Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Molehill Mountain Back Pack Diaper Bag > Thomas Vickers > Long Term Report

Molehill Mountain Equipment Backpack (Diaper Bag) Long Term Report

March 3, 2006

Tester Background:
I grew up in the piney woods of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the mosquito-infested woods behind the house. My style has evolved and over the last 4 or 5 years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping bags and tents, just lighter versions). While I have flirted with lightweight hiking, I feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one of comfort, while carrying the lightest load possible.

The bottomless bag:
Over the course of the long term testing phase I have used the Molehill Mountain Diaper Bag at least once a week.  The longer I used this bag, the more I realized that it is just too big for casual use.  I can fit all my necessary diaper bag essentials in the front compartment and the outside pockets without ever having to resort to using the main compartment.  For most trips, this is wasting space, but on longer trips, it is a great resource.  If I am not carrying baby supplies in the main compartment, I am usually carrying grown up supplies, either extra clothes or snacks and food for me and my wife.  If I was ever in doubt about needed extra baby clothes or supplies, having the extra room made it very easy to just stuff it in "just in case" I need them.  

Test Strategy:
FIT
1. How well does the Molehill Mountain Backpack fit my torso?
I have a medium sized torso which measures about 19 inches (48 cm). This backpack fit comfortably once the shoulder straps were adjusted properly no matter what kind of load I was carrying. My typical load of basic baby supplies barely registered on my back and the pack stayed comfortable when I was carrying a change of clothes for my wife and I as well as the basic baby diaper bag supplies.  

2. How adjustable are the shoulder straps? Do they 'bite' into my shoulders when the pack is loaded?
They are quick and easy to adjust.  There is a fair amount of range in them and there was no bite to them, even when the pack was heavily loaded. 

3. Can the shoulder straps be adjusted while wearing the pack?
Yes, easily.  I also like the fact that the shoulder straps actually disconnect/connect via quick release buckles at their bottom ends. 

4. Can I combine the backpack with my favorite baby carrier? (backpack style carrier worn on the front of the torso).
The answer to this one is no. It isn't a pack issue as much as the size and complexity of the baby carrier make it impossible.  I did carry the pack over one arm with one strap sometimes, but it still was a bit difficult with my baby carrier in place. 

COMFORT
1. How much do I sweat with this pack on?
I can't really comment here. Most of the time that I had to wear the pack for extended times, the weather was either cool or I was in an air conditioned building (no sweating at all).  In cooler temperatures there was no sign of the dreaded 'sweaty back' that comes from wearing a pack.

2. How easy is it to carry the pack by the top haul strap?
It is rather easy to grab and go this way.  It is also very easy to hang the bag from this haul strap when using a changing table. As described in my field report, I was able to easily access the front compartment and its baby supplies while the bag hung from this haul strap.

PERFORMANCE
1. How much can I carry in the main compartment? Can I get a full load of baby essentials in it? (clothes, blankets, socks, hats)
I have discovered that I rarely use the main compartment for baby needs.  All of the essential items go in the front compartment or the outside pockets. This leaves the main compartment empty unless I have a load of my clothes or items to carry along. This actually makes the diaper bag pretty flexible since the largest load carrying space in the pack is not necessary for carrying the baby stuff.

2. How well do the side pockets hold different sized/shaped bottles?
The side pockets are good for holding bottles and other drinks.   The elastic holds everything securely, even if the bottle protrudes out of the mesh. 

3. Does the front compartment hold enough supplies for a normal afternoon out? (this includes diapers, wipes, lotion, and nursing pads)
Yes. Yes. Yes. Combined with the outside pockets, there is no need to carry baby supplies any other area other than the front compartment.  There is plenty of room to carry more than enough supplies for an afternoon or whole day out.

4. How easy are the zippers to work on all the compartments? Do they jam easily? Will they hold up to constant opening and closing?
The zippers move smoothly and I have never jammed one or even gotten anything zipped up in them, even when all compartments of pack were full.  There is no wear and tear on the zippers and they look and work just like the first day I got the pack.

5. How easy is it to hold a baby and access the pack?
This depends on what I need to get out the pack. If I am going into the main compartment, it is easy to hold the pack and a child to get something.  If I needed to get something out of the front compartment, then I usually had to either put the pack or the baby down.

6. How many dirty diapers can the diaper storage bag hold?
When my daughter wore size 1 diapers, it usually held 3 of her dirty worst. When she moved up to size 2, then it was only two diapers that could be stored in the storage bag. This makes perfect sense since the bigger the diapers get, the fewer of them fit.

Final thoughts:
The Molehill Mountain Diaper Bag is great for going anywhere with a baby and the necessary baby supplies.  The key for me is that the it is really great for going somewhere for quite a while.  If a long trip, either overnight or all day and night, was going to happen, this diaper bag/backpack held enough baby supplies for the trip and had a lot of room for adult supplies as well.  The only complaint that has surfaced is the lack of an insulated storage area for liquids.  The addition of such an insulated pocket or area would top this diaper bag off nicely.
So when I leave the house for along day with the little one, the Molehill Mountain Equipment Diaper Bag is going to be the one I fill up with baby and adult supplies without worrying about if I have room for everything, because I already know that I will have room to spare.

A big thanks to Molehill Mountain Equipment and BackpackGearTest for allowing me the chance to test these diaper bag.

Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Molehill Mountain Back Pack Diaper Bag > Thomas Vickers > Long Term Report