Arden Cove's Victoria Tote Review [2024]

Product Review Summary

The Victoria Tote from Arden Cove is a high-quality, long-lasting travel bag with ample organizational compartments. Although the $399 price point may be steep, it is worth considering purchasing during a sale to get a good deal on this excellent bag. Overall, I highly recommend it to any woman in search of a reliable travel tote.

Ratings

★★★★☆
The Victoria Tote is a comfortable and sturdy bag with dimensions of 11 inches in height and 17 inches in length. It can hold a laptop and other belongings without feeling too heavy, although laptops larger than 13 inches will not fit in the laptop sleeve. The bag can be transformed into a backpack or crossbody by purchasing additional straps, but the user plans to use it as a tote.
★★★★★
The exterior of the bag is made of water-resistant nylon with microfiber faux leather accents and secured with waterproof zippers that offer added protection against water damage. It also has a slash-resistant lining, which helps prevent theft. The bag has excellent materials and anti-theft features, as expected.
★★★★★
This tote bag has impressive organizational compartments specifically designed for travelers, including multiple wall pockets, net pockets, pen loops, and credit card slots made with RFID-blocking material. It also has a convenient water bottle loop, a padded laptop sleeve with magnetic closure, a D-ring for keys, and a trolley sleeve on the back. These features make the bag practical and user-friendly.
★★★★★
Arden Cove has designed a practical and durable travel tote with numerous organizational pockets and a strong fabric that can withstand repeated use. These features make it stand out as a top choice for travelers.
★★★★☆
The Victoria Tote has high-quality materials and ample storage compartments, but its $399 price tag may be too expensive for some travelers. Bags at this price point are typically made of leather or are designer brands. The tote may be more affordable during a sale, and the author generally expects to pay around $250 for a bag of this caliber.

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Arden Cove: What To Know About the Brand

Karin and Carmen, two sisters from San Francisco, founded Arden Cove after experiencing travel mishaps that left them frustrated with the current options for anti-theft purses. Karin was studying in Paris when many of her classmates had their purses pickpocketed, and her own travel purse seemed to be falling apart. Carmen was on her honeymoon in Bali when she got caught in a rainstorm and all of her belongings in her travel crossbody became wet. Seeking a better alternative, the sisters decided to create travel purses and travel bags that were both functional and fashionable, with high-quality materials and water-resistant features. Arden Cove was launched in 2016 and has gained a strong following since.

Arden Cove Victoria Tote Review

I have a few preferred options for weekender bags, travel purses, and sling bags, but I had never found a travel tote that truly met all of my needs. That is, until I discovered the Victoria Tote from Arden Cove.

The following is a review of Arden Cove’s Victoria Tote with Gold Hardware.

First Impressions

Upon opening the box and seeing the Victoria Tote for the first time, I was struck by the high quality of the fabric. It had a luxurious feel to it, and the waterproof zippers and organizational pockets only added to my initial impression of the bag. I couldn't wait to put it to the test and see how it performed during my workday. Overall, I was very impressed with the features and craftsmanship of the tote.

Sizing and Fit

The Victoria Tote, with dimensions of 11 inches in height and 17 inches in length, fits comfortably over the shoulder and snug against the body. It was able to hold my laptop and other belongings without feeling too heavy, and I found it to be very sturdy. The only issue I had was that my laptop, which is 15 inches, didn't fit inside the laptop sleeve (which is only suitable for 13-inch laptops). However, I was able to use the laptop sleeve for my notebook and journal instead. I also appreciate that the bag can be transformed into a travel backpack or crossbody by purchasing additional straps, although I plan to use mine just as a tote.

Quality of Materials

The exterior of the bag is constructed from water-resistant nylon and features microfiber faux leather accents. It’s secured with waterproof zippers, which can be slightly difficult to open at first but provide added protection against water damage. Having lost several laptops due to water damage, this feature is essential IMO. The bag also has a slash-resistant lining, which is one of the best features for preventing theft. Between the high-quality materials and the ample anti-theft features, Arden Cove scored an A+ in this category (as expected!).

Organizational Compartments

One standout feature of this tote bag is its impressive organizational compartments, which have been designed specifically with travelers in mind. The interior main pocket and front pocket both have multiple wall pockets, net pockets, pen loops, and credit card slots. An added bonus is that these compartments are made with RFID-blocking material to protect your credit card information while you travel. Another unique and convenient feature of this tote is the water bottle loop, which is something I've never seen in a tote before. It keeps my water bottle upright to prevent spills. I also appreciate the padded laptop sleeve with magnetic closure and the D-ring for attaching my keys. The trolley sleeve on the back is the finishing touch that allows me to consolidate my luggage when traveling. All in all, these features make the bag very practical and user-friendly.

Overall Design

It is clear that the team at Arden Cove put a lot of thought into designing a travel tote that is both practical and long-lasting. The numerous organizational pockets make it extremely functional, and the durable fabric ensures that it can withstand repeated use. All of these features make the Arden Cove tote stand out as a top choice for travelers.

Value for Money

I found the price of $399 for this tote to be a bit steep. While the high-quality materials and ample storage compartments do make it a higher-end product, I think a price point just under $400 may be out of reach for many travelers. In my experience, bags in this range tend to be made of leather or are luxury brands. That being said, Arden Cove does run sales from time to time, so it may be worth waiting for a sale to purchase this tote. Overall, I would expect to pay around $250 for a bag of this caliber.

Get the Victoria Tote

The Bottom Line

Given the excellent craftsmanship and numerous organizational compartments, I wholeheartedly recommend the Victoria Tote to any woman looking for a long-lasting travel bag. While the $399 price tag may be out of reach for some, it is worth considering purchasing during one of Arden Cove's sales to get a good deal on this excellent bag.

Arden Cove’s Victoria Tote Bag Review

Product Review Summary

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Arden Cove: What To Know About the Brand