Outings with a baby mean hauling everything: spare diapers/pants/clothes, snacks, tea, baby food, rice balls, bananas, wipes, towels, sun hats, jackets—you name it. From 0–3 years old the gear changed a lot; as it shrank, our bag changed too.

We started with a tote

As first-time parents we just packed everything. At diaper tables we’d pull wipes + diapers + trash bag, change, grab spare clothes if there was a blowout, bag the dirty stuff, and shove it all back in. A backpack with a narrow opening was painful for constant in/out; a wide tote was faster. Health checkups (papers in and out) also favored a tote.

Until potty training, diapers are bulky; even as change frequency drops, diaper size grows. Big tote it is. Baby carriers (we used Ergo and Björn) also clash with backpacks—the straps fight each other and you need space to stash the carrier when you take it off.

“Mother’s bags” are often… ugly

Many “mother’s bags” over-index on function: plasticky “waterproof,” loud polka dots, checks, “celebrity mom” vibes—just not us. My wife likes natural styles, so we hunted cotton canvas. We tried this MUJI bag (in beige). Lots of pockets/compartments sounded great but slowed us down—couldn’t remember which pocket, hard to shove things quickly—so we reverted to a simple tote with one inner pocket.

L.L.Bean totes were close but heavy/stiff. She eyed Marimekko’s Uusi Matkuri, but pricey for a consumable that might get 💩 on it—I failed to buy it.

Inside, we organized with small travel pouches; fewer built-in dividers actually felt freer.

When we used a stroller: tote + backpack combo

For stroller-friendly outings (nearby park, walkable areas), we sometimes added a backpack. If we had to fold the stroller (trains), we used the carrier and stuck with the tote. My wife also wore a tiny shoulder pouch for phone/wallet because some outfits lacked pockets.

After ditching the stroller: backpack

As our kid walked farther, bringing the stroller felt like a gamble—might end up carrying a 12 kg child home. We hyped them up to walk and eventually graduated from the stroller. By then diapers were almost gone (maybe one just-in-case), wipes not needed—gear shrank.

We switched to a regular daypack. MUJI’s cotton backpack got too saggy and bulky when loaded, so we moved to a KELTY—stays flat even when full. I own a different color; great silhouette.

KELTY was everywhere…

Past tense 😢. Two–three years ago it was common; now less so. Bag-watching on outings, I saw The North Face FUSEBOX spark the square-backpack wave, which spilled into “mom backpacks.”

Last year: Fjällräven Kånken. This year: Fredrik Packers. Shapes shifted to boxy, with top lids.

We had a Fredrik Packers messenger; good build/feel, slightly pricey, limited colors. Reviews of the backpack say the same: nice but not cheap.

They even make a doctor-bag frame version with bright green/red options—likely to trend.

Kånken stood out at first; now so many carry them that some feel self-conscious and numbers seem down.

Handle-on-top, tote-like backpacks rising

Maybe a Kånken influence. Mystery Ranch appeared with pricey “plain” backpacks; the simpler tote-backpack hybrids are cheaper but still ¥10k+. Blame import duties?

I’ve seen 2–3 moms with these (one camo this morning). Built tough from its special-forces roots; lots of color options in the tote version; unisex so you can pitch it as a shared purchase with your partner.

Anello bags exploded recently—frame-top, Kånken-ish. Strength: under ¥5k. Some reviews mention color bleed when wet, so handle with care. Because they’re cheap (and even imitators at Shimamura), they may spike then fade; I see middle schoolers with them, so we may soon get “what age is this okay?” debates.

Marimekko also quietly made backpacks. I checked in-store: shiny nylon, lots of metal bits, and a rigid, almost randoseru look—not the Marimekko vibe I expected, so we skipped.

Takeaways

Trends suck me in; FUSEBOX tempted me when it launched. Now that boxy packs are everywhere, I’m glad I stuck with a messenger.

If you want longevity, consider something simpler like Fredrik Packers in black/navy, or nearby options like Herschel Supply.

For mom bags, weight matters. You already carry a lot; heavy fabric and too many pockets add fatigue. Lighter, simpler bags stay comfy longer.

Price also gates trends: Anello’s low cost fuels spread; Mystery Ranch stays niche.

Anello showing up on ordinary aunties in everyday clothes makes me wonder where they saw it—magazines? Ads? Kånken had similar moments, though occasionally a sharply dressed older man rocked it.

Handles, tote-hybrids, and square shapes feel trend-sensitive; if it’s your first backpack, you might avoid those extremes for longer usefulness. For a second bag, go wild.