Reader, it’s a rare moment when you meet a bag that’s not only perfect for travel, but also something that (stylishly) reduces the back-breaking burden of mom life. At least, that’s how I felt when I met the Nik carry-all from MZ Wallace.
At the time, I wasn’t planning a review—I was simply another parent trying to get a grip on the expansive range of things I needed to carry on a trans-Atlantic—and bucket list—vacation to London, Paris and Copenhagen with an infant and 7-year-old by my side. On past trips, I’d of course tested backpacks or more kid-friendly packing options to help keep my family organized, but for this two-week getaway, I wanted a bag that allowed me to both pare down and have an organized space for every essential. Think passports and pacifiers, but also a good book and an iPad fully loaded with Bluey. (That barely scratches the surface of what I was able to ultimately fit, but it gives you an idea.)
When it came time to finally start loading up this carry-all, I was floored. Not only by the sheer number of compartments—there are 16 in total—but also how light the bag remained no matter how many items I stuffed into it. (It helps that, when empty, it clocks in at just over 2 pounds.) There’s more: The padded handles, the luggage sleeve, even a detachable pouch that clips on the inside (you better believe that’s where I tucked my most critical item—ahem, the pacifiers).
As I carried the Nik onto the plane to Heathrow, then the Chunnel to Paris, then finally, on a short flight to Copenhagen, it stayed pretty and chic—but most importantly, I saved myself countless minutes rustling around in my bag in search of so many miscellaneous—yet must-have—items.
