Bratpack: Leave Home with Less

My son was barely 2 months old when I ordered a bigger diaper bag because mine couldn’t hold all the baby mess. A simple trip to the grocery store meant I was overpacked, overloaded, and still sometimes underprepared. I once packed only a carry-on for two separate climates (I’m talking snow skiing and hanging on the beach all in one 2-week trip), but I was in over my head when it came to packing for a baby. The more space I had, the more space I used. I needed help, and I found it in Bratpack.

About Bratpack

Bratpack was created by local Atlanta dad-treupreneur, Bill Lobe. He’s an avid hiker (he hiked the whole Appalachian Trail in 6 months, which is 5 months and 30 days longer than anything I’ve ever considered hiking). Never wanting to carry more gear than necessary, Bill was looking for a way to lighten the load of taking a baby on-the-go. He used a performance-grade material to create this durable, compact diaper bag. It’s not meant to replace a full diaper bag, but instead to be a handy option that works for quicker outings. 

A City Girl’s Take on a Hiker’s Idea

In short, it’s awesome. Bratpack is meant to be an everyday solution to an everyday problem. For me, it totally hits the mark.

I still keep a full-sized diaper bag in my car – I have a champion spit-upper, so having changes of clothes, which the Bratpack won’t hold, is essential. But I don’t need to have those clothes every time I take the baby to Target; I just need to have access.

So far, the Bratpack has completely replaced my full diaper bag in terms of what I carry around. I strap it to the stroller, toss it in the grocery cart, take it on walks, and take it to people’s houses without the bulk of a big diaper bag. 

What I Love About Bratpack

The design of Bratpack impressively fits all I need in a very compact space, and it encourages me to think strategically. The side clip can hang on a stroller, belt loop, carrier strap, or even a pocket, and there’s a strap to wrap it around your hand. It also fits in my purse, though I prefer to stash my phone and a credit card in it and go purse-free. And the changing pad: it’s large, built in, and easy-to-clean. 

Questions I Had, Answered

What all can it hold?

  • Diapers (2-4, depending on diaper size)
  • Wipes 
  • A small bottle
  • A cell phone/cash/credit card 
  • Anything you can fit into the interior mesh zipper pouch. 
    • Wet bags (Life hack: Wrap dog waste sacks in a hair tie and a have spare ponytail holder. See goodies photo.)
    • Travel-sized toiletries – diaper cream, butt paste, sunscreen, antibiotic ointment, lotion, chapstick, etc.
    • Hand sanitizer
    • Granola bars
    • A snack pouch for a little one
    • Anything else you can manage to make compact

Check out the pictures below to see some of the items I’ve tossed in, but get creative. You know what you need.

Where do I use it?

  • The grocery store
  • The park
  • Restaurants
  • On walks
  • And more

I was surprised to find it handy when playing in the snow (the chapstick was useful) and to carry my baby to a party at a neighbor’s house (also in the snow).

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Is it really that durable?

It seems to be. My kid isn’t to the stage of destroying everything in his path yet, but I kicked it around in the snow just to see what would happen. It held up perfectly, and all the contents stayed dry, though only one zipper pouch is actually waterproof. 

Is it really necessary?

Is it counterintuitive to say yes to needing one more item so that you ultimately need fewer items? At the very least, it’d be on my holiday wish list (if I didn’t already own one.)

Atlanta Area Moms Blog is partnering with Bratpack for this sponsored post. That said, we are dedicated to bringing you brands that we love. The thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.