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The best reusable grocery bags are more than just carriers of groceries. They’re a marker of environmentally-minded shoppers and conscientious citizens. Reusable bags can earn discounts on grocery bills, and the fashionable ones can double as stylish everyday totes.
Here’s a sobering fact: The average American family uses approximately 1,500 single-use plastic shopping bags annually. Only one percent of those bags are recycled—the rest wind up in the bellies of sea turtles and in landfills for hundreds and hundreds of years. California and Hawaii have banned single-use plastic bags, and New York will join the crusade on plastic in 2020.
More and more companies are jumping on the sustainability train and offering reusable shopping bags. We’re all walking advertisements for bookshops, restaurants, and clothing stores (Yes, we can see that you are #DoingThings). And while these fun totes are capable of transporting groceries, there are a growing number of reusable bags specifically designed with food shopping needs in mind. From cotton to nylon, backpacks to baskets, there are many types of reusable carriers. So what will be your weapon of choice in the war on plastic?
I toted a number of well-reviewed reusable bags to and from farmers' markets, grocery stores, and bodegas for a month. These bags also went everywhere that I transported food—a rooftop barbecue, a concert in the park, the beach, and even for a ferry ride. My favorites are listed below. Scroll down to see how I tested and what you should look for in a reusable grocery bag.
Best Bag for Grocery Hauls: The Homz All-Purpose Tote
This all-purpose tote is 17-inches long and 12-inches high and good for, well, many purposes. It can transport groceries, help you with a long overdue trip to the laundromat, or even be a beach buddy.
The Homz Tote Bag’s main compartment has two large sections which can be used for separating pantry items, freezer items, produce, and meats. It makes for super organized grocery shopping and makes the putting away process much easier. It also has four external pockets great for small boxed items or produce bags. The bag is made from polyester and the interior has a moisture-proof coating.
Despite the tote’s large size, it distributes weight evenly. The wide, cushioned shoulder straps are comfortable—even with 15 pounds of groceries in the bag. I usually indulge in getting a car home when I have a lot of groceries to transport from the store. But with this bag, I comfortably walked with a case of La Croix and a week’s worth of food for over a mile. The winning feature on this bag just might be its price tag—it only costs $13 at the time of writing.
Homz All-Purpose Tote Bag
Best Farmers' Market Tote: The Multi-Pocket Canvas Market Tote
The Multi-Pocket Canvas Market Tote garnered three compliments even before I completed a loop around my local farmers' market. And rightfully so. This bag, made by CapaBunga, has a few great features.
First, it measures 11 inches wide by 13 inches tall, and the main compartment is spacious for all your farmers' market finds. There are six deep outer pockets that are great for separating produce, stowing a bottle—or two—of wine, and even toting a baguette (I did this and felt very cool and French). Details such as an inside pocket for cash and a metal key ring are features you don’t realize you need at the market until you’re fishing for dollar bills and keys in a sea of damp kale. The bag’s faux leather straps are comfortable to wear over your shoulder or to hold by hand. The canvas is sturdy and the bag is a structured box shape that can sit upright when filled.
The very best part of this tote is the adjustable canvas strap for flowers—yes, really. The strap can be used to cinch a bouquet on the outside of the bag so that the wet stems don’t drip inside. Genius. This tote is also perfect for picnicking, and would make an excellent host or housewarming gift.
Multi-Pocket Canvas Market Tote
Best Compact Reusable Grocery Bag: Flip & Tumble Cross Body Bag
As a city dweller, I often somehow end the day carrying more things than I left the house with—books, clothes, food, you name it. The compact bag is easy to toss in your purse or work bag to have on hand for those unexpected bodega trips and shopping sprees on the way home from work.
This bag is made from woven ripstop nylon, which, as you may have guessed, prevents ripping. The nylon material is also good for wicking moisture—I wore this bag to the farmers' market on a rainy day and it kept my peaches and pink ladies dry. It can be tossed in the washing machine for easy cleaning. The bag features a zipper top closure and a front zipper pocket for easy-access to essentials. It feels light and has a gusset bottom that can expand or fold flat. It also comes with a small storage pouch that snaps inside the bag. It is two-toned and available in a variety of colors.
The best part is the wide canvas strap. It can be adjusted to fit over your shoulder or across your chest to be worn as a messenger bag. This is optimal if you’re a shopper who needs your hands free to squeeze every single avocado in the produce aisle, like me.
Best On-the-Go Bag: The Marmot Urban Hauler
The is a hybrid bag that can be transformed into a backpack. The straps slide up and down the back, so the bag can be held as a tote or worn as a backpack. Magic. It’s an all-in-one grocery bag, work tote, and hiking pack—an ideal all-purpose accessory for someone with limited space at home. I took this bag straight from the office to an impromptu concert in the park, and filled it with lots of snackage on the way.
The polyester bag has a drawstring storm collar top that can be extended outside of the bag, perfect for when you end up impulse buying way more than what was on your shopping list. The best part has to be the pockets. This 28-liter bag’s pockets have pockets. There’s an external water bottle pocket, an exterior zipper pocket, and an inside pocket that has two smaller pockets. And I’m sure there are more pockets I have yet to discover.
Marmot Urban Hauler
How I Tested:
I carried a wide variety of reusable bags, both big and small, for weekly grocery hauls and quick trips to the corner store for a month. I tested their capacity by adding items of varying weights and shapes at the grocery store. I experimented with different ways of handling to find the best carrying method for each bag and to test how well-balanced they were, how evenly they allowed me to distribute the weight of my groceries, and how generally comfortable they were. I kept notes on the comfort of the straps and handles, the quality of the material, and the general functionality.
