I don’t like bags. I really don’t. If it were up to me, I’d go back to carrying a tri-fold wallet that closes with Velcro. I really, really dislike carrying bags.
When you are expecting a child, one of the first purchases you make, before your child even arrives, is a diaper bag. Friends and family tell you to pick a good one because it will be your best friend for the next two years of your life. And, they’re not wrong. Diapers, bottles, changing pads, extra clothes, wet wipes, and various creams, medications…the list becomes endless. The diaper bag becomes your best friend.
Your kid gets a little older, and you decide it is time to part with carrying a diaper bag. It is time to simplify your life. WRONG. Your school-aged kid ends up wanting to join soccer. So you dig deep and get gritty. You upgrade that diaper bag to a backpack and you become team mom.
Your kid ends up quitting soccer, and you think, FINALLY. I’m free. WRONG. Your kid ends up joining marching band and you once again have to get gritty and upgrade to a bigger backpack because now you find yourself running the damn booster program. Along the way, you realize high school kids are just big toddlers constantly whining for snacks, tissues, and water.
Your kid FINALLY graduates high school, and you think to yourself. Is this it? Is this the moment I can cut ties with large bags? WRONG. You forgot that somewhere in that span of 18 years, you were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and have to carry insulin and other medical supplies for yourself. The sad realization hits. You will NEVER be able to go back to your beloved tri-fold.
I have spent the better part of the last two years acquiring various purses and bags to try to find something to fit my lifestyle without success. Too narrow, too bulky, too deep, not deep enough. Did I mention how much I hate bags?
Not too long ago, I was watching a video by Simon and Martina of Eat You Kimchi/Sushi (https://www.youtube.com/user/simonandmartina), and they recently traveled to Barcelona, Spain. In the opening shots, there it was. Martina was wearing a Tokidoki backpack, but it wasn’t standard sized. So, I hit the Internet. All I got was a quick glimpse, but I am almost positive the bag she is wearing is a Ju-Ju-Be B.F.F Diaper Bag. I couldn’t find her exact bag, but I did find another Tokidoki collaboration.
It never occurred to me that I would have to go full circle, y’all.
This bag is everything someone with medical equipment or medical supplies needs. My main issue with purses is storage. Most purses are identical when it comes to storage. Usually, they have one large zippered pocket, and maybe two or three gusseted pockets. The bag is meant to look good, but not necessarily be functional. For those of us that have medical needs, purses don’t usually fit our needs well.
The next choice is a backpack. While a backpack has more storage, for me, it is usually in all the wrong ways. For every day use, I find that I don’t really utilize all the space. The bottom half of the bag holds all my supplies, but the top half is floppy due to too much unused vertical space.
Then, there are tote bags. While they are great to lug around a change of clothes, or fill with groceries, they don’t have any side support and tend to dump items out. I’ve tried zippered tote bags, but the same vertical space issue arises. Floppy bags bother me.
Enter the Ju-Ju-Be B.F.F. diaper bag.
It took everything I disliked about a backpack and corrected it. Here are the specifications:
- Organization: 4 gusseted pockets and 3 zippered pockets in main compartment; 2 bottle pockets with Thinsulate by 3M; Mommy pocket with key fob and microfiber glasses pocket; Quick-reach cell phone pocket
- Fabric: Agion-treated interior resists bacteria, mold and mildew; Teflon-treated exterior resists stains; and is machine washable
- Extras: crumb drain; metal hardware; magnetic closures; luggage feet; detachable, adjustable messenger/tote strap with removable memory foam shoulder pad; detachable backpack straps; memory foam changing pad included
- Dimensions: 14”W x 12”H x 6.5”D
The Exterior
Ju-Ju-Be has many designs for the B.F.F., but I purchased one of their collaborations with Tokidoki. The details tend to match the design, so I took some pictures of the metal hardware. It is very high quality. Not only is it functional, but it looks good doing it. The outer fabric is teflon treated to resist staining. The interior fabric is agion treated to resist bacteria, mold, and mildew. The bag is machine washable.
