Skip Hop Zoo Pack

Skip Hop's Zoo Packs come in 14 bright, kid-friendly animal styles. Chemical-conscious parents will appreciate the Zoo Packs phthalate-free and BPA-free construction. They're just the right size for a toddler or preschooler, but a little too small for school-age kids because they don't accommodate a full-size notebook or folder.

Performance

Holds everything your preschooler needs. There's plenty of room in a Skip Hop Zoo Pack for toys, snacks, a change of clothes and a blanket for naptime. Many parents use these packs as diaper bags, letting their toddlers carry their own diapers, wipes and change of clothing on their back. The Zoo Packs have one large compartment, a smaller, insulated front compartment that doubles as a snack holder and an adjustable mesh water bottle pocket

Parents who purchase the Skip Hop Zoo Pack for kindergarteners without checking its dimensions are routinely disappointed, because it's not quite big enough to fit a full-size folder. A couple of reviewers point out that Skip Hop doesn't make any claims about fitting full-size papers or folders, and they post the pack's dimensions on their website.

Complaints about sizing aside, parents say the zippers on the Skip Hop bags are sturdy and easy to use, even for small fingers. The write-on nametag inside is another popular feature.

Comfort

Kids want to wear it. "It's the size of his back and perfect," writes one reviewer who was initially concerned about whether the Skip Hop Zoo Pack would fit a preschooler. Parents of children from 1 to 4 years old say this pack fits them very well, with lots of room to grow thanks to the adjustable straps. The straps are padded for comfort. The Skip Hop bags are BPA- and phthalate-free.

One Diapers.com reviewer bought the pack for her son, whom she describes as an average-size 3-1/2-year-old. She says that, "it fits him perfect with a lot of room to adjust the straps as he grows."

Durability

Looks like new after a year of use. We found many comments about how well-made (and well-made-looking) the Skip Hop Zoo Packs are. "I was extremely surprised at how well put together it is,"  one reviewer says. Many report hanging onto these packs as overnight bags once their children need a larger backpack for carrying full-size folders.

 Several other parents report packs still going strong after a year or more. It's worth noting, that we found several complaints from Amazon.com users that they'd mistakenly ordered a knockoff product that was labeled as Ship Hop and looked very cheaply made. Those that went back and ordered the correct bag were very happy with the quality construction.  

Bottom line

Parents say their kids love the Skip Hop Zoo Packs' animal designs, and they can't wait to grab their packs and go. The packs are sturdy and easy to clean, both inside and out, with a damp rag,  and they leave plenty of room for your child to grow. The only complaints we found were from parents who hoped that this pack would fit a full-size notebook (it doesn't), and a smattering of warnings about poor-quality knock-offs.