If you’re part of a family of beachgoers, major league sports fans or campers, then you likely have — or are looking for — an ultra-durable tote bag that’s stood the test of time.
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that → ’re → time
A great bag, whether for the beach or another outdoor adventure, has to be waterproof, easy to clean and able to hold items of all different shapes, sizes and weights.
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bag → have → shapes
This is why the Bogg Bag is one of the most popular tote bags on the market right now — it’s available in several sizes and colors (including prints), it’s compatible with many attachable accessories and it’s made of a strong and flexible plastic material known as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).
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But since Bogg Bag first launched, other brands have released their own versions of the all-purpose tote, including Owala’s The Sun-Day Tote, Simple Modern’s Getaway Bag and Away’s Beach Tote.
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brands → launch → Tote
This summer, our staff, including senior editor and tote bag enthusiast Shalwah Evans, tested these competitors to see just how they compare to the beloved Bogg Bag.
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they → include → Bag
We looked at functionality, materials, features, accessories and more, and even examined the weaknesses of each option.
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We also included testimony from editors who have tried other options in the past, including Yeti’s popular Camino 35 Carryall Tote.
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who → include → Tote
Keep reading to find out which bag was our top pick, what it had that the others didn’t, plus which types of tasks and events each beach tote might be best for.
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tote → keep → tasks
Below are our thoughts on all of the totes we tested and how each one stacks up to its competitors.
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We also talk about their best features and which improvements we’d love to see for the next iteration.
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Owala recently launched (and sent us) The Sun-Day Tote, its answer to the Bogg Bag.
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Owala → launch → Bag
It has a standard (non-collapsible) and collapsible option; the latter is most similar to the Bogg Bag.
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latter → have → Bag
Evans tested The Sun-Day Tote for a few weeks, taking it to the beach and even a restaurant and bar.
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Evans → test → beach
She enjoyed using The Owala Sun-Day Tote because it repels elements well and has plenty of room to hold many different items.
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it → enjoy → items
“I love the prints and colors available for this bag because they’re not just your basic, boring ones that everyone will have.
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everyone → love → that
The fact that sand bounces off of it, water dries quickly, and it doesn’t get stained easily is a bonus,” she says.
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she → bounce → it
“It’s a great alternative to lugging several grocery store bags too.
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I also love how sturdy the straps are and how they go around the entire bag to give the base even more reinforcement when I’m carting heavier stuff like champagne bottles and melons.
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I → love → bottles
It’s large enough to hold a beach blanket, towel, speaker, a few bottles, small personal items and food storage containers before it gets too heavy to wear on the shoulder.
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The one drawback: Besides being bulky, “the top is wide open so everyone can see right into your bag if it’s on the subway floor,” she says.
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she → see → floor
“Thank goodness for the privacy pockets inside that hides your money, phone and other small necessities.”
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that → thank → money
While the collapsible version of this bag is easier to slide into a closet, Evans says that this option can be used to store household items when it’s not beach season.
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it → slide → items
She used the bag at the grocery store, flower market, the beach and the park.
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She ranked this as the best overall of all the bags because it has the function of the Bogg but with sturdier straps, and if you get the collapsible option you eradicate any storing issues.
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Evans tested the Original Bogg Bag for a couple weeks during trips to the beach.
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She says that it held all of her items very well and provided ample room for small, lightweight things like towels, swim suits, snacks, sunscreen, keys, wallets, fruit and a blanket.
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it → say → towels
The Bogg Bag was easy to carry on one shoulder since she didn’t have super heavy items and was carrying supplies for no more than two people.
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she → carry → people
“I like the Bogg Bag for the beach, especially if I’m driving,” she says.
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she → like → beach
“It holds so much stuff without getting too heavy on my bad shoulders.”
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Another highlight of the Bogg Bag is how easy it is to clean, according to Evans.
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it → clean → Evans
“The bonus is that when I come home from the beach or park I just shake it out over the trash, wipe it with a damp cloth, and it’s ready for the next use,” she says.
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Additionally, the Bogg Bag is compatible with several attachable accessories from the brand, such as cup holders and trays, though they are sold separately.
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Some potential drawbacks Evans had with the Bogg Bag mainly revolved around the fact that the bag itself is somewhat bulky at times, depending what size you get and what types of items you use it to carry.
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For light items, the bag is perfect, but if you put heavy things like large beverages or water bottles in it, it can start to wear a lot on your shoulder after a while, says Evans, who mostly used the bag while riding the train, which meant going up and down lots of stairs.
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Senior production manager, Becca Delman, has had the Bogg Bag for years and says it’s been perfect for trips with her family.
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it → have → family
“It contains messes and wipes clean easily; every side wipes down without a problem,” she says.
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she → contain → problem
“It can easily hold beach or swim items for an entire family of five, plus food and snacks.
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It also comes with attachments like a phone holder and a 4-cup holder, perfect for keeping everyone’s coffees and waters secure.”
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Both Evans and Delman agreed that it gets heavy and it’s bulky — issues that didn’t come up with some of the other bags.
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Evans also had the opportunity to try out Simple Modern’s beach tote, the Getaway Bag, which resembles the Bogg Bag but has more of a basket-like shape.
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…and 69 more, not listed.
