This is not an exhaustive list of all the items we have tested in previous iterations of this guide. Discontinued models have been removed.
Traditional diaper bags
State makes one of our children’s backpack choices, and its Lorimer Diaper Bag is equally stylish with functional pockets inside and out, including internal insulation. We were able to clean the bag effectively by hand but ultimately preferred the convenience and ease of throwing our JuJuBe pick in the washing machine.
We liked the lightweight CalPak bags, including the 17.5-liter Diaper Backpack with Laptop Sleeve and the 12-liter Convertible Mini Diaper Backpack. Both have a magnetic flap, a number of interior and exterior pockets, including two interior zips, and a trolley pass 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 less than $100 and includes features (like thoughtful, spacious pockets) found in more expensive bags. But as of publication, it is currently only available in one bold color.
The gender-neutral Osprey Poco Changing Tote has wrap-around straps for easy portability; it also comes with extra straps to convert it into a shoulder bag or tote. But the main room is small and hard on the floor, which means you have to stack things on top of each other. We also found that it was easy for crumbs to collect on the bottom of the tote and get caught under the seams, and it took some effort to open the bag inside out for cleaning.
The No Reception Club Getaway Bag has two Velcroed shelves inside to help organize things and keep them separate, as well as a zipped compartment at the bottom which is lined and designed to be water and odor resistant. While we found the design visually impressive, the bag didn’t feel practical for everyday use. The 20 by 10 by 6.5-inch, 3-pound bag (empty, with dividers) felt big and bulky, with overpacking capabilities.
We previously recommended the Hap Tim Diaper Bag Backpack as a lower-priced option, but we found the Ruvalino bag to be an improvement at about the same price. The Hap Tim backpack has padded straps and a padded back, but ultimately feels bulky even when empty. Its 17 pockets can be a lot – it was easy to lose things inside the bag.
We previously recommended the Skip Hop Mainframe Wide Open Diaper Backpack, an open bag with 10 pockets that can hold many baby items. It’s a reliable and affordable bag, but it seems to go in and out of stock.
We’ve previously recommended JuJuBe’s Be Right Back Diaper Bag and the BFF Convertible Diaper Bag , and we still think they’re great diaper bags. But they are from the old JuJuBe line, and are now limited in availability and color/pattern choices.
The Dagne Dover Indi Neoprene Diaper Backpack is surprisingly comfortable to carry, despite weighing 3 to 4 pounds (depending on size). We loved the gender-neutral design, high-quality materials, and spacious interior. However, in dark colors, the interior is made of the same black material, so it is difficult to see the pockets. And it’s not machine washable.
The Tom Bihn Parental Unit is a messenger bag style sports bag that is built to last. It is made of rugged, waterproof nylon, and heavy-duty materials, such as Duraflex straps. The company also offers a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects. But this bag can quickly become heavy and unwieldy when packed.
Herschel Supply Co. The Strand Duffle Diaper Bag was a great bag for overnight trips, but we felt it was too much for everyday use. We tested the 29 liter tote in 2019; it has since been updated as a smaller 24 liter bag, which we didn’t test, but it has the same design. Internal dividers make the bag difficult to clean; our bag continued to smell for several days after we cleaned it.
The Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack can transform into a backpack, messenger bag, or shoulder bag, although the straps are not attached. When we tested this in 2017, we really liked the Boxy Backpack’s changing station: A folded changing pad unfolds from the front of the bag, revealing two expandable pockets that can hold diapers and wipes. With everything in one place, changing a squirmy, uncooperative baby’s diaper was much more manageable. But this bag cannot go in the washing machine.
At 1 pound, the popular Skip Hop Forma Backpack Diaper Bag is among the lightest bags we’ve tried. However, when we filled it with baby stuff, it didn’t distribute the 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. Featuring chest and waist straps to distribute weight, and a padded back and straps, this bag is comfortable, although a little larger for a smaller person. No side pockets open for bottles. It has seven pockets, all of which are zipped – not so convenient for parents who need to grab something quickly. This bag is difficult to clean.
Because we were looking for lightweight bags, we didn’t consider Fawn Design’s The Original Diaper Bag or the Paperclip Willow backpack. These bags weigh more than 3 kilograms in 2019; Paperclip Willow has been updated to about 3 pounds. We chose not to review them in 2024 or 2026, as we found other similarly priced bags to be more attractive.
Fanny is packing
The Newly Selected Classic Park Pack is compact, stylish, and available in over a dozen beautiful prints and colors. But we found it too crowded for children and toddlers. It also doesn’t come with a switch pad; Vershly picked different Changing Mat fits well 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 foldable wipeable changing pad and two interior mesh pockets for diapers and wipes. We chose not to test it because we noticed that the Munchkin’s removable changing pad is held together with Velcro tabs, rather than 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.