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I am very passionate about my love of Reisenthel Mini Max Shoppers with the long handle, which you can see at Reusablebags.com. I got my first at Sur La Table, but they are much cheaper at this site. They are very compact, light, washable, and easy to carry in their little stuff sacks. What I love most is the long handle, which allows me to carry them over my shoulder but isn't so long that they drag on the floor if I carry by hand (and I am short). I gave them to everyone for Christmas last year, and I have seen them in active use by their recipients. I keep one on me at all times, have some in the car, and an extra in the kitchen. I have used them for shopping as well as toting around extra layers that my daughter sheds through the day.

That looks like a great one. I just noticed that that website has a great list of "ultra compact reusable" bags.

Also, I heard back from the folks at ChicoBag. They say:

"Town and Country Market in Seattle should have ChicoBags in stock. Maybe try calling first. Their number is (206) 784-7064."

I really like the Acme Workhorse 1500 from Reusable Bags. Even better than the Chico bag since it doesn't have a logo on it--I think it's a lot easier to fold up, simply tuck into it's own attached pouch, no elaborate folding or zipping required. I've got four that have lasted a few years now.

It may not be as pretty as most, but the Fred Meyer re-useable shopping bags are durable, and highly functional. It has a long handle for over the shoulder and a square bottom. In addition, it is made of material that doesn't get as dirty and worn out like the others.

There are a number out there, The one that we use right now comes from QFC.
Keep these two things in mind:
Get a bag that holds its shape on the bottom, and make sure the bag gets in to the store.
It took us months to stop putting the bags in the trunk, then forgetting to bring them in when we shop.
Now we put at least 1 bag on the front seat of the car if we are taking it shopping.

I use a Baggu Bag and love it. http://baggubag.com/
It is sturdy and compact. You can fit it in your pocket and load it up with almost 2 bags of groceries!

People ask me all the time where I got the bag. It has no grocery story name on it and you can easily carry a couple in your purse or coat pocket from your daily errands.

I have about 5 different kind of bags that I use. The original is a habit bag from the UK. I also use a large reusable bag with a great design from Ikea for about a dollar. I prefer a strong bag that can fit a lot of items in order to make the trip into the house easier.

My friends and I are competing this month to see who can bring home the least amount of store provided bags and boxes (Costco provided). One person suggested Envirosax (http://usa.envirosax.com/index.php). They have super fun prints and 5 come in a smaller carrying case. You can get them online or I believe at Whole Foods.

IKEA has a huge reusable bag with both long and short handles, and it only costs 59 cents. I think it holds about 4 or 5 regular grocery bags' worth of groceries in it.

http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/about_ikea/blue_bag_t...

If you're a cheap chic like me, then I suggest purchasing Target's reusable bag. It's red, with a cute design in the front and actually zips up to about the size of a wallet, so you can carry it around in your purse. Plus, it's only 99 cents!

When I go to a grocery store, such as Top,
QFC, etc., I ask for paper bags at the checkout counter. Then, I double bag each paper sack with a plastic bag with the store logo on it.
I bring them back to the stores and ask the clerk to fill them with groceries. I can use these bags unlimited number of times.
Besides, TOP gives me 5 cents credit for each bag I bring.
Yes, I have to keep different bags for each store. But, that is not such an inconvenience. Besides, the bags I reuse do not end up in a landfill. Ted.

I heart envirosax (stupid name)
http://usa.envirosax.com/

they roll up TINY and snap around themselves. Long enough handle for over the shoulder and come in funky patterns. I picked one up in powells on the fly and will be getting more soon.

Trader Joes has beautiful blue "surfboard" bags and a nice insulated bag with beautiful hibiscus print on them. I dislike cloth beige bags. They are floppy and boring.

I got a great tip yesterday about how to make sure you always have bags in your car with you. Take an empty tissue box, pack it with your old plastic bags and leave it in your car and, Voila! You have a bag dispenser and don't have to try to remember to grab your "tote" before you go. Also, this would be much more handy (and cheaper) for those of us who don't buy just one or two bags of groceries at a time.

Use It Again Sam bags - light and compact, great colors and inexpensive. You can carry them over your shoulder or by the handle. http://www.useitagainsam.com/

I got mine from www.greensak.com.

They are inexpensive compared to some and really good quality. They also have a bag suited for bottles and a really big one big items. They sell a variety pack which is a good selection.

Also - the customer service was really good. I got my bags in 5 days.

Hello everyone.
I own einmaleins a Modern European lifestyle store in Downtown Olympia.
We carry Reisenthel bags and SIGG water bottles and many more cool products.
So, next time you need an excuse to take a field trip, come on down to Olympia and swing by our store.
Check www.1x1olympia.com for details, driving direction and contact infos.
We ship, too.

mathias
einmaleins

I bought the wine carrying tote (it holds 6 bottles of wine)from Trader Joes for 99 cents, it is quite handy for other bottled items like vinegars, salad dressings etc. making other bags lighter and more manageable.

I did it!!! I bought the variety pack from greensak. They look great and good quality too. The sales person said they can customise the colors and logos too so I am thinking about having a whole lot made with our family name and giving them out at Christmas.

