21 Best Beach Bags: Coolers, Classic Totes, and Structured Straw Bags 

Flying to your beachfront destination? While totes are generally easy to smush down or lie flat as the last add-in to a packed suitcase, this Frances Valentine fisherman's tote saves even more space by collapsing down into a neat, thin disk. It's made of a waterproof neoprene fabric, so while the slits won't keep what's inside dry, you don't have to worry about saltwater taking a toll on the bag itself—or about bringing sand home with you. We like the pop of color the reversible pattern creates, too.

The problem with most beach bags is that their sturdy shapes can be a headache to fit in a suitcase. Baggu's standard bags fold up into tiny little pouches that take up next to no space yet miraculously hold up to 30 pounds of stuff. Plus, they come in a whole host of bright colors and patterns, so there's really no reason not to bring multiple versions with you. Bonus: They can be machine washed after a long day in the surf—or if you happen to have a sunscreen explosion.

If you’re packing everything you need for your beach vacation into a carry-on bag, you may want to consider bringing along the Glob Primary Shift Mesh bag. The lightweight sling bag fits into a small seven-by-five-inch pouch when it’s not being used, so it won’t take up much room in your luggage. The bag's mesh fabric is made of entirely recycled materials, and the interior zipper pocket (which the whole bag folds into) is big enough to hold your phone, wallet, and keys for safe keeping. Colorways include Hyperlink blue, Bubble pink, and Glowstick green.

Bags that can go from beach to lunch to shopping are essential for a beach getaway, especially if you’re traveling light. The lightweight bag won’t take up much room in your suitcase, but unfolds to be a large tote big enough to hold a towel, among other essentials. It has a top zip closure and a detachable interior pouch. When your bag starts looking dirty, just throw it into the washing machine and it will be good as new.

Clare V.’s take on the classic beach bag delivers with mixed-direction blue and beige stripes, a leather top handle, and bright orange shoulder straps. Inside, there’s a pouch you can use to hold your phone, keys, and other items that may otherwise get buried in the large beach bag, plus an interior pocket.

Mesh beach bags can be a great addition to your beach vacation packing list. This one from Miyo has nine small exterior pockets and one large interior pocket that can fit up to six rolled towels, meaning there’s enough room for everything your family may need during the day. An inside waterproof pocket is ideal for small electronics to stay in, and while the sides are mesh, the bottom of this bag is waterproof, so even if it sits in the sand all day, items inside won’t turn damp.

Isabel Marant’s large tote bag comes recommended by Glamour’s senior commerce editor Talia Abbas. “The cabana-inspired stripes, the roomy interior, the water-resistant mesh—Isabel Marant's Warden tote is my absolute favorite beach bag,” she says. “The canvas handles are sturdy and slip easily over shoulders, except it's deceptively lightweight—perfect for stuffing beach towels, sunscreen, books, and a giant water bottle. It's more expensive than some other totes on the market, but I've owned mine for a few years now and it still looks great; it's doubled as a weekender bag on shorter trips, too.”

For those shopping with sustainable fashion in mind, the Rothy’s Lightweight Mega Tote is for you. Knit from 100 percent recycled materials, the bag is machine washable and folds up well. While it is an open top bag, there’s an inner compartment with a zipper closure to ensure your valuables are kept safe. Another nice touch: the key leash, which helps keep house and car keys easily accessible. As the name suggests, there is plenty of room in this lightweight tote to store your beach essentials, plus your cover-up and flip-flops if you want to keep them tucked away when you’re sunbathing or swimming.

Straw totes are a summer staple, whether your family is going to the beach, hitting the local farmer’s market, or galavanting around a seaside resort. This one from J.Crew is big enough for personal items like your phone, wallet, and sunglasses, as well as a beach towel and a book. The durable bag has a wide opening, so everything fits in nicely without having to force and shove anything in. For a solo traveler looking for something fashionable and functional, this is one of the best beach bags to get.

This Mark & Graham carryall comes in three sizes, but we recommend the large for beach days. It’s made of a water- and tear-resistant vinyl, so you can toss your swimsuits or other damp beach gear right in there without worry; this fabric makes it easy to shake sand out at the end of the day, too. It’s available in a dozen colorways, and you can add a name or monogram for extra personalization.

This basket bag is another one of Abbas’s top picks. “If you've ever seen me carrying some kind of woven leather bag, chances are it's a Dragon Diffusion one. I love my small Santa Croce for day-to-day, but the Nantucket is perfect for a more elevated beach vibe—especially if you're on vacation and only bringing one bag or spending the day at a resort where towels are provided. Still, it's roomy and very comfy to carry, and the leather ages beautifully; it can stain with water, so I tend to pack my water bottle and any spillables in a smaller tote that then lives in this one.”

