Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Everyday Lightweight Large Plaid Tote

I purchased two of these in the Bean of Freeport Hunting plaid along with a medium to use as a winter purse/carryall. Love the plaid, perfect for around Christmas and great for anytime of the year as well. Sturdy, tough and extra nice with a monogram (I did mine in red!). Nice zipper which allows for maximum filling if needed. Super lightweight so you aren't adding heft to your items. I recently used the large tote as a carry-on and had the medium as my purse -- lots of compliments. I used red for the monogram and ordered the black clutch with matching red monogram-- clutch is perfect for flight info, phone & ID -- has a wrist strap which is great for getting though airport security with free hands. Tote handles are black and the stitching is white-- the only drawback in my mind. I'd rather have stitching the same color as the handle. Also, if you are a boat & tote user of many years this is NOT the same fabric type; it is a hefty nylon twill, not canvas, and won't hold shape on it's own. A great plus though as you may roll it up and pack it tightly in a small spot, then unpack and fill away!! Only regret is that I didn't order more when they were available! Haven't needed to yet, but am sure dirt will wipe off easily.

I want to be as honest as possible here. Upon arrival, I was immediately disappointed. I was expecting a flannel feel, a sturdy fabric like the other Boat and Tote I own. Nothing about it really feels the same at all. I decided to live with it though and am glad I did because even though it's different, I actually really like it. And for the price, it's not bad. It's just different. I've really enjoyed carrying it so far though now that I've gotten used to it. It holds so much, so I basically use it as a daily tote instead of carrying a handbag. I've found that to be so much more practical for daily life. It holds a water bottle, mittens/hat...things you might struggle to fit in a more structured, ladylike handbag I was used to carrying. I will say, that's one thing I like about L.L.Bean. I've owned several expensive designer handbags, and when it comes down to it, this $25 plus shipping tote gets me as many compliments and is probably just as durable...I love it for the winter season. It's super classic, you really can't go wrong. And as for anyone who complains about it not being canvas and thus the price, I'll say this--I was tempted to do the same until I realized it is essentially a $25 bag, and it just kind of seems that way. I think we all expect so much from L.L. Bean. It would be nice if it was canvas, that would up the wow factor, but I bet the tote would be far more expensive with the printing required to do that. I'm thankful for this darling option at a great price. It should put into perspective what an amazing deal the canvas Boat and Totes are.

I bought the Buffalo Creek medium tote. Just the right size for errands around town.

Great bag but needs longer handles so that it can be carried on one's shoulder.

Worked quite well as my second carry-on bag for a recent trip to Italy. My only disappointment was it wasn't easy to fold away and store in my suitcase when not needed. That said, I would recommend the tote. It's roomy and well made.

This tote bag is fine, but the color (deep moss and blue) doesn't match the photograph. The lines look red in the picture, but they are, in fact, light pink. Oh, well, not such a big deal, but I liked the look of the red with the green and blue.

I bought 4 of the same type in 2 years. It's light & has body, rain proof, easy to wipe off stain if you put on the subway floor. (cloth material has no stand up strength). My suggestion to a PERFECT bag: please make another lot of the same nylon bags by cutting 2" less in width, and a bigger deeper zippered pocket inside to fit big size cell phone. All women will use them as ordinary handbags instead of shopping totes just for travel or to the beach. Please make my wish come true.

Wish the handles were longer

Great bag but wish it had long straps for the shoulder. Don't know if I will use it

I liked the autumnal plaid design on the tote, however I was disappointed how flimsy it is. I like to use totes for my everyday purse. I like to carry my phone, wallet, my book, my iPad, and miscellaneous items. I blame myself for not reading more carefully. I was hoping for a tote that can stand up on itself.

I really wanted to like this bag, but the shoulder straps are WAY too short. The fabric, size and colors are all fabulous, but in the end I returned it because of the straps.

We have at least six of these bags in different colors and sizes. I use a large lightweight tote bag for work every day and bought this one for my daughter to use as a work tote but the strap is a full inch shorter than the strap on my bag. The short strap makes it impossible to get on my shoulder as a woman with a large upper arm and will be impossible for my daughter to get on her shoulder when wearing a coat. Really disappointed and will be returning it and looking for another tote instead.

I love this bag. It's well made and the color is gorgeous. But the drop length of the straps is pretty short. Other than that, would have been 5 stars!

The medium size, depth, color was good. However the handles are too short for the bag to be carried on the shoulder. Hopefully a tailor will be able to adjust the handles by sewing an extension to the fabric.

I like the bag but with the handles were a little longer so it was easy to hang on my shoulder.

It's well made- I was thinking the material was canvas and it's more of a nylon- if that's what you want, it's great.

I bought and returned this red buffalo plaid item. I was hoping for a more canvas texture but it felt more like plastic. If it came in a canvas tote, I would buy that.

Looks inexpensive design wise, plastic looking, I should have read the description better as I hoped it was canvas, my error.

I thought the bag would be more 'structured' like previous LL Bean bags I have purchased. I especially wish there was a hard bottom in the bag to help make it stand-up. It's pretty flimsy.

the size in the catalog was nowhere near the actual size. I had hoped to use it as a fun handbag but it was so big that I could use it as an overnight bag. Not sure who measured it but they certainly didn't know how to measure. If the size in the catalog was true it would have been perfect for what I wanted but it wasn't. I spoke to a customer service representative who was very nice. I checked the tag inside and it was the exact item number in the catalog but the measurements were in no way what they were in the catalog. I was very disappointed. I kept it because I loved the color but, it wasn't what I wanted.

Ordered tote in medium, catalog stated medium 12" x 13" x 6 "...perfect for me...But, it was large...measured about 17" x 12"...and too too large for every day use. Very disappointed and Plaid already sold out so it was returned. Don't know if this was a shipping error or product size listed was wrong....otherwise it would have been great...sorry. Gave it a good recommendation as it was a nice bag, just wrong size.

Can't honestly say for myself, as this was a gift shipped direct to relatives out of state. They said they liked it - so, that's all I know. But, it looks good to me and my other LLBean totes have not let me down.

While I love the looks of the bag, the handles are a little too short, and when I use this for traveling, it just doesn't fit under my arm.

Not what I expected from LLBEAN. Pattern I liked.

This bag would be worthy of 100 stars if only the shoulder strap were longer. Not possible to wear over shoulder so defeats the purpose for needing this bag.