This is not a comprehensive list of everything we’ve tested for previous iterations of this guide. Models that are discontinued have been removed.
Traditional diaper bags
State makes one of our kids backpack picks, and its Lorimer Diaper Bag is similarly stylish with practical pockets inside and out, including an interior insulated one. We were able to clean the bag effectively by hand but we ultimately preferred the convenience and ease of tossing our JuJuBe pick into the washing machine.
We liked the lightweight CalPak diaper bags, which includes the 17.5-liter Diaper Backpack with Laptop Sleeve and the 12-liter Convertible Mini Diaper Backpack. Both have a magnetic flap, plenty of internal and external pockets, including two interior insulated ones, and a trolley pass-through for travel. But when we left milk and cereal in one of them, it stained the light-colored fabric.
We also liked Tobiq’s machine washable Backpack, which costs under $100 and includes features (such as thoughtful, plentiful pockets) found in pricier bags. But as of publication, it is currently only available in one bold color.
The Osprey’s gender-neutral Poco Changing Tote has padded straps so it’s comfortable to carry; it also comes with additional straps to convert into a shoulder bag or tote. But the main compartment is narrow with a rigid bottom, which means you have to stack belongings on top of each other. We also found it was easy for crumbs to collect at the bottom of the tote and get stuck under the seams, and it took some effort to turn the bag inside out for cleaning.
No Reception Club’s Getaway Bag has two shelves Velcroed inside to help organize belongings and keep them separate, as well as a zippered compartment on the bottom that’s lined and meant to be water and odor resistant. While we found the design intriguing in theory, the bag didn’t feel practical for everyday use. The approximately 20 by 10 by 6.5-inch, 3-pound bag (empty, with dividers) felt large and bulky, with the potential to overpack.
We previously recommended the Hap Tim Diaper Bag Backpack as a minimally priced option, but we found the Ruvalino bag 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 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 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 it 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.
Because we looked for lighter-weight bags, we did not consider Fawn Design’s The Original Diaper Bag backpack or the Paperclip Willow. These bags weighed more than 3 pounds in 2019; the Paperclip Willow has since been updated to be about 3 pounds. We opted not to test them in 2024 or 2026, since we found other comparably priced bags to be more appealing.
Fanny packs
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 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 Velcro 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.
