ALPAKA Elements Tote (M) Review: Sleek Magnetic Laptop and Travel Tote

If you’re considering a modern tote that can pull double duty for work and travel, the ALPAKA Elements Tote (M) stands out right away for being sleek rather than goofy. If you know us, we are judgy when it comes to how laptop bags look, so consider that this review will get into the nitty gritty.

This is my first impressions review after setting it up as an everyday carry bag for a MacBook Air, water bottles and my required WFH accessories that I take along when I leave the house to work, or travel.

Why this tote feels different

The first thing I noticed is that it looks clean and modern, without the floppy look some laptop totes can have. The design is completely unisex, and timeless as well. In fact, it’s not a product that screams out that it’s from any particular brand, and it pretty much blends in, while doing its job.

It works as a daily general-purpose carry-all solution for errands or travel. Because of the organization options inside, it can work well for carrying around the remote work essentials you’d need to be successful on a day out, or a month away from home on a “workation.”

For an affordable price, there are some premium elements, namely, the magnetic closure where it closes. To me, this is one of those satisfying moments where you can breathe a sigh of relief that this bag closes and stays shut, with the magnets sewn into the closure top.

The magnetic closure is the main reason it feels elevated, and yes, I’ll gladly harp on this! With a laptop inside, the magnetic closure provides quick security when I am on the move. There’s no full-length zipper to seal the top, which I think is worth calling out, so if you need a fully zippered tote for overhead bins or crowded trains, keep that in mind.

I’ll get into my hesitations later.

Materials and build quality

The ripstop nylon outer has a subtle grid pattern. In my experience, seeing the exact same pattern and outer on other brands (namely Peak Design, a company that also just came out with the ripstop nylon grid!), I know it’s trusted for preventing rips, tears and snags.

The handles feel sturdy, with good stitching to keep them on. They’re doubly reinforced, and when I carry the tote and it’s full, there’s no worry that things are going to break. I’m noting this because we’ve had stowable straps on another brand’s backpack start to fail at the seams and this tote’s reinforcement looks much better.

Interior layout and organization

Inside, the layout is vertical-forward, which is great for visibility and quick grab-and-go.

There are four internal slip pockets for accessories, two elastic bottle sleeves and a large main cavity. There aren’t any internal zipper pockets, so having your own pouch or case organizers inside is required if you carry around accessories.

What I’d like to point out is that the internal bottle sleeves are not big enough to hold a standard 24-oz bottle like my 24-oz chug bottle. You’ll want to use the water bottle pockets for 12- or 18-oz bottles: nothing so heavy that it would tilt the bag when they’re full, or make the bag side-heavy to one side.

Quick specs for visualizing this travel tote

If you’re the type who would like to visualize a tote bag before buying one, consider the following tech specs about the Elements Tote.

• 14.5L: enough to carry a laptop, and daily essentials (including a light balled-up jacket!)
• Stands upright with a flat supportive base
• Magnetic top closure (no full-length zipper)
• Four internal vertical slip pockets; two vertical elastic bottle sleeves at the sides
• Front and back external slip pockets
• Durable, water-resistant fabrics (ripstop nylon exterior to prevent snags)
• Approx. 13.4” × 18.1” × 3.9”;
• Weighs 1.3 lbs
• Strap length ~23.6”

Who it’s for (and who it’s not for)

If you want a laptop/travel tote that’s comfortable to carry, stands up on its own and keeps daily tech organized, this is a strong pick. Take it from me: I like how it supports my 13” laptop, my assortment of remote work essentials (laptop charger cord, headphones, light jacket (rolled up), snack bar, water bottle or coffee thermos and a pad of paper with a pen).

If a fully-sealed zipper top is non‑negotiable for you, you may want a different style. For this reason, I would really call out that if you choose to have this as a personal item on a flight, and stow it under your seat, you have to ensure that all your loose items are locked up in longer tech bags or packing cubes, within the Elements Tote.

Otherwise, you’ll get things like AirPod cases, loose wires and your water bottle, rolling around the floor of the airplane.

The other thing to know is that this tote bag is designed without zipper pockets on the inside, so you have to be ready to create your own storage solutions for inside (and that’s where I really recommend any of the best tech cases we’ve reviewed). That’s going to be completely crucial.

I think the thing to know is that it’s a very spacious tote, because ALPAKA designed it without too much internal organization. For that reason, it’s more like a blank slate for you to build out how you like to organize your daily packing with pouches, organizers, folders or cases of sorts.

Next steps and where to shop

• ALPAKA Elements Tote (M)
• Read our ALPAKA Elements Tech Case Review
• Check the Peak Design Travel Backpack Review
• Explore our best tech bags for travel