11 Best Packable Tote Bags for 2024
Whether you’re running to the grocery store, going to the gym, or headed out for a beach day, sometimes you need a little extra storage space on the go. If you don’t want to get caught looking like a bag lady, let us introduce you to the packable tote bag: your new right-hand woman for convenient, accessible, and discreet storage on the go. These are this year’s best picks.
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11 best packable tote bags for women
1. Best overall packable tote: Away
Do you sense a spontaneous shopping trip coming around the corner? Then make sure you have room to take home all your new-found goodies by sneaking a packable tote into your regular day purse, like The Everyday Tote from Away. With a packing capacity of 33L, this lightweight bag is surprisingly spacious—but it’s also easy to pack up and store out of sight when not in use. Simply fold up this packable tote and stash it in its built-in zipper pocket until you need it again later. Future You will thank you.
Price: starting at $65
2. Best packable tote with removable pouches: Lo & Sons
For a busy gal on the go, no two days are ever the same, which is why you need a packable tote that can adapt and change to your needs. Enter the Del Mar Packable Tote from Lo & Sons. With two multifunctional, removable pouches, this lightweight, water-resistant travel tote bag is ready for anything you can throw at it: weekend trips, beach days, grocery runs, gym sessions—you name it. Hang the removable pouches inside the bag to stay organized; snap them together for easy transport; or stash the tote itself inside one of the pouches for simple storage when it’s not in use.
Price: starting at $70
3. Best colorful packable tote: Calpak
You can consider this packable tote your daily dose of sunshine—and not just because it comes in nine zesty colors like Lemonade, Orchid, and Daisy. The Compakt Tote Bag from Calpak is like your do-it-all daily sidekick: It never weighs you down, but it’s right there when you need it for a little extra support. Made out of a unique, water-resistant nylon-and-polyester combo, this colorful packable tote completely collapses into itself for compact storage that you can set and forget—just throw it in your purse and it’s there whenever you need a little extra room to breathe.
Price: starting at $35
4. Best sustainable packable tote: Baggu
Good things don’t just come in small sizes … They also come in sustainable fabrics. We’re looking at you, Travel Cloud Bag from Baggu. This sustainable packable tote is made with recycled nylon filament yarn that’s produced from pre-consumer waste. This little bag not only helps you tote what you need on the go, but it also saves scrap material from getting sent to the landfill, helps conserve petroleum resources, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Baggu even ships straight to you in FSC-certified, 100% recycled paper stock with non-plastic, fully-recyclable coatings, making sustainability a priority from start to finish.
Price: starting at $78
For more insight, check out our full review of the Travel Cloud Bag here.
5. Best packable tote with pockets: Canvelle
Most packable totes are all about showing off how thin and lightweight they are—but they usually don’t give you a lot of options for organization. Not the Beach Tote from Canvelle! This packable tote is every neat freak’s dream, serving up a whopping total of 11 pockets: three inside and eight outside with a mix of water-resistant, mesh, and open pockets. It’s also completely machine washable, made out of recycled plastic, and even includes brushed-gold D rings so you can attach a crossbody strap to change up your style whenever you want.
Price: starting at $195
6. Best cotton packable tote: July
We love to shop bags made out of recycled materials, but sometimes nylon and polyester are just not the mood. When we want to treat ourselves to something super soft and delicious, that’s when we turn to the Everyday Tote from July. Made out of 100% good, old-fashioned cotton canvas, this packable tote is our no-fail wing woman to give us a helping hand from home to the office to spontaneous weekend getaways. Two top handles and two shoulder straps let you change up your look and stay comfy as you strut around town, while a dedicated laptop sleeve and an interior drink holder make this bag ready for work or play. (Pro tip: You can also shop it in the small size for even better portability.)
Price: starting at $145
7. Best packable tote-backpack combo: Baggallini
Sometimes it can be a tough choice getting ready in the morning: Backpack or tote bag? But on second thought, who says you can’t have it all? The Packable Backpack-Tote from Baggallini lets you have the best of both worlds with a two-in-one design that transforms from tote bag to backpack and back again. A variety of multifunctional pockets and a trolley sleeve make travel days and life at the airport that much easier, while water-resistant nylon takes the stress out of those inevitable iced coffee spills. Plus, when it’s time to streamline, just tuck away this packable backpack-tote combo into the attached zippered pocket, easy-peasy!
Price: starting at $30
8. Best insulated packable tote: Igloo
We’ve all been there. You make an unexpected stop at the grocery store on the way home, and now you’re caught in a mad dash to make it back to your fridge before your yogurt and juice get all warm and gross. Next time you’re out and about in warm weather, don’t forget to take an insulated packable tote, like this pick from Igloo. Made out of REPREVE, a performance fiber created from recycled, post-consumer plastic bottles, the Eco-Friendly Insulated Reusable Puffer Bag has what it takes to keep things cold for up to eight hours. While it has enough room to hold up to 10 cans, it also folds up neatly into its own front zip pocket so Summer You can always keep it by her side.
Price: starting at $40
9. Best anti-theft packable tote: Travelon
Strolling through the city with a tote bag slung over your shoulder can sure give you that easy-breezy, carefree attitude. But don’t forget to keep an eye out for pickpockets! Whether you’re at home or abroad, get a helping hand to keep your gear secure with the Anti-Theft Active Packable Tote from Travelon. Small enough to pack into its own zip compartment, this anti-theft packable tote is brimming with anti-theft features, like locking compartments, slash-resistant front panels and straps, and an RFID-blocking interior pocket. Bonus: You’ll also get two expansion pockets for a water bottle and an umbrella so you can truly be ready for anything out on the road.
Price: starting at $60
10. Best large-capacity packable tote: ETidy
Those micro-purses you see on Instagram are cute and all, but they don’t give you much room for anything more than a credit card, phone, and lip gloss. For more room to grow whether you’re traveling for the weekend or just heading out for a busy day, try the Large-Capacity Foldable Tote Bag from ETidy. Waterproof, wrinkle-resistant, and available in 16 different colors and prints, this large-capacity packable tote has all the features for the girl who wants it all. You’ll get one mega-sized zip main compartment, one interior zip pocket, two interior open pockets, and one extra cosmetics case that doubles as a storage pouch for the tote itself. Because sometimes, bigger is better.
Price: starting at $27
11. Best packable crossbody tote: SYZY
If a traditional, top-handle tote bag is a major snoozefest for you, here’s something a little different: the Crossbody Packable Travel Tote Bag from SYZY. While most tote bags feature a standard top-carry handle that doesn’t give you a lot of room for flexibility, this packable tote comes with standard hand straps AND an extra-long crossbody strap so you can sport this tote low at the waist when you want a more casual look. When not in use, this packable crossbody tote compresses down into an itty-bitty micro pouch complete with a patent-pending magnetic cord-lock so you can securely attach it to your keychain, belt loop, or pretty much anywhere else for easy access in a pinch.
Price: starting at $25
Packable tote bags - common FAQs
What is a packable tote?
A packable tote is a tote bag that can fold up into its own little pouch for easy storage on the go. Packable totes are great for travel because they give you instant, extra storage space without taking up a lot of room.
What material is best for a collapsible tote bag?
The most useful collapsible tote bags are also water resistant, so you’ll want to look for a packable tote made out of nylon or polyester. If you want something a little less plastic-y and more luxe, though, you can’t go wrong with a collapsible tote bag in classic cotton.
How much should I expect to spend on a packable tote bag?
The cost of a packable tote bag depends on its size, material, and features. You can score a cheap packable tote for around $25, a mid-range option for around $55, or go full-on luxe for $100+.
