Anchored East Backpack Diaper Bag - Review

As a mom of two kids with the youngest almost completely out of diapers, I probably have more diaper bags than I’d like to admit. Even though we don’t really need diaper bags for the “diaper” factor anymore, we can still pack a mean load for our day to day activities. We live in Florida where most theme parks are less than a 2-hour drive so if we aren’t traveling out of state, you can most likely find us at Disney World. For theme parks, we prefer a backpack because we can ditch the stroller and have everything we need on our backs.

I started using the Anchored East backpack diaper bag back in March and have so many AMAZING things to say about it. There are a few other brands that have the same style, but the price and sturdiness of this bag is hard to beat. The stylish heather grey polyester exterior is water resistant and easy to wipe clean, and the interior lining is also easy to clean. The gold colored zippers and hardware along with the PU (Polyurethane) leather details really makes the bag stand out and look high end. When you’re ready to go, the handles snap closed with a PU leather strap.

Features
One of my favorite features of this bag are the stroller straps, and mostly because they aren’t sold separately! The straps are attached to the bag, meaning you will never accidentally forget them at home, how many times have you done that? They don’t get in the way of carrying as they are on the outside of the shoulder straps and they can be tightened or loosened to attach to almost any handlebar with a snap buckle closure.

Anchored East diaper bag backpacks also include a water resistant changing pad, and although it isn’t as thick or long as some others that I have used, it still gets the job done. Since it isn’t as thick it can be folded down pretty small or even rolled to make more space in the diaper bag if needed. This diaper bag backpack is also filled with so many convenient pockets, one of which is insulated--but more about that below. The shoulder straps are easily adjusted to fit and have a padded mesh material for comfort, as does the lower portion of the back of the backpack.

The bottom of the bag has sturdy luggage feet to help keep the bag off the ground, it doesn’t keep it completely off the ground, but it certainly does help keep it from getting ruined on concrete or other rough surfaces. I really love how the main opening is structured and opens incredibly wide while the bag stands freely for easy packing. According to the listing on Amazon, this bag measures 26x14x14cm.....more than enough space to fit all of your needs, it would be great for cloth diapering too.

All the Pockets!
This bag has a total of 9 pockets; 5 on the inside and 4 on the outside.

Interior pockets: there is a nicely sized zippered pocket, an aluminum insulated pocket that fits my 2 kid’s cups or bottles in various sizes, and the other 3 are open with a bit of elastic on the top. I use these for items such as sunglasses, bibs, sunscreen, etc.

Exterior pockets: the large pocket on the front fits my wallet, keys, and other mom essentials, the 2 pockets on the sides are great for my own water bottles/cups or anything I need to just store quickly while wearing the bag. One side pocket has a small zipper down the side that I wish was an extra small sealed off pocket, but it does give you access to the bigger pocket. The pocket on the back is padded mesh for comfort and can fit a wipes case.

As mentioned above, I do have my fair share of diaper bags, so I do become biased as to which ones I like the most and which ones I will recommend to friends and family. We have another diaper bag backpack that I love, but I have been reaching for my Anchored East backpack most often. Ok, more like ALL THE TIME.

Experience
On my most recent Disney World trip, I took both of my boys (ages 2 and 4) to Magic Kingdom by myself and left my stroller at home…ON PURPOSE. Before you think I am crazy and I continue with my point, it was a wonderful day and my kids were so amazingly well behaved. Since I was flying solo without a stroller to carry our belongings, I packed up my Anchored East bag with all the day’s necessities, including but not limited to: snacks and snack cups, 2 kids jackets, a Lillebaby soft structured carrier when not in use, diapers, wipes, changes of clothes, Mickey ears, an autograph book, etc. I couldn’t believe how much it fit. I wore this bag ALL day (again…no stroller) along with my baby carrier and was very comfortable. I had no shoulder pain, which is amazing considering I was wearing my 2-year-old most of the day as well. The straps aren’t bulky which I think helps with the comfort level, and my husband also had a good experience wearing this backpack around Disney…and husband approval is key!

I discovered Anchored East on Instagram many months ago and I love how Emily, the owner at Anchored East, interacts with others. Finding brands with personable people is huge for me, I like being able to reach out to a company and know that they will respond and supporting other mom-owned businesses is a huge plus. You can find her over at @anchoredeast.co on Instagram, and you can purchase an Anchored East Diaper Bag Backpack on Amazon HERE for only $49.99.

* I received this product for free in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.