Our Favorite Diaper Bags

Who it’s for: Parents who want versatility, machine-washable convenience, and thoughtful, premium details, as well as fun, stylish prints.

Why it’s great: The JuJuBe B.F.F. Diaper Bag is a durable, well-made, feature-rich bag in the upper range cost-wise, but it still offers good value. You can wear it as a backpack, messenger bag, handbag, or tote—and thus it comes with multiple straps that are adjustable and easy to unclip and remove (though we found that they can still get in the way sometimes). The bag has a high-end look and feel, with details such as gold metal hardware, and it comes in a range of bright, colorful prints (including occasional collaborations with designers such as Tokidoki). It has additional features that are nice but not essential—luggage-style feet keep the bag up off a dirty surface, for instance. The exterior is coated with Teflon to resist stains, and parents have reported that their bag still looks like new after months of use. The construction feels robust, although you do see some occasional complaints of things breaking. And unlike many other diaper bags we tested, the B.F.F. can easily go into the washing machine—no spot cleaning required.

Care: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle. Line dry.

Pockets and organization: Parents have praised the B.F.F.’s thoughtful combination of pockets, particularly the “mommy pocket,” a dedicated zippered compartment on the front of the bag that includes an elastic key ring and a unique microfiber pocket for sunglasses. Two open but snug insulated pockets on the sides of the bag are nice for bottles (but were not great insulators in our tests). A changing pad (included) can tuck into the bag’s back-panel pocket. The main compartment includes an additional three zippered and four elastic pockets.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Some parents complain that the B.F.F. isn’t roomy enough for their needs. One verified customer writes: “Unfortunately it is just too small. I couldn't fit half of the stuff we need in our diaper bag on a regular basis in this.… If JuJuBe made a larger version of this bag I would buy it in a heartbeat.”

Weight: 2.8 pounds

Colors: 24 solids and patterns, including black, gray, floral, and nautical

Who it’s for: Parents who want a diaper backpack that gets the job done without breaking the bank.

Why it’s great: The water-repellent, polyester Hap Tim Diaper Bag Backpack is an affordable and functional bag with an inoffensive laptop-bag look and better ergonomics than on many of the more-expensive options we tested. We took the Hap Tim backpack on a hike this winter and found that the padded straps and contoured back made it comfortable to carry for both a 5-foot-10 man and a 5-foot-3 woman. In the summer, however, we suspect that the thick padding throughout the bag and the 2.2-pound starting weight may have you quickly breaking a sweat.

Care: Spot clean with warm water and mild soap, using a damp cloth or soft-bristle brush. We found the nylon interior to be fairly easy to wipe clean, but with so many nooks and crannies, cleaning the bag thoroughly may take some time.

Pockets and organization: Compared with the other diaper bag backpacks we tested, the Hap Tim has the most pockets at 17, though that count includes two skinny pockets for pens and pencils. We particularly appreciated the discreet padded pocket on the back for devices and the zippered pockets on the top and front of the bag for quick access to keys, a phone, or a wallet. Two open elastic pockets on the sides can hold bottles; one of them has a zippered opening and can hold wipes instead.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The pockets on this bag can be too much of a good thing. It has not one but two main zippered compartments, both of which include additional elastic interior pockets—so many that we lost track of where we placed our belongings. The two main compartments are also separated by thick padding, adding to the bag’s heft. Though the inexpensive Hap Tim is a popular option on Amazon, its chief issue is durability. However, the manufacturer seems to compensate with good customer service: Several positive reviews say that parts of the bag broke but were replaced by Hap Tim, which offers a 90-day warranty.

Weight: 2.2 pounds

Colors: gray, dark gray, gold-gray diamond pattern

Who it’s for: Parents who want a simple, streamlined pack that they can use for much more than just diapers and baby paraphernalia.

Why it’s great: As the second-lightest bag we tested (it’s 13.1 ounces), the newly updated Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Tote Pack 27L is a great option for parents on the go. The Patagonia is made with a featherlight, durable ripstop nylon that’s weather resistant but not water repellent. Wide, padded, breathable mesh shoulder straps make the backpack comfortable to carry for long hauls, and a chest strap helps keep the back straps in place. This design is especially nice during trips when you have to load up on water bottles, extra snacks, and layers, as the chest strap evenly distributes the weight. The Ultralight Black Hole Tote Pack is also the only one of our picks that you can stuff into a compact pocket and efficiently pack into another bag. Patagonia offers an excellent lifetime warranty; the company will replace, refund, or repair your bag if it’s defective or will fix it for a small fee if it gets damaged through normal wear and tear.

