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If you are still using single-use grocery bags in 2024, you are not keeping up with the times. Nowadays, it's cool and trendy to use reusable, environmentally-friendly totes when you go to the grocery store.
Below we have rounded up a few of our favorite market tote bags that will make great replacements for all the random, ripped, and multi-sized bags strewn all over your car or house. These totes are all reusable, washable, and durable. They also have some sort of structure to ensure they hold their shape when standing on their own.
We have also included a zippered top option which is great for preventing accidental loss and a cool extra-large option that folds into an attached pouch that easily fits in a pocket, purse, or glove box.
Comparing the Top Market Tote Bags
Household Essentials Bag — Best Overall
This ultra-versatile tote is spacious, durable, practical, and can be used in a variety of ways. Take it to the beach, camping, sports games, grocery shopping, and even for hauling laundry as it is made of easy-to-clean, durable canvas with a water-resistant lining. The bag also has two long handles for easy carrying and four large exterior pockets for keeping essential items within reach.
Pros
- This tote will make a great organizer for the home or car
- This tote is collapsable for easy storage when not in use
Cons
- There may be a slight scent upon initial opening
Grammercy Kitchen Bag — Runner Up
These reusable, versatile bags are made to withstand spills or messes as they are coated with a water-repellent film and are washable by hand. This set of three bags will help keep you organized at home and/or anytime you need to haul something around, will never tip over in the trunk, and will stay open and upright for easy loading and unloading. These bags are also collapsible for easy storage and come with a downloadable guide with handy tips and tricks.
Pros
- These bags have recycled plastic reinforcements on the sides and bottom
- Rigid structure helps the bags to stay upright in your car
Cons
- These should not be put in the dryer
Earthwise Bag — Honorable Mention
This set of six lightweight and reusable grocery shopping bags are made from super strong and sturdy laminated, non-woven material which will help extend their life. These bags have double reinforced handles, will stay open and upright for easy packing and unpacking and can be wiped down with a wet cloth or towel for easy cleaning.
Pros
- Using this set of bags has the potential to eliminate up to 1000 plastic bags
- They fold up flat so they can be stored in kitchen drawer or trunk
Cons
- These bags do not have any reinforcement on the bottom
BeeGreen Ripstop Bag — Best for Small Grocery Trips
Another great reusable shopping tote option is these ripstop bags that come in a set of five. These bags are a great dupe for their higher-end counterpart and will make your next grocery or shopping trip easier than ever. The best part about these bags is that they fold up super small into a pocket-sized pouch so you can carry it in your purse, bag or car without taking up too much space.
Pros
- Long handles allow for holding by the hand or over the shoulder
- These bags are water- and tear-resistant
Cons
- These bags do not have a closure
CleverMade Bag — Cutest Design
This luxe, heavy-duty structured utility tote is a great option to keep in your car or anywhere around the house that could use some chic organization. Reusable and collapsible, this bag comes with extra-long handles that can be held in the hand or on the shoulder and comes with an internal zippered pouch that will help store any valuables. It can also carry up to 30 pounds and comes in many stylish color options.
Pros
- This tote comes in both insulated and non-insulated versions
- There are six adorable patterns to choose from
Cons
- This bag is at a slightly higher price point than our other options
Dalix Cotton Bag — Best Canvas Bag
This tote bag is another great premium option in a sturdy cotton canvas material. This bag is a great-looking tote that offers a zippered main compartment to keep belongings safe and avoid anything from falling out or getting lost. It also has a handy front pocket for storage of smaller items, bottles, or accessories for easy access.
Pros
- This bag comes in 11 different colors and print options
- Features an outer pocket to hold your phone, wallet, and keys while shopping
Cons
- The base of the bag is white which can make it susceptible to dirt
Creative Green Life Bag — Also Consider
Make grocery shopping easy with this rigid box structure-style set of three tote bags. This reusable bag will stand up and stay open on its own, making it easy to load and unload. The long handles let you easily carry taller items. This bag is super sturdy and will maintain its shape even when fully loaded. Additionally, it is easy to clean with a damp cloth.
