10 Best Beach Bags and Pool Totes

Best For: Easy cleaning

It can be annoying trying to pack a floppy beach tote or rummaging around the inside of a dark pool bag to find what you need when you just want to reapply sunscreen. However, the Original Bogg Bag has a broad base to stand upright, whether it’s on uneven sand or flat ground, and a wide opening that puts everything within easy reach. It comes with two inserts—one large and one small—where you can zip up items you’d rather not have floating around the bottom of the bag or want to keep dry since the holes on the side allow water and sand to get inside the bag if they reach that high. We use the small for our phone and wallet and the large to hold clothing we want to keep dry. The inserts have toggles that fit in the holes, though, so you can attach them firmly to the side of the bag, and you can connect other accessories, like a cup holder and Bogg's Decorative Bits (which are like Crocs Jibbitz, only larger), as well.

While the holes mean that the Bogg Bag fails the splash test, the EVA means it’s super easy to wipe clean of sand, dirt, and dripping ice cream cones. We had no issue fitting our gear for two travelers inside the bag, though it also comes in Baby (medium) and Bitty (small). While we've seen the Original (large/extra large) on vacation poolside and at the ocean, we haven’t seen those smaller sizes around much. We find the Original the best beach bag for families since there’s plenty of room for drinks, snacks, lunch, and several towels. It’s not the most convenient to carry since you have to hold the straps together on your shoulder to keep one from slipping off. However, they’re the right length to carry by hand if you prefer.

• The EVA material is easy to clean of dirt and sand
• There are tons of colorways with fun names, including limited edition prints

• This bag is like a pair of Crocs—big and plastic, but lots of travelers love it, and it looks better in person
• You can’t pack it for the plane, as it doesn’t collapse and is too large for a personal item bag

Best For: Quick-grab gear on the outside

Travelers looking for the best bang for their buck will want to check out the LEDAOU Beach Bag because it packs a lot of organizational features into something that costs less than $25 at the time of writing. You can also get it with an optional 3-1-1 bag if you need something to carry your sunscreen or beach towel for just a little more. Even without the extras, we think this bag is great, as it has no issue fitting everything we need with room to spare. Plus, it zips shut at the top, so nothing can fall out if it tips over. Its broad base stands up pretty well, but we like the added security just in case.

However, you don’t have to dig inside to get what you need since it has two side pockets perfect for water bottles and two front pockets where you can slide your phone, sunscreen, or a slim pair of sandals. Inside are even more pockets. We use them to hold a phone and wallet or snack bars so they don’t fall to the bottom of the bag. A large zipper pocket has a waterproof lining so you can stash a change of clothing to keep them dry or toss your damp swimsuit inside when it’s time to head home. This bag also passed our splash test; water didn’t bead and run off, yet it didn’t seep through the water-resistant liner coating the entire bag. And since the straps are comfortable to carry on bare shoulders, this may be the best beach bag for your next adventure.

• It has lots of pockets for organizing your gear, including a waterproof one to keep clothing dry or hold wet swimsuits
• The SBS zippers work well

• It can get heavy if you overpack it
• Water doesn’t bead off the fabric

Best For: Keeping sand off your gear

When you picture a beach bag, there’s a good chance you’re thinking about something like the Becokan: canvas, with nautical stripes or tropical prints and rope straps. It looks like it wants to live by the water, yet the lightweight material has been treated to repel moisture and sand. We’re happy to say that it passed our splash test with flying colors; even though the material is thin, no water got through to the inside, even after sitting in a puddle for a short time. It feels nearly dry as soon as you wipe it up, too, which will give you peace of mind that your clothing and beach read will survive children jumping into the water nearby.

This is one of the best beach bags if you need to carry a lot of gear, as we had no issue fitting everything inside with room to spare. Although the material is thin and flexible, it stays open wide enough for easy packing and zips up to hold everything in place, even if the bag falls over. There are also external water bottle pockets and a small internal quick-access pocket for your phone and wallet. However, we were surprised that the rope strap irritates bare skin after a short time since it feels so soft to the touch, though it stays on your shoulder as you walk.