We had previously tested (and loved) an earlier version of this bag, Patagonia’s slightly smaller, 22-liter Lightweight Travel Tote Pack. The newly updated, 27-liter Ultralight Black Hole Tote Pack differs from the original in that it has a removable, padded back that gives the bag more shape and makes it comfortable to carry for longer treks. The new model also has taller, stretch-mesh side pockets that can securely hold large adult water bottles.

Care: Patagonia recommends hand washing this bag with mild detergent, but you can also secure the straps and toss it into the washing machine on a gentle, cold cycle. Line dry.

Pockets and organization: The Ultralight Black Hole Tote Pack’s six pockets include two tall, open, stretch-mesh side pockets that offer easy access to a water bottle, as well as a Velcroed back compartment where you can store diapers or a compact changing pad (not included) plus the backpack straps when you’re not using them. A small zippered pocket inside the main compartment can hold keys, a wallet, and a few other small items, while a zippered pocket at the front of the bag can hold wipes or other incidentals.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: This pack lacks the organization of dedicated diaper bags. With two compression straps and a drawstring cinch, the design expects you to stuff most of your gear into the main zippered compartment. That’s great for travel, but if you’re shoving most of your baby stuff—diapers, wipes, snacks, extra clothing—into the main compartment, you’ll have to rummage or dump everything out to find what you need. Packing cubes (or just plastic bags) can help solve the organization problem, though.

The length of the tote straps on the updated bag may also be challenging for some parents. Larger adults may find that the tote straps are too short, so they can’t easily sling the bag over their shoulder. Meanwhile, petite parents (5-foot-3 and shorter) are likely to find that the bag drags on the ground when they hold it as a tote. We also miss the hip strap that the original bag had to distribute its load; the adjustable sternum strap, even on its lowest setting, tends to ride high on the chest.

Weight: 0.82 pound

Colors: black, violet, red, khaki, green, blue; subject to change seasonally

Who it’s for: Parents with more than one child. The Skip Hop Mainframe Wide Open offers plenty of space and pockets to stash everything you need—times two—for daily errands and trips to the park.

Why it’s great: The same thoughtful details we like in the Skip Hop Duo Signature bag are available in the company’s Mainframe Wide Open Diaper Backpack. The standout feature is the way the main compartment zips open—and stays open. Wide enough to toss in a volleyball (I know because I did it), the mouth is structured along the sides so that it remains open on its own. Not only can you reach inside with both hands to grab whatever you need, but you can also easily turn the bag upside down to dump out crumbs and trash.  At 1.8 pounds, the Skip Hop Mainframe Wide Open is one of the lighter backpacks we tested; despite its large capacity, it doesn’t feel clunky.

Care: Spot clean with a damp cloth. Both the polyester exterior and interior of the bag are water resistant and easy to wipe clean.

Pockets and organization: With 10 pockets, the Skip Hop Mainframe Wide Open offers plenty of space and organization. You can stash bottles in the two open, insulated side pockets; keep keys, a wallet, and a phone in one of three small zippered and snap pockets at the front of the bag; tuck a changing pad (included), an iPad, or books in the interior back panel; and store diapers and wipes in the two elastic interior pockets. One Amazon reviewer writes, “I have a toddler and a newborn and with this bag packed I still have room!”

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The nylon straps are about 1½ inches wide and unpadded; they will dig into your shoulders if you carry the bag for too long. BabyGearLab also complains about these straps in its review. The weight of the bag doesn’t feel evenly distributed, either. If you fill it to capacity, as we did for an overnight trip, it will quickly feel heavy on your back and shoulders.

Weight: 1.8 pounds

Colors: black, cement

Who it’s for: Parents who want the flexibility of carrying their bag in multiple ways, and those who want a tote that doesn’t look like a diaper bag.

Why it’s great: We appreciate how easy it is to switch the Babymel Robyn Convertible Backpack from a shoulder bag to a backpack. It has only one, long strap rather than multiple straps like the JuJuBe B.F.F. and the Mark & Graham Mercer. Pull in one direction, and the strap lengthens so that the Robyn becomes a shoulder or crossbody bag. Pull both ends down in the other direction, and the bag turns into a backpack. It also comes with separate tote handles.

