A tote is a tote, right? Not this one. We took CamelBak’s newest do-it-all transporter on a recent (pre-pandemic) vacation, and I fell in love with its thoughtful design and versatility.

On a trip to the beach, I was able to store our towels, suntan lotion, water bottles, and personal effects in four separate compartments, which kept everything from getting covered with sand, moisture, and oily residue. On the trail, it quickly converted to a backpack using the concealed webbing straps; the straps aren’t padded, but they are adjustable, and I was happy to have my hands free for our hike in the woods. I also used the tote as my airplane carryon and found the outer zip pocket perfect for accessing our travel itinerary and passports.

The interior has a 20-liter capacity, with a small zippered pocket and padded sleeve that fits a 15-inch laptop. The bag boasts a bombproof construction of 600-denier poly/nylon (exterior) and 135-denier poly lining (interior), and best of all, it’s made from 70-percent repurposed materials — the equivalent of 25 plastic water bottles. The tote is lightweight at just over 1 pound, measures 7 by 12.5 inches, and the handles are long enough to fit over your shoulder. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a practical, sleek commuting or travel bag. Available in Black or Dusty Olive (pictured). $80. camelbak.com

Author: Brad Kovach is the editor/publisher of Terrain Magazine.