Pros and Cons of String Market Bags
June 6, 2008 by Peggy
How can we host a reusable bag theme month and not talk about one of the most beloved types of reusable shopping bags? Well, we can’t.
If you’re still trying to decide exactly which type of reusable bag is for you, consider the pros and cons of string bags.
Pros:
•Very lightweight
•Easy to stuff into your purse or coat pocket
•Ideal for produce bags
•Come in long and short handle versions
•Expand to hold a lot of stuff (the bags pictured hold up to 40 lbs.)
•More affordable than other types of reusable bags
Cons:
•They may get caught on objects
•Everyone can see your purchases as you walk out
If you visit reusablebags.com, you can read 162 different customer reviews on the EarthTone string bags from Eco Bags (pictured). I read most of the reviews myself, and the only consistent compliant I saw was that the storage sack included in the set is too small to hold all five bags. Most customers were in love with their string bags.
If you have string shopping bags, what do you like or dislike about them?
Image via reusablebags.com.
Love these! We use them to sort and store hats, mittens, scarves in the winter and baseball caps, flip flops & sunscreens during the summer! Great for the beach; sand falls right through and the stuff stays in and then I can wash them with the towels! Got mine at ecobags.com
I hate string bags. I hate that tiny corners of items fall out, I hate that they hold very little, and not much that’s heavy, I don’t like that people can stare at your items (that only bugs me some actually), I hate that they get caught on stuff, and that your kid tries to stick his whole hand through one small hole, thus making a big hole. And frankly I don’t like how they look. They seem totally 80s to me.
I guess what I’m saying is I don’t like them.
Jennifer, with these particular bags most of the reviewers said they hold much more than they thought they would. I haven’t tried them though.
The kid sticking his hand through the hole is a con I would have never thought of! : )
I prefer a big thick strong bag. I’m in the country though so no need to carry it in my purse. I just keep my bags in my trunk. I actually got my mother to make a line of reusable grocery bags for my site that I adore. They are at http://www.thepearproject.com if you want to check them out.
@Peggy, yeah, for Cedar (and most kids I know) holes in anything are just begging to be made bigger. It’s a good challenge maybe?
I have two of these but hardly ever use them. I bought them at my local Co-op and should try using them for produce when I go the the Co-op but forget. One bag is in the car for my daughters toys but I have no idea where the other one is.