Care: Spot clean with a damp cloth or sponge.

Pockets and organization: The Babymel Robyn has just enough pockets to get by. Two exterior, open pockets can hold a bottle on one side and diaper wipes on the other, with a Velcro flap that lifts up to dispense the wipes. (Some parents complain that the pocket doesn’t fit their wipes well, but we didn’t have a problem with our 32-count Huggies wipes.) A large flap on the front of the bag snaps open to reveal a pocket roomy enough for an 8-inch tablet or the included changing pad. Inside the main compartment is a small zippered pocket for valuables, two elastic pockets for diapers or additional bottles, and a flat Velcroed pocket for small, miscellaneous items.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Robyn is not easy to clean. Though it has a wipeable polyester interior, the main compartment does not zip open completely, nor can you flip it inside out. During testing, we had trouble reaching and removing crumbs and crusted milk, which were frustratingly wedged under a thick seam at the bottom of the bag.

Weight: 1.5 pounds (canvas version) to 2.2 pounds (vegan leather)

Colors: seven color and fabric options, including dark-gray tweed, red canvas, and tan vegan leather

For this guide, I examined nearly 100 top-selling diaper bags online, read hundreds of owner reviews, clicked through dozens of diaper bag slideshows, and checked out roundups on dad, gay dad, mom, and parenting sites. I also stopped random parents and caregivers around the neighborhood and asked them about their diaper bags.

I informally polled more than 60 moms and dads via social media and other online parenting forums, chatted with employees at four local baby stores, and interviewed parenting blogger Meg Collins, the founder of Lucie’s List. I also spoke with Diaper Dude founder Chris Pegula; interviewed Jenna McLane, a mother and manager of Tot Tank, a former baby gear retail store in Alameda, California; and consulted Janel Andersen, owner of Bird & Bean, a baby and child product retailer in Berkeley, California. They all shared their observations and insights into diaper bag trends, as well as parent-purchasing preferences.

In total, I road-tested 34 bags between 2017 and 2020. As a parent of three, including a not-fully-potty-trained toddler, I have also spent the past 10 years toting around one diaper bag or another. A longtime journalist, I also wrote Wirecutter’s guide to apps for managing a kid’s phone.

Interviews with retailers and parents, as well as our own years of experience carrying these bags daily, told us that a good diaper bag should have the following attributes:

• Comfortable to carry: We looked for lightweight bags—under 3 pounds—with straps that stay on your shoulders and help distribute the weight of the bag (a sternum strap helps). Though we preferred padded straps, we did not automatically disqualify bags that lacked them. Jenna McLane of Tot Tank (now closed) said that although thick, padded straps are necessary for laptop and school backpacks, they’re not as critical for diaper backpacks because most of the time your belongings will be fairly lightweight. More of an issue is whether the bag feels bulky after you’ve stuffed everything into it.
• Easy to clean: We favored bags that you can toss into a washing machine. Other bags are made with a waterproof lining that you can spot clean with a damp cloth; in testing those bags, we evaluated how difficult it was to remove crumbs and stains.
• Roomy enough: At minimum, a diaper bag should hold several diapers, wipes, a changing pad, a change of clothes, snacks, a bottle, a small toy or book, a cell phone, keys, and a wallet. For many of our outings, we also tossed in a portable toilet seat for my potty-training toddler, a sweatshirt, a notebook, and pens.
• Organized with the right pockets: It’s not enough for a bag to have a large number of pockets; the pockets should be thoughtfully arranged and sized so that you can find something quickly with little or no digging. A mix of open and closable pockets offers the most versatility and convenience. We made exceptions for bags that compensated for minimal organization with lighter weight. We considered an included changing pad to be nice to have but not a strict necessity.
• Durable: We examined the construction and quality of the materials and checked customer reviews to get a sense of how well the bag holds up over time. Ideally, parents will be able to use the same bag for multiple children or even after their diapering days are over. We considered whether we would realistically use the bag once our kids were older.
• Reasonably priced: We capped the price at about $200. Most bags above $200 are from high-end brands such as Kate Spade and Burberry, and we concluded that the cost reflected the name more than a significant increase in quality. We preferred bags under $100 because some people may use this type of bag only for the period when their kid is in diapers. That said, we did find that bags in the upper $100 to $200 range offered thoughtful details such as felt-lined pockets and better materials such as metal instead of plastic hardware. Since you’re likely to tote a diaper bag anytime you’re out with your baby for the first two or so years, you should enjoy using it and looking at it.

