Daisy Rose Large Straw Beach Tote Bag Review

We purchased the Daisy Rose Large Straw Beach Tote Bag so our writer could put it to the test at the beach. Keep reading for our full product review.

If you were to mentally picture a beach bag, you’d probably envision the classic woven straw bags that you see in every vacation spot. These are the types of bags you buy when you need something to go from beach to boardwalk, or just want something that reminds you of a tropical getaway (even if you’re heading to an inland lake). This is exactly the kind of bag the Daisy Rose Large Straw Beach Tote Bag—basically, a purse that happens to go to the beach with you. How much it can fit or overall durability are secondary elements to the main draw (the cute, pom-pom-adorned exterior), but we put it to the test to see if it was up to the challenge.

Design and Material: A fun, boho straw bag

The outside of this tote bag is made out of woven straw in subdued earth tones that will go with any ensemble. Overall though, we’d say that it falls into the “boho” style, with its pom-pom details, splashy colors, and natural texture bringing to mind ’70s macrame and other newly rediscovered handicrafts-gone-chic. Although the woven material just says “vacation,” it may not be the best choice if you have children or animals in your household, who will just see it as a fun game called “How Can We Unravel This Bag?” 

Sand seems to be equally attracted to the textured material, as we learned during a trip to the beach. Thankfully, the inside of the bag is lined with a blue and white striped fabric that adds subtle structure and prevents sand from getting inside. 

This product is described as being made of environmentally friendly materials. The handles are apparently “vegan leather,” which we assume is just a fancy way to say that it is made out of vinyl. 

Capacity: Not great, but a few pockets

Measuring 17.7 inches wide, 13.8 inches tall, and 6.7 inches deep, this bag offers enough space for pretty much just the basics: a towel, sunscreen, a water bottle, and maybe a magazine or two. If you are looking for a beach bag to carry everything your family would need for the day, this is not the bag for you. 

There are two small pockets on the inside of the bag—neither zip, but there is an included 7 x 3.5-inch zipper bag resembling a pencil case that can hold a few personal items or cash. The two interior pockets are better for things like a sunscreen stick, lip balm, and other items that you wouldn’t mind falling into the bottom of the bag. 

The top of the bag zips up, which does give you some security. We’ve found that similar totes usually don’t zip, so if you’re comparing this to other woven totes, this one has an edge.

Durability: Not the sturdiest

In our tests, the handles felt strong and sturdy, and we were glad for the alternative material, which we think will fare better than leather when exposed to the elements. However, remember how we mentioned that the inside of the bag is lined with fabric? When we placed a wet beach towel in the bag (along with a magazine and a t-shirt), everything in the bag, liner included, became damp. And when the bag actually got wet, the woven material did have a bit of an “earthy” smell and took a long time to dry. 

Basically, this tote is not designed for someone who plans on getting wet when they go to the beach. It is more geared toward someone who wants to lay out by the pool or lounge on the sand. (However, we recommend keeping the bag off of the sand if you can because the woven material attracts every grain.) We find that this is much better suited to storing a non-beach outfit or even for use as a summer work or possibly a laptop bag. 

Price: A bit high for the quality

This bag is priced at around $35, which we think is reasonable for a beach bag—especially one that is this stylish. Still, we would have expected higher quality materials and more pockets.

Competition: Prettiness vs. practicality

When it comes to beach bags, one of the Daisy Rose Large Straw Beach Tote Bag’s top competitors is the OdyseaCo Oahu Mesh Beach Bag Tote. That said, it is really hard to accurately compare the two. The bag from OdyseaCo is large and utilitarian; it is designed to safely haul a lot of stuff to and from the beach, no matter how wet or sandy it is. It can carry everything. 

The Daisy Rose bag is a much prettier option; unfortunately, it is not as durable or as large. Our recommendation? Take the OdyseaCo bag with the family to the beach, and take the Daisy Rose bag to the pool with your friends. Better yet, use it as a tote bag on your way to after-beach cocktails. While it is probably sturdy enough for normal day-to-day use, it doesn’t seem to be designed for long-term practical use.