Favorite pool bag

[legaleagle]

Favorite very large pool bags? We have access to my aunts pool (yay!) so I need a very large bag to bring my 4 kids towels and change of clothes back and forth. Fortunately there’s a pool house so I can leave sunscreen, snacks etc there and not need to bring back and forth each time. No need for pockets or zip top!

TIA - also I tried to search for older threads but didn’t find anything using Tapatalk.

[Charlie]

Saltwater canvas whale bag! Though it does have lots of pockets.

[Melaine]

Salt Water Canvas Whale Bag for sure! Amazing capacity, very well made and the mesh is great for wet stuff. If you search you'll find discussions, I'm sure I learned about it here years ago. https://saltwatercanvas.com/

Amazon carries it now too.

[SnuggleBuggles]

At some point I made everyone be responsible for their own stuff and we used one of the 10,000 drawstring bags we seemed to own. They kept their bags packed with goggles...
But, I do have a bag like that Saltwater Canvas one from LL Bean (they don't have it now). Target had ones that look just like that too.
I don't recommend the large 31 tote that is popular at my mom's pool. That metal frame is annoying, imo. I have a smaller one without the metal frame that is roomy and ok though. Mesh is my preference though for things to dry quicker.

[NCGrandma]

Another vote for the Saltwater Canvas Whale bag!! My family has given it lots of use and it seems to hold up well. Their smaller bags are great too whenever anyone needs a bag for going to the Y etc.

I’ve always ordered directly from Saltwater Canvas. At least at one time, they cautioned that the bags sold on Amazon were fakes.


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[mom2binsd]

I agree with Snuggles, by age 7 or so, they can carry their own bags. A large bag like the mesh tote bag at Target is also good, I think mine was 10. 00 a few years ago.

Can they just throw on a coverup to ride home some days to simplify things?

It's great to be able to leave sunscreen and goggles there.

A large family at our pool just used a laundry basket when they came to the pool.

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[jgenie]

Salt Water Canvas Whale Bag for sure! Amazing capacity, very well made and the mesh is great for wet stuff. If you search you'll find discussions, I'm sure I learned about it here years ago. https://saltwatercanvas.com/

Amazon carries it now too.

:yeahthat: Check the Saltwater page. I remember they were having sales often.

[ang79]

I have a Saltwater Canvas Whale and Dolphin. For 4 towels I'd use the whale. Pockets on the outside can hold water bottles, sunscreen, keys, cell phone, etc. Throw the wet towels in for the trip home and the bag dries super fast afterwards. I've had mine for years, probably since our first trip to the beach when DD1 was 2 (she is now almost 14!). The dolphin i use when its just the two girls and I visiting a friends pool or when the girls were younger and had swim lessons.

If you want to go the route of the 31 Gifts large tote bag, there are very similar bags that Target sells for $10 in the area with summer supplies (beach towels and summer toys). I actually picked up a whole bunch of these a few years ago when they were on clearance at the end of the summer for $3 each. I keep them folded flat in my car and then fill them up when I grocery shop at Aldi's or Sam's Club. They are not quite as sturdy as the 31 Gifts totes, but they do have an internal zipper pocket that is nice. I only found one on their website but usually they have a few different prints in store.

https://www.target.com/p/utility-americans-tote-bag-sun-squad-8482/-/A-77690249

[WatchingThemGrow]

Ok, not what you asked, but I'm assuming you have a van with 4 kids... I really like hanging a towel rack in the back of the van...and if the pool is just your family, you may not need to wash towels after each swim. We usually use the same one for a couple swim practice sessions and they dry in the car. This year, at our shared semi-private pool club, we are washing them after each use, but on a non-covid year, we just dry and reuse.. And ages 10+ they can carry their own goggles, etc. in a string bag. We have a whale bag and a dolphin bag from saltwater, but I'm not using them much anymore.