We cast a wide net, looking at dedicated diaper bags as well as popular backpacks and totes that could double as a diaper bag, and we ended up with a list of 34 bags to test.

Once I had our finalists narrowed down, I checked that each bag could hold the minimum essentials, including diapers, wipes, a bottle, snacks, and a change of clothing, as well as personal items such as a phone, wallet, and keys. To help evaluate comfort and organization, my husband and I took the diaper bags on daily outings for two consecutive months, including to the neighborhood park, on errands, to basketball games, on a hike, and on an overnight trip to the snow. (I’m a 5-foot-3 woman; my husband is 5-foot-10.)

We used the diaper bags on airplanes as well as at the beach, Costco, the zoo, playgrounds, restaurants, a kids soccer game, museums, and the pool. Almost all the diaper bags traveled with us during a family vacation to Hawaii, where it was humid, sandy, occasionally rainy, and about 85 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit on most days. On the majority of our outings, we changed the baby’s diaper to see how manageable it would be to set up the changing pad and reach the diapers and wipes. During testing for the 2019 update of this guide, my son was potty training, so whenever we went out, we packed not only diapers, wipes, and a changing pad but also a portable toilet seat and a lot of extra clothing.

To test how easy the bags were to clean, I poured ⅛ cup of crushed cereal and 2 tablespoons of milk into each bag. I let the mixture sit for 24 hours before attempting to clean it. I then ranked each bag for ease of cleaning; machine-washable bags earned a five out of a possible five.

I tested the effectiveness of insulated bottle pockets by warming a room to a cozy 80 degrees Fahrenheit and then placing cold plastic bottles of water in the pockets. I took the temperature of the water every hour for four hours and compared that with the temperature of water in a bottle that I simply left out. Although all the insulated pockets kept the temperature of the bottled water cool for the first hour, we found that they lost most of their effectiveness by the second hour. The exception was the Humble-Bee, which comes with a hot/cold gel pack that worked for two hours, about an hour longer than the insulated pockets on most of the other bags.

Although most of the diaper backpacks come with stroller straps, we did not test them because of safety concerns. Hanging your diaper bag on your stroller for convenience can tip the stroller backward. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents store heavy items like diaper bags in the basket under the stroller rather than hanging them on the handlebars.

The following diaper bags worked well in most cases but fell short of our main picks for various reasons (such as versatility, price, or durability). That said, if you’re looking for a particular style of bag not in our list above, one of these bags may be right for you.

The Birdling Backpacker is a good choice for parents who don’t want a diaper bag that screams “baby” or “hiking.” It’s a lightweight, minimalist cotton canvas pack with a stylish look that says “farmers market” rather than “diapers and wipes.” At 1.7 pounds, it’s one of the lightest backpacks we tested, and the 100 percent cotton canvas exterior is soft and durable. Unfortunately, we found the unpadded, narrow straps to be a bit uncomfortable during long, heavy hauls, and we had to retighten those straps almost daily. We also couldn’t use the side pockets on this bag; when we bent down to pick up our kids, everything in those pockets promptly fell out.

The Humble-Bee Free Spirit SP (currently unavilable) combines daypack styling with baby-specific details. This sporty, water-resistant, machine-washable pack has well-thought-out pockets and comfortable straps. At a weight of 0.8 pound, it’s also the lightest backpack we tested. If you plan to travel with your baby or take them on a long trek, you’ll be thankful for the Free Spirit’s padded mesh back and 12 pockets. One of the side pockets acts as a wipes dispenser, but we wish the bag had an open pocket there instead. (The pocket includes a hole to pull out wipes, so if you remove the wipes dispenser, the hole renders the pocket useless.)