Traveler features and franchises editor Betsy Blumenthal has waxed poetic about Paravel’s cotton canvas tote, and while the Stephanie Fishwick–designed monograms are no longer available, the add-on alone is. “I love the wide webbing straps that distribute weight evenly, rather than digging into my shoulders, and the cinched vegan leather handles that allow for a comfortable grip no matter how heavy the load,” she wrote. Interior slip and zip pockets give you dedicated spaces to store small items like lip balm, sunglasses, and a wallet.

Sometimes oversized bags can be cumbersome and annoying to carry around all day, but not this Dagne Dover tote. The cotton canvas bag fits everything you need for the beach: small toys for your kids, towels, and sunscreen. It has two sets of handles so you can carry it over your shoulder or just in your hands, and there are four exterior pockets which are great for grab-and-go snacks, sunglasses, and wipes, plus three interior pockets for bigger items. The interior slip pocket can fit most 16-inch laptops or tablets, especially handy if you like to read at the beach.

A quick way to make a mess out of beach or pool days? Accidentally tipping your bag over and watching as all your essentials fall into the sand. That’s where the Bogg Bag steps in. The weighted bag is designed to stay upright, even when kids are digging through to find their goggles. When the day (or trip) is done, you can take everything out and rinse it off to clean. For families with a lot of stuff, be sure to order the bag in extra large to get everything from the car to your lounge chair in one trip.

The key to a successful beach trip is always knowing where everything is, especially when your kids need more sunscreen, someone is hungry, and your phone is ringing. The Market Tote from Anthropologie has six different pockets to keep your beach must-haves accessible at all times. The canvas tote bag is made from heavy-duty canvas and has an integrated carabiner for your keys—we love it for day trips to the beach.

Photographer River Jordan swears by this Filson duffel bag, which he says works well as a carry-on, beach bag, or overnight bag, and only looks better with age. Hold it by the top handles, or use the shoulder strap, and make use of the two exterior zip pockets for sunglasses, SPF, and other small beach day accessories. The all-purpose bag has a trolley sleeve, too, for when you’re carrying it around along with a suitcase.

When it comes to keeping things cool, nothing beats Yeti. The Hopper Flip 12 is water resistant on the outside, doubling as a dry bag, and insulated, so it'll keep your lunch and drinks cold while on the sand. It's the right size for a few beachgoers—size up to the 18 if you've got more mouths to feed—with space for 16 pounds of ice or 24 cans, if that's all you were to put in there. It's leakproof, thanks to a heavy-duty zipper, and the fabrics used are meant to withstand punctures and damage from UV rays, extending the cooler's lifespan.

There’s a reason L.L. Bean bags have been in stores since the 1940s: They’re sturdy, practical, and simple enough to match any aesthetic. And while you can use them for all kinds of scenarios—overnight trips, grocery store runs, etc.—they function exceptionally well at the beach, thanks to a heavy-duty handle, shoulder strap, and thick canvas exterior. This style looks like a classic L.L. Bean tote on the outside, but has an easy-to-clean insulated liner inside, so you can keep that reusable water bottle cool alongside your towel and change of clothes. (Not looking for insulation? The L.L. Bean Boat Bag is another favorite that will get plenty of use on and off the beach.)

Leave it to Béis to come up with a beach backpack that’s both extremely cute and practical. See that separate compartment at the bottom? It’s insulated, so you can store a few drinks or your lunch in there, but also zips off entirely, for trips when you have a lighter load (or a bigger cooler). The terry cloth material screams swim season, as does the citron hue (it comes in black and beige, too, if you prefer a neutral). Other notable features: a key leash, exterior zipper pocket, and drawstring-like closure.

Cooler bags tend to look more at home on camping or fishing trips, but this vintage-inspired striped tote breaks the mold with a more casual design. It's great for beach days when you're not packing a whole spread, but would like to keep your water and snacks cool and still have a spot for your book, sunglasses, and towel in one bag. It has useful features like an exterior pocket with a bottle opener tucked inside, plus an adjustable strap with leather accents and shorter handles, so you can carry it two ways.

If your beach day is low lift—say, you’re at a resort where a lounge chair and towel are ready and waiting for you—go hands-free with a roomy sling bag like this one from Baggu. While definitely the smallest bag on this list, it’s got a surprising amount of space, allowing you to store your phone, earphones, sunglasses and sunscreen, a Kindle, even a water bottle (provided it’s not massive).