The Mommy Pocket
The “mommy” pocket was designed to store your personal items for quick access. It has a zippered pocket, two gusseted pockets, a sunglasses pocket, and key holder attachment. Currently, I am using the “mommy” pocket to store microfiber cloths for my glasses, cords to charge my phone, and my taco coin purse that holds my various reward cards. I also use the key cord. The “mommy” pocket is very similar to the front pocket of a backpack, but instead of places for school supplies, you have less specialized storage. The one thing I don’t like is the sunglasses pocket. It kind of looks like a water bottle holder, but it is meant to keep your sunglasses scratch-free. I feel like it is too large, but I know some of you use very large sunglasses. It is a nice thought, but I don’t use it. I would have much rather of had another gusseted pocket. Whether you intend to actually use this bag as a diaper bag or as your purse, the “mommy” pocket is very functional.
Quick-Reach Cell Phone Pocket
Right above the “mommy” pocket is a quick-reach cell phone pocket. Currently, I am using it to store some of my toy collection. If you look at my Instagram, you’ll see they make random appearances. It is a nice sized pocket that is also lined with a very soft material to keep from scratching your phone. You can see that the entire length of my hand fits into that pocket.
The Main Compartment
Here is where I cry tears of joy. My irritation with other bags was always the main storage. Tote bags were always too tall or too narrow. Purses were always too small. Larger purses were large just for the sake of being large. Often these bags lacked the stability I craved. This bag takes all of my dislikes and rectifies them.
The main compartment has two zippered pockets on the back as well as two gusseted pockets directly in front. Currently, I am storing a small zippered pouch and a package of wet wipes in the back gusseted pockets. On the sides are two additional large gusseted pockets. Currently, I am using one to store my gloves. On the flap, there are two clear pouches where you can store medical alert cards, passports, or identification information. Since I will be using this as my main bag, I do plan on utilizing those clear pouches to list my medical information that emergency services may need if I am in an accident. Below the clear pockets, there is another large zippered pocket.
I am a type 2 diabetic and I have to carry two kinds of insulin, a glucometer, and testing supplies. I found a nice double-sided pencil pouch that suited my needs. One side contains my testing supplies, the other my pen needles and insulin. As you can imagine, it takes up quite a bit of room. What I disliked is having to dig for my supplies. As you can see, the main compartment allows me to easily store my makeup pouch, my diabetic supplies, or my wallet with extra room to spare.
Bottle Pockets
On the sides of the bag, there are bottle pockets. If you don’t plan on using this as a diaper bag, you can use it for water bottles, or in my case, sunglasses storage.
Detachable Straps
This bag comes with detachable, adjustable straps. Don’t like backpacks? Not a problem. You can detach the backpack straps which are clipped to the bag, and replace with the included messenger/tote strap. Don’t like any straps at all? Not a problem. Store all the straps and use the handle on the top of the bag. It will meet your carrying style needs.
Final Judgment
Needless to say, I am in love with this bag. For YEARS, I have looked for a bag that had the capacity to keep my things organized. I very much dislike digging and searching for things, or losing things in a foot of space. I don’t have that issue with this bag. There is plenty of storage.
The bag is large, but not too large. The shorter, wider dimensions not only leave less wasted space, but fits nicely on the back. I jogged around with it and it stayed firmly against my bag unlike a traditional backpack. I am only 5’2” and traditional backpacks never stayed firmly on my back. Because the weight of the bag was just in the bottom, it usually bounced up and down hitting my tailbone. Since this bag is wider, shorter, and rectangle in shape, it doesn’t move.
Even though I am not using it for a diaper bag, the features make it an ideal bag for someone who needs organization. It doesn’t have to be limited to JUST a diaper bag.
For those of you looking for a diaper bag, you really can do no wrong. While I didn’t mention, or picture it, the bag DOES come with a nice matching changing pad and a large pocket to hold the changing bag on the exterior of the bag.
If you’re struggling to find a bag to meet your lifestyle, consider the B.F.F. You can purchase this bag from Amazon using my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2UUskEQ (AFFILIATE LINK)
FINAL VERDICT: CASUAL APPROVED!
Filthy Casual for Life 