For parents who want to make a bold statement, the JuJuBe Be Right Back (currently unavailable) combines flashy hardware with function-oriented features, as well as lots of extras. At close to 2 pounds, it’s on the slightly heavier side, but it includes padded straps and a padded back with breathable mesh for comfort. While you can invest in a crazy-cool print—including collaborations with artists and brands such as Tokidoki—you can also order the bag in black. The Be Right Back zips all the way open to the bottom of the bag so you can pack it like a suitcase, which means you can organize yourself more easily but also leads to items falling out when you try to reach into the unzipped bag. In light of the bag’s price, we were concerned to read several Amazon reviews complaining about the quality and durability of the backpack, including faded and broken straps. However, most of these critical reviews date back two or more years. JuJuBe is known for its craftsmanship and for its use of high-quality materials, such as metal—not plastic—hardware, so we hope those reviews are an anomaly.

The stylish Freshly Picked Classic Diaper Bag is made of supple, high-quality vegan leather, and it’s a sophisticated choice that you can carry in multiple ways. It’s heavy, which can be an issue because it has narrow, unpadded straps that dig into your shoulders, but the 10 pockets and roomy inner compartment help you easily organize your gear. The pack also has a back-panel pocket with a convenient magnetic closure that can hold a changing pad (included), plus an interior zippered pocket to hold keys, wallet, and a cell phone. One note: Within a week of our using the bag, the tassels ripped off. The embellishment is a small thing, and its loss made little impact on the bag, yet that shouldn’t have happened—or at least not so quickly.

For life beyond diapers, we like the Mark & Graham Mercer Convertible Backpack. It has classic good looks, and the leather shoulder handles give it an upscale touch. The roomy, versatile bag also includes clip-on straps that transform it into a backpack. We’ve used it as a work bag once our kids are out of diapers, even getting compliments when using it as a non-diaper bag. We like that it’s easy to clean and to keep organized, with plenty of interior and exterior pockets. This bag is the most expensive of our picks, though—and it’s even pricier when you factor in the additional cost of a changing pad, which isn’t included. It’s also on the larger, heavier side.

If you prefer a messenger-bag-style diaper bag, the Tom Bihn Parental Unit is a sporty bag that’s built to last. It’s made with rugged, waterproof nylon, plus heavy-duty components like Duraflex buckles. You can customize the bag with your choice of materials, and it has 10 O-rings for parents to attach pacifiers, organizer pouches, and the like. The company also offers a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects. The only downside is that this 13.5-liter bag can quickly become heavy and unwieldy when packed.

For fanny-pack lovers, Colugo’s The On the Go Organizer is a stroller organizer you can wear. It’s machine washable and designed to hold just the essentials; you can also adjust it for wearing it as a crossbody bag, or you can open it and attach it to the handlebar of a stroller with built-in Velcro straps. (Although it is meant for the Colugo stroller and has an additional attachment that is compatible only with that model, we found that it worked with our travel stroller.) As your child outgrows diapers and bottles, and as your load begins to lighten, this Colugo bag can be an effective way to carry the minimum you require. However, you will need to repack the bag for it to transition from stroller organizer to fanny pack and vice versa. For instance, when it’s opened up as a stroller organizer, the internal pocket dividers allow you to securely store a bottle upright. But if you want to take that bottle with you and zip up the fanny pack, you have to reposition the bottle on its side.

We wouldn’t recommend buying the following diaper bags, as they fell short of our main picks and notable contenders.

Colugo’s The Backpack (currently unavailable) is compact and lightweight, and it’s a simple, machine-washable bag made with waterproof nylon. But it lacks any open, outside pockets (not even one you can leave unzipped) and instead has an insulated bottle pocket inside the main compartment that is hard to access once you fill the rest of the backpack.

Because we capped the weight of the backpacks we tested at about 3 pounds, we did not consider popular bags such as Fawn Design’s The Original Diaper Bag backpack, which weighs about 4 pounds, and the Paperclip Willow, which weighs 3.3 pounds. We declined to consider the JJ Cole Satchel Diaper Bag for the same reason.

The Herschel Supply Co. Strand Tote Sprout diaper bag was the perfect bag for an overnight trip but felt overwhelming for everyday use. Large and roomy, it is essentially the Strand Tote modified for parents. Both bags feature three big open pockets on the outside, giving you quick access to items that you want to keep handy. For an additional $35, the Sprout comes with a changing pad, removable shoulder straps, and stroller attachment straps. Inside the zippered main compartment, the Sprout also has a T-shaped pocket divider to help organize your belongings. The internal dividers make the bag tougher to clean; our bag continued to smell for a few days after we removed the milk and Cheerios mixture we used in our testing. We also wish the Sprout included a small zippered internal pocket for a wallet and other valuables.

