Baby changing accessories are fast becoming the new-mums status symbol of choice. Gone are the days when the freebie Boots change bag from the Bounty Pack were readily snatched up. Once upon a time you couldn’t get your hands on these if a local baby boom was taking place, now there are dozens in store sat patiently waiting to be re-homed. It seems nowadays that mums-to-be are frantically hiding the little vouchers from their other half’s and insisting on a branded bag instead. There are some for literally every budget - from Mama Tui’s, to Pink Lining, to the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Nova Harley collection.

Our love for change bags seems to be mostly a consequence of aestheticism. We see something shiny hung over the handlebars of a fellow mums iCandy and simply have to have it. The result is that dads everywhere are having to slope off to the loos on a family day out with a baby on one arm, and a bright fuchsia bag (complete with frills and bows) on the other.

So when Pacapod got in touch to ask if I’d like to review a bag from their new unisex collection, I bit their hand off. Craig hasn’t minded Dexter’s Lara Gill change bag, but I’m sensing he isn’t quite so much looking forward to ‘bum duties’ in public with Mini Madam’s Nova Harley Manhattan (although I am!!!).

I requested the Pacapod Hastings and haven’t been disappointed. This bag works on so many levels I’m not quite sure where to start.

The Pacapod range was inspired by clothes designer and mum Jacqueline Waggett. What sets these bags apart from others on the market is their unique 3-in-1 baby organising system - making it a truly practical choice for parents. You have the obligatory ‘parent pocket’ for keys, phone and wallet, but the central component is reserved purely for baby. Inside every bag is two smaller bags (pods) - one for nappy changing, and another insulated bag for feeding gear. These slot neatly inside the main compartment and are brilliant for a number of reasons:

1. It prevents you from cramming your change bag full of needless things
2. You won’t have to fish around for the essentials as they’re all neatly squirreled away inside each pod
3. You can simply take the relevant pod (and baby of course) into a changing room - rather than the entire bag
4. The pods are detachable so can be transferred from bag to bag if you wish

From the front-view the Hastings bag resembles a retro satchel thanks to its leather buckle. It’s in a stylish pinstripe design which is very daddy-friendly yet still looks great for mum too. There’s a generous pocket on the front that has popper fastenings - this is the ‘parent pouch’ alluded to above. Inside are two elasticated pouches for further ‘sorting’ of your bits. I would have preferred this to be zipped to prevent pickpockets but this is personal preference only (it’s definitely Dexter-proof in any case!).

The main compartment is zipped and is positively tardis-like. A casual observer might wrongly dismiss the bag as being too small from its outer dimensions but there really is room enough in here to stow away all your essentials - including toys and a change of clothes - along with plenty of room for your pods.

The pods are (as mentioned above) genius. There are four elasticated pouches in the changer pod. One comfortably houses a padded changing mat, the others are labelled for wipes, sanitiser and nappies. Once zipped up, the pod shrinks to dinky proportions and has its own carry handle for quick changes.

The feeding pouch is fully thermo-insulated and plenty big enough for 3 bottles, or a bottle, some food and your babies weaning paraphernalia.

The best bit about the Hastings by far however is it’s versatility. Not only is there a top handle for easy hanging off a restaurant chair (or your coat hooks at home), there are also traditional rucksack-style straps which mean you can sling it over one, or both, shoulders (making it part messenger, part rucksack). Add to this the fabulous pram attachment clips and you can pop it on the back of your buggy regardless of whether your pushchair sports a single handlebar, or two. The top loading style also means all the essentials are easy to get to at all times.

As expected, Craig loves this change bag. The muted colours, size and ease of wearing makes it his bag of choice and he regularly takes it out when he’s having daddy-time with Dexter. It’s also plenty big enough for all his man-bits and will even take a laptop when it’s no longer needed for the children. For £60 it’s a bit of a bargain in my eyes. For a quality bag with so many uses beyond baby, it really is the perfect man-bag for the metro-sexual man.

As for me… I love it for quick trips to the shops and really like the way it hangs so comfortably over my buggy handles. It looks so far removed from a traditional change bag, that I’m often asked where Dexter’s nappies are! I will admit however that I’m still having a love affair with my Nova Harley Manhattan and this is as steamy and passionate as ever. Given we’re about to have two babies under two, this is the perfect compromise. My Manhattan will live on the handlebars, and the Pacapod will ride happily in the buggy basket. Win win.

If you’d like to know more about Pacapod, off you toddle to the website, or you can follow them on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest for the latest collections and offers.

Disclaimer: I was sent this little fella for the purposes of this review. Any subsequent gushing is my all my own work (I haven’t been bribed or instructed what to write).