It's that time of year again when we are getting ready hit the beach instead of the books! And Mother Nature has finally given us some wonderful weather to enjoy the outdoors! This means for many of us it is time to seek out the perfect bag to put our scandalous beach reads, sun block, and towels to head to the beach with!

When it comes to the beach bag there are many things to keep in mind a) should be made out of a durable material, b) big and c) pockets, preferably one with a zipper. Designers don’t fail when it comes to producing a great beach bag, it just depends on your budget and you can get a stylish and practical beach bag at any price. But why buy a beach bag for more than $50? It is just going to the beach and there are some great inexpensive options. For starters, an LL Bean Boat and Tote bag. It is made out of a durable canvas and is perfect for any beach-goer. What is great about this tote is that you can completely customize it to suit your preferences. LL Bean offers a range of colors, the option to have a zip closer or not, to monogram it, and you can choose whether or not to have long or short shoulder straps. Another great feature to this tote is the price! Ranging from $26 for a small up to $39 for the extra large. One more plus about these bags is that the more you use it the better it looks!

It wouldn’t be summer without having a straw bag as a choice. And this one comes from Old Navy. It is their oversized straw basket tote. This tote makes packing for the beach a breeze. It is big enough for you to fit everything (and more!) that you would need for the beach. And coming in at just $14.50 you can’t possibly go wrong with this choice.

This summer’s trends seem to be nautical and patent leather and since patent leather is not exactly the perfect material to use for a beach bag, there is a large range of nautical inspired totes; and where else to look but J.Crew. J.Crew has come out with a nautical inspired tote that comes across as being nautical without being overdone. It is their Striped Southampton Rope Tote coming in at $49.50 (side note- college students get 10% all J.Crew merchandise when you present your student id!). The stripes and the rope handles are what make this bag nautical. This bag is also made of canvas, features an inside pocket, and two color options, a royal blue and sunflower yellow. This bag is great because it can go from town to beach and back around.

Any of these bags would be a great choice for a beach tote. The only thing not to do is find a spot on the beach!

Author: Betty Dankowski (Want to become a Handbag Correspondent?)