• It has a zip closure to keep gear from falling out
• You can pack it inside a travel backpack, as it collapses to be the size of a small hoodie

• The rope straps may start to dig into your shoulders if you have to hike far to reach your destination
• Depending on your height, it may drag on the ground if you carry it by hand

Best For: Pool days at a resort

Sure, you might love the look of straw or caning when traveling the tropics, but straw holds tight to water for a long time, and caning is fragile. Instead, go for faux! The Mark & Graham Waterproof Caning Tote is a bit of a misnomer: the caning is waterproof, the tote is not, precisely because it's made with caning, which has a naturally open weave. So this tote fails the splash test, but the PU caning does dry quickly. You'll want to pack anything delicate in a water-resistant or waterproof pouch, but you'll have no trouble fitting all the gear we're packing for two travelers into this open beach bag. The faux-leather bottom keeps it upright for easy loading and unloading and prevents sand from seeping in through the bottom, at least when you set it down at the beach.

The rounded faux leather handles are comfortable to carry over your shoulder, too, and the caning doesn't scratch or irritate bare skin. The handles aren't the longest we've tried, so you might find it a tighter fit under your arm, but the magnet at the top of the bag holds them together to keep them from slipping from your shoulder as you walk.

• It snaps at the top to hold the sides together
• The caning looks legit but is much more durable and dries more quickly than the real deal

• While it dries quickly, water and sand can certainly get through the open weave
• There isn't any organization for small gear

Best For: Budget travelers

This may be the best beach bag if you’re looking for a pool tote that won’t weigh you down or break the bank. The HOXIS Mesh Beach Tote is super lightweight, and the mesh material dries quickly and won’t hang on to sand or dirt. On the other hand, it (obviously) fails our splash test. The bright side is that it has a bottom liner that's thick enough to keep gear sitting on top of it from getting wet if you have to set it on a wet beach chair or damp sand. Water beads up on that material, which is great for when you’re the early bird at the pool and the clean chairs haven’t had a chance to dry, although it only protects that spot and won't help you if the bag tips over.

We had no issue packing all our gear into the bag, although the lack of structure makes it hard to fill. Our water bottles kept falling over as our tester tried to put them inside, and because of the vaguely hobo-bag shape, everything tends to slide to the middle as you carry it. The shoulder straps are thin yet surprisingly comfortable, and they stay put on your shoulder while walking, which is what you’ll want in a bag that you could be carrying for quite some time if you're late to the beach and have to hike far to find the perfect spot.

• You can get it in a ton of fun colorways
• It’s lightweight and easy to pack in a travel backpack or suitcase

• You’ll want to use pouches to keep tiny gear from falling out of the mesh
• The floppy sides make it difficult to fill with gear

Best For: Carrying a large beach hat

We like opting for something packable, but our favorite straw beach hats don't always compress. The Hat Attack Original Straw Traveler Bag solves that problem with a few well-placed straps on the front of the bag. We found it easy to slide a broad-brimmed hat into the straps on the front, and it stayed in place throughout our walking test. If you’ve ever had to carry a beach hat down a windy shoreline because you didn’t want to crush it in your bag or lose it to the breeze, you’ll know how useful this feature can be, and we like the look of the bag even without a hat attached.

We had no issue fitting enough gear for two people into the bag, although it completely filled the bag, holding the opening wide enough that we couldn’t engage the magnetic snap closure at the top when we did. While it has a wide base, the sides flop down until you start filling it with gear. Still, that’s remedied pretty quickly once there are a few items inside, and if you put larger gear, like beach towels, on top, you won’t have to worry about anything falling out along the way. However, you may have an issue with the raffia straps scratching your skin. Our tester didn't find it comfortable to carry over the shoulder for the entire test, though you can always hold it in your hand or the crook of your elbow instead. There’s a small slip pocket inside for a wallet and phone, but no other organization, though we didn’t miss it. As for the splash test, water immediately runs off the raffia and doesn’t soak through the cotton lining, so your gear will be safe from occasional splashes, though it will get wet through the open top if it starts to rain.

• You can carry a hat outside the bag instead of crushing it inside
• The cotton liner keeps gear from getting caught in the raffia straw

• Rafia can irritate bare skin, especially with a sunburn
• It’s floppy when you start packing it

Best For: Camping and kayaking

While there’s a good chance that your pool bag or beach tote will get splashed or damp, you may need something with a little more protection from the elements if you want to bring a bag tubing down the river or in a kayak or canoe. That’s where the RUX Waterproof Bag shines. It handles watery adventures with ease thanks to RF-welded TPU-coated nylon. Water just rolls right off, and it’s super simple to wipe dry, so it was great to bring on our camping adventure since we didn’t have to worry about it getting dirty on the ground. It has an open top, but you can close it up if the waves start to pick up or it rains by pulling out the liner and engaging the rolltop closure. It’s not difficult to do, though it gets trickier if you have the bag sitting behind you on a kayak (whoops!).

