We loved the OiOi Wax Canvas Satchel. Its beautiful appearance, plethora of useful accessories, and well thought out organization were a breath of fresh air. But unfortunately, its bulkiness, magnetic closures, and rough shoulder strap make it uncomfortable to wear and difficult to manage.
OiOi Wax Canvas Satchel Review
Our Verdict
We loved the OiOi Wax Canvas Satchel. Its beautiful appearance, plethora of useful accessories, and well thought out organization were a breath of fresh air. But unfortunately, its bulkiness, magnetic closures, and rough shoulder strap make it uncomfortable to wear and difficult to manage.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
The OiOi Wax Canvas Satchel is a handsome bag, it does a remarkable job of not looking like a diaper bag at all, which we think dads will love. Much like the OiOi Messenger, the Canvas Satchel boasts several useful accessories including: a wipes case, changing pad, zip-top wet purse, and insulated bottle holder.
Storage and Ease of Use
There is plenty of useable real-estate in the OiOi. We awarded it a score of 7 of 10 for this category with only our Editors' Choice award winner, the Pacapod Picos Pack scoring higher. It was easy to store and organize all the items we wanted to pack. However, this amazing bag has one major downfall: the pockets are secured with magnets which are not strong enough to keep the bag closed. Even when we barely filled the bag, it still could not keep the contents contained when tipped - a major frustration in our book.
The changing pad is made with the same soft cotton material that is found in the interior of the bag. This untreated cotton fabric is a departure from the other changing pads that were included with the bags we tested. As there are no included directions on how to clean it, we would recommend spot-treatment on the changing pad as needed unless you encounter a diaper blow-out. Should this happen, we would risk washing it on a delicate cycle and hanging it to dry to ensure complete cleanliness.
We think dads will appreciate the key clip, small zippered pocket for their wallet and keys, and the two easy-access non-insulated pockets for bottles on the side of the bag.
Comfort
Where the OiOi took a major dive in its scoring was on comfort; we only gave it a score of 3 of 10 in this category. It is just not a comfortable bag to wear. It weighs in at a staggering 2.7 lbs, easily the heaviest of the group. The polyester and cotton shoulder strap offers no coller-bone padding and will cause pilling if it rubs against finer fabrics. The strap length is difficult to adjust, which makes transitioning between mom and dad carrying it difficult if there is a significant height difference.
Quality
The OiOi Wax Canvas Satchel is made with quality materials and we awarded it one of our higher scores for quality, a 7 of 10. The stitching, metal hardware and feet on the bottom of the bag all lend themselves not only to the overall appearance but also to the durability of the bag over time. That being said, there was a definitely misstep in using magnets to secure the pockets of the bag. While stylish and somewhat reliable, they simply did not pan out on this bag.
Style
This bag was well liked among dads we talked to when it came to appearance and we awarded it a score of 6 of 10 for style. The last thing this bag will be confused for is a diaper bag, as it has all the elements of the ever-popular distressed messenger bag and has a hint of Indiana Jones bad-assery to it. No one has to know you are storing diapers inside instead of a sacred object that belongs in a museum.
Best Applications
The OiOi Satchel is an incredibly useful bag in any situation. We think if you can get past the so-so magnetic closures, this bag will stick with you beyond the years of needing a diaper bag.
Value
OiOi is a notoriously expensive brand but you do get what you pay for. They use high-quality materials and have a decent return polity against manufacturing defects. Although if you are looking for a bag that is easier to carry, has more usable accessories, and made of similarly quality materials, we suggest you take a look at our Editors' Choice Award winner, the Pacapod Picos Pack.
Conclusion
This is a great bag that when used with caution (don't let it tip!) will stand the test of time. If you cannot justify the added cost for this messenger, we suggest you take a look at the Diaper Dude Messenger II. It has fewer bells and whistles but at less than half the price.