“Diaper bag” and “adventure” are two words that usually don’t appear together in the same sentence. When I think of a diaper bag, I usually picture an overstuffed tote bag or a feminine looking backpack. Our active family has 4 kids age 0-8 and we usually carry way more on adventures than would fit in a diaper bag.
When I came across the Milk x Whiskey Adventure Proof Diaper Bag I was drawn to the fact that it didn’t look like an average diaper bag, but had all the functionality of one. We have 2 kids still in diapers but still get out and hike and adventure quite a bit.
After trying out the Milk x Whiskey Adventure Proof Diaper bag, I was blown away! This bag will last us years beyond the diaper stage. It is like a Swiss army knife of diaper bags – so many different pouches and pockets no matter what age or stage of kids you are packing for.
Milk x Whiskey is an independent adventuring gear and apparel company. It is family owned and based out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The parents designing the bag know what it is like to actually get out and adventure with kids and design their products with that in mind.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Specs and Product Specifics
The Complete Backpack System
The backpack comes with 5 individual components that can be added or taken away as needed. When we hiked with the backpack, we used all 5 components but as the kids grow we won’t need to take the diaper bag system anymore. Depending on the length of the outing we may or may not need the cooler.
- Diaper Changing System: The diaper changing system is the outermost part that you see on the diaper bag. It is removable and very handy for trailside diaper changes. We put diapers for 2 kids, wipes, bug spray, and sunscreen inside and still had plenty of room leftover.
- Foldable changing pad: This part comes out and is made from water-resistant material which is easy to wipe off to clean.
- Insulated cooler: The cooler can be accessed from the side of the backpack without removing the cooler from the backpack!
- Ground cover blanket: This ended up being one of my favorite parts! It is made from 150D Poly Ripstop and is 100% recycled. I used this for a picnic blanket for lunch, a place to put the baby down, and even as a nursing cover in a busy area.
- The backpack itself: The backpack without any of the add-ons is 25L and is made from 1000D Wax-Coated Kodra. It is ready for a hydration bladder, has multiple pockets, and the straps can be converted to stroller straps.
Side-Access Cooler
This feature is very well thought out. We packed the cooler in the morning and put it in the base of the backpack and never had to unpack the whole backpack to remove it since we could access it from the side. The zipper is waterproof. We had room for 2 cans of bubbly water, an ice pack, and 5 cheese sticks. It would work great for baby bottles too.
The backpack does not come with an ice pack, and I didn’t have one the right size already frozen so I filled a Ziplock with ice cubes and put it inside another Ziplock. After 8 hours in 80 degree weather there was still ice at the end of the day!
Premium Waxed Canvas
Our family adventures outside a lot and our bags are constantly being put down on dirt and grass. Any bag we use needs to be weather and dirt resistant. The canvas has a ripstop liner and I felt confident putting it down wherever I needed to.
Separate Child and Parent Compartments
In addition to having the removable diaper changing system, the backpack itself has two large compartments. This makes organizing extremely easy! We had one compartment for kid supplies and one for parent supplies. One of the compartments includes a magnetically sealed “stink bag” that is removable, water-resistant, and easy to wipe down. We’ve had our fair share of emergency diaper blowouts on the trail and having this compartment ensures everything else in the backpack doesn’t get ruined in that situation!
Versatility
The bag can be adjusted for whatever stage of life you are in. A hydration bladder can be added for longer hikes, the handles can be converted in to stroller straps. My personal favorite outdoor adventure stroller is the BOB Revolution. The baby changing add on can be removed. The cooler can be removed if you need more room in the backpack.
Best for…
Parents of Kids age 0-8
This backpack was specifically designed for parents of kids ages 0-8. If your kids are at an age where you are still carrying any of their stuff for them, this bag is for you!
We have a whole post about Best Hiking Backpacks for Kids. Kids should not carry more than 10-20% of their body weight when hiking, which means in those preschool and early elementary years, parents are probably carrying at least some things.
Trail Days
This backpack worked great for a full day of shorter hikes that our family did. We packed a lunch and had multiple diaper changes. We packed everything we needed and still had room for more.
Beach Days
The adventure bag would also work well for beach days since the canvas is sand-resistant and the pouches are wipeable. Since it is weather resistant, it would also be great for winter beach activities
Long Days out of the House
Some days you leave the house and are gone all day – whether it is a trip to the mountains, a day at sports tournaments, or going to camps, swim lessons, etc. This bag can be packed for a full day and have plenty of space for everything.
What We Love…
There are so many things I love about this bag! I’ve touched on a few of them already, but here are a few more reasons.
