Material
You will get so many options for reusable bags and the common materials used for these bags are polyester or ripstop nylon, laminated materials, cotton, natural (hemp/bamboo/jute), or nonwoven polypropylene.
Nonwoven Poly - Most of the affordable bags you see at the stores are made of nonwoven polypropylene, a type of plastic made to feel and look like cloth. This material is very popular as it is the most cost-effective which makes it easier to buy multiple bags. These bags can be mighty and strong and some bags can be folded into little pouches. The bags need hand washing with soapy water or spraying with a bleach/water mixture or disinfectant spray cleaner. The material can be recyclable but remove any snaps, grommets before recycling.
Natural – Reusable shopping bags ( https://www.organiccottonmart.com/collections ) made from hemp, bamboo, or jute is not easily available and are expensive than other bag options but among environmentally conscious citizens they are favorites. These materials grow like weeds that help in minimizing and sometimes eliminating the usage of pesticides and harsh chemicals, and using less water to grow. These natural ones are often mixed with nonwoven polypropylene or cotton, so the look and durability greatly vary from bag to bag.
Price
You should have a budget before picking bags randomly. If you are looking for $10 bags but only can afford $4, you will be disappointed. Just like any other product, you will get how much you pay for and an expensive bag will always be a better quality product. If you spend up to 2 dollars, then choose any one of the nonwoven poly bags and some small nylon bags. Within 2 to 4 dollars, you will get a huge collection from laminated to poly to nylon to cotton bags. Most cotton bags you will get in the 3 to 4 dollar range. The most costly ones start from 4 dollars made of recycled and organic cotton, jute, and hemp. The handles are fancy and the bags have grommets, pockets, and others.
Handles and few more features
Some reusable bags zip, some fold, some snap, some are large, and some are small. You need to consider a few more things when choosing the bags.
Length of the handle – Do you feel comfortable putting full-sized bags to your shoulder, if yes, pick 20” or more in handle length. For hand-carry, the handles must be 18’ or shorter.
Gusset size – It refers to the depth of the bag and if you want to use it for groceries, choose a generous gusset. Few bags are flat and no gusset, some have bottom gusset while others have full three-sided gussets (panels on the bottom and both sides).