6 Best Burlap Hop Picking Totes For Premium That Old-Timers Swear By

There’s a moment during the hop harvest when the air is thick with that unmistakable piney, citrusy scent, and your hands are sticky with lupulin. In that moment, the last thing you want is to see your precious cones getting crushed or starting to sweat in a plastic bucket. The container you use isn’t just for carrying; it’s the first step in preserving the quality you’ve worked all season to cultivate.

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Why Burlap Remains the Top Choice for Hop Harvest

Modern materials come and go, but burlap endures in the hop yard for a simple reason: it breathes. Freshly picked hop cones are full of moisture and volatile oils. Tossing them into a non-porous plastic bucket or a synthetic bag traps heat and humidity, creating a mini-composter that can quickly lead to off-flavors and spoilage.

Burlap, made from natural jute fibers, allows air to circulate freely around the cones. This circulation wicks away moisture and dissipates the heat generated by the plant matter. It keeps the hops cool and dry, preserving those delicate lupulin glands until you can get them to the oast or freezer.

Furthermore, burlap is tough. It stands up to the snagging and pulling of wiry hop bines and abrasive leaves without tearing. A good burlap tote is a tool that works with the natural state of the harvest, not against it, ensuring the quality you nurtured on the bine makes it into your brew.

Old Mill Burlap Sack: The Traditionalist’s Pick

The Old Mill sack is the quintessential harvest bag. It’s what you picture when you think of a classic farm sack—a simple, medium-weave bag with a hemmed top. There are no fancy handles or reinforced bottoms, and that’s precisely its strength. It’s an honest, straightforward tool.

This sack is perfect for the hobbyist with a few bines growing up the side of the porch. Its simplicity means there’s less to fail; the seams are basic but strong enough for a reasonable load. Because it lacks rigid structure, it’s easy to fold and store, taking up virtually no space in the shed during the off-season.

The key is to use it as intended. Don’t drag it across gravel or try to stuff 50 pounds of wet hops into it. For typical harvest days in dry weather, where you’re picking a manageable amount, the Old Mill sack is reliable, affordable, and connects you to generations of growers who used the exact same thing.

Grit & Grain Supply Co. Tote for Peak Durability

When your hop yard expands beyond a few hobby bines, you need gear that can handle the increased volume and abuse. The Grit & Grain tote is built for exactly that. It features a significantly tighter, heavier weave of jute, making it far more resistant to punctures and abrasion.

This is the tote you grab when you’re harvesting long rows and might be dragging the bag along the ground a bit. Its robust construction means you worry less about a stray branch or sharp bine tearing a hole and spilling your harvest. The material feels substantial in your hands, a clear signal that it’s designed for work, not just for looks.

The tradeoff for this durability is weight and reduced breathability. The tighter weave doesn’t allow for as much air circulation as a lighter bag, so you’ll want to empty it more frequently on hot, humid days. This is a workhorse, not a sprinter, ideal for large harvests where toughness is the primary concern.

SturdyStitch Harvest Tote: Reinforced Seam Design

Every experienced picker knows the weak point of any bag: the seams. The SturdyStitch tote addresses this head-on. The entire bag is constructed with double-stitched, and often lock-stitched, seams that resist the stress of a heavy, full load of hops.

This focus on reinforcement is crucial. A seam blowout is one of the most frustrating things that can happen mid-harvest, forcing you to scramble to recover your cones from the dirt. With the SturdyStitch, you can pick with confidence, knowing the bottom isn’t going to give out when you lift a full bag onto the truck.

Many models also feature reinforced stitching around the top hem and handles, preventing the slow fraying that plagues lesser bags. This isn’t the flashiest tote, but it’s arguably the most reliable. It’s the perfect choice for anyone who has ever had a bag fail them at the worst possible moment and swore it would never happen again.