Pros
- Three of these bags are equivalent to 10 single-use grocery bags
- These bags have sturdy reinforcements so they maintain their shape
Cons
- These should not be put in the washing machine
ToteBagFactory Market Tote Bag — Most Durable
Are you going through a pile of plastic bags at the grocery store every time you go? Stop wasting plastic and make your weekly grocery run more efficient with the ToteBagFactory’s market tote bag. This minimalistic, natural burlap tote bag comes in a set of 12 for even the largest grocery hauls. The look of the bag can work in any situation, including at the beach, at a farmer’s market, or even just sitting in the trunk of your car.
The laminated interior is made of inner vinyl lining and coated with moisture-resistant latex for easy cleaning after spills or multiple uses. Simply wipe down the inside of each bag and they are good to go for the next round of groceries. The reinforced outer jute lining and sturdy but soft cotton handle make this market tote bag durable and long-lasting.
Pros
- Soft exterior
- Durable design
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Musty odor
Buying Guide: Market Tote Bags
Market tote bags are a great way to save up some cash in the long run, and they’re good for the environment, too. Here’s what you need to know about market tote bags.
What Are Market Tote Bags?
A tote bag refers to a type of bag that’s generally left opened and unfastened with straps connected on both sides of the bag. Tote bags are generally used for carrying all sorts of items, and market tote bags are designed specifically for carrying groceries. Unlike other bags, which can be a little inefficient in storing and keeping items, it’s a lot more efficient to carry and put items in a market tote bag.
Why Do You Need a Market Tote Bag?
It’s perfect for grocery shopping
Market tote bags are the preferred bag to be used in shopping for groceries. This is because of the nature of tote bags and the way they were designed. To illustrate this, imagine a tote bag and a backpack side-by-side. Both bags are great for carrying all sorts of items, but their designs couldn’t be any more different - a tote has no zippers or straps to close the bag, whereas a backpack does. This may make the tote bag look less secure, but the lack of a zipper is actually a good thing.
You see, when you’re doing your groceries, you’re constantly putting items in and out of your bag. You may pick up some fruits only to return them once you realize you don’t need that many. These actions can be difficult if you have a backpack with a relatively small opening that’s guarded by a zipper. With tote bags, on the other hand, you can easily open up the bag, shove your items in, and take them out for checkout or when you’re returning an item.
They’re easy to carry around
Tote bags are also very versatile to carry around. Let’s return to the backpack analogy real quick so you can get a general idea. When bringing around a backpack, how would you carry it? Simple - on your back. But this also means that you have to put it on your back, take it off, and put it back on again while grocery shopping, and this can be quite cumbersome especially if you’ve got a lot of items to buy on your grocery list.
Buying groceries is a lot easier, however, when you’re doing them with a tote bag, as you can carry them in multiple ways. You can sling them around your shoulder, hang them over your forearm, or grab them by the hand. This versatility makes your shopping experience fairly comfortable.
They’re environmentally friendly
Finally, let’s talk about the environment. Many countries still use disposable plastic bags to store and carry groceries with. This can be a problem as the plastic produced isn’t recyclable, and it’ll take decades before they degrade into small enough components that they won’t affect the environment. In the long term, plastic can cause devastating effects to entire ecosystems.
With tote bags, you won’t ever have to buy or use another plastic bag ever again. Even the more environmentally safe solution, paper bags, won’t be used, which will also cut down the overall usage of trees. If more people adopt the use of tote bags, not only will you make shopping a lot more convenient, you’ll be doing so in a way that’s environmentally friendly, too.
Things to Consider When Buying a Market Tote Bag
Size
Tote bags are fairly standard size-wise, as they’re about the same size no matter where you get them. Some tote bags may be a little bigger or wider, but in general, they won’t be so large that you’d need to be an athlete to carry one that’s fully loaded. There is, however, a bit of variance in terms of size, so you’ll want to pick a tote bag that’s large enough to carry your groceries for the week while also being small enough to not be annoying to lug around.
Design
One of the cool things about tote bags is that you can print virtually anything on them. They’re like t-shirts, but for bags. You could have nothing printed, or you could have an ornate flower pattern or a band logo on them. Some businesses even sell custom-made tote bags if you really want to get something that’s unique to you.
The design of the tote bags themselves don’t affect how easy or difficult they are to carry, and they’re purely for aesthetics. This means that you don’t really need to care about the design, but in the same vein, it also doesn’t hurt to pick a design that you like, either.
