Why You Should
Béis Convertible Backpack Tote Review 2026: Worth It?
Introduction
The Béis Convertible Backpack Tote exists to solve a specific packing problem: you need one bag that works at the airport gate, on the beach, and at dinner without requiring a wardrobe change or a second carry-on. At 20 liters and 1.2 lbs empty, it sits in that narrow window between a true daypack and an oversized tote, which is exactly the gap that summer travel exposes every year.
Béis built its audience on Shay Mitchell's personal travel content, and that origin story is relevant to how the brand positions its products. The Convertible Backpack Tote is not trying to compete with technical carry brands like Cotopaxi or Peak Design. It is competing with the Dagne Dover Dakota and the Lo & Sons Catalina, bags made for women who want organizational structure without sacrificing aesthetics. The competitive landscape at this price tier is genuinely crowded, and a bag needs more than a TikTok moment to hold its position in a real travel itinerary.
The summer 2026 launch of colorways including Bright Citrus and Ocean Blue pushed search volume ahead of Memorial Day, and the repurchase pattern across verified reviews is atypical for accessories at $148: buyers are coming back for a second colorway, not a replacement. That kind of loyalty is data worth taking seriously before dismissing the product as hype.
Price
The Béis Convertible Backpack Tote retails for $148.00. At that price, it is worth it for buyers whose primary use case is travel and summer weekend carry, and not worth it for buyers who need a structurally supported everyday work bag.
The Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack in neoprene starts at $185 and offers more rigid structure and a dedicated wet/dry compartment. If you carry a full laptop plus gym clothes daily, the Dakota is the stronger buy. The Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe costs $178 and is purpose-built for airport carry with a trolley sleeve and dedicated laptop compartment. For pure travel utility, Lo & Sons wins on function at a higher price.
At $148, the Béis sits below both while offering the convertible carry feature neither competitor matches. The conversion from tote to backpack is not a gimmick at this price; it is the feature that justifies the cost over a single-mode bag. If you want the tote aesthetic but need backpack carry when hands are full, no direct competitor at this price point delivers both as cleanly.
Materials and Construction
The exterior is 100% recycled polyester with a water-resistant finish. The hand feel is smooth and slightly matte, closer to a structured nylon than a soft-shell fabric. It does not feel rubbery or coated in the way cheaper water-resistant bags do; the resistance comes from the weave density rather than a surface treatment, which means it will not peel or crack after a season of use.
The vegan leather trim on the handles and zipper pulls is the construction point that divides opinion. The material is firm and smooth out of the box, but vegan leather at this price tier typically begins to show surface stress within a year of regular use. The PVC-free lining inside is a legitimate material upgrade over standard polyester-lined bags in this category, and the nickel-free hardware is relevant for buyers with metal sensitivities.
The zipper pulls are the weakest point in the construction. Verified purchasers note they feel lightweight relative to the rest of the bag's hardware, and at $148, you would expect pulls with more resistance and weight. The stitching at handle attachment points is reinforced, and owners report no separation after repeated loading. The hidden backpack straps fold into a back panel compartment cleanly and do not create external bulk when tucked away.
Comfort
As a tote, the bag carries well at light to moderate loads. The vegan leather top handles have enough thickness to avoid cutting into the palm on short carries, and the structured base keeps the bag from collapsing inward when set down.
The backpack configuration is where comfort becomes conditional. Owners consistently report that the padded straps perform adequately when the bag is loaded to roughly 60-70% capacity. Beyond that, the absence of a chest clip or waist strap means the load distributes entirely to the shoulder straps, and buyers with narrower shoulders note the straps slide outward during movement. For a quick airport transfer or a beach walk, this is a non-issue. For a full day of carry through a city or festival, the missing stabilization hardware is a real limitation.
There is no break-in period required for the handles or straps. The padding in the back panel is thin but sufficient for the bag's intended use. The discomfort, when it occurs, is concentrated at the tops of the shoulders after extended backpack carry with a full load, not at the back or lumbar.
Fit and Sizing
The Convertible Backpack Tote comes in one size: 13"H x 15"W x 6"D with a 20-liter capacity. Buyers consistently find that the bag photographs larger than it measures in person. The silhouette appears roomy in lifestyle imagery, but the 6-inch depth is the limiting dimension for anyone packing for more than two nights.
The laptop sleeve fits a 13-inch laptop with room to spare. A 15-inch laptop fits, but buyers in this size range consistently find the fit tight enough that inserting and removing the laptop under pressure, such as at airport security, requires more effort than it should. If your work laptop is a 15-inch device and you plan to use this bag as a daily work carry, treat the laptop sleeve as marginal rather than reliable.
For weekend travel, the 20-liter capacity handles two days of clothing, a toiletry bag, and a small tech pouch if you pack efficiently. Buyers who carry a laptop plus a change of clothes plus gym shoes will find the bag undersized. Pack with the 6-inch depth as your mental constraint, not the height or width.
How to Style It
Airport to beach, Ocean Blue colorway: Carry the Convertible Backpack Tote in backpack mode through the airport with a linen wide-leg trouser, a fitted ribbed tank, and white leather slides. At the beach, switch to tote mode and drop in a sarong, sunscreen, and a paperback. The structured silhouette holds its shape even partially emptied, so it does not collapse into a beach-bag slump.
