PacaPod Hastings

The delivery of PacaPod’s Hastings knapsack was a pleasant surprise considering that I was only expecting to review the company’s Firenze diaper bag. As excited as I was about the Firenze, I fell more in love with the Hastings. The biggest reason I found myself carrying the Hastings bag around more than the other was because of its convenient and positively deceiving size.
The knapsack looks like an old-school backpack for adults rather than a diaper bag. If I weren’t using the Hastings to tow my baby’s belongings in Target, I’d use it to trek through the streets of Europe! The striped pattern comes in one of two colors, driftwood or mocha. Both options are gender neutral, as advertised.
It might seem on the small side at first especially for a diaper bag, but inside, it’s like Mary Poppins’ carpetbag. Or rather, it’s the “James Bond of baby bags,” as dubbed on the company’s website. This is thanks to PacaPod’s unique 3-in-1 organization system, the centerpiece of all its bags, that allows parents to keep their belongings in the outer bag, which comes equipped with stroller clips, a key fob, and divider pockets for phones and pens. On the Hastings, this outer bag is actually the exterior pocket, which is big enough for the basics and includes a magnetic closure. The inside of each bag has two separate “pods” meant solely for baby: one for changing diapers and one for feeding time. This divider helps keep the two needs separate and also more hygienic.
The inside of the Hasting’s main compartment doesn’t contain any pockets, but the two pods eliminate any need for them. There’s plenty of space to store the necessities and accommodate any extras you want to pack such as bibs or toys. The Hasting’s main compartment zips closed, but the bag also contains snaps to seal the overlying flap onto the outer pocket.

The changer pod comes with a mat and contains four pockets for diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, and rash ointment. You can even fit a change of clothes for baby. The insulated feeder pod holds bottles, spoons, and snacks. Both portions can be unzipped all the way to lay flat, and be removed from the bag for use on their own. This last feature is especially nice; instead of lugging the whole kit and caboodle to the bathroom for a diaper change, you can just grab the changer pod. The sections even clip to a stroller meaning you can leave the majority of the bag behind.
The Hastings is a great diaper bag for daily use, whether it’s making a quick trip to the store or spending the day with your kids at the zoo. Because of its small size, the Hastings is not heavy to carry, even with all the necessities packed inside. The backpack straps adjust easily and stay on your shoulders without digging into them.

A slight drawback to the product is that while the Hastings bag features stroller clips that come standard on any PacaPod bag, the clips are difficult to use. Getting the knapsack hooked onto the straps takes patience. Having a second person assist makes the process considerably easier. Additionally, if you plan on packing a lot in the Hastings, be warned it is top-heavy and won’t stand on its own. There aren’t any feet on the bottom of the bag, which would be a nice feature to include.  Fortunately, it’s easy to throw over your shoulders before loading groceries or picking up baby.
The Hastings knapsack might seem simple, but it’s a well-made diaper bag that can store a lot. It looks like it can withstand some wear and tear and spruces up with just a damp cloth. I’d highly recommend PacaPod’s Hastings diaper bag, whether it’s for daily use or just to keep in the car for emergencies.
Price: $108
To buy: PacaPod.com