I was looking for an all-black tote this size to replace one that I've had over 20 years that I purchased from Ciao!.(now out of business) I have travelled the world with that tote because it is so user friendly. The size of this new one is good but I found the material to be very stiff and the zipper is beyond stiff. My first thought was that the zipper is going to cause me problems. This tote will take quite a bit of time to break in. I wish it had side pockets and that the material was not so cardboard stiff.
I bought this in the camo tote color for my husband. He needed a masculine bag for grocery shopping. He was not comfortable using my girly monogrammed totes from LL Bean when he went shopping alone. This is a large tote. And the canvas is very sturdy. The zip top is a fantastic feature. The tote folds nicely and we were able to stow it away in our luggage on a recent vacation and pull it out to use as a carry on with souvenirs on the way home. And the zippered top was helpful because we could stow it in the overhead bin without worrying about the contents falling out.
Canvas totes are synonymous with LL Bean. They're sturdy and reliable. Yet I needed a particular size. Unfortunately the dimensions provided on the website do not match the actual product I received. No matter how I measure it - flattened or opened - I cannot figure out how they obtained their dimensions.
Sometimes size matters. Moreover, truth in advertising is paramount.
Don't get me wrong. I really love the bag. Great material. Great quality. Great color. The size just leaves a little to be desired... I purchased a medium, and it's basically a glorified lunchbox. The straps are too short to wear it over your shoulder if you have anything more than a sweater on, and you won't be able to fit much in there besides a notebook, your wallet, and an apple.
