Since they banned plastic bags in my city I've been looking for practical options for everyday use, but cloth bags seem expensive compared to the plastic ones they used to give away for free. Is there something in between that's cheap and actually works?
Reinforced paper bags are the closest thing to that middle ground - they cost a bit more than plastic ones but hold up through several uses and decompose without any fuss. Another option that works well is reusing the bags you already get (from grocery shopping, previous purchases) instead of buying new ones each time, so you don't spend extra and you make use of what you already have at home. If you shop a lot, a bag or two of decent quality fabric bags end up being cheaper in the long run because you use them hundreds of times, but I get that the upfront cost is annoying when it used to be free.
The option that's worked best for me is having cheap reusable cloth bags - you find them in supermarkets for next to nothing, some of those basic-colored ones they sell in bulk, and they're still around after several years. The important thing is leaving them in your car or backpack so you don't forget to use them.
If you want something more flexible, the thick paper bags mentioned above work well for regular shopping, though they get wet if you fill them too much or it's humid out. What really helps is just stopping yourself from taking bags every time you buy something small - lots of places will sell you stuff without wrapping it if you ask, or they'll pack it straight into your backpack or bag that you already have with you.
The thing is, those "in-between" options you're looking for already exist - they've been around for a while, just not as visible as the free plastic used to be! Paper bags hold up pretty well if you don't stuff them like crazy, and people don't talk about this but a lot of stores will reuse them if you bring them back - some supermarkets will reinforce them no problem. The expensive part isn't really the material but the habit of losing bags; if you grab a cheap fabric pair and leave them in your car or backpack, it works without you even thinking about it!
The real problem is that people got used to someone else paying for the bag cost, so any alternative looks expensive. But if you do the math: a decent cloth bag lasts you years and you use it hundreds of times, while plastic ones were "free" because the supermarket was already charging you for them built into the price of everything. Reinforced paper bags work fine if you don't overload them, and some last quite a while if you take care of them a bit between shopping trips.
What I'd tell you is to mix and match options depending on what you need. For your weekly shopping that's heavier, one or two cheap cloth bags (the ones you see everywhere at low prices) go a long way. For specific items or when you forget your bag, reinforced paper isn't bad. And honestly, after a few weeks of adjustment, you stop thinking about it because reusable bags just start being there in your car or backpack without you having to think about it.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that reinforced paper bags are the magic solution. Sure, they hold up better than thin plastic, but if you fill them with heavy stuff or they get wet, everything falls apart and you end up buying more. What really works is combining options depending on what you need in that moment.
For grocery shopping, the cheap cloth bags they sell by the kilo at discount stores or at the supermarket itself are your best bet. You don't need the fancy designer ones that cost an arm and a leg, those basic ones in simple colors last years if you don't beat them up. The initial investment is minimal compared to what you were spending on free bags before, and you recoup it quickly. I ended up buying like 5 or 6 a while back and I'm still using them, so in the end it's cheaper than constantly paying for new bags.
For one-off situations where it's not worth lugging a cloth bag around (a small purchase, something that might break), reinforced paper bags work fine but use them smart: don't stuff them to the point of bursting and keep heavy things at the bottom. Another option that a lot of people overlook is the boxes that the supermarket itself gives away or lets you use; ask the cashier, sometimes they have cardboard boxes from products that they're going to throw out anyway. I sometimes bring boxes from my house, seriously it works.
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