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There was a time when a man carrying a tote bag was either heading to the supermarket, coming home from a conference with a bag full of free pens, or proudly showing off his latest purchase from an indie bookstore. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of those things (who doesn’t love a free pen?), the humble tote has come a long way.
From oversized leather carryalls to minimalist suede designs and simple everyday canvas bags, there’s a tote for just about every occasion, outfit and budget. So, whether you’re looking for something to carry your laptop to work, a casual bag for weekend errands or a designer number that’ll make your bank account weep (but make you look exceptionally stylish and cool), we’ve rounded up nine of our favourite men’s tote bags right now.
The Best Men’s Tote Bags at a Glance
Whether you’re after a practical everyday carryall, something a little more stylish for the office or a designer tote that’ll make your wallet weep, here are our top picks for the best men’s tote bags in Australia.
- Best Budget Tote Bag: Common Need Prescott Suede Tote Bag
- Best for Work and Travel: COS Tableau Tote Bag
- Best for the Weekend: Bellroy Market Tote
- Best Designer Tote: Prada Leather Tote
Alright, now let’s get into the full list!
9 Best Men’s Tote Bags for Every Occasion and Budget
1. Common Need Prescott Suede Tote Bag
If you want to experiment with a tote bag without spending hundreds of dollars, you can’t go past this tote bag from Common Need. At $70, it’s super affordable, and the dark brown finish makes it easy to work into an everyday wardrobe.
Plus, if you’re someone who tends to wear a lot of black, it’s a nice way to introduce a little colour and texture without going too far outside your comfort zone.
2. COS Tableau Tote Bag
COS has become something of a go-to for guys who want to dress well without spending designer money. The Swedish label does minimalism particularly well, and its Tableau Tote follows the same philosophy.
Made from leather, with a structured shape, there’s more going on here than your standard rectangular tote. We love the clean lines and lack of obvious branding, making this a pretty strong pick for a work tote.
3. I Love Ugly Abel Tote
If your office dress code is more jeans and sneakers than suits and ties, there’s really no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy leather work bag. Particularly when I Love Ugly’s Abel Tote will set you back under $90.
The New Zealand label has kept things pretty simple with this tote, featuring an all-black design, webbed handles and a removable shoulder strap. There’s a padded laptop compartment, internal zip and mesh pockets, and two external pockets, so you’ve got plenty of room for your work essentials without everything ending up in one big pile at the bottom.
4. Bellroy Market Tote
If you’re the kind of guy who leaves the house with a water bottle, wallet, sunnies, keys and a few other bits and bobs, only to realise you’ve got nowhere to put them all, it might be time to get yourself a tote bag. Especially if your current solution is stuffing everything into your wife’s or partner’s bag (I’m sure they love that).
Enter Bellroy’s Market Tote: a 15-litre carryall which has enough room for your everyday essentials. There are two sets of handles, a couple of internal pockets for your smaller belongings and a flat base that keeps it standing upright when you put it down. Take it to the shops, the markets, the beach or wherever else your weekend takes you.
5. Pedro Asher Suede Tote
If you’re looking for a tote bag that can transition from work to dinner to weekend shenanigans, you can’t go past Pedro’s Asher Tote. It’s made from calf suede in a deep espresso colour, with a slouchy shape and enough room for your laptop, sunnies, wallet and the other bits and pieces you accumulate throughout the day.
At $274, it’s not cheap, but given what you can spend on a suede bag these days, it’s not outrageous either. The only potential downside is the maintenance. Suede and water aren’t exactly a match made in heaven, so you’ll need to use it with a bit of care.
6. Diesel Rivet-D Tote
Diesel has been leaning pretty heavily into its Y2K roots lately, and the Rivet-D Tote is right on brand (it’s big, black and covered in rivets) The industrial-looking exterior has a mix of zip and flap pockets, a metal Diesel logo and a detachable shoulder strap. There’s a zip across the main compartment too, so it’s not all fashion and no function.
It’s made from polyurethane rather than leather, which might come as a surprise given the price, but if you’re buying Diesel, chances are you’re here for the design rather than the materials.
