Showing posts with label totes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label totes. Show all posts

Monday, October 19, 2026

About CleverMade’s Haulkin-Like Tote

CleverMade
Can’t fit a metal cart into your space? In 2023, I reviewed the $110 rolling Hulken Sack. Three years later, I'm seeing more and more of them on Manhattan streets hauling groceries. They’re popular with New York shoppers who live in small apartments.

But now for $32 (or less at Walmart), customers can buy a comparable tote made by CleverMade that is well worth the savings! It’s a fraction bigger than the medium-sized Hulken and is available in shiny silver, yellow gold, rose gold, and black. Initially, I preferred the silver, then switched to the shiny black because I think it will show less dirt and wear.
CleverMadeHulken (medium)
Open dimensions18”L x 14”W x 24”H 16”L x 12”W x 22"H
Folded height5"4 "
Bag weight4.1 lbs3 lbs
Weight capacity75 lbs66 lbs

Customers who have both bags split hairs over the differences in size but mention liking the CleverMade caddy's snap-collapsible poles, giving it more structure to stay open and making it easier to load than the Haulken bag. CleverMade is designed with an extra exterior compartment also. Both have a zipper-closed top, 3 handles, and wheels made of steel, but surprisingly to some users of both, the CleverMade rolls smoother on concrete and uphill compared to the Hulken.

There’s no way of knowing without testing both which brand is the most durable, but at less than 1/3 of Hulken’s price, you could buy the rolling CleverMade Tote 3 times and still break even. I think it's quite telling that owners of both brands don’t have an outright preference for the Haulken, yet seem to be 
neutral.
So what would I do? The Haulken folds down to 4 inches compared to the slightly bigger CleverMade Sack’s 5 inches. If the 1" difference in height is irrelevant because a buyer has the storage space, I’d buy the $32-or-less CleverMade. Only if I needed Hulken’s additional compactness would I very reluctantly consider paying 3 times more! It’s one of the times when customers can save by selecting good enough over the higher-priced tote, an option they didn’t have 3 years ago.

Savvy Shoppers always compare to know whether to save or splurge! When quality matters: splurge. When nearly the same: save.

Extra tip: 

A neighbor gave me a rolling tote exactly like the Temu one below that is made of substantial nylon and is even more compact than both the Haulken and the CleverMade rolling totes. Although CleverMade is still my 1st choice, I’d recommend the Temu rolling tote if you need greater compactness due to a chronic lack of city storage. It doesn’t have the structure of the CleverMade (or Haulken), but it is sufficiently well-made and relatively large when unfolded, at a far lower price. Strong enough for wheeling groceries on concrete, and due to its unstructured nylon fabric, it folds down to stow away in the most challenging of tiny spaces. As you can see below, you can expand it to 3 different capacities. If using it for travel, it has a flap to slide over the handle of a rolling suitcase. The wheels of the Temu bag are also detachable. They slide off so you can clean them in soapy water sometimes. 

All 3 brands of rolling totes look stylish LIVE in front of your face! My neighbor gave me the Temu tote in a bluish-grey color that is more grey than blue. For the price she paid, I love it!


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Tuesday, September 24, 2024

3 Quiet Luxury Bags

I'm happy to have finished my teens and 20s before the logo designer bag craze began. My parents bought me well-made leather shoes that held up and later on I followed their example with handbags. Moreover, we didn't collect them, just bought them as needed. After spending a fortune, some luxury-obsessed fashionistas are waking up and feeling the sting of debt for the surface status and not necessarily the quality of the luxury bags they collect ... and luxe brands including Hermès, Dior, and Chanel are noticing shrinking profits (in 2023 - 2024) -- some critics say due to their arrogance and greed in mistreating loyal customers. A shame as we love the aesthetics of the high fashion labels.

Today I'm featuring 3 luxury quality leather bags that are pricey yet attainable and made by companies that don't play the designer bag games with consumers, namely a) by creating scarcity and artificial demand; b) while offering poor snarly customer service; c) by charging $1000s more than the worth of the bags, i.e., for a logo; and d) sometimes selling customers inferior quality while hiking up prices several times a year.

Today's 3 featured brands offer customers fairness and quality for their business!

Full disclosure: I love the leather and craftsmanship of the featured bags below👇, however, I'm not a handbag maven, myself, and don't own them. I'm happy with COACH. But if ever I see an unbelievable deal, I'll know to snatch up the following bags and you will too!:

1) Strathberry - I'm featuring the tote (👆top image) and East/West (👈left image), but as with the other 2 accessory makers, there are many bag styles for customers. All Strathberry bags take up to 20 days to handcraft by artisans in Spain. The style is simple elegant lines oftentimes completed by Strathberry's signature bar closure.

2) Pourchet - A French brand that began making bags in 1903. The classic bags in its collection are made of durable smooth calf leather with impeccable craftsmanship and timeless straight lines. The Trianon is perhaps the retailer's most popular bag. It's minis a few Alexander Hamilton's under $400 which is far less than competitor French luxury bags.

