ISO an indestructible diaper bag for a man
April 21, 2015 4:11 AM Subscribe
Two ruined bags in 7 months. Help!
My husband is really hard on his things. Especially bags. He needs a diaper bad that he can load to bursting with normal baby stuff plus like 15 pounds of camera gear if he feels like it, force it shut, and not have any zipper/strap/sewing failures. I think he'd like some kind of sling type bag. His favorite carryon bag was something like this Lowepro until he broke the chest clip by - you guessed it - loading it up with too much heavy crap. A bag that's actually meant to be a diaper bag is a must. He tried using my Timbuk2 and hated the lack of pockets. He liked my JuJuBe BFF until he popped a zipper and bursted seam. It doesn't need to cream "MAN!" but shouldn't look like a purse.
My husband is really hard on his things. Especially bags. He needs a diaper bad that he can load to bursting with normal baby stuff plus like 15 pounds of camera gear if he feels like it, force it shut, and not have any zipper/strap/sewing failures. I think he'd like some kind of sling type bag. His favorite carryon bag was something like this Lowepro until he broke the chest clip by - you guessed it - loading it up with too much heavy crap. A bag that's actually meant to be a diaper bag is a must. He tried using my Timbuk2 and hated the lack of pockets. He liked my JuJuBe BFF until he popped a zipper and bursted seam. It doesn't need to cream "MAN!" but shouldn't look like a purse.
If the best is none too good, Duluth Pack could be the way to go. Heavy canvas, and if something is broke they'll fix it.
posted by mr. digits at 4:34 AM on April 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by mr. digits at 4:34 AM on April 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
Best answer: I can't speak from personal experience about diaper bags, but recently read this review recommending the parental unit bag from Tom Bihn.
I have a different Tom Bihn bag and have been very happy with it.
posted by cmerrill at 5:04 AM on April 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
I have a different Tom Bihn bag and have been very happy with it.
posted by cmerrill at 5:04 AM on April 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
Tough Traveler makes hard-wearing bags. My parents have been using a day pack from them for over 30 years.
posted by metasarah at 5:05 AM on April 21, 2015
posted by metasarah at 5:05 AM on April 21, 2015
Best answer: My husband uses this bag so he can carry it in uniform and not be in dress code violation and it's incredibly tough. It's technically a range bag but diapers fit in the outside pockets along with wipes and cups and he keeps his army crap in the middle.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 5:23 AM on April 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 5:23 AM on April 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
Whilst researching messenger bags the other day, I noticed that Timbuk2 do a diaper bag:
http://www.timbuk2.com/stork-baby-diaper-messenger-bag/154.html?dwvar_154_color=2315&dwvar_154_size=8
posted by fatfrank at 5:26 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
http://www.timbuk2.com/stork-baby-diaper-messenger-bag/154.html?dwvar_154_color=2315&dwvar_154_size=8
posted by fatfrank at 5:26 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Gah, sorry, just noticed the no timbuku2 bit.
Carry on, nothing to see here
posted by fatfrank at 5:26 AM on April 21, 2015
Carry on, nothing to see here
posted by fatfrank at 5:26 AM on April 21, 2015
You could get something like this or this from LL Bean. They have a lifetime guarantee, so he could get a replacement or refund if he managed to break it. (If those bags are anything like their backpacks, though, they will last forever.)
posted by belladonna at 5:52 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by belladonna at 5:52 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have one of these that I've been happy with: http://www.amazon.com/Boba-Shoulder-Diaper-Carriers-Glacier/dp/B005U246BM... We keep it pretty stuffed to the gills and it's held up very well through two children. I believe they're discontinued, hence the great price.
I also have one of these that works well: https://www.dadgear.com/products/Vest/44/DIAPER-VEST%C2%AE-Orange-%28M%29, though I haven't tested its boundaries.
posted by Jacob G at 6:21 AM on April 21, 2015
I also have one of these that works well: https://www.dadgear.com/products/Vest/44/DIAPER-VEST%C2%AE-Orange-%28M%29, though I haven't tested its boundaries.
posted by Jacob G at 6:21 AM on April 21, 2015
We just got a diaper dude bag, not sure yet how it will hold up but it got great reviews on amazon.
posted by rmless at 6:33 AM on April 21, 2015
posted by rmless at 6:33 AM on April 21, 2015
I'd try an army surplus store. Usually have a good range of bags, they are tough and the military seems obsessed with pockets. Some styles are designed to have various pockets and pouches added to them so hubby could customise to his hearts content.
posted by wwax at 7:13 AM on April 21, 2015
posted by wwax at 7:13 AM on April 21, 2015
I can't speak from personal experience about diaper bags, but recently read this review recommending the parental unit bag from Tom Bihn.
