The InStyle guide currently available is a 2026 article, not a verified 2025 roundup. It names 16 beach bags and explains the practical features behind its picks, but it does not publish a detailed test protocol or numerical scores. Here’s how to use its recommendations—and choose a bag that fits your beach plans and budget.
Why this isn’t a verified 2025 InStyle list
The accessible InStyle article, “The 16 Best Beach Bags for Practical (and Stylish!) Getaways,” was updated June 11, 2026. The 2025 InStyle page named in the requested title was not verified, so its selections should not be presented as InStyle’s 2025 picks.
For context, Harper’s Bazaar published a separate 2025 roundup on June 11, 2025. Its picks are not InStyle’s. The lists reflect a broad category: woven raffia and straw for a summery look, canvas for an everyday tote, mesh and nylon for function, and PVC for a structured, wipe-clean or water-resistant option. Those material descriptions do not guarantee identical performance across individual bags. Harper’s Bazaar’s 2025 list includes the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote, Béis Mesh Beach Tote, Staud Christos Tote, and Naghedi St. Barths Tote.
What InStyle’s available guide says it evaluated
InStyle says it consulted celebrity and editorial stylists Tracy Shapoff and Aisya Washington, as well as former Saks Fifth Avenue buyer Gabriella Giammalva. The article reports that the team tested about a dozen bags, ranging from canvas totes to handwoven straw carryalls. It credits Hayley Prokos and Alexandra Malmed, and says Prokos updated the story with new product picks and tested insights.
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The article does not give a reproducible test protocol or numerical scores. Treat its rankings as editorial recommendations, not as a scored lab comparison. InStyle’s cited advice emphasizes practical concerns as well as appearance: Giammalva says, “practicality is undoubtedly the most important characteristic for this quintessential summer accessory.”
InStyle’s featured picks in its 2026 update
These are selections reported in the accessible 2026 InStyle guide—not verified 2025 picks. The categories can help narrow your search, but check each product’s current specifications, price, and stock before buying.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
| InStyle category | Named pick | What the category suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | AllSaints Lullah Straw Tote Bag | A woven style positioned as a versatile choice. |
| Best straw | Hat Attack Straw Traveler Bag | A straw-forward option for shoppers prioritizing that look. |
| Best packable | J.Crew Large Handknotted Packable Tote Bag | A choice to consider when folding or packing the bag matters. |
| Best structured | Longchamp Large Le Pliage Panier Tote | A more defined shape for shoppers who prefer structure. |
| Best mesh | Dolce Vita Aislin Mesh Tote Bag | A mesh option, a material that can allow sand to pass through. |
| Utility choice | Bogg Original Tote | A utility-oriented tote also covered by NBC Select. |
| Classic beach bag | L.L.Bean Boat and Tote | A familiar canvas-style tote option. |
How to choose a beach bag for your actual trip
Start with what you need to carry
Estimate the load before choosing a size: towels, water, sunscreen, snacks, a change of clothes, or just a few essentials. A day at the beach with family calls for different capacity from a short visit with a book and sunscreen. NBC Select likewise advises matching bag size to trip duration and what you plan to bring. Its guide also covers options such as the YETI Camino 20 Carryall and Baggu Standard Reusable Bag, alongside the L.L.Bean and Bogg totes. NBC Select’s beach-bag guide distinguishes product attributes and staff impressions from brand claims.
Match the material to water, sand, and cleanup
InStyle describes canvas and cotton as durable and easy to care for, mesh as ventilated, and straw as stylish but unsuitable for getting wet. Think about where the bag will sit and how you’ll clean it. Tracy Shapoff cautions that “Sand and sunscreen can easily scuff and affect your bag, so you want to make sure it won’t be ruined by these factors.” These are material-level considerations, not guarantees about every bag made from a given material.
Balance sand management with organization
Mesh may let sand escape, but an open mesh bag may be a poor place for small loose items. Pockets, compartments, or a separate pouch can keep sunscreen, keys, and a phone together. If you want to protect valuables or carry them away from the beach, check whether the specific bag includes a removable or closable pouch rather than assuming it does.
Choose between packability and structure
A packable tote can be useful for travel or for keeping an extra bag in luggage. A structured bag may make a larger load easier to organize. InStyle’s named examples are the J.Crew Large Handknotted Packable Tote Bag and the Longchamp Large Le Pliage Panier Tote, respectively; verify how each current version folds or holds its shape on the product page.
Rank #4
Check straps, closure, and versatility
Try to find shoulder straps long enough to carry comfortably when the bag is full. A closure can help keep smaller belongings inside, while an open top may make access easier. If you want one tote to do double duty, consider whether its shape and finish suit errands or dinner as well as the beach. Shapoff says, “I love to carry a crochet, raffia, or straw bag to dinner while on vacation and during the summer.” That’s a styling perspective, not a claim that every woven beach bag is suited to every setting.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
What to verify before you buy
- Dimensions and capacity: Check the listed measurements against your towels and other essentials.
- Care instructions: Confirm how the specific bag should be cleaned and whether it can tolerate the exposure you expect.
- Organization and closure: Look for the pockets, pouch, or top closure you actually need.
- Comfort: Check strap length and carry style, especially if you expect a heavy load.
- Current price and availability: Shopping pages change, so confirm both on the seller’s current listing rather than relying on an older roundup.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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