Dad bag recommendation?

[coyote_out]

I got a Marsupial gear everyday backpack to use as my “diaper bag” so I don’t have to carry around the pink one. Also helps if my wife has hers in her truck and I have the kid.
Having and extra set of everything for my truck has made things a lot easier.

I used a front pack a ton when ours was less than 1, I can find our brand.

 

[Wilderlife]

I've got one of the Osprey Poco packs and it's been fantastic. I haven't taken my son hunting in it a great deal yet but will very shortly. For now, I put him in it when doing things in my hard, around our property, etc. Just today I had him in it while I pegged out some washing and then pressure-washed a goat head/skull that I shot a couple of days ago and had been boiling out ever since.
The sun shade is invaluable and it seems to be able to carry a reasonable amount of gear. For the coming fallow rut I might cache some gear in the scrub so I can hike my son in with me and we can wait in a good shady spot for the deer to appear.

 

[NXTZ]

Admittedly I got this bag for my wife, but it has been incredible from 0-current. For a catch all/grab and go bag I love this style.
I just used a generic diaper bag and kept that one packed and ready to go with diapers, change of clothes, meds and snacks.* I cannot recommend this enough-have a kid bag ready to go with their essentials for 24-48 hours. If you’re on rokslide you probably have a spare bag for you/wife to have ready too .
We had to make a lot of emergency trips to the hospital in the first six months (God willing you won’t have to go through that), and having dedicated bags packed and ready to go in an instant was huge.

 

[madtinker]

Just throwing this out there (dad of five); lots of people have used baby gear, and if you ask around, you can save $$$ by using second hand gear. Is it the latest and greatest? No. Did I carry a pink flowery diaper bag for years? Yes. Did it reduce my manliness in any way? Not at all.

What worked well for us was soft-sided carriers that can be used front or back. When multiple kids were under 2, I could double carry (one front one back). I like a bag that can be carried either as a backpack or as a shoulder bag. This gives carrying options whether you are packing one kid or two. For strollers, I like something easy to fold and has room to carry lunch.

Honestly a lot of it is personal preference, and this thread has great suggestions of where to start. Good luck!

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

The dedicated kid carrier packs work. The Osprey unit with the sun shade, organizer pouches, and set down bar for when they fall asleep and you can take the pack off is fantastic. Don’t overthink it.

The units that guys have tried to convert themselves from hunting pack frames that I have seen leave horrible pinch points in the leg and crotch area, freedom of arm movement for the kid sucks, and they don’t account for the kid falling asleep back there and need their face to not be buried in codura or whatever.

 

[Tlwebb15]

Congrats on your new addition! I agree with the folks saying that a Bob stroller that accepts the car seat is a must have. It is the way to go!

 

[Dos Perros]

When they are really fresh and for about 4 months I much prefer a baby bjorn than a carrier. I was unemployed the first for most of the first 6 months of my son's life and we did a lot of miles together running dogs with him strapped to my chest. Those were the days!

For a diaper bag, something like a SG Avail is just fine. It has an external pocket, two internal pockets, and the external compression panel for poop stuff. That's a pretty versatile pack. I now travel with mine for work.

 

[guitarpreston]

I used a MR ripruck. Tbh the one we got off Amazon had more functionality. Guava stroller and a deuter backpack carrier are nice for some excursions once they’re bigger.

 

[SWOHTR]

Don’t waste your money on anything. Try to get as much of it secondhand as possible. They’ll outgrow it all quickly and they may not like the thing you were all about and spent a lot of money on.

I handcrafted a crib for my two kids, neither one used it or liked it. Gave it away…

We bought a Deuter kidcomfort 3. Used it maybe 20 times over 6 years. Sold it for pennies on the dollar.

Bought a used BOB stroller and used the crap out of it.

Don’t get the uppababy stuff. It’s expensive and doesn’t push as well as a jogger. I’d argue it rides rougher than an unloaded one ton truck on tires aired at 80psi, and maneuvers about as well.

Your wife is going to figure out the best way to carry the kid. Wear it? Wrap? Lillebaby carrier?

Just keep a bag with the basics in your truck. The baby phase will end…

If you want to buy something to look forward to, a lifetime license is what I’d recommend, if your state offers that.

 

[butcherboy]

Just get a simple backpack for a diaper bag. No need for something fancy. Get a better pack when you need to pack the little one around with plenty of pockets to hold the essentials. I never ever used one of those front carrying things. Just carried my kiddos with my arm for going in and out of stores and they sit just fine in a shopping cart. Used a backpack carrier for hikes. A jogging stroller with air up tires is a must. We bought one that came with a good car seat so it fit perfectly. Bought a few extra bases to put in my truck and one in Grandma’s car.

If you use one of those front carrying things then just go ahead and cut a corner off your man card.

 

[grainhog]

I can't get over the suggestion above that if you "do twice what you think is expected of you it will pay dividends forever".

How true this is of parenthood/marriage and also many other things in life. I should spend less time inventorying and comparing everybody's contributions, and more time just doing more for others.

 

[JoshOR]

I used a Patagonia laptop bag as my dad bag. Worked great for diaper changing gear and accessories, and snacks, always have the snacks. I think we’ve still got it and my boys are 16 and 18 now. Time flies.. enjoy!

 

[camelcluch]

I used a camo fanny pack from Gander Mt. It has the shoulder straps.
I carried a minimum of 5 diapers, 2 outfits, changing pad, wipes, two one gallon zip locks, lotions and potions, bottles and a towel.
I got more comments from moms about their husbands would be jealous and dads wishing they didn’t have a purse.