Nisolo Canvas Tote Review

Just noticed that a bag I bought earlier this year at Nisolo is now on sale at 50% off as part of their year-end sale, so I thought I’d share a quick review in case anyone was eyeing it.

** This post contains affiliate links but was not produced in partnership with any brand. I bought this tote myself. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. **

I’ve owned the Nisolo Canvas Tote bag since August and overall, I like it. While the design is a simple one, the leather straps and copper rivets elevate it a bit and make it feel warm. All three colorways — olive green, an earthy orange called amber, and black — come with brown vegetable tanned leather straps.

I bought the black after considering a similar bag from Madewell, the Canvas Medium Transport Tote.  But the canvas of the Madewell tote looked faded. I liked the blacker black of the Nisolo tote, as well as its ethical production. (An aside: I’m loving brown paired with black these days.)

What I like

• It’s lightweight, weighing in at 11.8 oz (according to my postal scale).
• At 14″ w x 14.5″ h x 4″ deep, the size is big enough for toting a sizable amount of stuff. (It’s similar in size to my Everlane Pocket Tote.)
• The canvas used for the body feels sturdy and structured. It can even stand up by itself.
• The interior features one zip pocket, a must-have for any tote.
• It also has a key leash, which I find very useful.
• The 9.5″ handle drop feels just right.
• Like all Nisolo products, it’s ethically made in a factory that pays living wages. This tote was made in a factory in León, Mexico.

What could be better

• It lacks a closure. While this is not a deal breaker — I bought this bag knowing it didn’t have one —  sometimes I wish there was a zipper on top for more security, especially when I’m on public transit.
• I often find little leather particles inside the bag. I think these are coming from the underside of the straps, which have an unfinished feel to them and have gotten slightly shaggier in some spots with use. This means I shake out the bag once in a while.

This bag originally retailed for $80, but has been marked down to $50. Right now through the end of the year, you can take an extra 20% off with code BYE2022, which brings it down to $40.

Another item I’m familiar with that’s part of the year-end sale is the Go-To Flatform Sandal in brandy and black. I picked up a pair of these in August in a different color. I’ll write a full review of them another time, but I’m happy to report that they’re comfortable. Make sure to size up by half a size, though, as they run small. UPDATE: Review here.