My mom has the perfect beach bag.

It’s a well-worn L.L. Bean Boat & Tote that she inherited from me after I deemed it too uncool for school. I wanted the small one. She bought the extra-large, which, if following logic, was the wise choice. Not only was it large enough to hold all my books, notebooks, pens and pencils, but also a week’s worth of lunches, three desktop computers and, possibly, my locker.

But my loss was her gain. Many people spend years trying to find a bag with the right combination of style, practicality and size. She lucked into it, and ever since, has lugged her books, sunscreen, soda and towel to the beach in that gigantic L.L. Bean bag, and often leaves with a few handfuls of shells and sea glass.

What works for Mom won’t work for me, however. In the world of beach bags, it’s every woman for herself. We all have different needs, and I need a pocket, as well as handles wide enough to loop over my shoulder. You’d think there would be enough room in the bag for a pocket, but no.

Pockets are essential if you tend to lose things, such as keys or Chap-Stik. They also make it convenient to bring home a handful of sand dollars or sea glass. And unless you’re planning to park on the beach (which is generally frowned upon), you’re going to want a strap that goes over the shoulder, to keep your hands free to carry a chair, hold a young child’s hand, or keep your dog on its leash.

Waterproof bags are nice, but not necessary, and I’m not a huge fan of mesh or plastic bags with holes to

let the sand out, because usually, all they do is let the sand in. When I look for a beach bag, I use the “four S” rule: style, substance, straps and storage. During a search in Bangor and beyond, I found a variety of bags with all four.

At Filene’s, all accessories are on sale, which means you can get two bags and not feel guilty about it. There, I found a bevy of straw satchels by Liz Claiborne, including a wildly fringed model in fuchsia, natural and orange for $29, as well as a more subdued bag lined with shell-print fabric and accented with a pouffy silk flower for $44.99. Most bags are on sale for 40 percent off these prices.

A Kenneth Cole Reaction cabana-striped bag in hot pinks and oranges or poolside blues and greens is big enough for the beach, and at 40 percent off $32.99, you’ll have enough money left over to pick up the matching handbag.

For the sophisticate, Amanda Smith’s black or denim bags are sleekly reinforced with Burberry-esque plaid fabric at the bottom and sport thin leather straps.

If you want something stylish and functional, check out the shipment of backpacks that just arrived at T.J. Maxx ‘n More in Bangor. Whether you choose Adidas, Jansport or Eastpak, these bags have more than enough pockets to hold everything, and a backpack is essential if you’re biking to the beach. There’s a great selection for under $20.

The Satchels of Hope at The Grasshopper Shop in Bangor cost about twice as much, but the proceeds support women in transition, whether they’re working to get off welfare or trying to overcome other obstacles. Women involved in the project make the roomy floral fabric sacks by hand. Also at the Grasshopper is a whimsical waterproof canvas tote printed with frisky felines ($19) – clearly the cat has not been let out of the bag.

I’ll let the cat out of the bag about the sale at the Gap, however. All of the striped and solid beach bags, which are big, bright and beautiful, have been reduced to $16.99. Even if you don’t see a bag you like, you can stock up on professional basics, including solid and striped knit sleeveless tops, starting at $9.99.

I was fortunate enough to find a bag I love early on in the season at Old Navy. It’s a knockoff of the traditional L.L. Bean canvas bag, but the handles and bottom are striped in sunset shades of pink, brown and orange (and it’s on clearance now for $6.99). Other than that, it looks just like my mom’s. She’d be proud. But I’m even more proud, because my bag has not one, but two pockets.

Reader question

Dear ShopGirl,

I found a secluded beach where the water isn’t too cold and there aren’t too many people. The problem? The rocks. They hurt my feet and flip-flops don’t seem sturdy enough to wade in. Do they still make water shoes, and if so, where can I get some? (Oh, and I wear women’s size 11 shoes, which is also a problem).

J.B. in Bangor

Dear J.B.,

They do, in fact, still make water shoes, commonly referred do as aqua socks. And fortunately, most of them are sold in men’s sizes, so you won’t have a problem finding a pair that fits. You can buy a pair of Cudas for $14.98 at Olympia Sports in the Bangor Mall, or you could head to Ellsworth and get a pair of Cudas at Renys for $12.99. FootLocker in the Bangor Mall doesn’t have any in stock, but they will special order a pair and have them delivered free of charge to your home. There, you can order the Nike ACG Classic Aqua Sock for $24.99, the ACG Hydrous for $64.99, the Aqua Sock V for $44.99 or the Aqua Sock Classic for $12.99 (this style is only available in men’s sizes 4, 5 and 10).

Good luck, and happy swimming!