I've been using these cotton tote bags for a few months now, and they've become my trusty sidekick for everything from grocery runs to craft projects. The 5oz cotton feels surprisingly sturdy – not that flimsy 'grocery bag' material I expected. I once stuffed three heavy hardcover books in one, and the reinforced handles didn't even strain.

What really surprised me was how well they held up during my tie-dye weekend. After soaking, twisting, and rinsing (against the washing recommendations, I know), only one bag developed a tiny seam rip that took literally two minutes to fix with basic stitching. The natural beige color actually made the dyes pop more vibrantly than white would have.

Pro tip: Those little brown specks? Just natural cotton flecks – I thought they were stains at first too! A quick pre-rinse before decorating solved that. They do wrinkle like crazy when wet (like wearing jeans in the rain), but my iron on medium heat smoothed them right out.

Now my favorite use? As an impromptu beach bag last weekend. Sand shook right out, it dried fast in the sun, and the wide opening fit towels, sunscreen, and a paperback perfectly. For the price, I'll definitely be ordering more for holiday gift wrapping – they're way cuter than paper bags when decorated!