I'll be interested to hear the DL take on diaper bags. I've been looking around at the dedicated diaper bags geared toward men and, if I were to go that route, I like the Diaper Dude "Green Dude" and the Fleurville "DJ" bags, mostly due to their eco-friendliness. But at $90-100, I would rather get something that is more of a multi-use bag. One that I could use for school, groceries, etc. My other thought, although it is actually considerably more expensive, is going with a Bailey Works messenger bag, as I could use it essentially for the rest of my life. They're super durable and waterproof. They're not as eco-friendly material wise (except that they last forever, so no need to keep buying new bags), but they are handmade in the town that I live in (Portsmouth, NH). They are really great bags. If you want to check them out, go to baileyworks.com

@halldur

I'm really leaning toward recommending that you go with a general purpose messenger bag or a backpack. The convenience factor and features that you get with a "diaper bag," are counterbalanced by the utility, durability and style of a non-specific bag, and it looks to me like the pricing comes down to being about the same.

So I like your idea of the Bailey Works bag. The Timbuk2 bags also look great. One thing I notice is the use of buckles instead of velcro, which I really like. Lots of baby stuff sticks to velcro. The velcro strips get all fuzzy and I think that looks like crap. That said, we do like the DadGear and Diaper Dude bags. And these bags look good enough that you can use them as general purpose bags when the baby is big.

For the purpose of the comparison piece we just did, I bought a North Face Surge backpack. At REI, this pack is at the same price point that you are talking about. I love all the features of this thing. I’m using it as my everyday work bag. I think it would make a good diaper bag as well. Not as good on instant access as other bags, but really good on storage, durability and utility after the baby is bigger.

By the time our third child came along, we could get all the required diaper bag contents into a gallon ziplock. This could be passed back and forth between parents. This system is perfect for North Face or Bailey Works strategy.

Lil' late to the party here... Didn't we discuss this once before, I couldn't find it - maybe it was chatting on the live show...

ANYWAY...

I'm a luggage fiend. I dig a cool bag. But it's gotta be a bargain too, my paycheck requires this feature. So, thrift stores, yard sales, what have you... I've been able to curb the purchasing of bags recently, even with a recent flood ruining all but one piece o' luggage... but a Samsonite briefcase for $7, or a retail $50 Canon camera bag for $3, yea, I'm gonna bring that home for sure. Sorry Honey.

I agree that multi-use is key, and if it's labeled as a diaper bag "first," for some reason it seems the price will be close to double. (Backpack at $25 will be a $40 or $50 diaper bag.) My neurosis loves the idea of a special lil' pocket for each item, however, practical everyday experience has shown me, that is easy to overcome and doesn't matter at all. We are actually still using the 'freebie" from the hospital. The essential diaper gear, one meal and one change of clothes still fits (though tightly). I have a specific backpack diaper bag ($3 baby consignment) that I used a few times, because it was so much cooler than the black purse looking freebie, but in order to have 2 bags, you have to have 2 sets of everything. Switching items from bag to bag was irritating, more so if you forgot something. So now, I accept carrying the "purse," as long as I'm carryin' TheBoy too. (The purse won out for the ONE bag, 'cause TheWife didn't like the backpack.)

The freebie certainly would NOT be big enough with 2 kids in diapers, and carrying 2 of them would really suck. So that'd be a reason for sure to get a bigger bag. I've seen Moms with the roller airline bags. Seems like an efficient alternative to me.

Our next one will likely see the Canon camera bag as his/her "daddy's" diaper bag. Plenty big, and convertible "walls" inside. Very cool. Even cooler if I ever put the skate patches on it, which I threatened often with the first kiddo, but never did.

Should you buy a Diaper Bag for Dad?Oh I definately have some strong opinions on this topic.

Check it out!

Should you buy a Diaper Bag for Dad

Sometime I think don't buy a diaper bag and instead just get a bag you really like.

These bags are made by a dad who is a hard core traveler. A diaper bag that can be mauled by a croc and still survive

www.saddlebackleather.com/

I've since quietly replaced the "purse" looking freebie with the backpack bag now. 100%. With no resistance from TheWife. I think she decided it wasn't worth the effort... Woo hoo!!

But the reason I came to this thread today was to actually post up a funny write up from kidswoot.com for a diaper bag. It's for a gr8x Signature Satchel Diaper Bag. Disclaimer: I hate the bag though, even in red with a black racing stripe, it looks like a purse. But the write up reminded me of the Labs...

Daddyblogging With Gordo

What up, y’all—it’s Gordo here, back with another piece of primo daddybloggin’ for all you bros with progeny. Now I know a lot of you guys who read my product reviews are probably new to the whole fatherhood scenario, so let me just tell you one thing straight up: It gets better.

I know, I know, at first you’re just like “WTH, man, this little dude just cries and cries ALL THE TIME, and he basically can’t DO anything!” I hear you. It’s true, dawgs, under a certain age, your kids are just not very much fun. You just can’t really involve them in the stuff you like. They won’t do it. They can’t. Ask me sometime about the day I tried to have a catch with my first son. Oh, man, his moms went CRAZY, and I wasn’t even throwing him the serious heat or any breaking balls either!

Anyway, that’s just how it is for the first little while. But don’t worry, once you get through the passive drooling period, your kid will be able to partake in all kinds of awesome fun activities. The trick is to endure this initial period, and before you know it, you and Mini-You will be dirt-bikin’ together and going on turkey hunts and taking turns driving the boat while the other one rides in the tube and all kinds of great stuff.

One thing that helps with this boring early stage is if you can pick up some cool gear. For example, you’re going to need a bag for your baby stuff. And I bet I don’t have to tell you that they make some UUUUUGLY ones. You’ve probably gotten some as shower gifts! But look, just because you reproduced and took on some domestic-type child-rearing responsibilities doesn’t mean you have to get full-on emasculated, dawg. So hang up the pastel happy-face flower-print bag and get yourself something classy looking like this GR8X Signature Satchel.

It’s got adjustable, detachable shoulder straps for your comfort and convenience, a changing mat, a place for your phone, all kinds of handy features. But dude—DUDE. I have to warn you about this, because no one warned me when I had my first, and I wish somebody had:

It’s not actually for carrying the baby around. It’s just for the baby’s stuff. I know, I know, he totally fits, and it looks perfectly comfy, but for whatever reason people go NUTS at the grocery store if they see you loading junior in there. Just FYI.

OK, see you next week, bros, when I’ll be field-testing some of the newest bath toys on the market. We’ll see how they stand up to jello wrestling night at Marv’s Sports Grill! Should be pretty rad. PEACE, fly-daddies!