This is a backpack that has a laptop padded section. Comfortable breathable back and straps.  Good organizational space.  Large enough for a day hike, day on the town with two children or to be used as a diaper bag.  Has a chest strap, but no waist strap which could be useful for long days. A friend of mine always used a backpack as her purse, diaper bag and stuff carrier and I understood why when I used this bag.  Made with many  100% recycled materials

GoGaGa Bag:  The Slide - Diaper bag to messenger

I have had this bag for a few months now, and had waited to write about it because I was trying to figure out how to best describe this amazing bag.  It is a messenger-style bag that is created to be multi-functioning.  It is completely versatile; both women and men will feel comfortable walking around with it.

GoGaGa offer many varieties of bags but the one I tried was The Slide. It comes with a changing pad, cell phone /iPod pocket and baby wipe holder.  All these accessories can be removed and your bag would be just like any typical messenger bag except that it has an amazing shoulder strap.

I am sure that I could not carry around a heavy messenger bag with a conventional strap, but the strap on this bag alone is worth every penny that you pay for the bag.  It is a large elastic cloth band (a bit like an infant sling carrier) that spreads out the weight of the bag on your shoulder and back.  It is very comfortable.

The bag also has two insulated bottle holders, well-designed compartments and even a yoga mat holder.  All these compartments can be used with your baby in mind or when your baby is not in tow.  I had enough room in this bag for all my daughter’s accoutrements plus my own.  I loved being able to bring cold water on one of my excursions without looking like I was bringing my diaper bag along.  The cell phone / I pod carrier holds phones well as long as you don’t bend over. Unfortunately, you do that often with a child so I don’t recommend storing your phone in it.

I love the baby wipe carrier from this bag - I use it with all of my other bags.

Overland bag: Calistoga - Grocery bag to car organizer

This simple cloth bag got a lot of oohs and aahs at the grocery store.  It is a typical cloth grocery bag except that it has some reinforcement along its seams which makes it stand up in a square shape.  This way you can put heavy gallons of milk in it or nicely folded t-shirts without the whole thing collapsing and frustrating the heck out of you.

I use this bag to grocery shop and to bring different things I want to keep organized in the car. During our previous car camping trips we would have loved to have a few of these to organize our gear and clothes. I like bags that are open so that you can see what is in them.

Prana Bags: Whipsaw Messenger Bag:  Use for one person.

This is a great looking bag with many features: ample pockets and storage areas, laptop compartment; it can be used by both men and women.

I wanted to try this bag out to see if it could be used for different purposes but I found the strap to be a bit uncomfortable and the adjustment buckles to be heavy and in the way.  The storage areas are designed more for the single user.  I would not recommend this bag to be used as a diaper bag, except if you don’t mind if everything mingles together. Also, the bag itself is heavy.

This bag is probably the most strongly made and I am sure the construction would last more than a life time. It is very sturdy.

Autumn Tote ( Prana):  Use for day on the town.

I have used this wide mouth, insulated top loader for a variety of activities: grocery shopping, trips to the library, travel around a city, and a weekend getaway.  Even though this bag is intended to carry a laptop it has ample room for other things.

I have used it to insulate my meat and dairy when I went to the grocery store and had to drive it back home in a warm car.  I also used it to carry many large heavy children’s books back to the library and the books stayed in place and did not flop around.  It also worked well for my basic needs on a weekend getaway.

I recommend this bag for all around use. It does not have a shoulder strap so it is more of a tote.