Best diaper bag for travel?

[mom to little e]

I currently have one Kate Spade diaper bag, a Whimsical Wear small buket tote, and a Skip Hop. Like them all and they all work well for different reasons. I am know thinking I would like to have the perfect diaper bag for travel (we tend to do a lot of airline travel). Typically, I take the Skip Hop but seem to have to do a lot of digging when I am looking for something and it is always packed to bursting. Last time we traveled, we took the Kate Spade and again it was bursting. Since it also only has a magnetic closure, it isn't the best for travel. What do you use? What do you like best? I guess I am looking for something larger.

I was considering the Mothership (but they seem so huge and boxy on me --I'm 5'3"); a Timbuk2, or a LE Do-it-all Bag. I was considering the Land's End Do-It-All Bag because I REALLY liked the wide opening. I just wish it was a little more fashionable.

Please help... holiday travels are soon upon us!

TIA!

Casey &
Ean (11/06/03) the little love of my life

[audball]

I love the medium Timbuk2 messenger for airplane travel. It's large, but you can put so many large things in it (books, toys, etc.). I just use smaller zip cases (the clear zip cases from Timbuk2 are awesome) or smaller bags to break up the interior. The best thing about them is that they are very stuffable and rugged as heck. You can get some very nice looking ones too - either the classic styles (with colors of your choosing on the Timbuk2 site) or the new graphic prints. Sierra Trading Post, reioutlet.com, and the baby bag swap have some good deals now! :)

[pittsburghgirl]

I have a LE DIA and the wide opening is great, although I don't use mine much because I have the last year's model which had two shorter straps rather than a long adjustable strap. Even though it's not that fashionable it holds a lot and the organization is good, plenty of pockets for various needs, the parent pocket is very handy to keep a few of your things separate. (The price is right too.)

I really like the Timbuk2 style-wise. Sierra Trading post has some cute ones. REI seems to only have the navy.

Marilee
mommy to James
http://lilypie.com/baby1/050120/1/0/1/-5/.png

[newmomto1]

I recently purchased a Lands End Large Tailored Tote & I think it would be an AWESOME bag for travel!
It's large, has GREAT organization (3 totally separate compartments).
It's made from a very durable nylon (microfiber?). Plus...it's not expensive so you don't have to worry about it getting beat up while travelling.
The *only* negative I have found with this bag is that the straps are a bit short. I am able to wear it comfortably on my shoulder (a little longer strap would be though)...I have seen some other posters comment that the straps were too short for them.
You might want to try it out...you can always return it to Sears if you don't like it :-)
ETA:
http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/0,,1_2_1943_47583_100006_78453_5:view=-1,00.html?sid=2014193212327151000&CM_MERCH=SRCH
Good Luck!!

[jesseandgrace]

Hi. We also do a lot of airplane travel. The skip hop definitely is a little small unless it is a really short trip. The bags that work the best are bags that have a large opening and a square /rectangle bottom that is flat and somewhat formed already. There is a lands end one that is perfect, I can't remember which one, and we also have a swiss army bag that matches our luggage that is really good. Both are not bags that I would carry on a normal day, but work really well in the confined space of the plane. I just decide to sacrifice fashion for the day! Most travel shops sell carry on bags, and they are really good for a diaper/toy bag because they are usually large and rectangular. I have also used a diaper bag from Oilily, the bags there are usually large, but they are floppy so they are not as easy to search around in. I think the flap on the mothership would be a pain on the airplane. I like to unzip the bag, put it under the babies seat, and leave it open so I can just reach down for stuff. So, a stiff bag is better. Lands end is probably a goodm choice. I make dh carry mine, and I carry a smaller bag.

[jayali]

We just did a short trip and I bought a LE diaper bag, can't remember the name, but it has three separate compartments that zipper all the way around. It was awesome. It has great organization on the inside and stuffed (and I mean stuffed) it is not very bulky and the handles are the perfect length. Also, not so girly that my husband objects to carrying it. It is canvas though, so it can get pretty dirty, but hey I intend on throwing it in the washing machine like I do my beach bags.

I know what you mean about it not being very fashionable, but I had it monogrammed, so it really looks like a piece of Matty's luggage. I too hate the closure on my Kate Spades. I wish they had a zipper.

Good luck

[nd93]

You might want to consider a backpack style...I love being able to have both hands free and not have the bag sliding around.

[priscilla73]

My 2 suggestions aren't high end boutique bags by any means but they are functional for travel and that is the number one thing when travelling and packing more gear than normal and have it easily accessable. I like my nice bags (Fleurville, 2 Red Hens, etc) but wouldn't dream of putting them on the plane floor so the passenger in front can spill soda on it. ;)

For a backpack style, I use this one. The Safeline Kids Skyline Backpack. In fact, I just returned from Maui last week and it was awesome. It has a removable purse for mommy stuff that you can take with you to the restroom or shopping. This bag has tons of zippered pockets. The organizatin can't be beat. The changing pad is a joke but I tend to use disposables, especially with travel. This fits nicely under the plane seat, too.

http://www.ebags.com/safeline_kids/skyline_diaper_backpack/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=9227

For a tote style, check out this one. It is the Ellington In Flight tote and the uniquie thing about this one is that you can unzip the back pocket and slip the bag over the luggage handle. How cool is that?! It has tons of pockets and is a nice microfiber material.

http://www.ebags.com/ellington/in_flight_tote_black_microfiber/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=19143

HTH
Priscilla

[MamaKath]

That Ellington one looks neat. I noticed a similar one the other day at the OSA site and was surprised to see that you could unzip the back and fit it over your luggage pull handle. Here is the link...
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/27211/282755/117.html If you click on the picture it opens up a window with additional views.
HTH~

[priscilla73]

Oh wow, OSA has one, too. It looks like the same bag but with their name on it.

There is a small version of the Ellington In Flight. It's even cheaper.

http://www.ebags.com/ellington/in_flight_tote_small_black_microfiber/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=20249

[khakismom]

We do lots of airline travel too and I can't recommend a backpack enough! I have also used the LE Multi-Tot Tote (discontinued), and while it was huge, it was way too bulky and I had trouble getting it under the seat on the airplane.

When we travel, I use the Baby Trend ActivPak (BRU carries them in black and blue, I have the black one):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005TPSQ/qid=1103144763/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/103-9356483-1719011?v=glance&s=baby

It normally retails for $30, but right now it's $20--which is a great deal IMO! It's got tons of compartments, the straps are comfy and it's not super bulky at all.

HTH! :)

[nd93]

I just returned from Maui last week too! Where were you? We were in Wailea. Heaven!

[whittyanne]

I currently carry a Mothership. I took it on our most recent flight and it was great to have. I LOVE it. I can't imagine traveling with a smaller bag because it was filled to the brim! It's really not as big as it seems...

[priscilla73]

We were in Kaanapali. At the Aston Kaanapali Shores right on the beach! It was heaven! We did a private tour to the Road to Hana, the Reefdancer submarine etc and I can home with Vertigo! Ugh, it's getting better though. It comes in waves. lol

[essnce629]

Another vote for the Land's End large tote. I love mine for all day trips and traveling. It has 3 completely separate compartments (all with zipper closures) and 9 inside pockets! Boy can that thing expand! I also have a Mothership and there's no way I could use that for traveling-- I have it bursting at the seams when I just spend a day at the zoo. Add a sling and my son's jacket to the mothership with all my other stuff and it's definately full. I consider both the mothership and the LE large tote to be big bags, but the tote definately holds WAY more.

***Latia
Conner 8/19/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif 15 months & counting! http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/9870.gif