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During a recent trip, I used a classic carry-on and expandable travel backpack combo as my go-to travel accessories. However, after going to an antique mall on vacation, I was left with the dilemma of trying to re-pack my travel bags with more than what I came with. After scrambling on Amazon to find an extra bag that could be delivered before my flight the next morning and not break the bank, I found the Bagsmart Foldable Tote Bag.
Why a foldable travel tote bag is a smart investment
I weighed my options between a standard weekender bag and a tote bag, but a foldable tote won me over. A travel tote bag is more lightweight than a weekender and offers more versatility. The foldable design element is also a big highlight, as you can neatly pack it into a square for easy storage when it’s not in use.
In addition to the lightweight design and packability, it’s also great for beyond travel, making it a smart, multipurpose buy that you can make the most of for different occasions. When it’s not being used for traveling, you can easily keep it in your car as a backup bag for shopping trips, whether it’s to the mall, the grocery store, or an estate sale. It can also be used as a gym bag or for daily commutes to work as an everyday tote bag.
Bagsmart Foldable Tote Bag
This foldable travel tote bag checked off a lot of boxes. For starters, it was on sale. When I bought it, it was over 40% off at around $15. I did end up paying a few dollars more to make sure it was delivered quickly, and it made it to the front door in less than 3 hours. Even with the extra delivery fee, it was still around $20 in total. Considering budget-friendly travel tote bags can cost $40 or more, it was a solid sweet spot in terms of pricing. Not to mention, it’s considerably cheaper than trying to buy extra checked luggage that I don’t really need or have space for.
After price and availability, I prioritized the size. At 16.5 inches long by 6 inches wide by 14 inches high, it just made the cutoff as a personal item on a plane. It’s technically .5 inches taller than the recommended size for Southwest Airlines, but I made sure not to pack it too much vertically. Luckily, it’s spacious enough to fit everything I needed, including some heavily wrapped antique-store finds, a cardigan, a 13-inch laptop, an Owala water bottle, snacks, and a large pouch with extra travel essentials, like gum, Dramamine, charging cords, antibacterial wipes, and more. The extra slip-and-zip pockets also made it easy to organize small items, like my phone, hand sanitizer, and wallet. It still fit under the airplane seat in front of me with ease, and I was able to grab items I needed during a flight without any hassle. As for my backpack and carry-on, I simply put the backpack in the overhead compartment and checked the luggage.
One of my favorite features is the fact that it’s foldable. When folded, it measures 7.9 inches by 7 inches. It has a strap that secures it with a button, too, so it doesn’t unravel. Even though regular tote bags are pretty packable, I liked the idea of keeping it presentable but ready whenever you need it. You can keep it folded in a bag, or lay it flat along the bottom of your luggage and pack on top of it. The material is also durable and light, with water-repellent and tear-resistant fabric. Plus, it’s resistant to wrinkles, giving you a smooth finish even after being packed and folded away.
As much as I love my new tote bag, there are two design elements it’s missing that would make it an even better travel accessory. First, I wish it had a trolley sleeve. Even though I checked my suitcase, it would’ve been a useful and convenient feature to have. Second, it doesn’t have a longer detachable shoulder strap for versatile wear. It just has straps that you can hold by hand or over your shoulder. While it wasn’t a dealbreaker, the option to wear it as a crossbody or as a longer shoulder bag would’ve been great.
The Bagsmart Foldable Tote Bag may have been a last-minute travel buy, but it ended up being a long-term investment for smarter packing for future trips. Now, I have an extra bag I can pack without taking up too much space in a carry-on, just in case. And even beyond travel, I can easily use it for everyday use, whether it’s for shopping, the gym, or more.
Similar travel bags
Bagsmart Foldable Expandable Travel Bag
Tantomi Foldable Tote Bag
Fynarzel Packable Tote Bag
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