[Gracemom]

I have a whale bag but I find it uncomfortable on my shoulder. I use a Ju Ju Be Superbe. Very roomy and comfortable to carry. https://jujube.com/products/super-be-rose-quartz

[Melaine]

Ok, not what you asked, but I'm assuming you have a van with 4 kids... I really like hanging a towel rack in the back of the van...and if the pool is just your family, you may not need to wash towels after each swim. We usually use the same one for a couple swim practice sessions and they dry in the car. This year, at our shared semi-private pool club, we are washing them after each use, but on a non-covid year, we just dry and reuse.. And ages 10+ they can carry their own goggles, etc. in a string bag. We have a whale bag and a dolphin bag from saltwater, but I'm not using them much anymore.

That is so super smart! :bighand:

[carolinacool]

I'm also a huge fan of the Saltwater Canvas bag, which I learned about here. Since it's just three of us (me, DH, DS), I find it easier to keep everyone's item in one place.

However, if you don't need all of the pockets, I totally co-sign on the Target version of the 31 organizer flat tote. That thing has so many great uses. I picked up several a few years ago for 70% and 90% (!) off. That said, if you want to check out any summer/beach item from Target, I wouldn't wait. They don't restock the summer section like they did in past years. Once something's gone, it's gone. There's rarely anything left to put on clearance.

[o_mom]

We have a SWC whale. The capacity is great and very durable. What I don't like is that the bottom is open mesh. I have had several times when someone sets the bag down on wet pavement (or at swim meets we get water lapping up on the deck) and all the towels end up getting wet. I usually line the bottom with one of our wet bags to provide a waterproof barrier, which works, but one more thing to remember.

[Melaine]

We have a SWC whale. The capacity is great and very durable. What I don't like is that the bottom is open mesh. I have had several times when someone sets the bag down on wet pavement (or at swim meets we get water lapping up on the deck) and all the towels end up getting wet. I usually line the bottom with one of our wet bags to provide a waterproof barrier, which works, but one more thing to remember.

This has never happened to me. I'm guessing because the bottom is lined with old diving sticks, empty bubble bottles, and broken goggles.:ROTFLMAO:

[AnnieW625]

We use a x large Lands End canvas bag. We have our last name monogrammed on the bag. It has been a great bag for everything.


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[mm123]

We use the giant re-usable blue bag from Ikea. We also sometimes use the one that Costco sells. It’s even bigger than the ikea one. Both of them easily fit towels, sunscreen, water bottles, etc for 4 people. No pockets or anything, but they’re huge and can’t beat the price!


https://www.costcobusinesscentre.ca/costco-reusable-tote-bags%2C-pack-of-4.product.100281954.html


https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/frakta-shopping-bag-large-blue-17228340/

[gatorsmom]

We have a SWC whale. The capacity is great and very durable. What I don't like is that the bottom is open mesh. I have had several times when someone sets the bag down on wet pavement (or at swim meets we get water lapping up on the deck) and all the towels end up getting wet. I usually line the bottom with one of our wet bags to provide a waterproof barrier, which works, but one more thing to remember.

I could totally see that happening. The mesh bottom and sides is precisely why I love that thing (I also have a whale and another size, can’t remember the name). I’m NEVER in the mood to put stuff away and tidy after a trip to the beach so my bag sits a day (or 2 if I’m honest) before getting the towels aired out. In the swc bag they don’t mildew. Also, I love that I can shake the sand out of the bag without having to completely unload it and turn it upside down. LOVE the swc bags!

[squimp]

I have a Scout bag that I love, so pretty and love all the pockets for sunscreen, wetbrush, flip flops. The Pocket Rocket is a good size for me, but they have many different sizes.

I tried the Saltwater Canvas whale but returned it - I found it a really stiff, scratchy bag that felt horrible against my skin.

[erosenst]

We have a variety of Scout bags- LOVE them for the pool. Keep an eye on Zulily - they pop up there occasionally at great prices.

