Ten Dollar Tuesday: Battle of the Bags

Reusable shopping totes are a must have. Between the obvious benefit of using less plastic bags, these totes are so practical that they’re worth their weight in gold. I leave one in a stroller, one in my diaper bag and several in the pantry ready to grocery shop. But, there are lots of reusable shopping bags out there and they are not created equal. Here are the pros and cons of some bags I use. And, of course, each costs less than $10.

Reisenthel Maxi Shopper

The Mini Maxi Shopper is from the amazing German company Reisenthel, makers of the fabulous Carry Bag – a Collapsible Bag or Market Basket.

To Buy… Reisenthel is an established company that has great products to make shopping easier and more comfortable. The Mini Maxi Shopper is large (with room for up to 5 gallons of groceries) and sturdy (can support 24 pounds). Love the clip so you can find it easily and the long straps.

Or Not to Buy… The Mini Maxi comes with a small bag for storage, but it is separate from the actual bag, and it doesn’t fold quite as small as some others. At $9.50, it’s a tad more expensive than the others.

Envirosax

The Envirosax Shopping Tote is the original designer reusable bag. Available in hundreds of fashionable and colorful fabrics, Envirosax are available to buy in sets of 5 or individually.

To Buy… Envirosax are the only bag I’ve used that have an integrated storage option; they fold up quite compact and clip shut with attached snap. The styles are awesome and quite varied – there are even designs for kids. Most cost-effective if purchased in set of 5 coordinating totes with matching pouch, Envirosax can be an affordable and good-looking option.

Or Not to Buy… The straps are shorter on the Envirosax than the other bags.

Baggu Bags

Perfect for urban living, Baggu bags are available in multiple sizes to meet all your shopping needs. Made of super lightweight but durable material, the standard size Baggu can hold the equivalent of 2-3 plastic bags.

To Buy… Baggu bags are the most affordable at $8 a pop. The basic patterns and colors are very gender-neutral, if a tad boring. Love the different size bags, too, so you can carry one perfect for a quick trip to the convenient store or big trips to stock up at the grocery.

Or Not to Buy… Baggus fold up quite small, but I don’t like that the bag to contain them is separate and not attached to the bag.

Disclosure: Thanks to Reisenthel, Envirosax and Baggu for providing samples for review. This post contains affiliate links – shopping affiliates and sponsors is a great way to support The Shopping Mama.