Is No Reception Club The Best Travel Diaper Bag? I Tried it to Find Out!

I’ve just returned from a three week trip in Europe where we used the No Reception Club Getaway diaper bag as our main diaper bag. This means it went on several flights, through several airports, and on many modes of transportation, experiencing all kinds of weather in the Arctic Circle.

This diaper bag really does make organization easier. It’s clear it was designed by parents, who, like me, have come across a frustrating array of diaper bags that break immediately, or are a nightmare empty pit with few useful pockets.

Is No Reception Club worth the money? I think so, here’s my full review:

*This is a sponsored post, however, I do not positively review products unless I genuinely love them. Links in this post are also affiliate links that support us at no extra cost to you:

Pocket Paradise

First off and most importantly, this bag has pockets for days.

My favorite feature is the main compartment with two customizable shelves, which helps disorganized people like me organize our baby gear more like Marie Kondo. Top and side openings provide instant access, which helps prevent the dreaded bottomless pit that other diaper bags can feel like.

This makes it not only an ideal travel diaper bag, but a great diaper bag for two+ kids.

The hood is perfect for storing small medicines, band-aids, binkies, and small things you want easily accessible. The front and back compartments are ideal for your essentials, like the TSA-approved padded 15” laptop sleeve, and let’s not forget the odor- and water-resistant emergency pocket at the bottom, which I now feel every diaper bag should have for those inevitable messes. Diapers, wipes, cream? There’s a Diaper Essentials Compartment for that to keep it all separated and easy to access.

The insulated lunch bag (included!) is perfect for keeping breast milk, formula, toddler milk, and travel snacks fresh during long travel days. It also has detachable stroller clips and two side drink pockets, instead of one, which means I get to bring my Stanley water bottle along, too.

The Real MVP: Organization on Our Europe Trip

I wanted to put this bag to a real test, which included two 10+ hour flights, multiple stops on a Norway road trip, a cruise, and the elements when out and about. It was our daily diaper bag and I could see it staying that way.

The biggest win for me was the insane level of organization this bag provides. Meds and binkies lived in the brain of the bag, diapers and wipes were stashed on the side, and the stacked compartments meant I didn’t have to dig around and forget what I packed.

The bottom emergency pouch was key for soiled clothes – because, let’s be real, messes happen. And can we talk about the padded shoulder straps? They contour to any parent, making it comfortable to carry even when fully loaded. I will never again have a diaper bag that lacks this feature.

Is the No Reception Club Bag Durable?

If a diaper bag isn’t durable, no amount of pockets will make it worth the money. Our first diaper bag started fraying and breaking after only a few months, and I hate putting things in a landfill because they are cheaply made and break right away. Thankfully, this diaper bag is actually durable, and you can tell right away from the stitching and the fabric.

It’s made from Recycled Polyester and Vegetable-Tanned Leather. They use premium Metal Front Buckles + YKK zippers throughout. The only thing I noticed is I have to zip slowly around the corners of the side pockets — probably because they are angles — with the zipper.

I could see this bag lasting through multiple kids and/or being something you could sell on Poshmark or Mercari when you’re done with it. More on how I buy and sell baby gear on the secondhand market here.

Specifications Breakdown

Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details of the No Reception Club Getaway Diaper Bag. Here’s everything you need to know:

Dimensions:

• Size: 19.7” Height x 10.2” Width x 6.5” Depth
• Capacity: 24 Liters
• Weight: 2.7 lbs when empty; 3.4 lbs with dividers and lunch bag included
• Material: Made from recycled polyester
• Flight Ready: Meets international personal item size limit requirements
• Main Compartment: Features 2 customizable shelves for optimal organization
• Access Points: Top and side openings for quick and easy access

Compartments:

• Hood: Great for quick-access snacks or small items
• Front and Back Compartments: Ideal for your essentials
• Emergency Compartment: Odor- and water-resistant, perfect for soiled clothes or messy items
• Diaper Essentials Compartment: Designed for diapers, wipes, changing pad, and cream

Additional Features:

• Luggage Handle Pass-Through: For easy attachment to your suitcase
• TSA-Approved Padded 15” Laptop Sleeve: Keep your laptop safe and secure
• Concealed Back Security Pocket: Perfect for passports and valuables
• Insulated Lunch Bag: Included to keep your snacks fresh
• 2 Detachable Stroller Clips: Included for convenient stroller attachment
• 2 External Water Bottle Pockets: Stay hydrated on the go

Are There Downsides?

The No Reception Club Getaway Diaper Bag costs $235, which makes it on the higher end for a diaper bag. As mentioned earlier, I learned a long time ago that quality costs less in the long run, particularly with diaper bags, but is it worth the investment?

I think that it is, though there are two minor details to consider.

With so many pockets, I did find myself mixing up the side compartments occasionally. My solution? Adding a pin or patch to color code the sides.

The other thing is the color selection. I don’t really care about this, because functionality matters the most to us, but this diaper bag comes in just two colors – black and olive green. It’s not about looking like a designer bag, but rather about function. This is fine with me, but everyone’s style desires are different.

How the No Reception Club Fares Against the Competition

The only other diaper bag brands we feel are worth the money are Dagne Dover and Milk x Whiskey.

The No Reception Club Getaway Diaper Bag may not have the same chic style as Dagne Dover, and it isn’t made from the same trendy neoprene, but it is made from recycled polyester, which makes my eco-friendly heart happy. I think the pockets and better organization make up for the lack of colors and styles.

What about the Milk x Whiskey? The No Reception Club Getaway bag is smaller, but it also fits under the seat on a plane, which makes it easier in many ways to travel with. The Milk x Whiskey is also a bag made for punishment, and is great for the outdoors. It has more features than any other diaper bag I’ve tried, but it doesn’t have the ease and simplicity of the No Reception Club bag.

The bottom line is no other diaper bag has the shelving organization of the No Reception Club Getaway diaper bag, and that’s the biggest game changer for travel and life in general. There’s no more digging and losing things in the diaper bag this way, and I love it.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the No Reception Club Getaway Diaper Bag is a fantastic investment for any parent. It’s got the organization game down, it’s flight-ready, and it meets international personal item size limit requirements (19.7” Height x 10.2” Width x 6.5” Depth, with a 24-liter capacity). Plus, it’s lightweight at 2.7 lbs when empty and 3.4 lbs with dividers and lunch bag included.

I will likely alternate between this and our Milk x Whiskey depending on the trip, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other parents.