Why the Expedition Diaper Bag is the Ultimate Diaper Bag for Dad

The Expedition Diaper Bag from Tactical Baby Gear is easily one of the best diaper bags on the market for dads.

Any dad knows that a diaper bag is for far more than hauling around diapers. There is so much more that goes into it: bottles, snacks, extra outfits, toys, books--and that’s just stuff for baby. You also need to carry around your own gear. On top of practicality, you also want a bag that is aesthetically pleasing. In this dad's humble opinion, the team at Tactical Baby Gear nailed it.

The Expedition Diaper Bag is the perfect combination of design and practicality. This diaper bag has a number of features that make it perfect for a day around town or a trip across the country.

First Impressions

There is no shortage of diaper bags for dads out there on the market. Unfortunately, many of them are not really my cup of tea. It seems to be a common theme amongst purveyors of dad diaper bags to really lean into the 'military aesthetic'.

Now certainly I have nothing against the men and women that serve, my personal style does not lend itself to looking like I just left deployment.  As you can quite possibly surmise by the name of the brand I am currently writing about--Tactical Baby Gear-- they lean hard into this aesthetic, but I tend towards a completely different look for my bags.

Side note: please do not get me started on the pun patches companies are putting on their bags (eg. 'Active Doodie' or 'Call of Daddy: Modern Fatherhood').

The Expedition Diaper Bag is perfect for dads who prefer a more simple, sleek, stylish type of bag. The designers took a much more minimalist approach than you see with many of the diaper bags on the market. Everything on the bag is there for purely utilitarian purposes.

Features and Benefits

Here is a list of the features as included on the Tactical Baby Gear website. Below the list I will explain the features a bit more and which are my favorite.

• Constructed from water-resistant 600D tactical polyester

• Nylon-lined interior for easy cleaning

• Durable YKK Zippers

• Two separate main compartments

• Divided interior pockets for organization

• Padded tablet/changing mat compartment

• Thermal-lined removable cooler

• Easy-access magnetic wipes pocket
  

I am the type of person that prefers to spend a little bit more money up front to get a quality product rather than spend less and have to replace the product after a short time of use. This bag, constructed with 600D polyester is on the pricier end but is one of the most durable bags you will find. You may be wondering what 600D polyester means exactly. Well, so was I. So I did some research. 600D Polyester is a robust and sturdy material well-suited for items that require durability.

Two compartments—one main compartment one for the cooler protects from any potential spills. The main compartment easily holds several diapers, a couple changes of clothes, books, toys, snacks, pacifiers, and the other odds and ends that you need for baby. The second compartment fits the thermal-lined cooler. The cooler is the perfect size to fit a couple of bottles and some snacks. I love that they separated the two compartments and put the cooler on the bottom just in case of any spills and leaks your things will stay safe.

Plenty of pockets to accommodate various things—tumbler/water bottle, separate wipes container, various smaller objects in the other pockets and whatnots. There’s even a separate “tablet” sleeve, though practically it fits my 16” inch MacBook pro! The numerous pockets and small compartments allows for easy organization of the many small items you need to carry for your little one. This bag includes a magnetic close expandable bottle pocket (I have put a Dr. Brown's bottle and a 32 oz Yeti in it), a magnetic close hidden wipes pocket, a hidden front pocket, a hidden magnetic side pocket, and a top accessory pocket. The wipes pocket, the bottle pocket, the changing mat are all magnetic close.

Stroller straps allow you to attach your bag to your stroller for easy walks around the city and the luggage pass through makes airport travel simple.

Specs

Diaper Bag

Dimensions: 19.5"H x 11.5"W X 6.5"D

Capacity: 23.5L / 1457 cu in

Changing Mat

Dimensions: 12"H x 8"W x 1.5"D (folded)

Dimensions: 12"H x 23"W x 0.5"D (open)

Pros and Cons

If I had to choose the biggest con to this bag it would probably be the price. At $200, there are certainly more affordable options on the market. However, I am of the opinion that this bag is worth every penny of that price tag. There is a lot of thought and care put into the construction of this bag and it is built to last with quality materials.

One complaint I came across online stated that the main compartment is just too small to hold everything that is needed, especially for newborns. Now, I can see where this complaint is coming from and it does hold some merit. I have found myself wishing for just a bit more space in that main compartment. However, I think it does come down to a trade-off. Being able to have the separate compartments for the cooler and the main compartment is wonderful. I am happy to give up a bit of space to keep the two sections separate.

I believe that one of the best parts of this diaper bag is the numerous pockets and compartments that it has. Nothing is more annoying than having to dig through a bag to find a new pacifier while baby is having a meltdown. Having many pockets allows for easy organization and ease of finding what you are looking for. Even having a separate compartment for the wipes and changing mat is a nice touch that makes diaper changes in a public restroom much simpler.

Overall this bag is an excellent bag. I would recommend it to any dad (or mom tbh) looking for a stylish yet durable diaper bag,