Farmer’s Friend Bag: Lightweight and Pliable

Harvesting hops often involves reaching, stretching, and climbing a ladder. The Farmer’s Friend bag is designed with this mobility in mind. It uses a lighter-weight burlap that significantly reduces fatigue over a long day of picking.

Carrying a heavy bag up and down a ladder is not just tiring; it’s a safety risk. The pliability and low weight of this bag make it easy to sling over a shoulder or hang from a ladder hook without adding unnecessary bulk. It conforms to your body, staying out of the way as you navigate the dense foliage of the bines.

Of course, that lighter weight comes at the cost of some ruggedness. This isn’t the bag you want to drag across rough terrain. But for harvests where agility and minimizing fatigue are the priorities, the Farmer’s Friend is an excellent choice. It lets you focus on the picking, not on wrestling with your gear.

Homestead Weavers Sack for Superior Breathability

In warm, humid climates or during an early morning harvest when the cones are still damp with dew, breathability becomes the single most important factor. The Homestead Weavers sack excels here, featuring a noticeably more open weave than standard burlap.

This "air-weave" design maximizes airflow, actively preventing the hops from "sweating." The increased circulation helps moisture evaporate quickly, keeping the cones from developing that grassy, compost-like aroma that signals the start of spoilage. It’s a critical feature for preserving the bright, aromatic character of your hops.

The open weave does have a downside: it’s more prone to snagging on sharp bine stems, and you might lose a few small leaves or petals through the fibers. However, this is a small price to pay for the superior preservation of your harvest. If you fight humidity, this is your bag.

The Agrarian Sack: A Classic, No-Frills Option

Sometimes, you just need a bag. The Agrarian Sack is the no-nonsense, bulk-buy option that gets the job done without any pretense. It’s essentially a high-quality potato sack, made from standard-grade burlap with simple stitching.

This is the pragmatic choice for the grower who needs a dozen bags on hand for a big harvest day with friends and family. They are inexpensive enough that you won’t be heartbroken if one gets torn or permanently stained. They perform their core function—holding hops and letting them breathe—perfectly well.

You won’t get reinforced handles or specialized weaves, and they may not last as many seasons as a premium tote. But for sheer utility and value, they are unbeatable. They represent a fundamental truth of farming: sometimes the best tool is the simplest and most readily available one.

Choosing Your Tote: Weave, Size, and Handles

Picking the right tote isn’t about finding the "best" one, but the right one for your specific situation. A tote that’s perfect for harvesting a few ounces from a patio bine is the wrong tool for pulling down a half-acre yard. Focus on these three factors to make a smart choice.

The first consideration is the weave. A tight, dense weave like that on the Grit & Grain tote offers maximum durability against tears but sacrifices some airflow. A loose, open weave, like the Homestead Weavers sack, is excellent for breathability in humid conditions but is more susceptible to snags. The traditional medium weave of an Old Mill sack offers a balance of both.

Next, think about size and capacity. A bigger bag isn’t always better. A large tote filled with fresh, heavy hops can easily exceed 40 pounds, becoming difficult and dangerous to move, especially on a ladder. Choose a size you can comfortably lift and carry when full. It’s far better to make more trips with a manageable load than to risk injury or a dropped bag with one that’s too large.

Finally, inspect the handles and construction.

• Simple Hemmed Top: Found on basic sacks like The Agrarian. Functional for carrying, but can be uncomfortable when the bag is heavy.
• Integrated Handles: Two handles cut and stitched into the bag’s top edge. A good middle-ground for comfort and durability.
• Reinforced Webbing Handles: The most durable option, often found on premium totes. These are stitched on separately and are ideal for hanging the bag or for anyone who is particularly rough on their equipment.

Ultimately, a simple burlap bag is a statement of intent. It shows you understand that the harvest isn’t just about pulling cones off a bine; it’s about stewarding them properly from the moment they leave the plant. Choosing the right tote is a small detail, but it’s the small details that lead to a truly premium result.