard will last you a long time.

• 12 pockets inside and out
• Heavy-duty, leather-reinforced straps with metal buckles (9.2” long)
• Attractive style in 7 different colors
• Large size (12.99” tall x 4.33” deep x 15.74” long)
• Can stand up on its own

• The two pockets on the front are narrow, so it’s difficult to retrieve items at the bottom.

SMRITI Canvas Tote Bag

Because the Smriti Canvas Tote Bag tapers toward the top, it looks a little more like an oversized purse than some other canvas bags. However, the rugged, stonewashed jean look “integrates the character of the American cowboy” to take it beyond manpurse territory into a bag that is stylish, timeless, and accessible regardless of gender.

Design

Bronze hardware and leather accents give it added style. There are three different stylish colors from which to choose.

Inside, you’ll find two slip pockets and one zippered pocket to add a little organization and keep valuables safe. The internal zipper pocket is big enough to hold more than a wallet and keys.

One unique feature of the Smriti is that it has both a zipper and snap closure. The zipper closure is only in the middle of the bag, which allows you to close the bag while still having taller items like an umbrella or yoga mat stick out. Snapping and zipping the bag offers a little more security, bringing the top edges closer together.

Size

The Smriti is 14.2” tall, 5.9” wide, and 20” long at the base. However, it tapers to 17.7” wide toward the top. Whether you need it to hold groceries, laptop, clothes, work or school items, or to use it as a diaper bag, it has plenty of room inside.

The straps are 11.8” long, which is great for carrying over your shoulder or down at your side.

The interior zip pocket is big enough to fit a 12.9” tablet, like the iPad Pro.

Durability

Smriti makes their bag from double canvas fabric for extra durability. The handles are double stitched with an X-marks-the-spot treasure stitch to ensure that they won’t break when you carry heavier items.

Value

The Smriti comes at a mid-range price, but it looks like a higher-end bag. I won’t tell if you don’t.

The Smriti is versatile enough to use for grocery shopping, as a diaper bag, to take to the beach, as a gym bag, for overnight trips, or for everyday use at work or school.

Because of its rugged design and coloring, you’ll find that this bag will still look new and will still be your go-to tote bag after a few years of use.

• Rugged, stylish look
• Extremely durable
• Has both zipper and snap top closures
• Includes two internal slip pockets and one large internal zipper pocket
• Available in three classic colors

• The top zipper leaves large openings on both sides

Baggu Duck Bag

If you want a utilitarian, versatile, unisex, unstructured bag with two types of carrying straps, the Baggu Duck Bag will make you happy. Because of its unique design and versatility, the Duck Bag lands on many top-tote-bag lists.

Design

The unstructured design and flexible seams of the Baggu will allow you to carry oddly shaped items to and fro. Letting passersby guess what you’re toting in your tote bag is part of the fun of a Duck Bag.

The Duck Bag is the only tote bag we’ve seen with two types of handles: short handles and long straps.

It has short handles for carrying at your side, which means that the bag won’t be dragging the ground if you’re on the shorter side. Plus, you can keep your belongings closer to you.

If your arm muscles get tired, you can switch to using the longer shoulder straps instead. At shoulder straps are adjustable and long enough that you can switch to carrying the bag as a crossbody bag for added security and less weight on your shoulder.

The snaps on the top of the bag can keep things somewhat secure. However, there’s a zippered pocket inside to keep valuables and small items safe. The inside pocket is big enough to hold an iPhone Plus.

Size

The Duck Bag is taller than it is long, which is useful when shopping, so you don’t knock everything over like a bull in a China closet. It is deep enough to accommodate everything from a yoga mat to a loaf of French bread. The bag measures 15.75” tall, 4.75” wide, and 11” long. It’s big enough to hold a 15” laptop like a MacBook.

One of the stand-out features of the Baggu is that the shoulder straps extend to 40 inches so that you can carry it high, low, or as a crossbody bag.

Durability

The Duck Bag has been a long-time favorite of many people because Baggu builds their bags to last.  It’s made of thick 100% recycled cotton cloth and has strong stitching that makes it a reliable bag for many uses.

Value

You might expect it to cost more, but the Duck Bag comes at a mid-range price. You can expect to use your Duck Bag for years without worrying about it falling apart. Having a quality bag that you will love to use in varied settings makes it a great value.

• Deep bag
• Carry handles and 40” shoulder strap
• Inside zippered pocket
• Unstructured with flexible seams
• Available in 14 different styles

• Attracts lint and hair

Covelin Retro Large Canvas Tote

You can’t go wrong with the Covelin Retro Large Canvas Tote’s classic style. There’s so much blank space on the outside that lots of buyers decorate it with monograms, logos, iron-on designs, patches, pins, or personal artwork.

Design

The Covelin is an unstructured bag that can accommodate oddly-sized objects. You can leave the bag open if you’re carrying taller objects. However, there’s also an option to zip the top to keep belongings from falling out. Two inside pockets also add organizational options.

Size

The Covelin Retro is a little smaller than the other bags we’ve reviewed. It’s 12.5” tall, 3.5” wide, and 12.2” long. The bag is unstructured, so it won’t take up much space to store when it’s empty. You can fit an entire collection of bags inside one bag.

The strap is 15.5” long and adjusts for your shoulder or as a crossbody bag.

Value

With 77 different colors to choose from and costing around $10, you can afford to buy more than just one Covelin Retro in various colors. Whether you pick your favorite colors or pick colors that match your favorite outfits is up to you.

• Inexpensive bag
• Available in 77 solid and print colors
• Features a zipper top
• Includes an adjustable strap to change from shoulder to crossbody
• Incorporates two organizational inside pockets

• Includes a label on the outside that says “Living Traveling Share,” but it’s removable with a seam ripper

Dalix 22” Heavy Duty Cotton Tote Bag (Zippered)

Because it has so much space inside, the Dallix 22” Heavy Duty Cotton Tote Bag allows you the freedom to carry more items. Bring along a coat just in case, pack your games to play with friends, take it to the pool filled with beach towels and water gear, or carry heavy cans home from the grocery store. Wherever you need to transport large or heavy items, the Dalix is ready to go.

Design

One stand-out feature of the Dalix is that the zip-top pulls out and upward to give you about four more inches of zippable bag height.

The Dalix has a basic, classic style, but many people embellish it with personalized iron-on art or embroidery with professional-looking results.

Durability

The Dalix is sturdy with durable stitching. It is also well-structured so that it sits up on its own when you’re not carrying the bag. There’s also a pocket on the outside that’s big enough to hold a water bottle, keys, scan card, or anything you’d like to get to quickly.

Size

The Dalix is the roomiest bag on our list and is longer than it is tall, allowing you to place quite large items inside. It’s 16” tall, 6” wide, and 22” long.

The straps are 15.5” long. Unless you’re tall, you probably can’t carry it at your side, but you can wear it over your shoulder.

Value

The Dalix is one of the cheaper bags on the list, but it also has the most capacity of any bag on the list, making it a great value.

Since this bag is just over $10, some people buy multiples and monogram a bag for each family member. Others buy bags to decorate as personalized gifts for family and friends.

• Zipper top that pulls up for extra bag height
• Large carrying capacity
• Classic style
• Sturdy construction
• A flat bottom allows the bag to sit up on its own

• Has no extra pocket on the inside