We had no issue fitting everything we needed inside. However, if you need more space, use the side clips to hook it to the utility rails of the RUX 70L. We didn’t find this tote too uncomfortable on bare shoulders and appreciated the adjustable shoulder strap, though the rubber padding lacks cushion. There are also two carry handles if you prefer.

• This water-resistant beach tote is made completely waterproof with a rolltop design
• The rolltop is quick and easy to engage if it starts to rain

• The carry handles and shoulder strap are thin
• It has no internal organization

Best For: Carrying as a backpack

Beach totes and pool bags are typically carried over one shoulder, but that can be uncomfortable for long walks or unwieldy on a bike. That’s why we like The North Face Borealis Tote. It has two carry handles that you can use in hand or over one shoulder, but the back handle connects to straps that run down the back of the bag. Put your arms through each rear strap, and bam! You’ve got a backpack. Our tester found this super convenient in South Carolina's Myrtle Beach when biking to the pool and trekking on foot to the ocean while carrying chairs and other gear over her shoulders. The straps get tight rather quickly when the bag is packed full, and the folded webbing tote straps aren’t the softest either, yet we think the convenience of multiple carry modes outweighs any discomfort.

The Borealis Tote also has internal and external organization that we find easy to pack with gear. We had no issue fitting everything we needed inside, and there are two exterior side pockets to hold water bottles or sandals, as well as a small front pocket for lip balm and keys, which attach to the included leash. The North Face makes several products in the Borealis line, all with bungees somewhere on the outside, and this tote is no different. They’re on the side and are a great way to hang onto sandy flip-flops when you don’t want them to get everything dirty inside.

• It has a padded laptop sleeve if you want to work poolside
• The bungees are easy to adjust to hold bulky gear

• While it’s structured enough to be easy to pack, it doesn’t always stand upright on sand
• Sunscreen from your back can stain the ripstop material

Best For: Versatility

Whether heading out for a day on the pontoon or relaxing by the beach, a sturdy canvas tote bag can be the blank slate you need to get your gear where it needs to go. The classic styling of L.L. Bean’s Boat and Tote is adaptable to different uses, so you can use it all year round, not just on your beach vacation. We fit everything we needed for two travelers enjoying a day on the water in the medium size, but we recommend getting the large size if you're packing for more people or want to bring more gear than we did for our test. The short handles work well if you like carrying a tote by hand or in the crook of your elbow, but the longer straps are better if you like to sling it over your shoulder. Either way, it’s comfortable to carry.

We like the super thick canvas material because water beads right off when the bag gets splashed. We didn't feel any dampness even after it sat in a puddle, although you’ll eventually want to move it since the bag isn’t waterproof.

• It comes in sizes ranging from an 8L small to a 56L extra-large
• There are different accent colors to suit your style, and you can have it monogrammed for easy identification

• While it has an open top, you can buy one with a zip-top instead
• You’ll want to opt for long handles to carry it over your shoulder

Best For: Durability

Since beach bags take up a lot of space, you might be interested in something that packs flat. The Owala Sun-Day Collapsible Tote does that, though it's not what we'd necessarily call "packable." That's because it's made with thick, durable EVA that stays standing aboard a rocking boat or uneven sand but doesn't exactly get as flat as traditional fabric totes. Still, you can make this very large tote small enough to fit inside your checked luggage, as long as you realize that it's eating up 4 pounds of your weight allowance.

We like this tote enough to make it work, though. While testing it at a summer cabin on the water, it easily fit everything we needed for two travelers, and then some. Though it's bulky, neither our adult tester nor her young nieces had any issues carrying it down the dock thanks to the adjustable crossbody strap and two carry handles, which fit nearly any body type. They also adapt to different packing scenarios: the crossbody is easier to use when you've got it stuffed to the brim, while the handles work well with less inside, since you can pull the two sides together. The interior is large and well-structured to hold tons of towels and snacks, and the included pouch helps keep your phone within reach without digging to the bottom. It even includes a color-matched divider that you can hide your wallet or cash behind to make it look like there are only cheap sunglasses or nothing at all inside of it instead of your valuables.

• It's water-resistant and collapsible, with comfortable handles
• It can carry a lot of gear

• It's pretty heavy before you pack it, yet surprisingly comfortable to carry
• The EVA holds onto hair, lint, and other detritus because of static