Solo Bucket Tote review: Solo Bucket Tote

The $100 Solo Bucket Tote is tailor-made for the on-the-go female executive looking for both a functional and attractive bag, rather than a basic laptop briefcase. This is notable, as it's normally hard to find a case that's practical, yet sassy enough, to fit our lifestyle needs.

7.5

Solo Bucket Tote

The Good

Quality leather construction; pass-through feature to slip onto luggage; several pockets for accessories.

The Bad

Snap closures still leaves much of the inside exposed; not an everyday commuter bag

The Bottom Line

Solo's Bucket Tote may not be the most stylish bag around, but we like the solid leather construction, and given its size, it can handle a lot more than the average laptop case.

The Solo Bucket Tote is a vertical espresso-colored leather bag with antique brass details, measuring 16.5 inches high by 13.1 inches wide by 5.75 inches deep. The inside includes a kingfisher blue lining and is divided in two by a lightly padded compartment with a Velcro flap that can hold a notebook up to 15.4 inches in size. The nonpadded front section of the main compartment has two pockets sewn into it, big enough for an MP3 player, a smartphone, or any other bulky item (too often, smaller pockets in laptop cases are too tiny to hold anything bigger than a USB key).

On the outside front of the bag is a zip-down panel--would have been nice to see a two-way zipper as opposed to the single. Opening it up reveals an accordion-style fold and three compartments. The rear face has another small pocket--unzip the zipper on the bottom of it, and it can be used as a pass-through for the extended handle from a suitcase. Finally, the open top is secured only by a snap closure, which leaves the insides a bit exposed for some tastes (especially if you're hauling a valuable laptop around in there).

After using the Bucket Tote for a few days, the leather straps are not the most comfortable we've used, and this may not be the right bag for everyday use, but it's great for traveling, where combining a handbag and laptop case can make for an easier trip through the airport.