03.02.08

I remember the days when going on a date with a cute girl, required me carrying just my wallet and my charm.

Now that daddy-daughter-days are my date of choice it's time to try out some new gear for assisting me in our shared expeditions. Whether embarking to the playground, the zoo, or a impromptu trip to destination unknown, Baby Sherpa definitely helped me out with their Diaper Bag Backpack.

The Baby Sherpa Diaper Bag Backpack is a semi-modular split compartment bag with quite a few bells and whistles. The split compartment is a horizontal divider that separates the lower portion of the backpack from the upper. The lower portion has an incorporated soft sided cooler that allows the storage of lunches, bottles, juice boxes, or whatever else you may need to keep cool. The cooler is surprisingly large, and not at the expense of the upper portion of the backpack. The upper half of the backpack was fully capable of carrying a change of clothes, a pair of shoes, a blanket, a few diapers and wipes, and a few books for our day trip to the museum.

There were so many features on this backpack, that I am not even sure I can list them all but here are my favorites:

- Changing Pad
- Modular Compartments
- Ergonomic Design (The multiple belts and straps for this properly riding and fitting backpack, made a big difference in my ability to keep up with Ms. Rocket Fuel)
- A bungie mesh pouch on outside of the backpack for those "I need to stick this somewhere quick" situations.
- The pack is also offered in multiple colors, including camouflage (interestingly my daughter's favorite).

And Daddy's favorite feature? The handle! On the top of the bag there is a large plastic easy to grip handle where most other backpacks have a simple nylon loop. I have found with my daughter that sometimes she wants to be carried, and other times she wants to be carried "now". You can't foresee some of the curves that are coming your way as a parent, and having a baby in my arms makes it tough to put on a backpack.

Don't forget post-parent use either! I often justify the purchase of items by their multitasking abilities. This pack would be great for a day trip without the kid too. The cooler feature would make it a great bag to take to the game, on a day hike, or even a birdwatching trip to the park with your camera and binoculars.

This backpack is fantastic. I especially recommend it for any parent that has ever said "Oh I should have brought..." or "Now where did I put that...".
Visit Baby Sherpa for a full list of features.