I wanted to find a bag with good weight distribution. I looked for something dependable that wouldn’t leave me with a cracked cartoon of eggs or spilled milk on the sidewalk. I wanted to find a bag manufactured with strong materials, secure straps and handles, and a sturdy bottom. I didn’t want a floppy, unstructured bag that would lead to bruised fruit or crushed veggies. I also wanted the materials to last without tearing or fraying.
I looked for a reusable grocery bag that would be comfortable to lug around. I wanted a bag that wouldn’t leave red marks on my shoulders or warrant a visit to the chiropractor.
I wanted something simple to open and close—nothing with too many buckles or cumbersome fasteners. Reusable grocery bags double as a shopping cart for trips to the farmers' market, so it is important to have an accessible opening.
As a city-dweller I need something that can be stowed away and compactly stored in a small apartment. While not everyone has the kind of space limitations that I have, especially to those with cars and ample trunk storage for bags, compact storage bags make it easier to never forget your grocery bags. Compact bags can be easily carried at all times and stowed away in your regular purse.
Can it go in the washing machine? Does it require Scotch Guard before use? Can it only be spot cleaned? It’s important to be able to wash a bag that carries food, especially raw meats, to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of bacteria.
Other Products Tested
I selected thirteen bags to test after browsing a number of shopping sites and reading through hundreds of reviews online. I considered bags of assorted sizes and materials—from heavy-duty canvas to handwoven palm leaf.
The Standard Baggu Bag was my suspected winner going into this experiment. But the ripstop nylon bag lacks compartments and pockets. Its straps can fit over your shoulder, but the arm holes are better sized for forearm carrying, which can get tiresome. The fun patterns and bold colors give these bags some extra points. The newest collection features cheeky designs reminiscent of the smiley face "Have a nice day" plastic takeout bags.
The Chico bag, one of the OG reusable grocery bags, also lacked pockets and compartments. Its best feature is a clip that allows you to fasten it on to key rings or larger bags.
I also tested the Baggu Duck Tote, a larger canvas bag that can be carried by a set of short handles or worn by an adjustable strap either strewn over your shoulder or worn across your body. It is not machine washable, and it is only 4 3/4-inches deep. It does, however, have a laptop pocket and a phone-sized interior pocket—it’s been relegated to my work bag collection.
The Primus Cooler Bag is the epitome of coolness—literally. It is a wearable cooler with a buckle that doubles as a bottle opener. How cool is that? This insulated 22-liter backpack can transport as many bags of frozen Mandarin Orange Chicken from Trader Joe’s that your heart desires. But its thin canvas straps are not what you’d expect for this behemoth bag. Overall, I think this product is best for frequent campers looking for something hefty to carry campsite cargo. It also has a hefty price tag of $99—a bit steep for those of us just hiking to the grocery store. (Note that the company sells smaller sizes and strapless styles.)
I wanted to like the Medina Mercantile Bag more than I did. This wearable basket is irrefutably chic. On Goop.com it’s described as a perfect accessory for a Vespa ride in France. So, if you frequently find yourself in France, traveling to the farmers' market via scooter, this might be for you. Beware, this basket is scratchy. The leather straps, though wide, are cumbersome—the buckles need to be undone to fit anything into the basket’s opening, which is inconvenient. Also, this basket made of grass will set you back $80.
The Lotus Trolley Bags set is made up of four bags of varying sizes, including a freezer bag. Each of the bags have removable rods so that the bags can be placed in a shopping cart, suspended from the top.
Should items be placed in the bags while shopping? But, then you'd just have to remove them and re-bag your groceries at the checkout, right? Where's the convenience there? My roommate and I pondered these questions at the entrance of Whole Foods as onlookers ogled our strange cart apparatus. (Note: the company does have an instructional video demonstrating how they should be used.) We decided that these bags would work best for card-carrying members of wholesale grocery clubs with cars.
The Earthwise Insulated Tote is a cooler-bag option. It might work for transporting items on a short commute from the grocery store to home, but the insulation didn’t keep beverages cold during a two-hour trek to the beach.
The American-made L.L Bean Boat and Tote has been toted on boats since 1944. It’s made from a heavy-duty canvas tested to hold a whopping 500 pounds. I tried the medium-sized bag with the 6-inch straps, but, on second thought, the company’s larger size with longer straps would probably be more comfortable for grocery shopping. Also, the sturdy canvas is hard to compress, making it difficult to store.
The Crossover Tote and Backpack, is another hybrid bag option, similar to the Marmot Urban Hauler. But this one didn’t pass the quality test. The bag has a mesh back and a rubber hole on the strap for headphone wires, but despite these fancy features, the denier nylon is thin and feels cheap. I wouldn’t trust this bag for carrying heavy items.
The Takeaway
If you’re in need of just one bag to carry your weekly grocery haul, the roomy Homz Tote Bag is up to the task. If you’re looking for a head-turning tote for the farmers' market, look no further than the Multi-Pocket Canvas Market Tote. It has lots of sleeves and compartments, a key ring, and even a strap for toting flowers. And it's pretty! Do you bike to the grocery store? The Marmot Urban Hauler is for you—it’s a tote/backpack hybrid with lots of pockets. The Flip & Tumble Crossbody Bag is a great compact bag that allows for hands-free shopping. Whatever your choice, it's going to massively improve on the plastic grocery bag experience. It's better for your arms, more stylish, and—most importantly—better for the planet.