A Family Owned Company
Milk x Whiskey is an independent gear and adventure company based out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It is run by some dads that want to inspire others to get outside with their kids. They also make hats and family tech apparel. The company runs an active blog with tips on getting kids outside.
In addition to their online store, they sell their bags and apparel at farmers markets in Colorado.
Made from Premium Materials
When my box arrived with the backpack, the box itself was actually a bit squished and ripped. This was entirely the post office’s fault, not the fault of the company but I was relieved to see that inside the box, the bag was covered with a fabric cover and covered a second time with another packing layer. The diaper bag itself was in perfect condition even though its shipping journey looked rough!
Unpacking and unzipping the bag, you can feel the difference in the high-quality material. My previous diaper bag was an Amazon one that someone gave me and the zipper constantly was getting stuck.
The inner lining and ground cover blanket are made from 100% recycled material. The trims are made from 100% vegetable-tanned leather trims, making this bag a more eco-friendly choice than many other bags on the market. Choosing one durable bag that will last for years is also a more sustainable choice than needing to purchase new bags every few months because they are falling apart.
Pockets for Everything
One of the first things I noticed when I packed the diaper bag for the first time was how many pockets there were! The different compartments make it really easy to stay organized and see what needs to be replenished. The magnetically sealing bag for soiled diapers or clothes can be removed and washed.
The diaper changing section can be removed completely when kids outgrow the diaper stage. Our family has another two or three years still in the diaper stage, but I’m glad to have the option to remove it later on!
Wide Shoulder Straps
The padded shoulder straps are wide and comfortable. I wore the backpack hiking over 5 miles with my 3 month old in a front carrier and my shoulders were not sore at all. Many backpack diaper bags have narrow straps or hang awkwardly back. The Milk x Whiskey bag has adjustable straps and a front clasp to prevent it from sliding off.
My husband and I both took turns carrying the pack just to get a feel for it. He is 6’2″ and I’m 5’6″ and we were both able to adjust the pack to feel comfortable.
The pack fit both my husband and myself comfortably
The Ground Cover Blanket + Changing System
The ground cover blanket and changing system are my favorite part of the bag! It was so easy to do trailside diaper changes for our baby and 2-year-old. The blanket was large enough for all 4 kids to have space. The material of the blanket made it easy to shake out and place back in the backpack even though the ground was quite dusty.
Customer Service
The social media channels for Milk x Whiskey have many videos for how to configure the backpack in different ways. They are also easy to communicate with through their customer service – through both a chat feature or email.
They offer free shipping for orders over $75. The website states that shipping time is 3-7 business days. My bag in Washington arrived in 3 days. They offer 30 day returns BUT you are responsible for shipping if you decide to return something – so keep that in mind!
What We Aren’t So Crazy About…
Price Point
The most obvious downside of this pack for me is the price – $319 for a diaper bag is just plain expensive, especially when there is so much other gear that you are buying when preparing for outdoor adventures with a baby. I’m someone who always tries to find the best deal, and often buy used adventure equipment. They offer 10% off for first time orders with email sign ups which helps a little bit.
The price makes sense for the quality, but you will want to make sure this is THE bag that you want for a long time if you are making that investment. It helps to keep in mind that you can easily get more than a year or two of use out of the bag since it can be modified for carrying bigger kid stuff. I do think the bag could hold resale value even after a few years of use too.
No Hip Belt
I used this bag hiking and felt like a hip belt could have helped with weight distribution if I had packed it full. Like I said earlier though, my shoulders were not sore even after hiking 5 miles with the pack on due to the wide padded shoulder straps.
Bag Weight
Because this bag is more heavy-duty than a backpacking backpack, it also weighs more. My 40L REI backpack weighs 2lbs 12oz compared to the diaper bag with all attachments which weighs 5.79 pounds.
The full breakdown of weight is:
- Backpack + Cooler: 4.04 pounds
- Changing System: 1.18 pounds
- Ground Cover Blanket: .57 pounds
If you are using the bag for daily adventures or smaller hikes it won’t be too big of a deal, but you might not want to choose it for longer distance backpacking.
Bottom Line
I absolutely love the Milk x Whiskey Adventure Proof Diaper Bag! If it is in your budget, I highly recommend it as an outdoor bag that will last you well beyond the diaper years.
Where to Buy
The best place to buy the Milk x Whiskey Adventure Proof Diaper Bag is online through their website.
The diaper bags are also sold in a few stores throughout the US and at the Steamboat Farmers Market in Colorado.
Related Articles
Milk x Whiskey Adventure Proof Diaper Bag Review
© 2024, Tales of a Mountain Mama. All rights reserved. Republication, in part or entirety, requires a link back to this original post and permission from the author.