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Packing for the beach is a chore. Add kids to the mix and it becomes so daunting that it might even be overwhelming enough to not want to go. It’s more than half the battle to even get out the door when you have to think of all the snacks, diapers, toys, sunscreen, towels, etc. that make a beach day run smooth.
Enter the Beach Tote. What was once a simple bag has now evolved to a handy, durable mobile command station for essentials on the go. What makes a beach tote better than other bags is the speed at which you can toss gear into it and be on your way—and vice versa when you get there.
Our Favorite Beach Totes This Year
The best beach totes we tested are:
Best Heavy-Duty Beach Tote: Kitworks Gear Tote
Best Grab-and-Go Beach Tote: Yeti Camino 35
Best Waterproof Beach Tote: Rux Waterproof Tote
Best Value Beach Tote: Cotopaxi Allpa 60L
Best Heavy-Duty Beach Tote: Kitworks 55L Gear Tote
- Size: 55L
- Handles: Shoulder loops, handle loops (center), and side loops
- Pockets: Multiple Customization Options, Removable wet compartment
- Attachments: Dozens of External Gear Loops
- Closure: Two buckles
- Self-Standing: Yes
Bottom Line: This thing is a beast, and is meant for those who know how to pack well. the multitude of accessory loops provide virtually unlimited customization. The bag also comes with a lifetime warranty.
Kitworks is a new brand that launched early 2025. Founder Greg Mills designed the Gear Tote (among other bags) based on his own experience dealing with outdoor gear and never having something that matched his obsession over organization. As someone who lacks a similar affinity, I’ve gotta say that I really appreciate how much detail and care went into the system. This is not for people who just toss their gear in and throw it out, or at least strive to be more. The multitude of slats—both inside and outside—combined with additional accessory compartments make this tote a dream for making life easier. It’s also the only tote that had a separate, removable wet gear storage ($15 extra) that you can stash neatly out of the way that hooks on with ease.
For those with MOLLE enabled accessories, you’re in luck. The loops on the inside and outside will give you even more opportunity to customize this bag to your heart’s content, giving this bag far too many uses beyond a beach tote to list here in our review of beach totes.
The bag is marketed more for a single sport such as climbing, skiing, or mountain biking, and all the accessories that come with it. And there’s no question—this tote can do the trick in any of those situations as well. But for family beach adventures, it’s a solid (both literally and to use the parlance of our times) unit that will withstand years of abuse. I try to stay out of tech talk but the bag features 900D ripstop TPU on the exterior, which is the highest-numbered denier rating I’ve seen out there for a bag like this. It’s rugged, and can take a beating, and do it all again the next day.
On top of all that, Kitworks uses (mostly) recycled materials and donates 1% of profits to causes promoting responsible recreation. If you enjoy rooting for the smaller companies, this one is now on your radar.
Best Grab And Go Beach Tote: Yeti Camino 35
- Size: 35L
- Handles: Shoulder loops and handle bars
- Pockets: Internal water-resistant zip pockets, fold-out side pockets for water bottles
- Attachments: 16 External Gear Loops, large
- Closure: G-Clip
- Self-Standing: Yes
Bottom Line: This was our favourite tote for when you’re in a hurry and need to just toss everything in and GTFO of town. It’s solid and rigid, and is just big enough to toss a day’s worth of supplies without getting too large and cumbersome.
When most people think of Yeti, durability comes to mind. And we can get that part out of the way really quick: This bag has been tested at 300lbs. We didn’t test that as it’s pretty hard to find anything that small that weighs 300lbs (unlike Yeti who probably had a few spare gold bricks laying around by now). So I guess we will have to take their word for it. The construction certainly is solid, though.
But the construction isn’t what stood out the most. The main thing is just how easy the grab-and-go portability really is. Of all the totes we tested, it holds its shape the best. This is good if you have a lot of storage space, but it doesn’t exactly store well. But the idea is that you’ll be using this enough to not be stashing away in the basement any time soon.