3) Le Tanneur - is another French leather goods merchant that has been stitching full-grain leather bags since 1898. The Emile bag above reminds me of Saint Laurent's best-selling Envelope bag for roughly half the price!

If you're a bag maven who is tired of being gauged and underappreciated by the flashy logo brands (whose practices seem to care more about taking your money than giving you quality, service, or the respect you deserve for your purchase) perhaps consider Strathberry, Pourchet, or Le Tanneur. Each makes gorgeous, exceptionally crafted bags (indeed not cheap), yet for thousands less!


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Friday, August 23, 2024

London Fog's Dupe For Christian Dior's Tote Bag

Three years ago Dior launched its wildly popular tote bag (called a book bag in the UK). Fashionistas bought them. But if you don't want to shell out $3,350 for it, have I got a smart dupe for you. It's London Fog's Beach Canvas Tote, and it sells at Walmart for $15, reduced to an unbelievable $10.50. The price points of both fashionable canvas bags are insane ... but only one is fabulous!


London Fog makes a durable, functional bag with the same vibe. The writing is only on one side, so you can show it or not. London Fog makes first-rate raincoats and umbrellas so I'd trust the quality of its totes also. Stylin' for a lot less.


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Thursday, April 22, 2021

You Could Win This MZ Wallace Tote

MZ Wallace is a New York company based in Soho that makes bags for people who work, travel, exercise, have small children and spend their days running around the city doing errands. The bags have pockets for organization and style to go from day to evening -- so you don't look like a bag lady carrying your stuff around to get all your chores done. Chic, roomy, organized and compact!

The retailer's website shows several available styles of bags. My favorite is the crossover Metro Quatro Tote. Well-designed and durable, with a heavy-duty zipper, yet it's more than I like to spend on a non-leather tote, if I'm being completely honest. It's the cost of supporting a small business, as opposed to, handbag designers who mass produce their goods. Frankly, if you are on a restricted budget, I don't think saving up for this one bag (with leather trim) is the right move. Nonetheless, if you can easily afford it, it's a fabulous, well-thought-out, quality tote.

And for 15 lucky people, here's a link sponsored by the Today Show to enter a contest to win the bag (the deadline for entering is April 25th). Someone's got to win, and it could be you, Savvy Shopper!

Fashion meets function ... and a bag-maker to keep on our radar!


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Monday, December 7, 2020

Bag Alternatives To Hermes, Chanel And Dior Part II


The lovely Lady Dior

When I wrote a blog on bags to buy that give you a Hermès or Chanel vibe for less, I didn't expect to write a part II ... yet, if you read the post, here we are. Let me toss the Lady Dior into the mix. 

The following leather bags are not replicas (illegal) nor dupes (inspired and legal). Nobody will mistake them for Hermès, Chanel or Dior ... but perhaps you're not a person who needs to fool anyone. Perhaps you don't want to pay a crazy amount of money to own a French label. You're a fashionista and bag lover, yes! Yet one who seeks quality and value with style. Keep your money in the bank, sister! Alternative bags for less you'll love include:
1) Coach Zoe Carryall (rather than a Lady Dior) - As much as I love the Lady Dior in either black with gold hardware or black with black hardware, at $4,900 for a medium, it doesn't love me back! Instead, I own a Coach Zoe Carryall. And I love it too! In lieu of lambskin with charms, the Coach Zoe Carryall has supple pebbled leather with a gold lock and key that really work. The pebbled leather is scratch-resistant and ultra durable. You don't have to baby it, a trait I like in a bag, not wishing to spend on a bag I can't use. Plus, IMO, it's much more versatile. Diana, the Princess of Wales, was one of only a few people who could take her Lady Dior to work. Frankly, Coach is my brand of choice, but for my readers who pine for the Hermès and Chanel vibes, please continue.
2) Saint Laurent Manhattan (instead of a Hermès Kelly) - Sturdy calf leather for much less moola than a Kelly and yet a customer still has a top-notch designer handbag, luxury craftsmanship included with a Kelly vibe.
3) Tuscany Leather Firenze (in lieu of a Hermès Birkin). Hammered Italian leather with pockets and zippers in several colors and gold hardware. Comes with a dust bag, as well as, almost enough savings left over to buy a car. 

4) Tory Burch has a variety of stylish quilted leather bags (which are well-made yet 3 - 4 - 5 times less than Chanel quilted bags: 4-a) the Fleming Convertible Shoulder bag and 4-b) the Fleming Quilted Leather tote are 2 of several Tory Burch styles to have a Chanel vibe. Kate Spade has a few French-vibe bags in both leather and vegan leather in her line also that are easy to google, or spot at T.J. Maxx.
What are Dior, Hermès, or Chanel bags worth to you? We all want to get a lot for our money. Perhaps one of the above-featured chic leather bags {along with the cash left in your piggy bank} is fine enough. You decide~


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