OiOi Hobo Review
Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
The OiOi Hobo is a stylish diaper bag that is really only meant to be just that. At first, we thought because of its size and style it might be a candidate for cross-use, meaning as a breast pump bag as well. The OiOi was able to hold just about everything we tried to cram into it, just in a very unorganized fashion. Although its fun geometric pattern and bright colors make it a very attractive bag, the functionality just wasn't there.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
What we found about this bag was that it was very easy to fit a lot of stuff into it, but then it was difficult to get everything back out. Its height and lack of width work against it in this scenario, as heavy pump parts need to be kept at the bottom to avoid crushing the rest of the contents. This resulted in a complicated game of Tetris every time the bag was packed and unpacked, wasting valuable time. For these reasons, we gave it only 3 of 10 points in this metric.
Quality
We liked that this bag was made of nice cotton materials. We liked the feel of the silky exterior and interior fabrics used, and appreciated the fairly thick padding between them. Unfortunately, the pleather portions did not wear well, especially on the key ring clips and base. In fact, we noticed it tearing shortly into our testing period. Like the Nurse Purse, the OiOi also has plastic zippers, but we did find them to be more sturdy and they rarely got stuck. The OiOi earned an average score of 5 of 10 in for quality.
Weight/Bulk
At 2 lbs. 3.5 oz. this bag fell in the middle of the pack in terms of weight. While testing, it was often remarked how light the bag felt, despite its large size and materials. We awarded it a 6 of 10 for weight/bulk because it was not too heavy, but it certainly was not the lightest of the bags we tested.
Features
As a breast pump bag, the OiOi just doesn't have a lot to offer. It does however, have a few great qualities worth mentioning, including metal feet, adjustable shoulder strap, a plethora of interior pockets, a case for wipes, a large padded microfiber changing pad, an insulated bottle holder which should keep bottles cold for about 2 hours, and two key clips. While these features are great, not many of them pertained to the usefulness of the bag when utilized as a breast pump bag, which is why we awarded it a score of 5 of 10 in this category.
Style
We think the style of this bag is cute and great for moms who want more than a plain black bag. The patent leather base and lining enhance the overall appearance of the bag and the pink color scheme follows current trends. The biggest detractor of the quality and style of the purse is the nylon adjustable strap, which is why we awarded it an average score of 6 of 10 in terms of style.
Best Applications
The best application for this bag is as the diaper bag it was designed to be. It is not meant to be a breast pump bag, although it will perform the task should you try, but will most likely fall short of your expectations.
Value
This bag falls in the middle of the pack in terms of value among the bags we tested. Its higher price point can be justified by the number of accessories it includes, which are great, if your intended use is as a diaper bag.
Conclusion
This is a fun, trendy diaper bag that moms are sure to love. Its geometric patters emulate some of the hottest bags appearing on the handbag market today which makes it an attractive option for moms that desire to keep up with current fashion. Its use as a bag to carry a breast pump is questionable, particularly when you try to include any additional personal items; the bag simply gets too full, and its height and lack of width lead to items getting buried at the bottom, requiring constant packing and unpacking when in use. We think moms would be better served looking at the Ju-Ju-Be B.F.F. if they really desire a diaper bag to carry their breast pump in as well.