The bag itself is waterproof and can take a pretty good beating. Inside the bag, there are two zippered pockets on either end, and two collapsible compartments on either end for stashing a water/wine bottles or anything that you want to keep easy tabs on. Outside the bag are enough gear loops to attach plenty of extra items, should you need it.
Best Waterproof Beach Tote: Rux Waterproof Tote
- Size: 30L
- Handles: Shoulder strap and handles
- Pockets: Outer and inner pockets (no closure)
- Attachments: 12 gear attachment loops
- Closure: Roll top and buckle (dry bag), G-clip (tote)
- Self-Standing: Yes
Bottom Line: This essentially a dry bag moonlighting as a tote. If dryness is preferable above having customization or compartments, this might be the top pick.
We live in coastal British Columbia, meaning it rains. And by rains, I mean it rains a lot. So if you are only a fairweather adventure family around here, you won’t be doing much half the year. RUX is a brand just up the highway from us, in not-so-sunny Squamish, BC. And what would you know? They made a tote bag that is pretty much a fancy dry bag, but with the convenience of a rugged tote.
Their waterproof bag is advertised at 30L, but when you extend the roll-top dry enclosure, it can fit much more than that. We were able to put everything but our waterproof gear inside it, and have it still be effectively waterproof.
Although great for keeping water out, the bag does fall short in some of the other areas where the extra organization comes in handy—especially when you’re talking about diapers and other baby-related accessories. The bag does have two internal pockets, but they don’t have any enclosures.
Best Value Beach Tote: Cotopaxi Allpa 60L
- Size: 60L
- Handles: Small and large handles in center, side handles for easy grabbing/moving
- Pockets: Several mesh pockets on inside, weather resistent zipper pocket on outside
- Attachments: External gear loops
- Closure: Two buckles
- Self-Standing: No
Bottom Line: This tote is just as good as anything else we tested, and a fraction of the price. There wasn’t anything that stood out as above the rest, but is rugged, durable, and well-designed.
Cotopaxi is a brand that we enjoy giving good press to, simply because they are a company that values a whole lot more than profit. For that reason, it’s worth directing your hard-earned money to a company that is doing a lot to care. But feel-good PR aside, it’s a great bag. It’s spacious enough to throw a day’s worth of gear in it, with room to spare—with more than your average organization that comes standard. The inside is all lined with pockets that were perfect for stashing diapers and the kids’ spare clothes.
On the outside, you have an array of gear loops that make for easy tying-on or down, allowing for much more than the 60L inside. We’ve been using this tote for 2 years and while there’s some signs of being used, none of the wear is damaging to the integrity of the bag. It’s a great all-arounder that, despite not being self-standing, allows for easy packing and unpacking thanks to the wide opening.
Comparison Table
| Name | Price (USD) | Size (L) | Pockets | Weatherproofing | Attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitworks Gear Tote | $199 | 55 | Multitude/ Customizable | Inside/Outside | Molle |
| Yeti Camino | $150 | 35 | Internal zipper + fold out | Inside | Gear loops |
| Rux Waterproof Bag | $100 | 30 | One outside, two inside | Inside/Outside | Molle |
| Cotopaxi Allpa Gear Hauler | $125 | 60 | External zip pocket, internal edge stash pockets | Outside | Gear loops |
How We Tested The Best Beach Totes
Beach totes have become a big part of our beachgoing experience lately. There’s something far less stressful about them when trying to get out the door with two little minions who, regardless of mood, still need us to dress them, put sunscreen on, get them in and out of the car, all while packing for mom and dad…
We’re starting to get more dialed with it, and when I’m feeling super on it I’ll have it pre-packed for when we are able to go on a moment’s notice after a change in weather or circumstance.
Once life could be lived with spontaneity it opened up a world of possibilities as a family. This was especially true on summer days after work, when the thought of getting ready to go to the beach felt daunting. Now, the impulse has far greater strength when we know that the bag’s already packed. And thanks to using a beach tote, it’s super easy to throw things in last minute as you’re walking out the door.
So we’ve been using these totes for the past two summers, learning more about packing smart and being able to have a beach kit handy to go. Starting with a wider range of bags we narrowed it down to the four you see here, and really got to know them better.
