Best Backpack diaper bag?

[cookiemonster80]

I'm looking at the following for a gift and wonder if there are any more options out there. I know Lands end used to have one, but it's not on their website anymore so they must have discontinued it which is a shame since I know it was reviewed really well by the BBB. This is specifically for a dad to be and I know he'll need a backpack vs a messenger style. Any other options are welcome.

Love the price here-
http://www.amazon.com/O3-Innsbruck-D...ef=pd_sbs_ba_3

I see this one everywhere but the price is a bit steep for me:
http://www.amazon.com/Dad-Gear-BP-BA...ef=pd_sbs_ba_1

The reviews aren't great on this one, but a few people on previous threads have indicated they liked it:
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Treks.../ref=pd_ybh_15

[mikala]

Here are a few more options.

http://www.amazon.com/Skip-Hop-Backp...ef=pd_sbs_ba_4

http://www.target.com/p/fisher-price...n/-/A-13201587
Honestly, I think I'd get the gear to turn any bag into a "diaper" bag. Buy a cloth or box of disposable changing pads or a skip hop pod (, http://www.target.com/p/skip-hop-pro...kip+hop+diaper), a bottle sized cooler, maybe a pacifier holder or small wet bag.

If you have time you might check the daily deal sites. I think I've seen the dad gear one on Zulily or My Habit. I've seen the Fisher price one at tj Maxx.

[BabbyO]

I'm looking at the following for a gift and wonder if there are any more options out there. I know Lands end used to have one, but it's not on their website anymore so they must have discontinued it which is a shame since I know it was reviewed really well by the BBB. This is specifically for a dad to be and I know he'll need a backpack vs a messenger style. Any other options are welcome.

Love the price here-
http://www.amazon.com/O3-Innsbruck-D...ef=pd_sbs_ba_3

I see this one everywhere but the price is a bit steep for me:
http://www.amazon.com/Dad-Gear-BP-BA...ef=pd_sbs_ba_1

The reviews aren't great on this one, but a few people on previous threads have indicated they liked it:
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Treks.../ref=pd_ybh_15

We have the Trekster (grey w/orange) and have used it for 4+ yrs. I've jammed packed it full and used it for 2 kids at a time. We love ours. We got an identical one for a cousin 3 yrs ago and they also love it. I'm not sure, but it seems that the newer reviews aren't the greatest...perhaps the quality went down? I've seen them occasionally in BRU and they still look to be well made like ours. The only thing that ever happened to ours is one of the zipper pulls broke in less than a year. But I just put a key chain on it and use that as the pull.

ETA: This is the Trekster we have http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Treks...pr_product_top

It is no longer available, but if you look, all the reviews from 2009-2010 are pretty good. Anything 2012 and newer seem poor. Perhaps Columbia took an awesome product and went cheap with the construction. Too bad. We love this diaper bag and everyone I've ever met with it does too.

[Dream]

I'll be watching this thread. I've been using a LE back for about 3 years now and its been great. But DH really wants it replaced but I haven't come across one that I liked and LE doesn't make it anymore.

[Blue Hydrangea]

I've had 3 different backpack diaper bags (it's the only kind bag that works for me), and while I can't review the particular ones you've listed, maybe some of my thoughts can help?

Our first bag (I believe it was Land's End, but no longer made) had great mesh side pockets that at first held bottles, and then sippy cups. The changing pad was built into the front pocket, which when upzipped, folded out. While at first I liked that feature, as DS grew there was no extra room on the changing tables (particularly fold-down tables at stores, etc) for the base of the bag, which had to rest on the table so I could fold out the pad and put the baby on it. Had to start carrying a separate changing pad, which defeated the purpose of having one built-in. The inside of the bag was just one compartment, which meant we had to dig around in it to find what we needed. I often wished that bag had a couple compartments to organize things in better.

Our second bag is Chicco diaper backpack. It does not have a built-in changing pad, although a separate one is included. It has a few large pockets in the main compartment to help organize, and stroller straps to connect it the stroller, although we rarely use them. It does not have the side pockets to keep sippies upright, and really miss them. It has one zippered insulated side pocket for a bottle, but it is so narrow that barely anything fits in it.

I also have a FP diaper backpack in my closet, which I thought I would switch out my Chicco for. But the fabric feels cheap, and I'm a little worried if it will wash up well. It has good organizational pockets inside, which is a plus, an insulated outside pocket for bottles or sippies, and my favorite feature is the outside wipes pocket, you don't even have to open the bag to grab a wipe, and I think that's genius!

[larig]

The Overland Equipment bag, Cambridge, is pretty darn close to the LE bag. It is both a backpack and tote bag, just like the LE bag. The black even has a light blue lining like the LE one did. It's definitely geared a little more toward someone carrying it to work. It has lots of pockets, but not as good a set-up for carrying bottles as the LE bag.

[jam224]

My SIL has a backpack as a diaper bag and it's made by High Sierra (not marketed as a diaper bag). I'm pretty sure it's this one, the Loop Backpack: http://www.amazon.com/High-Sierra-Ba...dp/B000H8250S/. Ebags has some really great pictures and a video showcasing it: http://www.ebags.com/product/high-si...uctid=10178100. She loves it. I really like that it has two mesh sleeves for bottles/sippy cups (one on each side). She said she bought a changing pad at Target to go with it, though I don't know which one exactly. I have the Skip Hop Pronto and I like it, although I didn't find much use for it after we switched to cloth diapers. My changing pad of choice is now the fleece changing pad by FuzziBunz: http://www.amazon.com/FuzziBunz-Flee.../dp/B002OL1TH6. Whether the dad-to-be prefers a wipeable, oilcloth type pad (the Skip Hop) or a machine washable cloth pad (the FuzziBunz), it's his personal preference. I have my fleece pad folded up into a zippered wet bag/pouch, which keeps it nicely contained.

Speaking of pouches, I have several zippered pouches that help keep my diaper bag (a messenger bag) organized. I bought a set of these from TJ Maxx a while ago and love them: http://www.amazon.com/Travelon-Packi...dp/B001CZP2W8/. The pouches might be helpful in keeping a large backpack organized too. Just a thought!