Weekend farmers market, Bright Citrus colorway: Wear the bag as a tote with a midi cotton slip dress in a neutral, low-heel mule sandals, and a straw hat. The Citrus colorway reads as an intentional accent rather than a casual afterthought against neutral dressing, and the clean exterior avoids the logo overload that makes similar bags look promotional rather than styled.
Urban day trip: Pack the bag as a backpack for transit, switching to tote carry once you arrive. Pair with straight-leg jeans, a white linen button-down left open over a bandeau, and chunky sport sandals. The bag's structured shape bridges the gap between utility and polish without reading as a hiking accessory, which is genuinely difficult to achieve in a convertible silhouette at this price.
Alternatives
Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe, $178. Purpose-built for airport travel with a trolley sleeve, a dedicated laptop compartment, and a structured base that outperforms the Béis for pure transit utility. Choose the Catalina if you travel by air regularly and prioritize functional organization over a stylish convertible silhouette.
Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack (Medium), $185. Neoprene construction offers a more structured everyday carry with a wet/dry compartment that makes it the better choice for gym-to-office use. The Dakota does not convert to a tote, so if mode-switching matters, it is out. If you need a daily work backpack that also handles weekends, the Dakota holds up better over time.
Calpak Luka Duffel, $108. At $40 less, the Luka is a convertible crossbody-to-backpack rather than a tote-to-backpack, so the style register is different. Verified purchasers note lighter construction and a less polished interior. Choose the Calpak if budget is the priority and the tote aesthetic is not essential.
Pros
- The conversion between tote and backpack modes takes under 30 seconds, and the hidden straps stow completely flat with no external hardware visible in tote mode.
- The water-resistant recycled polyester exterior handles beach humidity, light rain, and damp poolside surfaces without absorbing moisture, confirmed across multiple summer-use reviews.
- At 1.2 lbs empty, the bag adds minimal base weight, which matters on travel days when every pound in your carry-on counts.
- The interior organization includes a dedicated laptop sleeve, multiple zip compartments, and exterior slip pockets, giving structured access without requiring you to unpack the bag to find a boarding pass.
- Verified purchasers repurchase in additional colorways at a rate unusual for accessories at this price, indicating real-world satisfaction beyond initial purchase.
- The PVC-free lining is a functional upgrade over standard polyester linings, which tend to trap odors and show staining more quickly.
Cons
- The backpack straps have no chest clip or waist strap, making fully loaded carry unstable for buyers with narrower shoulders or anyone covering more than a mile on foot.
- A 15-inch laptop fits the sleeve technically but tightly; airport security removal under time pressure is harder than the spec sheet suggests.
- The zipper pulls feel lightweight relative to the $148 price point; on a bag in this tier, buyers expect hardware that matches the overall construction quality.
- The interior lining shows scuffs and surface marks after extended use, meaning the inside of the bag ages faster than the exterior.
- Most colorways, including the summer 2026 Citrus and Ocean Blue releases, are available online only; in-store selection at Nordstrom is limited to a subset of neutrals.
- The 6-inch depth constrains the bag to two nights of carry at most for a typical packer, despite the 20-liter volume figure reading as more generous than it is in practice.
Current Price
$148.00
Available at Nordstrom.com
Buy It Now →Price verified as of July 1, 2026. WYS may earn a commission on purchases.
The WYS Verdict
The Béis Convertible Backpack Tote delivers its core promise: a clean, water-resistant bag that switches between carry modes without visible hardware and holds two days of travel or a full beach day without collapsing in structure or style. Its weaknesses are real but bounded. The missing chest strap limits comfort under heavy loads, the 15-inch laptop claim should be treated with skepticism, and the zipper pulls underperform at $148. None of those flaws are disqualifying for the buyer it is actually designed for: someone whose summer involves airports, beach days, and weekends where one bag needs to serve multiple contexts without looking like gear. For daily office carry with a large laptop and a full personal load, skip it in favor of the Dagne Dover Dakota. For travel and summer versatility at a midrange price, it earns its place.
Score: 7.8 out of 10
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Béis Convertible Backpack Tote worth $148?
For summer travel and convertible carry between tote and backpack modes, yes. The bag earns a 7.8 out of 10 based on genuine versatility, solid water resistance, and an unusually high repurchase rate that signals real-world satisfaction at this price tier. Buyers who need a primary daily work bag with heavy laptop carry will find better value in the Dagne Dover Dakota at $185.
Who does this bag fit, and how does sizing work?
The bag is one size at 13"H x 15"W x 6"D with a 20-liter capacity, and it runs slightly smaller in person than product photography suggests. It works best for buyers packing one to two nights of travel or a full day's worth of carry; the 6-inch depth is the binding constraint, not the height or width. Buyers who carry a 15-inch laptop should treat the sleeve as a tight fit rather than a comfortable one.
How does the water-resistant exterior hold up in real summer use?
Owners consistently report that the recycled polyester shell handles beach humidity, light rain, and damp outdoor surfaces without absorbing moisture or showing water marks. The resistance comes from the weave construction rather than a surface coating, which means it will not crack or peel over a season of use. The interior lining, however, shows scuffing and surface marks with extended use, so the exterior ages better than the inside.
What is the best alternative to the Béis Convertible Backpack Tote?
The Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe at $178 is the stronger choice for frequent air travelers who prioritize structured organization and a trolley sleeve over the tote-to-backpack conversion. Choose the Catalina if you fly more than four times per year and want a bag optimized for airport transit; choose the Béis if you need a single bag that works across beach, travel, and styled everyday carry without looking like luggage.