I purchased the LG, long handled open boat and tote bags for my daughter's wedding party. They were HUGE and the girls used every inch. What a grand way to handle the hair and makeup items and clothes they wore to the church. I added their monograms and know those bags will be used on the Florida beaches for a long time.
A few years back, my husband received an LL Bean bag from his company. It was the large size, and that one is about the size of a sideways brown grocery bag. I keep it in the car for lugging groceries into the house. It's still in good shape, even after I threw it in the washer to clean it (cold water, air dry). I like the way it stands up and doesn't flop over when empty.
When I saw the regimental striped tote bags on sale, I bought a few to try out. I got the mini zippered, and a medium zippered, as well as a regular-priced small open top. The mini is very small, and serves as my purse. I zipper it so stuff can't fall out.
The true test was when I went to a concert. I packed it with my fat wallet, keys, pack of tissues, eyeglass case, coin purse, an instant film camera (not a tiny digicam), two boiled eggs (hypoglycemic diet), AND a bottle of water sideways, with extra space left at the top! I can't believe the amount of stuff I was able to put in there! The security guard probably got tired by the time he reached the fourth layer of stuff and just let me pass.
For the small sized open top bag, the bag is 10.5" tall. I could fit files and paperwork in it but they stick out of the top. It's holding a small book collection, but I don't anticipate using that one much. I think it would make a nice size for a child's library book tote.
The Medium zipper top, is a workhorse. I use in lieu of a briefcase. I'll toss my lunchbag, my little mini tote bag, any paperwork for the day, water bottle, cans of soda, everything.
I got all bags in a short handle style, just because I'm short 5'2", and many shoulder bags don't hang on me at the right level.
I like the medium size so much, I'll probably get another one with an open top. And I have two young ladies going off to college. I may get them both large ones with long handles for use as a laundry bag.
I absolutely adore the quality and construction of these totes. Once you buy an LL Bean Tote, every other cotton canvas tote bag pales in comparison!
Their customer service is the tops also. I had a problem with an order, and they were ever so accomodating. It's not just the LL Bean product, it's their superior service that will make me a repeat customer.
