Yes, the Carryall Tote is water resistant. It is made from Tyvek inside and out, so rain beads up and rolls off instead of soaking in, a spilled coffee wipes away, and when wiping is not enough the whole bag goes in the washing machine on delicate.
That is the short answer. The longer one is why a bag made from the same material as an express mail envelope makes such a good travel tote.
What makes the Carryall Tote water resistant?
Tyvek is a spun bonded polyethylene made by DuPont, and it is the material builders wrap houses in before the siding goes on. It feels a little like paper and a little like fabric, and it does three things a canvas tote cannot. Water runs off it. It is remarkably hard to tear. And it weighs almost nothing, so you carry the weight of what is inside and not much more.
Most totes are only water resistant on the outside. Ours is Tyvek inside and out, which means a leaky water bottle or a wet swimsuit tucked in after a swim does not soak through the lining either.
Is it waterproof?
Water resistant, not waterproof, and we would rather be clear. The top is open and a seam is a seam, so if you set it in a puddle or stand in a downpour for an hour, water will find its way in. For a rainy walk from the car, a damp trailhead bench, or a splash at the airport cafe, it shrugs it off.
Why is a Tyvek tote so good for travel?
Because travel is where a bag gets treated worst. It gets shoved under a seat, set down on a wet floor, stuffed past full, and asked to hold a laptop and a sandwich at the same time. Tyvek handles all of that and still folds down when you need the space back.
It weighs almost nothing
When an airline is weighing your carry on, or you are walking a long terminal, a heavy empty bag is a tax you pay all day. The Carryall starts close to nothing, so your weight allowance goes to what you are actually bringing.
It is organized where it counts
Inside there is a sleeve sized for a laptop or a notebook, held shut with a gold magnetic closure, a zip pocket for the things you do not want loose, and a key leash so you stop digging. Outside there is a second zip pocket for your phone, a boarding pass, or a lip balm you need without opening the whole bag.
It cleans up after the trip
Sand from the river, sunscreen on the handles, a crushed granola bar in the corner. Wipe it out, or machine wash it on delicate and let it air dry. Never the dryer.
Which Carryall Tote print should you choose?
Every Carryall is the same bag at the same price. The only choice is the print, and every print is ours, drawn in house for Desert Sol.
Canyon Rose
The Canyon Rose Carryall Tote is $40, white roses and daisies on a soft warm ground. It is the kind of print people stop you to ask about, and it matches a whole set of Canyon Rose clips, scrunchies and a notebook if you like things to go together.
Floral Gesture
The Floral Gesture Carryall Tote is $40 in three loose, painterly florals: Apricot, sunny apricot and yellow blooms on cream; Mulberry, dusty pink and burgundy on light beige; and Brushed Sand, terracotta flowers on a soft sand ground. It is also the print we have the most of, so it is the safest bet if you are ordering for a group trip.
Cactus Bloom
The Cactus Bloom Carryall Tote is $40, green prickly pear and warm orange blooms on soft beige. It is the desert in spring, and the most unmistakably Moab of the three.
See all three side by side in Desert Sol Totes.
What should you pack inside a travel tote?
A tote is one big room, so give it a few smaller rooms. We wrote a whole post on keeping a tote from becoming a black hole, and the short version is two or three pouches sorted by job.
A pouch for the messy things
The Packable Pouch is $14.99 and made from the same Tyvek, so it is the one for the wet swimsuit, the dusty shoes, the chargers, and the snacks. It measures 10.6 by 7.5 by 1.2 inches and packs flat when it is empty. A Carryall and a Packable Pouch together come to $54.99, which ships free.
A pouch for the small things
Our corduroy pouches handle the little stuff. The Sky Blossom Flat Pouch at $18.99 slides in flat for cards, pens and cords. The Mono Cactus Medium Pouch at $29.99 has 2.6 inches of depth for makeup and toiletries. If you are flying, keep your liquids in a clear bag that meets the TSA liquids rule and put everything else in the pretty one. More in Desert Sol Pouches.
Something for the laptop sleeve
No laptop on this trip? The sleeve is just as happy holding a notebook. The Canyon Rose Hardcover Notebook is $22, two hundred lined pages with a sewn binding that opens flat on a tray table.
Where can you buy the Carryall Tote?
Online, and in person at Desert Sol, a women owned gift shop at 50 North Main Street in downtown Moab, Utah, about five miles south of the Arches National Park entrance. We carry home and decor, candles, journals, jewelry including Kendra Scott, beauty, bags, and the Desert Sol Collection, the line we design ourselves. Orders over $50 ship free, and gift wrap is $5 if it is going to someone else.
New to the Collection? Start with Meet the Desert Sol Collection.
Common Questions
Is the Carryall Tote waterproof?
It is water resistant, not waterproof. Tyvek sheds rain and spills, but the top is open, so it is not meant to be submerged or left out in a long downpour.
Can you wash a Tyvek tote?
Yes. Wipe it clean for most things, or machine wash on delicate and air dry. Do not put it in the dryer.
What is Tyvek?
Tyvek is a spun bonded polyethylene made by DuPont. It is lightweight, water resistant and very hard to tear, which is why it is used for house wrap and express mail envelopes.
Does the Carryall Tote have pockets?
Yes. It has an interior laptop or notebook sleeve with a gold magnetic closure, an interior zip pocket, an exterior zip pocket and a built in key leash.
How much is the Carryall Tote?
The Carryall Tote is $40 in Canyon Rose, Cactus Bloom, and the Floral Gesture prints Apricot, Mulberry and Brushed Sand. Orders over $50 ship free.
Where is Desert Sol?
Desert Sol is at 50 North Main Street in downtown Moab, Utah, about five miles south of the Arches National Park entrance.
The bag that goes everywhere
A good travel tote should be the last thing you think about on a trip. Light on your shoulder, fine in the rain, easy to clean when you get home. That is the whole idea behind the Carryall. Pick your print, add a pouch, and let it come along. Shop the Carryall Tote.