I have a different Tom Bihn bag and have been very happy with it.
I don't have the parental unit but I use a Tom Bihn bag everyday and they are tough as nails. He uses really good quality materials everywhere; common pain points like the zippers and plastic clips are the best quality you can buy and the stitching is really good. I've had mine for a little over a year. I destroy things pretty good (my old Columbia backpack is a shambles) but this thing looks brand new.
posted by selfnoise at 7:42 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have a different Tom Bihn bag and have been very happy with it.
I don't have the parental unit but I use a Tom Bihn bag everyday and they are tough as nails. He uses really good quality materials everywhere; common pain points like the zippers and plastic clips are the best quality you can buy and the stitching is really good. I've had mine for a little over a year. I destroy things pretty good (my old Columbia backpack is a shambles) but this thing looks brand new.
posted by selfnoise at 7:42 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
> A bag that's actually meant to be a diaper bag is a must
What qualities does a diaper bag have that your husband needs? I think diaper bags are a scam; if you say what the features of diaper bags are that he likes, people could probably help him find them in other, superior bags.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:07 AM on April 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
What qualities does a diaper bag have that your husband needs? I think diaper bags are a scam; if you say what the features of diaper bags are that he likes, people could probably help him find them in other, superior bags.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:07 AM on April 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
He just needs a lovely, big sturdy backpack with the correct number of pockets. As do we all.
posted by h00py at 8:32 AM on April 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by h00py at 8:32 AM on April 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
I agree that a backpack is a good option; you can get them with lots of pockets/divided sections and leaving two free arms to deal with a little one is key, especially after they get really mobile.
We've been using this one (Jansport big student backpack) for the past year or so, and it's great. Very roomy, versatile and useful. I also use it as my carry-on when I fly with my toddler, or for my weekend getaway bag.
posted by JenMarie at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2015
We've been using this one (Jansport big student backpack) for the past year or so, and it's great. Very roomy, versatile and useful. I also use it as my carry-on when I fly with my toddler, or for my weekend getaway bag.
posted by JenMarie at 10:37 AM on April 21, 2015
I'm mobile so I can't find any links, but why doesn't he start by looking for a good sturdy camera bag, which is made for the weight, also has lots of pockets, and then add diaper stuff to it? We had good luck doing that.
posted by vignettist at 11:07 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by vignettist at 11:07 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm no stranger to needing a diaper bag, but I prefer my old ll bean back pack.
posted by mearls at 4:45 PM on April 21, 2015
posted by mearls at 4:45 PM on April 21, 2015
I bought a Holly Aiken Airship messenger bag second hand for my first baby, and it's going strong 4 years and a second baby later. The limiting factor may be that it velcros closed, so it may not stay closed well if it's really stuffed. It is a diaper bag, and has inner pockets and two small outside pockets.
posted by terooot at 9:51 PM on April 21, 2015
posted by terooot at 9:51 PM on April 21, 2015
How about a big tool bag...I got one at home depot for about $20 that's still going strong 10 years later. Like, for real, how long are you going to need a diaper bag? (10 years? You might have bigger problems than bags falling apart :/)
In general, look at where the strap attaches to the bag. You want a wide D-ring (no direct attachment), lots of stitching holding it down (X in a box), and heavy nylon webbing for the strap (shoulder pad a bonus). Anything less and they're cutting corners elswhere as well.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:30 PM on April 21, 2015
In general, look at where the strap attaches to the bag. You want a wide D-ring (no direct attachment), lots of stitching holding it down (X in a box), and heavy nylon webbing for the strap (shoulder pad a bonus). Anything less and they're cutting corners elswhere as well.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:30 PM on April 21, 2015
I'd suggest having a look at something like a Frietag bag - they're made from recycled truck tarp and seat belts, so super tough, and are velcro closed, which rules out zip problems. Come in sizes from small to enormous...
posted by prentiz at 2:29 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by prentiz at 2:29 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
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Wolf Garten tote well reviewed.
And in the boaty spendy department, this.
posted by xaryts at 4:31 AM on April 21, 2015