That way, we can really test these four bags in more depth and find out what really makes each one stand out, or not measure up. It also helped us really appreciate the idea of grab-and-go portability, which is where beach totes and their ilk seem to rise above other bags for this particular purpose.
Testing Criteria for Determining The Best Beach Totes
To make things more fair and uniform, I did a separate test beyond everyday use so that there was a bit of consistency in what I was testing. It could have been a bit more comprehensive in retrospect. You’ve got to give me a bit of a break as I needed to get this done in the short period between after work and dinnertime, while still having time to enjoy the kids. It might have been hasty but it’s thorough and objective, something that all online gear reviewers unfortunately can’t say. You know who you are…
But that’ s another story altogether. For now, here’s what we included in the test:
- Blanket: Nomadix Puffy Blanket
- Dad’s Jacket: Patagonia Waxed Cotton
- Mom’s Warm Shirt:
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Two Snack containers (Snapware)
- Sunscreen
- Headlamp, just in case
- Car keys
- Two Chairs: Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 Longback and Aircliner
- Two Rockie Talkie 2 Watt radios
- 2 Towels
- Spare clothes for the kids
This list is obviously not exhausting, as mentioned above. We’re missing a water bottle, some of those applesauce pouches, a stuffed animal or two, and the all-important beach toys. None of the bags were stuffed full though, so one can assume that
How to Choose The Ideal Beach Tote
Everyone’s family operates a bit differently, so you probably know what type of beach tote suits you better than anyone else. Maybe it’s even a basic reusable grocery bag, and that’s totally fine. This guide is to help people get something a little more premium and long-lasting, as well as with a bit more organization to help make beach missions with children just a little bit easier.
So have a look at this guide to hopefully help you have a bit more in your day enjoying the beach, and less time preparing for it.
Durability
This is a major factor for choosing a beach tote. After all, if the bag won’t hold up under abuse, you might as well not invest your hard-earned dollars in it. Many bags are made from some type of oil-based material like Polyester or nylon, with a TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) coating for waterproofing and extra rigidity.
If you see a product boast about a number with a D following, that relates to the Denier rating. Basically, the higher the D-rating, the thicker the fiber used in weaving it. This is not the same as a thread count, which measures how tight a weave is. Generally speaking, given everything else equal, the material with a higher number will be more durable.
Gear Loops
All the totes we reviewed have a space to attach extra gear through loops. There are two different kinds in this review. One is with sewn-on loops (Cotopaxi and Yeti) and the other is the MOLLE style loops that are cut out of the material (RUX and Kitworks).
Sewn-on loops generally have more space to work with, and are easier for tying a rope/cord around, or to clip a carabiner onto in a hurry. The cutout loops are more of a lower profile, so have a lesser chance of getting caught onto something. It’s also a bit tougher to thread a piece of rope or cord onto. Not that it can’t be done, but it will just take some extra time.
Pockets
Yes, a beach tote can be considered one giant pocket. But aside from that, it helps to have a few extra smaller pockets on hand to avoid digging through a black hole when you really need something.
Some pockets have an enclosure such as velcro or a zipper. This is more important if you’re trying to stash valuables such as a wallet, keys, or a phone—basically anything that would ruin your day if it went missing at the beach.
If you’re the type that doesn’t throw their gear around too much and leaves the tote upright (and your kids do too), then having pockets that close isn’t as big of a deal. But make sure you know what and how much stuff you want to give extra protection, as it could affect what bag you end up buying.
Clean-ability
Families on the go are guaranteed to make a mess. It’s pretty much inevitable. But how quickly can that mess disappear? We rated the different totes on hose-ability, and how quick a wipe with a rag can do the trick.
The RUX Waterproof tote was the easiest. The TPU-coated nylon wipes clean in seconds.
The Yeti Camino took a bit more effort due to the weave pattern in the material. Stubborn stains would take a bit more scrubbing. The inside was all good, though. The Kitworks tote cleaned well but the handles weren’t so easy for cleaning stains. Same with the Cotopaxi bag, with the added hassle of the inner lining not being the easiest to clean.
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