I never thought I’d be a fan of oversized tote bags, but here I am. (Call my crazy, but I’m partial to a crossbody.) I attribute my newfound fondness to the sheer power and versatility of the style, be it a sturdy canvas tote for the beach (XL L.L. Bean Boat and Tote, I’m looking at you), a sleek leather option to haul my belongings to the office, or a gigantic hobo bag for weekend activities. Ludicrously capacious or not, these bags have been the glue of my chaotic life (and with it, an overly indulgent collection of things). The only place(s) they weren’t holding everything together? My travels—that is, until now.
For years, I was a proponent of the travel backpack. After all, who doesn’t like the ease of being hands-free?! Eventually, though, I found myself getting fatigued with the constant on-and-off motion it requires to access anything in it. With that in mind, I opted for a travel tote bag instead. And boy, did I find the holy grail of travel totes: the MZ Wallace Large Metro Tote Deluxe, to be specific.
Chances are you’ve seen an MZ Wallace bag or backpack on your commute, at the airport, or on the road—for good reason. You couldn’t miss that plush quilting even if you tried! And more often than not, I’d find myself gazing upon one of the brand’s most popular styles: the MZ Wallace Metro Tote. It wasn’t long before I had seen enough—I needed to know why these bags, particularly this tote bag, were such a presence in my life. And now, after carrying one to work and on a week-long trip, I finally do.
To my pleasant surprise, there’s a lot to love about this bag. I opted for the large size, because I have become one with oversized bags—well, that, and I typically bring a lot of things on my flights (you never know what you might need). To start, it fits just about everything. I was a bit wary about its puffy, unstructured design, but that worked to its advantage. At its most stuffed, I could fit a wallet, a passport, a laptop, an iPad, over-ear headphones, three books, a knitting project, pens, a denim jacket, and a bag of snacks, with plenty of room for more.
And while you might be worried about all those things swimming at the bottom of this bag, I’d like to also point out that there are so many easy-to-access pockets and zipper compartments that my things ended up being way more organized than I could have ever imagined. I’m talking three exterior slip pockets (one of which converts into a luggage sleeve), two zipped pockets outside of the opening, six interior pockets, and three detachable pouches—and I’m grateful for every single one of them. I even used the key ring leash, which helped me easily find my keys as soon as I got home.
There are few things I would change about this bag, because, admittedly, it’s damn near perfect. That said, there are some things that take getting used to, like the fact that there is no designated laptop sleeve. And while I love having an attachment to slide the tote on and off my carry-on luggage, I found the magnetic snap at the top to be a little finicky. I’ll also add that the large size might be too big for some, so if you’re looking for something a touch smaller (without compromising on function), the medium option is just as chic and practical.
Bottom line? I love this bag even more than I anticipated. It’s a bit pricey, but given all that it offers, I will say this is hands down worth it. Wherever you’re heading this summer, be sure to add this to your packing list. You will not regret it.
Dale Arden Chong is the Senior Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Previously, she was an editor at MensHealth.com and has written for Who What Wear, GLAMOUR, The Coveteur, and more. She loves fashion, food, and art, among other things—but her greatest love is K-pop idol V of BTS.