The InStyle beach-bag guide that can currently be verified is a 2026 article, not a verified 2025 edition. It names the AllSaints Lullah Straw Tote Bag as its best overall pick and recommends different bags for straw style, packability, structure, mesh ventilation and utility. The guide says its team tested about a dozen bags, but it does not publish a detailed test protocol or numerical scores. Read InStyle’s guide, updated June 11, 2026.
Why this is not a verified 2025 InStyle roundup
The title “The 16 Best Beach Bags of 2025, Reviewed by InStyle” cannot be confirmed from the accessible InStyle page. The verifiable page is titled “The 16 Best Beach Bags for Practical (and Stylish!) Getaways” and was updated June 11, 2026. Its recommendations should therefore be treated as InStyle’s 2026 selections, not attributed to a 2025 list.
That distinction matters for shopping: product lineups, prices and stock can change between annual updates. A separate Harper’s Bazaar roundup published June 11, 2025 covers the same broad category, but it is not an InStyle article.
What InStyle says it reviewed
InStyle says it consulted celebrity and editorial stylists Tracy Shapoff and Aisya Washington, as well as Gabriella Giammalva, a former Saks Fifth Avenue buyer. The article reports that its 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.
#1 Best Overall
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The article does not explain a reproducible test method or provide numerical scores. Its results are best read as editorial recommendations informed by the reported testing and expert input, not as a standardized ranking in which every bag was measured against a published scoring system.
InStyle’s named 2026 picks
These are the selections identified in the accessible InStyle article. The category labels and product names below reflect that 2026 guide; they do not establish what appeared in a separate 2025 edition.
Rank #2
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
| InStyle category | Named bag | What the pick is suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | AllSaints Lullah Straw Tote Bag | A woven summer look selected as the guide’s all-around choice. |
| Best straw | Hat Attack Straw Traveler Bag | Shoppers prioritizing a straw carryall style. |
| Best packable | J.Crew Large Handknotted Packable Tote Bag | Travelers who want a tote that can be packed away. |
| Best structured | Longchamp Large Le Pliage Panier Tote | Those who prefer a more defined shape for organizing a load. |
| Best mesh | Dolce Vita Aislin Mesh Tote Bag | A mesh option where ventilation and sand movement are useful considerations. |
| Utility choice | Bogg Original Tote | A practical, utility-oriented alternative. |
| Classic beach bag | L.L.Bean Boat and Tote | A familiar canvas-tote style that can also work beyond the beach. |
The guide also discusses material trade-offs: it describes canvas and cotton as durable and easy to care for, mesh as ventilating, and straw as stylish but a material that should not get wet. Those are material-level considerations, not guarantees that every bag made from a given material will perform identically.
How to choose a beach bag for the way you travel
Start with the load, not the label
Estimate what you actually carry: towels, water, sunscreen, snacks, a change of clothes, or just a few essentials. NBC Select recommends matching bag size to trip duration and intended load. Its guide includes examples ranging from the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote and Baggu Standard Reusable Bag to the YETI Camino 20 Carryall and Bogg Original Bogg Bag. The available articles do not establish a directly comparable capacity figure for all of these options, so compare each product’s current dimensions and capacity on its own listing rather than inferring size from its name. NBC Select’s guide, updated July 26, 2024.
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- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Match the material to water, sand and cleanup
- Canvas or cotton: Consider these if you want a durable-feeling, familiar tote and care that is relatively straightforward; verify the care instructions for the exact bag.
- Mesh: Ventilation can help, and sand may pass through the mesh rather than staying trapped inside. That openness also means small items may need a separate pouch.
- Straw or raffia: These offer a woven summer look, but InStyle cautions that straw should not get wet. They are a less suitable choice when the bag is likely to be soaked or repeatedly exposed to wet gear.
- Nylon or PVC: Harper’s Bazaar’s 2025 roundup illustrates these as functional alternatives, including a wipe-clean or water-resistant approach for PVC. Check the individual product’s construction and care details before relying on either property.
InStyle stylist Tracy Shapoff warns 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,” she says. That makes the bag’s care instructions and your tolerance for wear as relevant as its appearance.
Balance easy access with secure storage
An open tote is quick to reach into, but a closure can help keep smaller items more secure. Pockets, compartments or a removable pouch can separate keys, a phone and sunscreen from towels and snacks. Do not assume a named bag includes a particular pocket or pouch: check its current product description and construction.
Rank #4
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Choose structure or packability deliberately
A structured bag can hold its shape and make a larger load easier to arrange; a packable tote is more convenient when luggage space matters. InStyle’s 2026 examples are the Longchamp Large Le Pliage Panier Tote and J.Crew Large Handknotted Packable Tote Bag, respectively. Neither style is automatically better: decide whether organization at the destination or compact storage during travel matters more.
Check shoulder comfort and cleaning
InStyle’s cited stylist guidance emphasizes adequate shoulder-strap length and easy cleaning or resistance to dirt. Before buying, check how the handles sit when the bag is loaded and whether their drop works over your shoulder. A bag that holds everything but digs in when full may be a poor fit for a longer walk from car to shore.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
What else the 2025 and 2024 guides show
Harper’s Bazaar’s 2025 list demonstrates how varied beach-bag choices are: it includes woven raffia and straw styles, canvas, mesh, nylon and PVC, and names the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote, Béis Mesh Beach Tote, Staud Christos Tote and Naghedi St. Barths Tote. These examples provide category context, not confirmation of InStyle’s 2025 selections.
NBC Select’s July 2024 guide adds practical examples such as the YETI Camino 20 Carryall, Baggu Standard Reusable Bag and Bogg Original Bogg Bag. It describes features including washable, water-resistant, pocketed or foldable designs, while distinguishing staff impressions from brand claims. Since the article dates from 2024, treat it as a source of options and feature questions rather than a current availability or price list.
Quick Recap
Questions to check on the product page before buying
- Are the listed dimensions and capacity suitable for your towels and other planned items?
- What materials are used, and what does the maker say about water exposure, cleaning and care?
- Does the bag have a closure, pockets or a pouch for valuables?
- How long are the handles, and will they be comfortable when the bag is full?
- Does it fold or pack down, or is a structured shape more useful for your trip?
- Are the current price, color options and stock still available? Shopping pages change, so confirm these details directly before ordering.
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.
