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My longtime friend Lisa and I carry identical backpacks. I’m sure she wouldn’t exactly disagree that although we both aspire to be minimally fashionable, we sometimes fail miserably (well, I probably should speak for myself), our sense of practicality trumping our sense of fashion. We know that we look like side-by-side dorks when we’re out together, marching into a coffee shop in our mom uniforms of matching brown backpacks and comfortable workout clothes. We’ve tried out other backpacks, purses and such, but we always go back to our matching backpacks, back to the tried and true. And when we do, it can get confusing. Sometimes, I will run off with her backpack thinking it’s mine; other times, she will rifle through mine looking for something of hers (usually her wallet or cell phone). Look closely, however, and all is not the same. While she prefers to toss her wallet into the depths of the roomy main compartment, I prefer to slip mine into the discreet zippered pocket along the back panel. But we agree that the smaller, outer pocket is the ideal place to keep our lipsticks close at hand. We know what’s important here.

When I was a new mom nervously venturing out with two babies, I’d gone the sylish route, accessorizing my double stroller with diaper bags by Fleureville or Skip*Hop. I eschewed what I deemed to be an ordinary diaper bag. I knew I wasn’t a cool mom, but thought a cool looking diaper bag might be a step in that direction. I even purchased a Baby Sherpa diaper bag which, with its pockets within pockets, had me hoping I’d be soon be zipping my way to an organized life. However, all of these bags just didn’t work for me as a mom of twins. Most diaper bags are made to house the travel essentials of just one baby, not two. If a mom of a singleton carried two changes of clothes for her baby, I needed four changes and so on. These bags were not designed to cart around the essentials of twin babies. Besides, I could never get the straps of those diaper bags to stretch the length between the handlebars of my double stroller. I always had to hang it lamely off just one side.

I never did find the perfect diaper bag during those early years when my twins were still in diapers. Finally, though, my twins turned 3 and with potty training pretty much behind us, I found I could travel more lightly. I no longer needed to bring along so. much. stuff. I decided to downgrade the size, exchanging my hip but impractical diaper bags for a more practical mom bag. Then, I discovered the bland but practical Nikole Day Bag by REI. Perfect!

The beauty of this compact bag is in its construction. It can be worn as a sling pack or as a backpack. There are two side pockets for my bottled water. My phone and lipstick and other small items fit in the small front pockets. My wallet, as I mentioned, slides into the secret back panel where it is practically pick pocket proof. The rest gets dumped into the main compartment, which is roomy enough to stash a book or two. This bag also gets points from me because it is made out of recycled plastic bottles and recycled polyester and gives me a chance to redeem my consumer-driven past that has left me with a closet full of unused diaper bags!

What’s in my backpack? Everything on the list below fits neatly into my Nikole Day Bag, with room to boot.

Cell phone
Lipstick
Pull-ups (1-2 just in case)
Pocket camera
iPod
Pens + small notebook
Hand wipes
Hand sanitizer
Nail clippers (for my kids)
1-2 Sigg bottles for water (one if I’m out solo; two if out with my kids)
Book
Wallet
Snacks (for my kids)
Travel size lotion
Contact lens solution + storage case
Keys
Small purchases

But by far biggest plus is that a backpack enables me to be HANDS FREE. This is essential! I need to be hands free to manage grocery bags, sand toys, preschool art and the occasional boy in a tantrum. I tried handbags, oh yes I did, but handbags don’t leave you hands free, especially the trendy, designer brands. I do see many moms (some from my multiples club, even) toting these stylish handbags but I just can’t pull it off. I have one friend, also a mom of twins, who carries only what she can stash in her pockets. I can’t pull that off either. That would be like walking around naked and God knows my belly will never see the light of day ever again.

Oooh….oooh! I just noticed that REI has given the Nikole Day Bag a slightly more modern look. Mine is definitely boring by comparison. Dare I buy another? While it could still never masquerade as a stylish Fleureville bag, it’s not exactly a dour bag either. It’s more of an earthy mom goes to yoga look, which is not exactly the look I’m going for but seems to be the look that’s going for me. Oh, well, all I really care about is that I can go about hands free. I wonder if my friend and I will upgrade our backpacks together? I have a hunch we will.

Posted by Akemi (April 7, 2008)

Cross posted from Chalk and Cheese Chronicles.