Adults should be particular about their tote bags! Until now, I thought "Leather is good enough for now, isn't it?", but when I tried it, it turned out to be the best.

2024/10 HushTug Editorial Department

There's probably not a day that goes by without seeing this bag while walking around town; it's such a classic item.

Maybe you, reading this article, have done this yourself.

That is the tote bag, an item that is loved by people of all ages and genders.

As a person in my 30s, I had vaguely thought, "Wouldn't a leather tote bag be good enough?", but after paying particular attention to the size and other aspects, I found that it was so perfect that I decided to write a review.

Popular smart tote from "HushTug"

Let me introduce myself again. My name is Toda, and I am the representative of the leather brand HushTug.

It's in the middle of the photo

The products used this time are from HushTug, the leather brand he runs himself, so you might be thinking, "Is this just a promotional ad?" but let me ask you one thing.

To be honest, even though it was our own product , I was of the opinion that "isn't a normal tote bag good enough?"

The Smart Tote was conceived by an employee in charge of product development, so I always thought of it as a common, standard item that many people use.

It's an item that hasn't really been an option for me to use in my life up until now.

However, once we started selling them, we ended up selling over 4,000 units in total , and we also received many positive reviews.

Naturally, the customers who buy from me are not all young people; most of them are in their 20s and 30s like me, but some are older than 50 .

Until now, I've thought that any leather tote bag would be fine.

However, seeing how highly rated it was by people my age, my interest was stirred and I decided to actually give it a try.

To tell you the results, it was so great that I confronted the employee who recommended it to me, asking, "Why didn't you tell me about it earlier?"

From here, I would like to introduce three reasons why I personally think that vertical tote bags with trendy designs are especially recommended for adults .

1. Stylish above all else. "A bag that every grown man should have."

The first thing I felt was, surprisingly, that this is a bag that people in their 30s and above like me, especially those in the generation who are busy working and raising children, should have.

・Going to work with a laptop
・A short outing on a holiday
・Going out with your girlfriend or wife

This is a situation that adults often find themselves in. When you need a smartphone, wallet, book, plastic bottle, and PC, but don't want to carry any extra baggage, a vertical tote bag is the best choice.

Naturally, there isn't much storage capacity, but the lightness and comfort more than make up for that.

In the past, I used to go out with a backpack, but I often felt that backpacks and regular tote bags were too big, even though I wasn't carrying anything particularly heavy .

These bags had disadvantages such as your hands getting blocked or them sticking too close to your body and causing discomfort due to sweat, but so far I haven't noticed any of these disadvantages with shoulder bags.

2. The size is just right! "The size of the essential item +2"

This depends on the brand and product, but for tall totes that aren't too large, the size is just right.

Even in situations like those mentioned in ① where you want to travel light, it’s always better to be able to store more than just your wallet and smartphone.

For example, the size was very convenient as it could fit 1-2 more items in addition to essential items, such as a PC, tablet such as an iPad, a plastic bottle , or a book or newspaper to pass the time .

Another popular compact bag is the body bag, but I personally really like that the size and shape of this bag makes it less casual and allows you to carry it more smartly.

3) Surprisingly, it can be worn with any outfit. "It has a low presence in a good way."

Something I noticed while carrying it around and reading customer reviews is that surprisingly, vertical totes can be used with any outfit .

In particular, I think that a vertical tote made of genuine leather looks natural whether paired with a casual T-shirt or with more sophisticated clothing such as a jacket.

While body bags and casual backpacks are more suitable for certain outfits, vertical totes tend to come in muted colors like black or navy blue, are square in shape, and have thin shoulder straps, so they have a subtle presence in a good way, making them a surprisingly versatile item that can be used with any outfit .

This might not suit such a person.

However, I'm sure there are some people for whom vertical tote bags don't suit them .

These are people who always carry bulky items or who always have a lot of belongings .

For example, it's a perfect item if you just want to head out with your wallet, smartphone, plastic bottle, and book, but if you have a lot of luggage, it would be difficult to go out with a vertical tote bag.

People who feel that backpacks or handbags are too big for normal luggage will be able to use a vertical tote bag comfortably , so if you're worried and want to carry a lot of things with you, we recommend a bag with a larger capacity than a vertical tote.

A vertical tote bag recommended for discerning adults

Having actually used it myself and been impressed by its comfort, I would say that the HushTug Smart Tote is "recommended for anyone who wants to use a high-quality, vertical tote made from genuine leather."

・The size is medium for a vertical tote ・It is simple but made of genuine leather and has a luxurious feel ・Exceptional value for money for a genuine leather smart tote made in Japan

These are the three reasons why this will not disappoint as your first vertical tote bag.

The size is medium for a long tote bag.

Generally speaking, vertical totes come in a variety of sizes, but even among them there is considerable variation in size.

There are many different sizes of tote bags, ranging from small ones that can only fit a smartphone, to larger ones that are so big that they can hurt your shoulders if you carry them around all day, so it's recommended that you choose a tall tote that is just the right size.

Simple but luxurious with genuine leather

Tall totes are often made from materials such as cotton, but they can give off a more casual impression and look cheap.

Of course, there are people who are fine with that, but a high-quality, vertical tote made from genuine leather can be used regardless of outfit or situation.

Considering its versatility, as it can be used not only for everyday outings but also on dates and formal occasions, you can't go wrong with genuine leather.

Exceptional value for money for a genuine leather tote bag made in Japan

A planning meeting with a client. We decided to focus on cost-effectiveness.

The only drawback to genuine leather products is the high price.

If you actually look into it, you'll find that it's not uncommon for similar tote bags made from sturdy genuine leather to be sold for over 50,000 yen .

HushTug's sacoche bags were designed with customer feedback in mind, with cost-effectiveness being the top priority, so even though they are made in Japan and made from genuine leather, they can be purchased for around 20,000 yen.

An unprecedented number of preorders for the first sale! A highly rated and popular product.

After developing the Smart Tote, we promoted it primarily among our existing customers, and in just one month, over 300 people purchased one.

Also, when we talk to our customers, they seem to be particularly satisfied with the "good value for money ."

Normally, products are produced in factories and then shipped through several other companies before reaching customers, but HushTug manages everything from production to sales in-house, allowing us to offer genuine leather at affordable prices.

What's more, it comes with peace of mind support that allows you to return or exchange the product free of charge for any reason within one month of purchase, no matter how much you use it .

HushTug products are not sold in department stores or shops, so they can basically only be purchased through our online store.

・I want to try a genuine leather tote bag, but I don't know if it will suit me...
・I'm worried about buying online in the first place because the product might be different from what I expected.

For such people, we would like to reiterate that "for any reason, no matter how much you use the product, you can return or exchange it free of charge within 30 days ."

With free returns, you can’t go wrong, so if you’re considering buying a smart tote, be sure to give it a try.