Traditional diaper bags
We previously recommended the Hap Tim Diaper Bag Backpack as a minimally priced option, but we found the Ruvalino to be an improvement for about the same price. The Hap Tim backpack has padded straps and a padded back, but it ultimately felt bulky even when empty. Its 17 pockets can be too much—it was easy to lose things inside the bag.
We previously recommended the Skip Hop Mainframe Wide Open Diaper Backpack, a roomy bag with 10 pockets that can potentially hold items for multiple kids. It’s a reliable and affordable bag, but it appears to go in and out of stock.
We previously recommended the Babymel Robyn Convertible Backpack, which has a handy strap design that makes it easy to switch from backpack to shoulder or crossbody bag. But this bag is not as easy to clean as our other picks, and availability appears to be limited.
We previously recommended JuJuBe’s Be Right Back Diaper Backpack and the convertible BFF Diaper Bag, and we still think they’re great diaper bags. But they’re from JuJuBe’s older line, and they’ve become more limited in availability and color/pattern options.
The Dagne Dover Indi Neoprene Diaper Backpack is surprisingly comfortable to carry, despite weighing 3 to 4 pounds (depending on the size). We liked the gender-neutral design, high-quality materials, and roomy interior. However, with darker colors, the inside is made with a matching dark material, so it’s harder to see the pockets. It’s also not machine-washable.
The Tom Bihn Parental Unit is a sporty messenger-bag-style diaper bag that’s built to last. It’s made with rugged, waterproof nylon, plus heavy-duty components, like Duraflex buckles. The company also offers a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects. But this bag can quickly become heavy and unwieldy when packed.
The Herschel Supply Co. Strand Duffle Diaper Bag was the perfect bag for an overnight trip but felt overwhelming for everyday use. We tested the 29-liter tote in 2019; it has since been updated as a slightly smaller 24-liter bag, which we have not tested, but it has a similar design. The internal dividers make the bag tougher to clean; our bag continued to smell for a few days after we cleaned it.
The Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack can convert into a backpack, messenger bag, or shoulder bag, though the straps are not padded. When we tested this in 2017, we especially liked the Boxy Backpack’s changing station: A cushioned changing pad folds out from the front of the backpack, revealing two elastic pockets that can hold diapers and wipes. With everything in one place, changing a squirmy, uncooperative baby’s diaper was very manageable. But this bag can’t go into the washing machine.
At 1 pound, the popular quilted Skip Hop Forma Backpack Diaper Bag is among the most lightweight bags we tried. However, when we filled it with baby paraphernalia, it didn’t distribute weight as comfortably as other backpacks.
The Tom Bihn Synapse 25 is not a dedicated diaper backpack, but some people have used it as such. With chest and waist straps to distribute weight, plus a padded back and straps, this bag is comfortable, albeit a bit large for a petite person to carry. There are no open side pockets for bottles. It has seven pockets, all of them zippered—not so convenient for parents who need to grab something quickly. This bag is relatively difficult to clean.
The Land diaper bag, which we tested in 2019 and is one of the least expensive bags we tested, was hailed as “the $30 answer to every parent’s needs” several years ago by The Strategist. We tested one version of it, the HaloVa, which is no longer available. But it comes in a variety of colors from several Amazon sellers, such as this one from Ticent, which we did not test. When we looked at it up-close, we thought the HaloVa didn’t look as nice as it did in the photos.
Because we looked for lighter-weight bags, we did not consider Fawn Design’s The Original Diaper Bag backpack, the Paperclip Willow, and the JJ Cole Satchel Diaper Bag. These bags weighed more than 3 pounds in 2019; they have since been updated to be about 3 pounds or less. We opted not to test them in 2024, since we found other comparably priced bags to be more appealing.
Fanny packs
We received compliments on the look of Tush Baby’s The Pack, but we weren’t a fan of the external mesh water bottle pocket attached to the side. Although it didn’t tear during our testing, we were worried it would ultimately rip or snag after extended use. The elastic opening is also snug—it holds your bottle securely, but it’s challenging to slip a bottle in and out.
Freshly Picked’s Classic Park Pack is compact, stylish, and available in more than a dozen cute prints and colors. But we found it to be too compact for baby and toddler outings. It also doesn’t come with a changing pad; the separate Freshly Picked Changing Mat fits awkwardly in the bag.
Portable changing pads
The Momcozy Portable Diaper Changing Pad is similar in style to our pick, the Skip Hop Pronto, with a wipeable changing pad that folds out and pockets that hold diapers and wipes. But we found the design awkward: The wipes pocket is on the outside and must be detached and reattached when diapering. The two internal mesh pockets are also loosely secured by small hook-and-loop tabs, on which diapers can get easily caught.
The Momcozy 2-in-1 Diaper Changing Pad also folds out with a wipeable changing pad and has pockets for diapers and wipes. The wipes pocket for the 2-in-1 is more accessible than that on the Momcozy Portable Changing Pad, but the 2-in-1 has two hook-and-loop stroller straps (rather than a buckle like the Skip Hop Pronto), which were inconvenient to attach.
The Munchkin Go Change Portable Diaper Changing Kit is also similar in style to the Skip Hop Pronto, with a wipeable changing pad that folds out and two internal mesh pockets for diapers and wipes. We opted not to test it because we noticed that Munchkin’s detachable changing pad is held together with hook-and-loop tabs, rather than with a more-secure and easy-to-use zipper, like on the Skip Hop Pronto.
This article was edited by Amy Miller Kravetz, Ben Frumin, and Kalee Thompson.