[o_mom]

I could totally see that happening. The mesh bottom and sides is precisely why I love that thing (I also have a whale and another size, can’t remember the name). I’m NEVER in the mood to put stuff away and tidy after a trip to the beach so my bag sits a day (or 2 if I’m honest) before getting the towels aired out. In the swc bag they don’t mildew. Also, I love that I can shake the sand out of the bag without having to completely unload it and turn it upside down. LOVE the swc bags!

I like the mesh sides, but not the mesh bottom. I forgot that we have also had where someone sits the bag full of wet stuff on the carpet and we end up with a lovely wet spot.

Overall, it's a great bag - great size, sturdy, etc. I get that if you are going to a beach, the mesh bottom is nice for shaking out sand, but we don't really have beaches. I would love to see a rubber insert for the bottom as an option. Then I might be more inclined to recommend it.

ETA: Out of curiosity, I went to look at them again and found they now have an option with the solid bottom! https://saltwatercanvas.com/collections/all-beach-bags/products/mesh-whale-bag-with-waterproof-base-black

I may have to get one of those!

[carolinacool]

ETA: Out of curiosity, I went to look at them again and found they now have an option with the solid bottom! https://saltwatercanvas.com/collections/all-beach-bags/products/mesh-whale-bag-with-waterproof-base-black

I may have to get one of those!

A small review of this bag. I bought this for my mom three or four years ago because I thought she would like the covered bottom and the lighter weight. When I got it, it's definitely lighter than my Whale, but the material they use for the bag is a little rubbery and maybe a little sticky? I remember being surprised by how different it felt. But I gave it to her. She liked it when she opened it. She hasn't said anything about how it feels, but I don't know if she's ever touched my Whale to notice the difference.

[essnce629]

We have a Saltwater Whale as well. We even take it when traveling since it folds flat.

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[fauve01]

In my family, we all carry our own stuff! however, my fav i used to carry to the pool is one i got from the Mixed Bag school fundraiser a while back. I'm pretty sure you can get it from the site without the fundraiser part. They have different styles: pockets, no pockets, zippers, no zippers, different shapes.
https://www.boonsupply.com/collections/bags

if you just need a BIG bag for tons of towels and don't need pockets, I'd recommend the big blue bag from Ikea, the Frakta. GREAT beach bag bc roomy and indestructible. Easy to clean the sand off too. Last year I bought a rainbow version! LOVE.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/products/?q=bag
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/storstomma-shopping-bag-large-multicolor-10483210/ (https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/storstomma-shopping-bag-large-multicolor-10483210/)
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/frakta-shopping-bag-large-blue-17228340/

[legaleagle]

Thanks everyone! I knew I had seen raves for the saltwater bags before but I couldn't figure out how to actually get useful results from the tapatalk search.

I ended up grabbing 2 of the land's end x-large canvas bags since they were ~$20 with the coupon FLASH (still working as of today!) but I may get a whale bag too!

[mmsmom]

The Whale also makes a great ski bag. Wet boots can go in the middle then extra gloves, etc in the pockets. Then I shove the whole thing in a locker. I have a Whale, Dolphin and the zip-top Whale. I have used them all often over the last 12 years or so and they are still in great shape. I love for travel too- lay flat in suitcase or duffle. We also have the shower bags for summer camp.

[ang79]

The Whale also makes a great ski bag. Wet boots can go in the middle then extra gloves, etc in the pockets. Then I shove the whole thing in a locker. I have a Whale, Dolphin and the zip-top Whale. I have used them all often over the last 12 years or so and they are still in great shape. I love for travel too- lay flat in suitcase or duffle. We also have the shower bags for summer camp.

I bought shower bags for my girls to go to sleep over camp last summer! I could only find black with the zipper top option, but I figured that would be the safest option if it got dropped or fell over.

[essnce629]

We also have the shower bags for summer camp.

I also bought the shower bags for my kids to use on their schools' overnight trips.