Customizations: leather patch, Genevieve fabric, with trolley sleeve
I just returned from 10 days in Portugal and then 4 nights in Boston and Maine, and it reminded me of how much I love my Yacht Tote. It is truly one of the best large tote bags out ther,e and I simply do not travel anywhere without it. I have mentioned it and linked to it often over the years. I got my first Yacht Tote back in 2016, which is kind of crazy, that was nearly 10 years ago, and I have used it non-stop ever since. Whenever I share it, I'm always asked questions. I did a review post a few years ago, so I decided to do an updated one.
My Most Used Travel Bag
I mostly use this tote for travel. It doesn't matter if it is far away or 30 minutes down the road, or whether we are road tripping or flying, the yacht tote is likely coming.
I use the this roller bag as my carry-on.
Does it fit under an economy airline seat?
This is the most-asked question I get about this bag. If I am flying, I use it as a carry-on or as my personal item (the zippered, trolley one). It has always fit under an economy seat, and no one has ever asked to measure it or given me a hard time about it. I just recently flew to Boston via JetBlue, and it was the fullest I have ever filled the tote. Even when packed full, it still fit!
Speaking of fitting, this is the perfect tote for those who live in small spaces because it fully collapses and lies flat, taking up very little storage space.
What does the interior look like?
Six open interior pockets make organizing such a large tote a breeze. On a quick weekend trip, I use the pockets for storing things like socks, underwear, etc. If I'm using it as a carry-on, I use the open pockets to hold my computer charger, sleep mask, and other essentials. There is also one zippered interior pocket, which is nice for storing things like my wallet, earbuds, jewelry, etc. On the exterior trolley sleeve, there is also one zipped pocket. I usually put my phone in there when I have the tote fully zipped, but it's also a nice spot for anything you want quick access to.
I really like that the leather on the bottom of the bag makes it sit flat and upright on the floor, even if there is nothing inside. It makes packing a breeze. It easily sits on top of my carry-on roller bag at the airport, so I don't have to carry it on my shoulder. If you fill it to the brim, it gets heavy, making it tiring to carry on my shoulder, which is why the trolley sleeve is so helpful.
Car Travel
If I am driving on a road trip, this is typically where I pack all of my clothes. I usually do one bag with shoes/handbags/makeup/jewelry/etc. And then one bag with clothes. For a weekend getaway, I can usually fit everything into one tote. I use packing cubes inside the tote to stay organized.
This is really random and specific, but my husband wears size 13 shoes. I don't know if you have ever seen a size 13 pair, but they are like boats. HUGE. They take up so much room in the closet!! Most totes literally do not fit his shoes end-to-end, but with the yacht tote, I can easily fit a pair down into the bottom! So it's really great for both of us when it comes to traveling.
What is it made out of?
The pattern is printed on a durable, water-resistant nylon canvas. It feels tough and can be wiped down with a damp cloth if needed. There are leather accents on the bottom and handles, and it can also be gently wiped down. The inside is fully lined in a lightweight twill fabric. There is a nice heavy gold zipper to close the top and the trolley sleeve.
Personalization
You can completely personalize the tote. Zip or no zip, trolley sleeve or no sleeve, patterns, colors, monograms, and sometimes even the leather color. The one you see here is one my husband and I designed together so that either of use could use it when traveling. We just got an 'S' on the leather patch instead of full initials.
I recommend splurging on the zip top and trolley sleeve because this bag is too large for daily use. It's more of a travel bag where you really want a zipper.
Would you carry this as a work tote?
No. It's 26.5″L X 15.5″H X 11″D, so unless you work in an industry where you need to carry a lot of stuff, I'd go with something smaller. This bag is BIG.
Who is the ideal audience for this bag?
I think this would make a really great gift for a high school graduate who will be going back and forth from college, a mom who will need to carry around a lot of stuff for her kids, someone who travels with only a carry-on for work/pleasure, a newlywed going on their honeymoon, someone with a second home that needs to schlep lots of stuff back and forth, etc. It's incredibly versatile- anyone and everyone could make good use of this Yacht Tote!
Why is it better than a canvas tote, like L.L.Bean, for example?
This is subjective, and merely my opinion, but the difference between this and the large or XL bean bag is that the arm straps are the perfect length to go over the shoulder- they are not short and they are not long, they're just 'perfect'. The exterior nylon and leather can be quickly wiped down with a sanitizing wipe so you can clean it each time after travel. Those are the two most significant differences.
Do you recommend any other travel items from Barrington?
YES! I always travel with the hanging toiletry bag and sometimes use the garment bag (if I'm not flying, as I don't like to fly with a separate garment bag). I use the clear Pouch in my everyday bag (typically my Goyard tote) to hold all of my essentials like a hairbrush, mini deodorant, etc. I really love the look of the captain's bag, but have held off on that because I am not sure how useful it would be for me since I always use the yacht tote!
Does Barrington ever go on sale?
YES! Historically, around holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Cyber Week, Christmas, etc., it's usually anywhere from 10-15% off.
All in all, I am fanatical about this bag and will always sing its praises. It's a bit steep, but the quality is representative of its price tag and usefulness!
You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more! I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also follow me on the LTK app. Plus, you are able to access all of my posts, here, on my website!
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