From New York Family: The best reusable shopping bags for New Yorkers

BY ISABELLE BOUSQUETTE

It’s time to get your hands on some reusable shopping bags, New Yorkers! The statewide ban on single use plastic bags is set to go into effect on March 1, 2020. Every retail establishment that pays a sales tax, from grocery to clothing stores, will be switching to paper bags. More likely than not, they’ll be charging 5 cents for those bags. So instead of getting flustered at the checkout counter (should you just spring for the extra 5 cent bag or can you carry a carton of milk for five blocks?), come prepared with a reusable shopping bag!

But with so many great reusable shopping bags out there, how do you find the one that’s right for you? For New Yorkers who walk everywhere (except the places they take the subway), portability and convenience are key. We want the bags that zip up and fit in our purses when we’re not using them. The bags that don’t tear from the hustle and bustle of NYC streets. The bags that say, “I’m prepared, I’m environmentally conscious, and yes, I’m a New Yorker.” With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a list of the best reusable shopping bags that, like you, are ready to take on the big city.

Best Produce Bag: Net Zero Double Handle Cotton Net Market Tote Bag

If you’re a frequent produce shopper, check out Net Zero’s Double Handle Cotton Net Market Tote Bag. The double strap design means this bag effectively functions as both handbag and over-the-shoulder bag for when it gets heavier. The straps themselves are 100 percent cotton and are very durable. You can fill the bag with cans, and it still won’t break (although it won’t look as aesthetic as it does filled with fruit). The mesh style is not necessarily the best pick for comprehensive grocery shopping. However, it is perfect for a trip to the farmer’s market or a romantic stroll down the produce aisle!

Price: $18.99

Best Collapsable Bag: BeeGreen Basic Reusable Grocery Bags

The adorable patterns aren’t the best part of the BeeGreen Basic Reusable Grocery Bags (although they’re close). These bags fold up into an integrated square pouch, meaning they’re easy to carry around in your purse or pocket. Then, when you’re ready to do your grocery shopping, unfold and fill them with as much as you can. (The reinforced stitching means they’re able to carry up to 50 pounds!) The BeeGreen bags are so compact, you can keep one with you at all times. That way, if you decide to make a spur-of-the-moment stop at the supermarket, you’re always prepared.

Price: $14.55 for pack of five

Best Fashionable Bag: Verloop Knits Gossamer Reversible Bag

This bag from Verloop is made of gorgeous iridescent gossamer and comes in a rainbow of fun colors. It’ll catch the sunlight as easily as it’ll catch all your friends’ attention. It won’t necessarily hold as much as other reusable shopping bags, but what it lacks in volume, it makes up for in style. Straight from Verloop’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection, this is a bag that’s definitely high in fashion. And, if you’re passionate about mindfully created, innovative products, it’s worth checking out the rest of Verloop’s line. Who knows? You might find a gorgeous gossamer scarf to match your reusable bag!

Price: $34.00

Best Lightweight Bag: Standard Baggu

The Standard Baggu is kind of like your bread and butter when it comes to reusable shopping bags. It’s super basic and lightweight. Why do we like it? Because it comes in endless fun colors and prints, from red tartan to the Charlie Brown squad. Why do we love it? Because it’s made of 40 percent recycled nylon sourced from pre-consumer waste. The Standard Baggu holds two to three shopping bags (or 50 pounds) worth of stuff, but it also comes in a Baby Baggu size and a Big Baggu size. Then, it folds up into a mini 5-inch-by-5-inch pouch, so you can keep it with you at all times!

Price: $12.00

Best “Big Shop” Bag: Lotus Trolley Bags

You won’t want to carry the Lotus Trolley Bags around with you every day, but they’re perfect for that once-a-week “big shop.” If you know you’re about to load up on groceries, then the Lotus Bags conveniently lock over the top of the shopping trolley in an innovative patented design. One bag is insulated, one comes with a special container for eggs, one with a special pocket for produce. (But if you’re looking for more produce pockets, check out the Lotus produce bags, which come in a set of nine!) When you’re ready to take your shopping out of the trolley, the rods slide out and you can pick up the bags from their side handles. The bags themselves are eco-friendly and machine washable. This purchase really takes convenience to a whole new level.

Price: $39.99 for pack of four

Best Portable Bag: BagPodz Reusable Bags

BagPodz are absolutely the best way to carry around a ton of reusable bags at the same time. While many reusable bags collapse into their own pouches, BagPodz conveniently hold together 10 reusable bags. When you hit the register, just keep taking out as many as you need to fit all your groceries. The pouch itself zips up and has a clip on the back so you can attach it to your shopping trolley (or your belt loop, if you prefer). BagPodz are also sustainably produced, making your shopping experience eco-friendly from start to finish.

This story was originally published on newyorkfamily.com.