23 Ludicrously Capacious Bags for Carrying Your Flat Shoes for the Subway (2024)

Subways, airplanes, buses: This tote can stand up to all kinds of wear and tear, which is why I haven’t let it go after a decade of use. It’s massive—so it easily fits my laptop, books, umbrella, sunglasses, and anything else I might need—and incredibly durable, so I don’t feel bad shoving it under the seat in front of me on a plane. The only drawback is that the open top could be a liability…but it’s usually so packed that a pickpocket would need 30 minutes just to find my wallet. —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor

You don’t need me to remind you of Longchamp’s Le Pliage tote—it’s an icon for a reason—but it’s the brand's new double zip-top that I can’t get out of my mind. It’s sporty and low-key, and I love the contrasting colors. I’m eyeing her for fall. —Talia Abbas, senior commerce editor

I’m the queen of schlepping—beauty products, snacks, allergy medicine, gum, COVID tests—you name it, and it’s jostling around somewhere at the bottom of this Italian leather Cuyana bag. It’s so spacious and big, almost to a fault—I’ll throw something into my bag and joke that it gets lost in the abyss. But it’s functional, chic, and goes with everything in my closet. —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor

I desperately needed a ‘big’ bag, and I rented the Staud Shirley via Rent the Runway. But I loved—and used—it so much I ended up buying it. It’s big enough to fit a laptop, charger, planner, makeup bag, wallet, plus miscellaneous “bag things” (snacks, chapstick, water bottle…) but doesn’t look or feel clunky. It also has a very structured interior, so nothing ever gets lost. I use it anytime I need to carry around extra items and/or travel, and it holds up great while commuting. (It’s so sleek it doesn’t bump into passengers on the subway, which plenty of my backpacks bygone did.) It’s really the ideal multipurpose bag! —Danielle Sinay, associate beauty editor

I've been eyeing Dragon Diffision’s gorgeous woven bags for a while, but Glamour senior commerce editor Talia Abbas put me on this specific style after she ordered one for herself. It's the perfect everyday bag for fall. The chocolate brown! The unique trapeze silhouette! The sturdy top handles! The Santa Croce is roomy enough for a Kindle and my toddler's snacks, but chic enough for après work drinks. Somehow Dragon Diffusion found the cheat code for a delicate tote bag; the only problem is wanting one in multiple colors. —Shanna Shipin, contributing commerce editor

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I’ve never owned a work bag chicer than this structured tote. It’s sturdy and sleek, with many pockets for an organized queen! For the quality and size, I can say it's worth every penny. —Leilani McQuay, commerce producer

Dagne Dover’s Landon Carryall Bag is truly the travel tote/duffel carry-on that I didn’t know I needed in my life. First, it is so soft and easy to clean (extra points for the chic duster bag). Second, there are so many interior pockets for everything, but never in a way that takes up space you wish you had for other items. It’s like a magic Mary Poppins bag that somehow fits everything and yet still feels very compact. It’s truly the most brilliant design, and now I want to own everything in the collection. —Jessica Radloff, senior West Coast editor

When I was growing up, my mother and sister hated when I rummaged through their closets to use their things. They had a good reason: I’m pretty harsh on my day-to-day clothing and accessories. As such, I love a strong, resistant work bag that gets the job done without looking boring. I love this Kate Spade nylon backpack. It’s the perfect size to fit all of my office essentials: I can fit my laptop, two planners, my makeup bag, and my reusable water bottle without a hitch. —Ana Escalante, editorial assistant

On lighter days, I love to throw everything in this perfectly-sized tote from J.Crew. It’s full of holes, yes, but my AirPods, wallet, and hand sanitizer have never fallen through—and that texture helps add a bit of intrigue to what would otherwise be pretty minimalist (i.e., boring) ’fits. Full disclosure: I own the black version of this bag, but why not switch it up with some yellow? —Jake Smith, commerce writer

