Do you need this much diaper bag? Some of us do, and we know who we are. On the other hand, if you're one of those moms who simply tosses a spare diaper in her purse before heading out the door, you'll probably be laughing at me by the end of this review. If you're already a parent, take an inventory of what's in your current bag. As I write this, my Land's End Deluxe Do-It-All bag is holding all of these items:

Seven diapers (size 4)
Large tube of Desitin
Small bottle of antibacterial lotion
Travel-size package of wipes
Small bottle of baby lotion
Large bottle of Triaminic (orange, of course)
Infant Tylenol
Infant Motrin
Mylicon drops
Baby Anbesol
Prescription ear drops
Nose syringe
Digital thermometer
Changing pad
Plastic bag to hold dirty clothes
Nylon toiletry kit with washcloth, small bottle of water, and Q-tips
Change of clothes for warm weather
Change of clothes for cool weather
Sweater (size 2)
Pair of socks
Pair of tennis shoes (size 6)
Small package of Ritz Bitz (peanut butter)
Half-empty bag of Goldfish crackers
Sippy cup (empty, I hope)
Bottle (again, empty, I hope)
Baby Mozart video
35mm camera
Extra roll of film
Doggies (board book)

But the most amazing thing is, I could retrieve any of these items in five seconds without taking anything else out of the bag.

So, do you need this much bag? Maybe you're thinking "only an insane person would carry around that much stuff for one child." And perhaps that's true. But if you have two or three kids, it starts to sound better, doesn't it?

By this point you should already know if you need a bag this capacious. But do you really need the $50 Land's End version, or would a cheaper one do? Let's see…

The design - full of handy pockets and pouches. One large central zippered section with interior pockets of mesh and nylon, great for organizing supplies. Two more zippered sections, one with ties to keep a change of clothes neatly folded. Several exterior pockets, including one insulated pocket with a zippered cover. Long straps to sling over your shoulder, and shorter straps for hand-carrying.

The fabric - extremely sturdy, washable nylon in nice muted colors, instead of a juvenile print that screams "diaper bag." Something no father (or stylish mother) would be embarrassed to carry.

The construction - again, extremely sturdy. Zippers that always zip, pockets that don't tear, in other words, the quality you expect from Lands' End. I received a smaller diaper bag (not Land's End) at the same time I received this bag... it didn't last three months. The Land's End bag is still in brand-new condition.

The extras - a wonderfully long, padded changing pad (with a pocket that allows you to tuck a diaper and a package of wipes inside, making a "mini changing package" to carry with you while you leave the big bag behind if needed). A clear plastic bag to hold messy things. A little toiletry kit with a small plastic bottle.

As you've probably surmised, this bag is big. Very big. It's rather heavy when full, and it doesn't fit well in stroller baskets. If you like this idea of a large, well-made bag but are having a difficult time justifying the expense, here are a couple of things to consider: First, this bag will easily last through two or more children. Second, when the diaper years are over, it can easily become luggage for traveling with children, or even an overnight bag for an adult.

I'll admit I have smaller bags for different purposes - when I'm only running to the store, I probably don't need everything in the big Land's End bag. But for a longer trip, a large family, or for a parent whose motto is "be prepared for anything," it's a must-have.




Recommended: Yes