MamaKath
12-05-2004, 02:21 PM
:-D I have searched and searched. I have tried various packs. I will concede that they all have their pluses and their minuses. They are huge, vary in comfort and features, and of course price. I have looked, I have tried, and it just wasn't happening. My biggest problems, I carry a LOT for a full day out. I have a child with allergies, so I often carry food in addition to regular diapering/kid stuff. So I had my diapering stuff, my stuff, food, and toys. In a regular backpack it all fell to the bottom, causing major pain on my back. I finally found a pack IRL (Deuter's) that might work, but still wasn't 100% what I was looking for. I decided to give the Baby Sherpa a try (it has been awhile since I have seen one IRL, so it became a leap of faith), and figured I could order the Deuter pack after Christmas if I still needed to. I think the Sherpa will work for us though!!!!! YAY!!!! So here is my review so far, I will update later in the holiday season after it has had "real" use also, hopefully I will still be completely joyful then. ;-)
Please if anyone has packing tips for this pack, let me know. I want to utilize its functions as best I can. :-) Thank you to all who helped me with suggestions. ~Kath
Baby Sherpa Backpack Review
Pros-
*Cooler in bottom
*Weight of items spread out vs all at bottom
*Lots of spots to stash stuff
*Comfortable (so far, will try it on a long outing this weekend)
*Sporty but stylish
Cons-
*Big
*Doesn’t stand well without stuff in bottom
*Not a ton of room in “top” compartment since the cooler takes up a lot of room
Wishlist for this bag-
*D-rings to attach a shoulder strap
*Cell phone pocket on the straps (I think it would still have to come off to get the phone from the little side pockets)
*Actually slightly taller to accommodate more of the diapering stuff
So here are my thoughts so far on the Baby Sherpa. I just received this in the mail a few days ago. I was completely excited to see it, and check it out. It arrived in enough time to test a bit before I have to use it for a full day out. This is perfect for our needs though. It had a quick “test” packing, but I certainly need to think it out better this week.
The cooler- There is a large cooler compartment on the bottom. This is perfect for us, since dd has food allergies and we often need to pack lunch and snacks for all day outings. If it were not used as a cooler it would hold a ton of diapering supplies perfectly! I love that the zipper allows you to access the contents easily without spilling all over.
The upper compartment- Although it is a big bag overall, there is not as much usable diapering interior room as you would think since the cooler takes up most of the bottom. I am still trying to figure out how best to organize items in this. It has a padded video camera pocket (don’t have a working video camera so don’t need that) along the back, a zippered pocket within that also along the back “wall” of the pack, a mesh pocket on the front “wall” of the pack and then some open space. I think it will be plenty of space for stuff, I just need to work on where and how, iykwim.
The sides- There is one zippered pocket on either side on the outside of the bag to hold phones, keys, or other things parent’s need quickly. They also have a loop inside to attach a carabineer or the like for keys, pacies, etc. There are also two removable cup/bottle holders; one mesh and one insulated with a closed top. I haven’t tried yet, but they look as if they would attach to the stroller handle while not on the bag. I think this will mean the bag could fit in a stroller basket more easily also since it removes a bit of the width. They are both very roomy and should fit just about any sippy cups or wide bottles you would need.
Front of the bag- There is a “kangaroo” style pocket that is perfect for stuffed animals or quickly needed kids stuff. My kids were excited that they could each stuff a little buddy in. There is a stretchy cord to “trap” a coat or blankie which will be great I am sure. Two loops are on the front for toys, I need to find some links or something to attach stuff to though. There is also a bit of reflective tape, which adds a sporty appearance, and provides added visibility to others.
The back- The straps are very comfortable! Plush, have a chest clip, d-rings to add toys or other items, very adjustable. There is a pocket to hold the large changing pad. It adds additional support and padding for your back. I am not sure if I love this part yet, as I am thinking it might feel less bulky if that weren’t there. The waist strap is thick, highly adjustable, and removable. I am afraid to remove it since I am sure I will lose it quickly though.
Please if anyone has packing tips for this pack, let me know. I want to utilize its functions as best I can. :-) Thank you to all who helped me with suggestions. ~Kath
Baby Sherpa Backpack Review
Pros-
*Cooler in bottom
*Weight of items spread out vs all at bottom
*Lots of spots to stash stuff
*Comfortable (so far, will try it on a long outing this weekend)
*Sporty but stylish
Cons-
*Big
*Doesn’t stand well without stuff in bottom
*Not a ton of room in “top” compartment since the cooler takes up a lot of room
Wishlist for this bag-
*D-rings to attach a shoulder strap
*Cell phone pocket on the straps (I think it would still have to come off to get the phone from the little side pockets)
*Actually slightly taller to accommodate more of the diapering stuff
So here are my thoughts so far on the Baby Sherpa. I just received this in the mail a few days ago. I was completely excited to see it, and check it out. It arrived in enough time to test a bit before I have to use it for a full day out. This is perfect for our needs though. It had a quick “test” packing, but I certainly need to think it out better this week.
The cooler- There is a large cooler compartment on the bottom. This is perfect for us, since dd has food allergies and we often need to pack lunch and snacks for all day outings. If it were not used as a cooler it would hold a ton of diapering supplies perfectly! I love that the zipper allows you to access the contents easily without spilling all over.
The upper compartment- Although it is a big bag overall, there is not as much usable diapering interior room as you would think since the cooler takes up most of the bottom. I am still trying to figure out how best to organize items in this. It has a padded video camera pocket (don’t have a working video camera so don’t need that) along the back, a zippered pocket within that also along the back “wall” of the pack, a mesh pocket on the front “wall” of the pack and then some open space. I think it will be plenty of space for stuff, I just need to work on where and how, iykwim.
The sides- There is one zippered pocket on either side on the outside of the bag to hold phones, keys, or other things parent’s need quickly. They also have a loop inside to attach a carabineer or the like for keys, pacies, etc. There are also two removable cup/bottle holders; one mesh and one insulated with a closed top. I haven’t tried yet, but they look as if they would attach to the stroller handle while not on the bag. I think this will mean the bag could fit in a stroller basket more easily also since it removes a bit of the width. They are both very roomy and should fit just about any sippy cups or wide bottles you would need.
Front of the bag- There is a “kangaroo” style pocket that is perfect for stuffed animals or quickly needed kids stuff. My kids were excited that they could each stuff a little buddy in. There is a stretchy cord to “trap” a coat or blankie which will be great I am sure. Two loops are on the front for toys, I need to find some links or something to attach stuff to though. There is also a bit of reflective tape, which adds a sporty appearance, and provides added visibility to others.
The back- The straps are very comfortable! Plush, have a chest clip, d-rings to add toys or other items, very adjustable. There is a pocket to hold the large changing pad. It adds additional support and padding for your back. I am not sure if I love this part yet, as I am thinking it might feel less bulky if that weren’t there. The waist strap is thick, highly adjustable, and removable. I am afraid to remove it since I am sure I will lose it quickly though.