I’m a fairly simple girl when it comes to work bags: I need functionality and durability. This medium satchel comes with two compartments and large inner pockets—perfect for my work-life balance. Each morning for the last year, I’ve thrust my laptop, Happy Planner, vitamin pills, and concealers into this bag without its structure ever giving in. This classic peanut butter hue paired with the gold Tory Burch emblem is the blend of on-the-go and chic everyone needs to transition from the 9–5 to post-office dates. —Mia Uzzell, editorial intern

When I don’t have to lug a laptop around with me, my work bag of choice is this from new label Reco. The designer,Bea Recoder, who used to work for Balenciaga and Chloe, among others, uses deadstock luxury leather to design her bags—meaning they are limited edition and sustainable, and it’s very unlikely anyone else will have the same bag as you! —Natasha Pearlman, executive editor

This cozy, minimalist bag is the perfect solution for a chronic over-packer like myself. There’s just enough room for my 13-inch laptop and charger, a book for my commute, and the essentials: My planner, headphones, and a red lipstick. It’s also lightweight and has a pillowy soft shoulder strap, which I definitely needed after years hauling 10 pounds of junk I didn’t need to and from the office. —Samantha Reed, senior trending news & entertainment editor

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A canvas tote bag is the real MVP of your workday (or errand day, for that matter). They're like the grown-up version of graphic tees you wore in high school, but now you can shop them from street style-approved brands like Kids of Immigrants. FYI, this particular model sold out in minutes, but the brand frequently comes out with new colors. —S.S.

Naghedi's neoprene tote has been the highlight of my summer commute. It's practical and chic (why settle for anything less?) and comes with a cute zipper pouch for me to keep my work badge, wallet, and lipsticks in. The handle on the medium tote is just big enough to slip comfortably over my shoulder, and the bag is lined with a removable bottom so it doesn't sag when I'm carrying my laptop, lunch, and library books to One World Trade. —T.A.

As a freelance writer, I can (and do) work from everywhere—home, coffee shops, libraries, you name it. So nothing sells me like a bag that can fit both my laptop and Kindle. I love this classic tote from Mansur Gavriel, which is spacious enough for everything I need while still being structured enough to take to meetings and appointments. Plus, the color is beautiful and it fits into the Citi Bike baskets, so I can secure when I’m riding around town. —D.P.

I got a Marc Jacobs tote bag last summer as we started to transition back to daily commutes to and from the office, and I’ve never looked back! Size-wise, the small tote fits my computer, a notebook, my phone, wallet, and keys—and even has a little extra room for if I need to toss anything else in on an errand run. Since it has a zipper and an adjustable strap, it feels quite practical for hopping on and off the subway. For those reasons, as well, it also doubles as a great travel bag and personal item on flights. —Alexandra Folino, art director

With a magnetic closure and sleek leather exterior that always wipes clean, this shoulder bag is perhaps the soundest wardrobe investment I’ve ever made. Carry it from work to the bar and back—it’s small enough to nestle comfortably into my armpit but roomy enough to be truly functional. Because, as a working girl, consolidating my possessions down to a phone and keys only simply isn’t an option. —Hanna Lustig, staff writer

This bag is huge, and that’s exactly why I love it. There's a small zip pocket on the inside, but otherwise it's just a giant empty space to fit everything you could possibly need. (Its versatility makes up for its price too: I've carried it to work, taken it to the beach, and even traveled with it.) There are some fully canvas versions of this bag, but I love the beachy vibes of the woven nylon—it's so fun for summer. —T.A.

This is my daily bag that holds everything, including my laptop. Its pebbled leather is chic, goes with everything, and is super-durable. (Although I’m obsessed with keeping it clean, so it never sits on the floor!) —J.R.

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Out of all the (many, many) tote bags I own, I’ve gotten the most compliments on this packable, goes-with-everything guy from Japanese brand Post General. The slightly iridescent fabric is light, but still strong enough to hold my laptop, charger and anything else I need. And if I happen to use a different bag that day, I always bring it along anyway—it’s just the right size for a post-work Trader Joe’s run. —J.S.

I am fully a two-bag kind of girl: a backpack to haul my laptop and other necessary bits into the office, and a shoulder bag for the rest. I love this Coach x Tom Wesselmann backpack for the workhorse part of bag ’fit. Goes with everything and makes a statement too. —N.P.