Walk down any street in Manhattan and you’ll notice a pattern. We all carry less than we used to. Bulky wallets have become slim cardholders. Headphones disappeared into tiny earbuds. Keys turned into small fobs or apps on our phones. Even laptops are getting thinner. As the things we carry keep shrinking, the old bulky reusable tote feels more and more out of place.
The list of things New Yorkers carry every day has been shrinking for years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Even the spare bag, once a folded canvas tote that took up half a backpack, has gotten smaller. That’s where a brand like Nanobag fits in.
What Nanobag Makes
Nanobag is a brand of ultralight, pocket-sized reusable bags. Each one is made from a custom diamond ripstop nylon, folds down into a tiny pouch, and can carry up to 66 lb. The idea is simple: a bag that’s there when you need it, out of the way when you don’t, and strong enough to handle whatever you throw at it. There are six styles in the lineup, each one shaped for a different kind of day.
About the Brand
Nanobag was started by Ursus Negenborn and Rune Kippervik, who set out to make a reusable bag that people would actually carry every day. Their first production run was funded on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, where backers put up more than $2 million combined. Since then, the brand has shipped to more than 200,000 customers around the world, which is a strong sign that the design works in real life.
The full reusable shopping bag collection is built around one simple test. A bag should be light enough to forget you’re carrying it, strong enough to handle real loads, and small enough that you actually have it with you when you need it. Every style in the lineup is built to pass that test in its own way.
Reviews consistently highlight how light the bags feel, how often they end up getting used, and how well they hold up over time. The company also plants a tree through its Eden People + Planet partnership for every bag sold.
The Pocket-Sized Tote
This is where the modern everyday carry bag earns its place. The Nanobag Micro is a good example. It holds 12 liters, folds down to the size of a lip balm, and weighs just 0.80 oz. You can drop it into a jacket pocket and forget it’s there until you need it. When you do need it, it opens up into a soft, small-sized tote that handles groceries, gym clothes, or whatever the day throws at you.
When You Need More Room
Some days call for a bit more capacity. A market run on Saturday, a quick grocery stop after work. The Nanobag Standard and Sling both hold 19 liters and weigh 0.90 oz each. Both pack down into pouches about the size of a chapstick.
The Sling is a crossbody style, which is nice when you’re walking long blocks or riding the subway with a coffee in your hand. The Standard is a classic tote shape that works well for grocery runs and short errands.
For Even Bigger Days
Some errands need more than a tote can hold. A bulk grocery trip, a laundromat run, a beach day at Rockaway that turns into a haul of towels and snacks. The Nanobag XL holds 25 liters and still weighs barely over an ounce. It’s a good pick when you know you’ll be carrying more than usual.
The Backpacks That Lives in Your Jacket Pocket
For days when you’d rather have your hands free, the Pack is a 14L drawstring backpack at 0.95 oz, while the Nanobag Daypack rounds out the lineup with a 16L zippered backpack that weighs 1.15 oz. It has proper shoulder straps and a smooth YKK zipper, so it works like a normal backpack once it’s open. Folded, it fits in a jacket pocket. It’s a good choice for travel, museum days, or the morning you decide to walk from the West Village to the Met just because the weather is nice.
One detail that’s easy to miss: there’s no folding routine to learn. You just stuff the bag back into its small pouch and it goes back to a clean shape, ready for next time.
The Bigger Picture
What New Yorkers carry every day says a lot about how the city works. Space is expensive and people are always moving. You walk, you sit, you ride, you walk again. Anything you carry has to earn its place across all of that. The things that last are the ones that stay out of the way until you need them.
That’s the idea behind the full Nanobag lineup. Six styles built around one simple goal: a bag that’s there when you need it and out of the way when you don’t. They’re light, they’re well-made, and they hold up beautifully to everyday city use.