The Jeep Perfect Pockets Backpack Diaper Bag (currently unavailable) is roomy and has plenty of pockets for organization, including a zippered, insulated pocket for a bottle on the side of the bag. But it doesn’t have an open pocket for a bottle, which in our tests meant that anytime we needed a drink, we had to remove the backpack from our shoulders and unzip one of the pockets. We ran into the same problem with the Bag Nation Diaper Bag Backpack. Almost identical in design to the Jeep diaper backpack, the Bag Nation backpack also lacks open pockets, though it does have an insulated pocket for a bottle on the side.

The Land diaper bag, one of the least expensive bags we tested and available only on Amazon, was hailed as “the $30 answer to every parent’s needs” by New York magazine’s The Strategist. Ours was sold by HaloVa, but it comes in a variety of colors and patterns, from several Amazon sellers. The main zippered compartment opens up like that of the Skip Hop Mainframe, with a structured mouth that stays open on its own. But the Land’s opening is much narrower and less convenient to use. The bag itself is one of the smallest we tested, and the three insulated pockets in the front compartment are meant for milk bottles and are awkward to repurpose once your kid has outgrown those. We also questioned the bag’s quality and construction. Up close, the gray waterproof oxford fabric of our bag did not look as nice as it did in the pictures; in addition, the zippers are plastic, not metal, and we found this bag relatively difficult to clean.

We admired the design and look of the Leader Julien Canvas Set (currently unavailable). This well-thought-out bag has four easy-to-access open pockets, two of which are covered and protected by a large flap, as well as a padded back and thick, padded straps. But we found the canvas material of our bag to be stiff, and that made the bag feel bulky. (This may not be the case with the leather or nylon version.) We also worried that the drawstring opening for the main compartment did not reliably secure the bag.

The Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack is a common competitor to the JuJuBe B.F.F., and it offers many of the same advantages: It can convert into a backpack, messenger bag, or shoulder bag, though the straps are not padded and not removable like the B.F.F.’s. We especially like the Boxy Backpack’s changing station: A cushioned changing pad folds out from the front of the backpack, revealing two elastic pockets that hold the diapers and wipes. With everything in one place, diaper changing with a squirmy, uncooperative baby was more manageable with the Boxy Backpack than with any of the other diaper bags we tested. Unlike the B.F.F., however, this Petunia Pickle Bottom bag can’t go into the washing machine, so it’s more challenging to clean.

With a roll-down top and leather straps, the Product of the North Westin Backpack (currently unavailable) looks more like a hipster’s backpack than a diaper bag. It’s the roomiest backpack we tested, but in our experience the main compartment felt like a big black hole, as it was difficult to see and locate the pockets and our items.

Skip Hop sells a larger version of the Duo, the Duo Double Signature Diaper Bag, meant for twins and sized to hang on side-by-side double strollers. We didn’t have the opportunity to field-test it, but the Duo Double Signature is about 4 inches wider than the Duo Signature and has 16 pockets (compared with 10).

At 1 pound, the popular quilted Skip Hop Forma Backpack Diaper Bag is one of 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 Skip Hop Greenwich Convertible Backpack, a recent addition to the company’s diaper bag collection, doubles as a backpack and shoulder bag, with 10 pockets and ample space for your belongings. But at 2.85 pounds, it’s the heaviest bag we tested, and its straps are made with the same seat-belt-like material as the Mainframe.

The Timbuk2 Stork Messenger Diaper Bag (discontinued) can easily double as a sleek and stylish work bag. It includes premium details such as a large external pocket with a magnetic closure for the changing pad (included), a zippered external pocket lined with felt for personal essentials, and an internal pocket with a removable neoprene bottle holder. The bag’s main drawback is its compact size: Once we packed backup clothes and snacks in the main zippered compartment, it didn’t have room for much more. At 2.7 pounds, it is also the heaviest bag we tested for our 2019 update.

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 the weight of the bag, plus a padded back and straps, it is comfortable, though a bit large for a petite person to carry. Seven pockets can house diapers, wipes, a changing pad, and a water bottle—as well as a laptop or tablet. The challenge is that all of the pockets are zippered (and designed so that leaving them unzipped feels insecure). An excellent feature for travelers, students, or commuters, the zippered pockets are not so convenient for parents who need to grab something quickly. We also found this bag relatively difficult to clean.