Shoulder carry: Pop Tote vs Original Small Shop Bag?

[x3n0n]

I have an Original Small Shop Bag, and I love that it's so sturdy and that the handles are so comfortable in hand. However, it's just a wee bit smaller than I'd like for a trip to the grocery store (it's a trick to get anything else to fit around 2 gallons of milk), and the handles seem just a bit too short for comfortable shoulder carry, especially when it's fully packed. (In particular, the "outer" handle really wants to slip off my shoulder.)

I've been considering a Pop Tote, but I'm afraid that I would have the same issues.

Folks who have both: subjectively, does the PT seem to fit any differently for shoulder carry vs the SSB?

Thanks in advance!

[tress29]

As far as packing, I turn my Original SSBs inside out. That way, the space allocated for the end pockets doesn't infringe on the center space!

[BWeaves]

I prefer the Large Shop Bag for groceries. It has better volume for large sized items.

[carrot]

I use the LSB for groceries and sometimes the Truck. I actually prefer the LSB because it's flat until I load it up.

For what it's worth I like the Pop Tote way better than the Shop Bag, but I use it as a camera bag with a scarf or jacket folded up in the bottom for padding.

[x3n0n]

Thanks to all for your help so far! I guess I smashed two related concerns together, and I should separate them.

1. SSB is a bit small for a full grocery run: I see that others agree and recommend the LSB and LZTSB; makes sense. I generally do the "inside out" thing as it is, and that helps when I have a couple of items that are thin enough to fit.

2. On my body, the SSB handles seem a little too short for secure shoulder carry, especially when the bag is full.

To me, the particularly attractive things about the PT are color choice (Deep Blue!), sturdiness/self-standing, exterior pockets, and the potential of using it as a vacation/beach/city bag; I just don't want to buy one only to discover that it won't stay on my shoulder (the same way as the SSB doesn't).

[G42]

I just don't want to buy one only to discover that it won't stay on my shoulder (the same way as the SSB doesn't).

If you contact the fine folks in Customer Service, I'm sure they can give you the measurement from the top of the strap to the opening of the bag and the distance between the two straps... that would help, but nothing will beat trying it out for yourself since there's a lot of variables as to what you pack and how it'll feel on you.

[imagineez]

Thanks to all for your help so far! I guess I smashed two related concerns together, and I should separate them.

1. SSB is a bit small for a full grocery run: I see that others agree and recommend the LSB and LZTSB; makes sense. I generally do the "inside out" thing as it is, and that helps when I have a couple of items that are thin enough to fit.

2. On my body, the SSB handles seem a little too short for secure shoulder carry, especially when the bag is full.

To me, the particularly attractive things about the PT are color choice (Deep Blue!), sturdiness/self-standing, exterior pockets, and the potential of using it as a vacation/beach/city bag; I just don't want to buy one only to discover that it won't stay on my shoulder (the same way as the SSB doesn't).

I have used the zip top SSB and felt the handles slip off like you. (This was for general carry into the city, not grocery shopping specifically.) My Pop Tote handles don’t slip off for me, they feel more secure on my shoulder - next time I’ll be sure to take this bag. I thought the zipped SSB might replace my Pop Tote, but I really appreciate my Pop Tote even more now - it’s a tad larger than I need, but the comfort on the shoulder and it not slipping has been the decider for me to keep it.


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[bchaplin]

I just tried them both out, and I have to agree with @imagineez. Maybe it is the weight of the Pop Tote and increased sturdiness, or the longer, flatter shape, or just a difference in the handles, but it definitely sits more comfortably on my shoulder.

That said, I still use and love the Small Zip-Top Shop Bags. If I want to pack an extra bag because I'll stop at the store on my way home from work, I roll up a shop bag into my backpack, and it's fine for carrying a few groceries home, if I'm walking a relatively short distance of a mile or less. On the weekends when I have my car, I grab all my shop bags, which actually fit well inside my Pop Tote, and use them for everything from groceries to small items from Home Depot. If I was taller I'd probably carry the large shop bags, but at 5'2" I find the small more comfortable.

[aedifica]

In particular, the "outer" handle really wants to slip off my shoulder.

@x3n0n, do you cross the handles over each other? For me that usually helps a lot with keeping the handles on my shoulder. I don't wrap them around and around each other, I just cross them once so the outer handle becomes the inner handle.

[x3n0n]

@x3n0n, do you cross the handles over each other?

Good point, I failed to mention that. I have tried to cross outer-over-inner, but then the outer tends to slip over the inner; I don't think I've tried inner-over-outer yet. Thanks for the idea!

I've got a full load of library books in the SSB to return tomorrow, so I'll try some experiments while walking around.

Thanks also to @bchaplin, @imagineez, and @G42 for your advice; I may pencil in a Pop Tote for my December order.