Storksak Hero review

Pros

• Lightweight

• Great size – not too bulky but lots of space for all of your essentials

• Ideal as a gym bag once you're out of the nappy years

• Lots of pockets

• Dual compartment system gives access to bottom of the bag

Cons

• Expensive (RRP £125)

• Front pocket only has space for pack of wipes and one nappy

• Cannot be attached to a buggy without a buggy clip

What are the key features of the Storksak Hero backpack?

• Convertible dual compartment system: easy flip up/flip down shelf to create one large compartement, or two smaller ones

• Insulated food and bottle bag included

• Zipped front pocket to store changing mat, nappies and wipes. This pocket can also be used as a parent pocket for your items

• Laminated internal base compartment, easily accessed from back zip

• Machine-washable padded changing mat

• Two elasticated side pockets

• Five internal pockets: one zipped, two slip, two elasticated

• Made from water-resistant polyester with faux leather trim

• Adjustable, padded shoulder straps

What's included?

• Changing mat, insulated snack/bottle bag

How big is the backpack?

• 40cm (H) x 34cm (W) x 16cm (D)

Storksak Hero is a great backpack for parents with an active lifestyle. It's lightweight and fantastically designed to store everything you could possibly need for a day out with (or without) the kids in tow.

A built-in shelf splits the main compartment into two sections (one accessed from the main zip at the top and the other accessed via a zip at the back of the bag) and this is without question the Storksak Hero's best feature. It'll make frantic digging through piles of clothes and wipes to reach the bottom of your bag a thing of the past.

How easy is the Storksak Hero to use?

Very. Despite having lots of features and amazing secret pockets and stashes, the Storksak Hero comes with a detailed label explaining all the pockets and sections very simply. It shows you how to use the dual compartment system which can be easily removed if you prefer to have more space and fewer sections.

The “secret” compartment at the bottom of the bag is perfect for storing a breast pump, an emergency change of clothes, or anything else you need quick access to. There are also slip pockets inside the main compartment for things like your phone, spare nappies and snacks. On the outside of the bag are three more pockets.

It's pretty spacious, too – the Storksak Hero easily fits in enough snacks, changes of clothes and water bottles to keep two children catered for on a day out.

Are the Storksak Hero's pockets useful?

Yes, but you maybe don't want to mess with the system too much. Our tester followed the bag's instructions and put all the right things in the right places and then went off-piste, with varying success.

The front zip pocket is the obvious place to keep a changing mat but once you add a pack of wipes and a nappy it is pretty much fit to burst, so spare nappies should really be kept in the main compartment.

Two elasticated pockets on either side of the bag are great for stashing cups of water, little boxes of raisins for quick access, but aren't suitable for your phone because you can't seal the pocket up tight enough to make it secure.

The pockets inside the main compartment, however, are perfect for your phone. You can also stash spare nappies, keys and other smaller items you don't want to lose in this section. We'd advise storing your breast pump or wet swim gear in the laminated lower compartment.

In essence, the pockets are well thought out but not particularly flexible, perhaps.

Is the backpack easy to carry?

Easily adjustable padded straps make this bag so easy to use. It sits comfortably on the shoulders and can be carried all day because the bag is so lightweight. Perhaps the only downside of a backpack design is that while it's ideal when pushing a buggy, if you have your baby in a sling it makes both the bag and the carrier quite hard to take on and off, making quick access to a bottle or snack a bit trickier. But for anyone who suffers from back problems, it's a Godsend.

How good is the changing mat?

The changing mat comes folded with a Velcro fastening to keep it together. Once unfolded, it's a decent size for a baby and our tester found it was still large enough to change an 18-month-old on. Some travel change mats are a bit flimsy and small, so this one was a lovely surprise.

After use, the mat folds down to a very compact size and fits perfectly in the front pocket of the bag for speedy access.

Does the insulated bag keep things cool?

The insulated bag works really well, keeping bottles of milk warm for several hours and sandwiches cool for the same length of time. You can get everything in and out the insulated bag quickly because the zip is nice and wide. Sadly, it is fairly small, so it isn't big enough to get an entire lunch in, or larger bottles, if that's what you need it for, so that limits its usefulness when your baby is slightly older – especially if your child likes his grub.

Is the Storksak Hero backpack easy to clean?

The entire bag is wipe-clean and the changing mat can be bunged in the washing machine. Our tester found the material dried quickly too.

How does the Storksak Hero look?

The Storksak Hero is available in a functional black or navy and a slightly more jazzy swirling purple. All three are nice to look at but wouldn't really double up as a work bag like some other changing bags do, and it doesn't have a large slip compartment for a laptop like the Nova + Koa Charli, which we also tested.

Is the Storksak Hero good value for money?

At £125 this isn't the cheapest changing bag on the market, but it does include some fantastic features that make it extremely useful for mums. It scored highly for being lightweight, practical and pretty. We think the storage organisation, pockets, lightweight material, backpack design and additional features make this bag worth the money.