The RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote Bag is one of the most affordable, well-built, and versatile tote bags I’ve used. It’s particularly great for packing food because its insulation keeps sandwiches, fruit, chocolate, and potato chips from overheating in the summer.
I became a fan of tote bags a few years ago because I spend so much time testing outdoor gear. Totes let me easily organize and carry everything from electronics like satellite communicators, chargers, or camera gear, as well as pack lunches and snacks on family trips to the beach. The roomy RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote is capable of packing extra clothes, towels, or sunscreen, but it truly excels as a day-trip, picnic-ready, food-focused tote.
Quality construction
I like that that the RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote is lightweight but is self-standing and has structure to it. It’s doesn’t fall over and it’s easy to load.
Everyday Insulated Tote Features
The exterior of the RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote Bag is a durable PVC-free coated waterproof fabric that looks and feels like a typical nylon canvas (though it may be some other synthetic variation). It’s abrasion resistant and wipes clean without much trouble.
I like the vinyl (or TPU) bottom, which let me set this tote down on wet rocks without worrying about it getting wet. The interior has welded seams and is waterproof, but its waterproofness is more like a bucket and less like a sealed cooler. The zipper can leak, so if you pack this with drinks and slushy ice, don’t tip it over inside your vehicle. Otherwise, you’re good to go.
Very Lightweight
The RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote has a large 35-liter carrying volume but it weighs just 1.28 pounds. It feels super light in your hand when empty, which I appreciate. Most large rugged totes weigh twice as much, making them heavy to start with. And they only get heavier when you load them up.
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Key Specifications
Height: 14.5″
Length: 21.25″
Width at base: 9.75″
Width at top: 6″
Weight: 1.28 lbs
Volume: 35 liters
Handy Pockets
I’m a fan of pockets, and this RTIC tote has two, an interior zippered stash pocket and an exterior tuck pocket. Both are relatively small, making them good for keys or a phone.
Why choose an insulated tote?
You might be wondering if you should choose an insulated or uninsulated tote. There are several key reasons to choose an insulated tote vs uninsulated:
- No more overheated contents: The closed-foam insulation in this RTIC tote keeps sandwiches cool on picnics to the beach and protects chocolatey treats from melting
- Versatility: If you need to use this tote like a cooler, you can — but it carries clothes, towels, sunscreen, and other gear just as easily
- Self-standing sidewalls: The foam offers structure that makes it easy to load and unload
- Padded structure protects contents: The somewhat stiff walls and floor protects fragile items like potato chips, which is critical (I think we can all agree on that) but pretty much anything else, too
Competitive Alternatives and Options:
There are hundreds of tote options in the market today, and separating out the good ones from the bad is a tough job. I stay away from cheap generic options, and you probably want to avoid them if you can. Let’s be extra clear: The price-to-value ratio of the RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote Bag is so good there’s no reason to bother with cheaper alternatives. Don’t buy a cheap bag because it will likely fail, tear, leak, and end up in a landfill. Here are a few alternatives that are also worth a look:
• Hydro Flask Carryout Tote — This insulated tote comes in four size options up to 30 L, which is a bit smaller than the RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote. The larger options include short handles for carrying with your hands as well as removable longer handles for over-the-shoulder carry.
• L.L.Bean Nor’easter Insulated Tote — L.L.Bean sells nearly 50 different tote bags, but the Nor’easter Insulated Tote may be the best overall buy. The canvas straps give it a classic vibe that’s hard not to like, but if you really want to kick it old school, go with the waxed-canvas option.
• YETI Daytrip 20L Insulated Tote Bag — YETI makes some of the toughest coolers in the world, and its Daytrip tote is about as durable as it gets. Instead of a zipper, it uses a magnetic closure system. It comes in a bunch of bright colors, but it’s not as large as the RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote Bag, so it’s not a good option if you want to pack large, bulky items like produce or bags of chips. It also costs three times as much, so it’s not a budget-oriented tote.
The Bottom Line: Affordable and Functional
The RTIC Everyday Insulated Tote Bag is a great value. It’s well-built, lightweight, and rugged enough to use on day trips, picnics, and camping. Yes, you can load it up with ice and drinks and it’ll keep them cold for a day, but it’s not insulated enough to work well for more than a day. If you want a multi-day cooling solution, error toward a dedicated soft cooler instead. Still, if you’re looking for a tote bag that won’t overheat in the sun, this one is a great option. Very highly recommended.
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