Trader Joe's Shoppers Are "Obsessed" With This $3.99 Mini Cooler Bag

Leave it to Trader Joe’s to create a frenzy over its new Mini Insulated Tote Bags. The new item, which is now available at Trader Joe’s stores nationwide, is the perfect summer must-have. The mini totes come in two colors—turquoise and magenta—and are already causing quite a stir on social media.

So, what’s so great about these Mini Insulated Tote Bags? For starters, each one has a 1.5-gallon capacity, making it ideal for seasonal picnics, hang outs at the beach, and more. Even when it’s not super hot out, these bags serve a purpose—use ‘em to hold your work lunch, as a reusable bag for groceries, or take them on your next flight or road trip so you can safely stow snacks.

To use this colorful new find, all you have to do is place a portable ice pack inside and let the cooler bag do its thing. The best part? Each Mini Insulated Tote Bag costs just $3.99. Additionally, each one has an insulated top and also boasts a strap on either side so you can transport it easily. According to an Instagram post from @Traderjoeslist, each bag is roughly 10 inches long and 7 inches wide. 

And for those who are questioning whether or not this bag keeps food cool, don't worry! Per the tag, each cooler bag is, in fact, insulated. More specifically, the exterior of each bag is made of high-density fabric with an “extra thick insulated core” made of polyethylene foam. This also means the bags are leak-proof and easy to clean.

As diehard Trader Joe’s shoppers may know, the frenzy over the Mini Insulated Tote Bags echoes a similar obsession TJ’s customers had with the Mini Canvas Tote Bags earlier this year. In an effort to get ahead of the latest mini tote craze, many TJ’s locations are putting a two tote bag purchase limit into effect.

Similarly, the Mini Insulated Tote Bags have made quite a splash on TikTok, with hundreds of TikToks posted over the past two days. In one TikTok that’s already garnered nearly half a million views, a follower named @jenniferjeronim0 notes she’s “obsessed” with the new find. 

According to TikTok user @dianar39, who seems to work for Trader Joe’s, the enthusiasm around these new bags is very intense. “Mini insulated bags sold out in 6 minutes,” she wrote over a clip of the TJ’s shelves being stocked. “People came in running as soon as [the] doors opened.” 

In the video, which has been viewed more than 126,000 times in just 24 hours, the employee added: “They sold out in 6 minutes. Yes we had a limit, and please be nice to the Trader Joe’s employees because it is absolute chaos. Please be nice.” 

The employee also added a bit more in the caption, writing: “There were people lined up before the store opened. It was chaos and the warehouse is only sending a limited amount. I wish we were able to provide as many bags, but everybody has been wanting them since they got leaked on the internet 😭. The amount of phone calls is insane but overall this was my morning.”

If you can’t get your hands on the Mini Cooler Bag, rest assured that Trader Joe’s also sells a Large Reusable Insulated Bag that doesn’t seem to be quite as popular. The large version ($7.99) is magenta with a yellow interior, and can hold up to eight pounds—perfect for a large picnic or a potluck by the pool!