You have to see the super cute bags at www.thegreatbag.com

I love my "great bags"! They are soo cute! I was tired of the boring canvas bags and didn't want any slogans or names on my bags.

I like the fact that they are made of cotton, not plastic or nylon, and they are made in th USA. The same size and shape as a paper grocery bag. They have these cool tabs that hook on the bag holder on the store so they stay upright while packing.

Tammy

Costco has an awesome reusable bag, 3 for +/- $3. With a carrying capacity of 2+ regular grocery bags, you can use it for many other things besides shopping (totting laundry, family beach bag etc.) It is sturdy, short AND long handled, and if it gets too damaged, recyclable to boot. (It is also pretty.)

I bought my Anna Hindmarch "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" last year. I was lucky enough to get the bag after being on the waitlist and paid $15. It's stained from my jeans from I still use it all the time when I'm just going to PCC for a few things.

You can't beat the bags that came out of Australia and Ireland. Enough flat area to keep all your groceries in a safe place. They hold about four plastic bags worth of items. Easy to hold and sturdy so they can last a long time at such a low price. check out www.environmentbags.com

I make myself, friends, and family members grocery bags as gifts. I used a paper grocery bag as a pattern, enlarged all measurements by an inch or two for seam allowances and just to make it bigger, and lined them with outdoor awning canvas. They are super-sturdy and I can make them to suit whoever I am making them for. That way I know they are not made in a sweatshop, and it is a really cool, personal, and easy project. If you can sew or know someone who can, I think this is the greatest way to go - I never forget my bag, because I am so dang proud of it! I'm working on one for my dad now - it's made from organic canvas (Pacific Fabrics just got this in, it's in a cool range of colors, and it was manufactured with a guarantee of safe conditions and fair wages for workers.)

Nylon, Canvas and Hemp bags are all great alternatives to plastic bags. www.YouShouldGoGreen.com has a great selection of bags. They also have biodegradable bags for use in the kithen, yard and even some to pick up after the dog! Great prices and fast shipping are whawt this site is known for! Highly recommended!

I have designed BagItAgain! bags from natural jute fibers, with a hard cardboard base wrapped in jute for support. They hold about twice as much as supermarket shopping bags, and a lot more weight.

These bags are different from most of the "green" bags sold in the supermarkets and big-box stores in that they are made from all natural jute fibers with cotton stitching. This means the bag is entirely biodegradable. Most of the mass-market bags are made fro non-woven polypropylene, which is plastic.

We're a small family business, and we are very proud of our product. Please see us at www.bagitagain.com and let us know what you think. Thanks!

Chico Bags are the best reusable bag to keep around for every day use. When I know I am making a trip to the grocery store I'll bring a heavy duty canvas bag as well. I've had my Chico Bags for about 6 months and since they compress so small I almost always have one on me, eliminating my need to use disposable bags because I had forgotten to pack a canvas bag.

It is genuinely hypocritical to advocate for reuseable bags that are shipped some 8000 miles plus from China. The feel good claims of fair wages & conditions are equally hard to believe in light of the stream of scandals amid continuing government oppression. The 'shop & produce locally' principle of the environmental movement should apply to reuseable bags as well as myriad other products subcontracted to exploitive labor countries with few restrictions on pollution.

Hey friends, Just saw on the news a clip from a company called The Bag Movement
They sell reusable bags and donate 15% to charities. Bags are really cute. I bought a couple and they are holding up really nice.
Check them out www.thebagmovement.com
Great concept!
Mrs. Shop

I have been using a bag called iTySE, you can find them at ityse.com, they are an entire system. When I go to the store I need more than 1 bag and I don not like to carry a bunch of awkward, bulky bags along. They are very durable, easy to clean and come in great fabrics. When I was on the website I found that they are manufactured in Oregon with the Oregon Corrections Enterprises. The inmates do all the sewing, so not only am I helping the enviornment but also helping teach prisoners job skills. this also means the bags are assembled in the USA!

I love these new bags I just found. They are big, ecofriendly, and really pretty. They're at thenewgreencompany.com, I found them through whiteapricot.com and I got a great deal on them. The big open design of the bags makes them really easy to use and they're super strong and machine washable!
Love them.

I just found a new site and ordered bags from them. Http://bee-eazybags.com Their bags fold into its own pouch on the outside of the bag. How come no one else could think of this? The bag actually opens right side out.. its takes 3 seconds max!!! The pouch is built in and is the easiest thing to open out of all of these bags. I have tried them all, Chico bag, Acme workhorse, cotton organic, all of them... None of them match up to the bee-eazybag. I encourage all to give these a try... Seems like they are a family operation as well. I really love these bags...

I have TOTE2GO bags - and I love them. They are roomy (you can easily fit an "old fashioned" paper grocery bag inside) - and they come in sets of 2 (the idea being you can use them as a double bag or 2 singles).

Best yet, they are made from reclaimed fabrics (like sheets, curtains, etc) - AND - they fold up into a little pocket that has a handle to hang on your doorknob, hook, or wrist.

You can find them at http://TOTE2GO.com

Thanks to the above customer who mentioned my Tote2Go! repurposed fabric shopping bags!