7. Ralph Lauren RRL Leather Tote
Looking for a worn-in leather, Americana-inspired tote? Check out Ralph Lauren’s RRL Leather Tote. Made from buffalo leather with a hand-finished, distressed appearance, this tote is perfect for the cowboys at heart. Featuring brass hardware, copper-tone rivets, vegetable-tanned leather trim and a cotton canvas lining, this tote has the slightly weathered look RRL does so well.
It’s not particularly sleek or modern, and that’s exactly why we like it; it’s got character. And, at almost $1,500, it’s a pretty serious investment, but if you’re into heritage workwear and vintage-inspired pieces, this will undoubtedly become a wardrobe favourite of yours.
8. A.P.C. Cabas Archive Tote
While Parisian label A.P.C. is best known for its denim and minimalist wardrobe staples, its bag game is pretty strong too. The Cabas Archive Tote is pretty simple in its design, but that’s what makes it such a versatile bag – it’ll go with almost any outfit you throw together,
If you’re into A.P.C.’s clothing, chances are you’ll like its approach to accessories too. Sometimes, keeping things simple really is the better option.
9. Prada Leather Tote
Right, let’s get the price out of the way. This Prada tote costs $6,400. Yes, for a bag. And no, it doesn’t come with a return flight to Europe. But if you’re into luxury goods, well, Prada is a hard one to beat.
Made from antiqued calfskin leather in a deep cocoa brown, the tote has a slightly worn-in finish that keeps it from looking overly polished. There’s also a zip closure, plus internal zip and patch pockets, which is good to see given the price. At 40cm wide, it’s not enormous, but there’s enough space for your everyday essentials.
What is a Tote Bag?
A tote bag is essentially a large, open-top bag with two parallel handles, designed to be carried by hand or over your shoulder. Traditionally made from canvas or cotton, tote bags were originally used for carrying groceries and other everyday items, but they’ve come a long way since then.
These days, you’ll find totes made from everything from leather and suede to nylon and recycled materials, with some featuring zip closures, laptop compartments and enough pockets to keep even the most disorganised among us in check.
Unlike backpacks, which sit across both shoulders, tote bags offer easy access to your stuff without having to take the whole thing off. They’re also a nice alternative to traditional briefcases or messenger bags, particularly if you’re after something a little more casual.
And while they’ve traditionally been associated with women’s fashion (or free promo merch), men’s tote bags are now very much a wardrobe staple. Whether you’re heading to work, the shops or away for the weekend, there’s a tote for just about everything.
How We Chose the Best Men’s Tote Bags
With so many men’s tote bags on the market, narrowing down our favourites was no easy task. We wanted to put together a list that offered a good mix of styles, materials and price points, rather than simply choosing the most expensive designer bags or the same canvas tote in 10 different colours.
We considered each bag’s design, materials, size, functionality and overall versatility, looking at how well it might fit into everyday life. We also wanted to include options for different budgets, from more affordable everyday bags to luxury designer pieces for those willing to spend a little (or a lot) more.
Our selections are based on product research, published specifications and design considerations, rather than hands-on testing of every bag.
Ally Burnie is Man of Many’s resident Melbourne writer, covering style, food, drink and retail. This list was edited and reviewed by the Man of Many team before publishing.
Men’s Tote Bags FAQs
Of course! In fact, a tote bag can be a great alternative to a traditional briefcase or backpack, particularly if you don’t need to carry too much. For work, we’d recommend choosing something with enough room for your laptop, a comfortable shoulder strap and preferably a zip closure to keep your belongings secure. Leather totes tend to look a little more professional, but a well-designed nylon or canvas bag can work just as well in a more casual office.
It depends on what you’re carrying and how long you’re carrying it for. Tote bags are great for easy access to your things, and they can look a little more polished than a traditional backpack. However, because most totes distribute weight across one shoulder or require you to carry them by hand, they’re not necessarily the best option for heavy loads or long commutes. If you’re lugging around a laptop, gym gear, lunch and other miscellaneous items, a backpack might be the more comfortable choice.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, as the ideal tote bag depends on what you’re planning to use it for.
For everyday essentials, a smaller tote with a capacity of around 10 to 15 litres should generally do the trick. If you’re carrying a laptop and work stuff, something around 15 to 25 litres may be better, while larger bags can be handy for shopping, travel or gym gear. Just remember that bigger isn’t always better. An oversized tote might look great, but it can be a tad annoying if you’re constantly rummaging around trying to find your keys.
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