This is a wonderful bag. I have the large and small, and use them constantly for my children and myself. They are easy to clean, roomy, and the fact that they stay upright whether they are full or not is very helpful. I would highly recommend them in all sizes.
I have several LL Bean totes! I own them in all sizes, and many colors, including a few "Create Your Own" bags and they are great! I am a teacher and mostly use the medium size for my school stuff. They're big enough to fit my teacher manuals and I have one for each season, monogrammed, of course! I love the over the shoulder longer handles. I have a bunch without the longer handles because they are older, before LL Bean offered long handles. Year after year, these are in great shape! I am not gentle on them and they stand up well to daily abuse. I have washed them all on a gentle cycle in the washer (even though I don't know if you're supposed to) and they come out fine! I also use these for my beach stuff. The medium size is easily big enough for a couple towels, water, snacks, sun block, magazine - and it fits in my bicycle basket. These also make great gifts because who doesn't love a personlized monogrammed gift? The only I could wish for is a pocket or two to keep my water bottle separate from everything else.
I have always loved the open top boat and totes and have just ordered several of the zip tops for myself, family, and friends. The stitching on the bottom of the bags and the area where the zip top has been attached to the tote has been very crooked on several of them. Customer service has been great with the re-orders so I'm pleased. The quality of the bags is still top-notch, I just wish the zip top areas could be sewn more carefully or else examined better before sent out. Still my favorite tote on the market.
Ordered the small tote with short handles a year ago to use as my lunch bag to and from school. Wasn't sure about the size, but have NOT been disappointed. It's actually become my "carry all"...not just lunch, but books, papers to be graded, etc. The material is PERFECT because it's stiff enough to not slouch or droop allowing things to fall out. Glad I got it!