I began making my bags a little over a year ago in response to all of the nylon and polypropylene reusable bags that are being produced overseas. Yes they're inexpensive, but what are we going to do with all of the nylon and fake-fabric bags when they wear out?

I love using repurposed materials since they do not require additional resources (other than my time) to create something new and useful that keeps the fabric out of the landfill that much longer!

All of that being said, I will always support the use of *any* reusable shopping bag above the use of plastic bags any day of the week! :)

BAGNESIA REUSABLE BAG REMINDER KIT contains products that work together so you never forget to take your reusable bags into the store again. I use to suffer from bagnesia until I received a kit for Christmas & I just love it. Go to www.bagnesia.com

I think Bee-eazybags are the best compact bags I have used so far, I have yet to find anything comparable to these. They open in 3 seconds ready to use. They stuff back into their pouch in no time at all. They have a great clip that you attach to your shopping cart. When they are folded up they can fit in a pocket. I have tried several bags out there, Chico bag, Envirosac, baggu, none of them come close to the convenience and quality of the Bee Eazy bag. Go check em out. www.bee-eazybags.com

I really like the cotton totes from Cotton Collective. The design on the front adds something extra to the bag and they hold a surprising large amount of stuff. I use at the grocery store and for hauling things back and forth on the bus. Check out the website, cottoncollective.com. I also heard that they will be introducing new patterns after the beginning of the year and can't wait to get more.

These are kind of a pain to carry around but I like the CYMA grocery bags (on amazon.com) because they stand and are easy for the baggers to fill. Also, big enough to hold what 3-4 plastic bags will hold. I keep them in the car and just stick them on my stroller when I go to the store. They're also inexpensive - like 5 or $10.

After trying all different types of reusable bags like the baggu bag, Chico bag, Bee-Eazy Bag and the Acme Workforce, I have found that the Bee-eazy Bag to be the best. It opens up ready to go and it is just so easy to fold up back into it's internal pouch... I recommend it to all. You can order them off there website. www.bee-eazybags.com

The most unique and easy to remember reusable shopping bag I've seen is the kozy karma reusable shopping bag. It is made of strong sturdy canvas and folds up into itself. You just toss the little pouch into your purse and it always there for spur of the moment shopping. It's so cute. Check it out at www.kozykarma.com The price is great too. Only 12.00. Pretty much everyone I know that has one loves them.

Reusable bags are a great way to reduce your dependency on plastic. There are so many choices out there now and they come in many differnt styles. I use them for more than just shopping, like for kids sleep overs and going to the beach. I found some great deals at www.YouShouldGoGreen.com
The prices were good and they arrived very quickly. They also have metal water bottles and biodegradable trash bags.

My bag is a true classic, literally inherited from my late mother: a Woolworth's green canvas bag. That's right: an original Woolworth's bag, green in colour as well as philosophy, and sturdy as hell, with a plexiglass insert made from my boyfriend to keep the bottom flat. And, yes, I keep it in the front seat of the car, and I *still* forget it at times. That .05 discount at TOP, though, helps me recall.

Laughably enough, yesterday, I had to ask the TOP clerk for half a dozen plastic bags to take home. I use them both as cat litter and garbage pail liners, and my being so green with the canvas bag had run me out of my stash!

Home depot carries bags that are really great and hold stuff other than groceries...just trying to remember to bring them with me is the trick...

LUV my Cost Plus bags. Big, sturdy and roomy enough to still be manageable.

Most of the grocery stores have pretty good ones. I'm not much concerned with fashion, so PCC's bags are fine by me. :-)

I use the made in USA - Walker light nylon tote bags because they are able to compact to the size of almost nothing, come in great colors (and my favorite - black) oh, and have also been extremely durable for me for over 2 yrs!

http://www.walkerbags.com/ln.html

If you like sewing stuff, try the Pacific Fabrics & Crafts reusable tote that they sell at their stores. You can see or order one online, too. http://pacificfabrics.com/Shopping/viewitem.asp?id... They have another version, too. They're big, pretty and fun to put my groceries in.
And I never get them mixed up with any other bags.

i love my tuckerbags- they are local and based in issaquah. they have a ton of designs and fold up small enough to put it my purse. they even have an outside pocket that i can hold my phone or keys in which is something i haven't seen on the other bags out there- chico, envirosax, etc.- and they are cheap too! www.tuckerbags.com

I got one for Christmas. At our local store, you have to buy them from the customer service desk so they know that you own them if you have them in the store. They are thinner than I like.

I have yet to use it. I like the Acme Workhorse and Chico Bags better since the fold up and fit in my slacks or jeans pocket. As a guy, I like not carrying one in hand all the time.

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I subscribe Allrecipes.com, recipes website's supporting membership just recently- and if you become a member they have this unique promotion - you get 2 reusable bags- they are orange and really cute looking. I'm loving my bag already. Check out their subscription information. Not only you get those bags, but you also get to enjoy the extra stuffs like customizing your own recipe, and blogging with other food lovers..

My wife bought her reisenthel bags from a small local company, QualityMatters.com.