"mum" backpack

[VERYBRUISEDPEAR]

My trusty Eastpack has finally given up the ghost (annoyingly no idea where I bought it so can't claim the 30yr warranty) so I'm looking for another backpack for days out with my 3yo. I liked the size of the Eastpack (24l) but I'd really like something with

• more pockets
• 2 x bottle pouches
• waterproof
• doesn't waste space on laptop sleeve padding

Some I've looked at but weren't quite right

• Boondocker (not waterproof)
• Roka Canfield (not keen on roll top opening - how do you find stuff at the bottom?)
• kanken (not keen on zip going all the way down - doesn't everything fall out?)

Max price £100, but I'd rather more like £50.

Any ideas?

I recently did a lot of searching for a nice looking backpack (having been using a discarded old school rucksack that one of my sons stopped using, for several years).

I ended up with a Roka Finchley (fwiw I did worry about finding things at the bottom but it is totally fine) so my criteria may have been a bit different to yours but I’ve got my list of alternative options I’d considered - here you go, see if any of these are any good. Some of them are a bit “roll top” and some have laptop padding so may not work.

https://www.everlane.com/products/womens-renew-backpack-warm-charcoal?collection=mens-backpacks-bags

https://amzn.eu/d/9D37hu4 Jack wolfskin perfect day

https://www.discoversalkan.com/products/the-daypack

https://www.antler.co.uk/products/chelsea-backpack-mineral

https://threepeaksgbr.com/products/kaito-20l

https://bellroy.com/products/category/backpacks

https://www.fjallraven.com/uk/en-gb/bags-gear/backpacks-bags/laptop-bags/raven-202

https://www.osprey.com/gb/osprey-aoede-airspeed-20-f23#color=Concrete%2520Tan

https://amzn.eu/d/iEOCLMU

Here’s the one I got in the end: https://rokalondon.com/products/finchley-sustainable-marine?variant=32954478657639.

I like my kanken as it means I can lie it flat and then grab whatever toy or snack DD wants from the bottom without too much rummaging! It has two zips so I have them pulled together at the top when it’s closed and open it from there so everything doesn’t fall out :)

Look at the other roka backpacks. Mine is a zip opening which can be folded once or not folded and still shut/secure. It’s a top bag

Thanks all! @Talipesmum are the side pockets in the Finchley big enough for a drinks bottle?

And do you find the large big enough? I'm a bit confused by what it says you can fit in there given it's only 20l... I need a change of clothes, wipes, colouring book, small teddy, plasters etc etc for full days out in London with no car and no buggy..

Gandys backpacks are brilliant

I have a mia tui back pack and it holds everything! There is a range of sizes and I have a smaller everyday one and a larger one for days out.
https://miatui.com/collections/backpacks

I think the large would be big enough. My kids are teens now and I make them carry their own stuff about now, thank goodness, but I’ve only got the medium. I ordered a large to compare sizes as I was also unsure and it was pretty big - I think it would fit everything you say quite easily. One big plus is that the top bit can flip up to fit more in - I normally have it folded down but if I’ve shoved a lot more in there I can leave it unfolded and it is like an expansion. Still looks neat.

The side pockets fit a slimmer water bottle but not a fat chunky 1 litre one.

It might be worth asking directly on the style and beauty page about roka finchley large, because there was a big sale recently and LOADs of people were buying roka bags. You might get someone who has one in the large to take pics or something? Also, if you have amazon prime they sell some of the roka bags on there and it makes it v easy to return them (pretty sure you can return them easily on the proper site as well but I use Amazon a lot and it made it easier for me to buy about 5 different ones and compare colours and sizes!)

I do really like mine. Good luck!

Roka. They are fab.

Matt and Nat.

Thanks all!

I should have specified that I'm not keen on leather... For some reason I feel like leather is for work and mum bags "should" be nylon or canvas 🤷

Thanks for all the Roka intel @Talipesmum ! Yes, good idea to start a separate thread as they do seem extremely popular!

I've found Amazon good for this. V good quality bag in terms of robustness for £25

I'd go eastpak again should it ever die

They do have ones with 2 bottle holders