A few months ago, I tested the ubiquitous Bogg Bag and, despite my initial hesitation, ultimately declared it worth the hype. It’s practical and very durable, and I was truly shocked at how not unattractive it could be (a subjective opinion, of course).
But as worthy as it might be, the Bogg Bag is not cheap. The Original (largest) size well set you back $90 for solid colors and $100 for prints, which isn’t nothing for what some might argue is a novelty tote. So when I came across a $20 lookalike from Walmart’s house brand Mainstays, I took notice. And when I saw that it had already racked up close to 1,000 5-star reviews, I decided it was only fair to test the worthiness of this bag’s hype, too.
My findings are below. Read through for what I observed and my personal final verdict, then decide for yourself whether to smash that Buy button.
From a distance, the Mainstays Flex tote and Bogg bags are basically identical: Giant plastic totes in bold, bright colors and dotted with holes, ultimately resembling giant blocks of cartoon-y Swiss cheese.
Upon closer inspection, there are a few aesthetic differences, most noticeably in their hole-punched patterns: The Flex has alternating columns of ovals and skinny pill-shaped holes, and a subtly embossed honeycomb grid. The Bogg has circular holes only, set on a flat surface. The handle rivets are also slightly different: The Flex’s are tonal, blank, and sit flush against the bag. The Bogg’s are thicker and thus more obtrusive, and are also stamped with the brand’s lowercase “b” logo. (Depending on your preference for logos, note that the “b” is tonal on some colorways and therefore less noticeable).
In this category, they’re ultimately just different. The surface patterns are different, but declaring one better than the other is entirely subjective.
The Flex measures 18 by 13 by about 9 inches, has a comfortable strap drop of about 9 inches, and weighs approximately 5 lbs when empty. The Bogg Original (also their largest size) has the same drop and weight, and is only slightly bigger at 18.5 inches by 14 by 9.
When my daughter first spotted the Bogg in our living room a few months ago, she immediately climbed in, told us she was in a suitcase, and demanded we play “airport.” The same exact scene played out when the Flex showed up last week. Sitting on her knees and curled into a ball, she had no problem fitting into either one. In sum, the size difference is negligible.
The Flex tote is made of sturdy and flexible EVA, and is waterproof and fade-resistant. It’s not immune to damage — according the brand, substances like sunscreen, oil, and lotion can cause permanent staining, and the handles can warp if you expose them to extreme heat or leave them turned upright for long periods of time — but if you treat well, it’s designed to last a long time. All of this can be said of the Bogg, too.
Also just like the Bogg, the Flex claims to hold up to 40 pounds. I haven’t maxed out either one’s weight limit yet, but, as mentioned, I have used both to transport my 31-pound 4-year-old on multiple “trips” from one end of our house to the other with zero side effects, so I can attest to their durability.
There are some notable differences here: Unlike the Bogg, the Flex doesn’t come with any interior pouches, detachable or otherwise. For this reason, I was hoping my Bogg pouches would fit in the Flex — which they sort of did: The pouch’s round plastic plugs did fit into the Mainstay’s oval holes, but with noticeable wiggle room. Their positioning didn’t line up with the Mainstay’s hole pattern, so I could only attach one of the two.
This isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker. You may not be able to attach some of the Bogg-specific other two-plug add-ons (like certain phone cases, interior dividers, and water bottle sleeves), but accessories like these like these hooks and carabiners and Jibbitz-like charms appear totally doable (although I didn’t personally try them out.
Also, you don’t need to add anything to either of these bags. They’re very spacious, so you easily fit a water bottle without using a separate water bottle sleeve; and they’re very structured, making it much easier to spot even small items. And while I personally think an interior pouch is nice to have, I also think a giant, plastic, cartoon-y tote is attention-grabbing enough without any added accoutrements. So, once again, the winner in this category is a matter of personal preference.
The verdict
Mainstays Flex tote and the Bogg bag are not exact replicas: If you want a brand-name bag that’s more customizable and comes in multiple sizes (in addition to the Original, there’s also the medium-sized Baby and the smallest Bitty), then go with a Bogg. At as much as $100, it’s not inexpensive, but it does have more bells and whistles.
But if you’re looking for a reliable, relatively indestructible tote that’s big, bright, full of holes, and great for carrying everything from beach gear and laundry to a rambunctious preschooler, then go with the Flex. It serves its general purpose just as well as a Bogg, and at just under $20, it’s an absolute steal.
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