Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Zip Top Boat and Tote Medium

Grew up having a large boat and tote for beach days, pool, etc. Decided to buy my own first tote for an upcoming trip for those days when I need more than just what can fit in my purse. The color is beautiful and the zip top is great so things don't fall out. However, I was disappointed in the quality control. I don't believe my bag should have been cleared by QC to be sent out. Inside had tons of lose threads, stitching that looks like it's about to unravel. I was surprised actually. I debated returning it, but after Black Friday the bag in this color and style was out of stock until February and I needed it way before that. So I decided to just keep it. I've been using it and have no issues, but if I wasn't in a rush to have it for my trip I would have exchanged it. Still love the bag just wish the stitching inside wasn't so sloppy. Hopefully it holds up over time.

I originally ordered the small zippered tote, but Beans mis-labeled it as 10.5 inches high and it's really only 8 inches high. They allowed me to return it and I got the medium--which is a tad too big. Except for the size, it's a great tote. It's sturdy, will last a long time and the color is perfect. The engraving is exactly how I wanted it, a perfect color match to the straps/handles--although there were some loose threads which I knotted and wove back in. All in all, except for the size--which is entirely my choice--the zippered tote is a great bag and exactly the quality I'd expect from LL Bean.

4.5/5 I do love the bag, the monogram came out perfect and I am happy with the longer strap. I am sadly giving it 4 stars because I ordered the bag with the zipper close and received a bag without a zipper. Down the road I hope to get one that will stay closed but will make this work for now

As expected this bag as well constructed, and looks great. The only drawback is that the short handles will be too short for the bag to be carried over the shoulder once the cold weather comes and a warm winter coat is worn Wish L L Bean would mention that as to the reason they offer the long handles

Very durable canvas bag - love the sturdy zipper top - I use it as a casual pocket book and add other items to it depending on what I am doing - the dark bottom allows me to not worry about it getting dirty if I have to place it on the ground like at a picnic - only improvements I could suggest would be if the handles were an inch or 2 longer and a pocket inside for things like keys - all in all I really like this bag - I got my initial monogramed on it and really like that as well

I ordered a large and it was huge, so I returned it for a medium. The medium is a little small. I would have liked if the size was the same as one I purchased years ago. There is a huge difference between the large and the medium and the medium seems smaller than I would have liked, but the large is way too big.

Great quality product. Wish it was designed with an interior zip pocket to store smaller items.

I LOVE this bag. It's large enough for beach towels, a change of clothes and everything I need for a day at the beach or lake. I love that it zips closed to keep my belongings secure. It's very durable, too. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because there are no pockets inside and small things are easily lost inside. I ended up using a small makeup bag to put my keys, cell phone, money, etc, inside.

While I like the tote, it seems like many others totes I have. Though of better quality than some others and I like the monogram, it could be improved by adding a small pocket inside that can fit a cell phone (and this would differentiate your tote from others).

Great summer tote for the basics. It is a little stiff, but I think a couple runs in the wash and regular wear will soften it.

Overall a well made beach bag. Please consider putting small zip pockets inside the bag as small items get lost in it.

A great basic bag to throw everything in to go just about anywhere! It is made well and is very good quality. The only downside that I have is that there are no pockets in the inside or outside of the bag. I do wish there was at least one. Overall, I really like the bag and just put smaller bags in it to compensate for the lack of pockets. I still recommend it and would order again!

I love this bag, and the quality is really amazing. I got the bag with the shorter handles, and while I am glad I got those as opposed to the long ones I wish they were just a bit longer. So if you're getting this bag to be able to fit comfortably on your shoulders, get the longer handles.

The bag has only one drawback - it is too stiff. The quality is excellent; but again the canvas is too stiff to carry it comfortably.

Practical tote at a great price. Got it for my daughter and have used it almost everyday. Can't wait to get more use of it this summer.

Love this bag! My only suggestion would be to add pockets! I know the short handled bags come with the option for an exterior pocket but the long handled ones don't. I plan on using this as a daily tote and having a pocket would be nice for keys and cell phone (or two pockets, one inside and one outside).

Turn around time was amazing, Monogram just a wee bit sloppy. I understand I could request a replacement if I wished. Zipper protects my valuables. Longer straps are fantastic. A competitor of LLBean who also makes totes I believe has a few pockets inside each bag which seems like a nice touch. But it didn't seem that the competitor did the monogramming. Their bag may have been less expensive. I love that the LLBean tote is made in the USA, & ME which is so close to home. Rated 4.75.

very sloppy stitchings especially on the sides, I was so surprised to find them with stitchings poking out of the sides of the bag, the structure itself is fine, I can fit a lot of stuff. But I'm worried about the stitchings, after I started using it the stitchings got so bad that it stuck in the zipper. And once it got caught, it kept coming out of the linings. I heard so many good things about it being super high quality, so I had high expectations and this simply didn't live up to its name.

I've never ordered the one with a zipper and miss the outside pocket.

Wish it was a little bigger and softer but it gets the job done. Use it for kids school crib sheet and toddler pillow

This bag is so cute and i love how durable it feels. I wish they made one with internal pockets- it would feel more organized as my main work bag. The embroidery is such a fun touch. I'm glad they came back in stock!

I got the L but probably could've gone with the M size. It's kind of heavy but it can easily hold all my stuff so it's worth it to me. I went long strap but for a smaller bag I maybe would've got the short strap. All depends how you want to hold it!

I actually returned this one. My large, open-top, long-handled bag changed my life for the better but this one did not. I think it might be the zip top - too clumsy. I'll likely get another one without the zip for smaller errands and such. The bags are the best, though, as we all know.

Love the bag! Only reason I do not give it 5 stars is that the straps do not stay on my shoulders very well. I have a bag with long and another with short straps. I purchased the short strap first. It is a little difficult to get your arm through and up on your shoulder (especially with a coat on) so I ordered the longer strap on the second one.

Construction was exactly as expected: high quality and durable. Recipient was pleased. But the spacing on the personalized embroidery wasn't "kerned" to make the words look more natural. Every letter was spaced exactly the same, which meant the space around an "i" was the same as around a "w," which makes the "i" look like it has far too much space around it. I know it's all computer-generated spacing, but if a human were to intervene and adjust, it would look so much better.