Our Final Verdict
We give Kibou Vegan Leather Diaper Bag a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Quality: 5/5
Variety: 5/5
Features: 5/5
Value: 4.9/5
I think all dog parents can agree when we say that the hunt for the perfect dog walking and dog traveling bag feels quite endless. What we want is a hands-free solution that holds everything needed in quick reach, as most Fidos’ aren’t always cooperative! You would think that this would be easier to find, right? Sadly not.
That being said, Kibou tries to get as close to perfect as possible. Originally focused on creating bags for mothers, pet parents can reap all of the same benefits in Kibou’s offering of stylish, luxury-feeling bags that are promised to be ultra useful. With a lot of nifty little features to make the everyday commute with your furry best friend easier, this just might be the solution we’ve all been looking for.
About Kibou
Pronounced as ‘KEY-boo’, this sounds like a simplified version of the phrase “keep it by you” – and the bag has certainly lived up to its name! Founded by two friends who met at a baby class in New York City, the two worked together to invent a good solution to life’s everyday needs. Because the ideal bag doesn’t seem to exist, Nell Shapiro and Stephanie Merks were on a mission to get as close to perfection as possible.
Kibou bags pride themselves on being durable, convenient, and stylish. Once upon a time, it felt like you could only pick two of the above three wishes (if something was durable and convenient, it wasn’t stylish, if something was stylish and durable, it probably wasn’t convenient, etc) and Kibou blends all three together quite well. Originally designed as baby bags for moms, fur babies aren’t too different… so the Kibou bag converts into a dog walking solution with ease.
Designed at Kibou headquarters in New York, each bag is well-thought out and meant to meet all of life’s daily needs.
Overview
The Kibou dog walking bag is really just a re-imagined version of the original Kibou bag meant for mothers with their babes! A lot of the features translate to both human babies and furry babies, so here is an overview of what you can expect.
Pricing
The vegan leather Kibou bags are priced at $98, with 15% off discount codes often available for first-time buyers. Free shipping is included with each Kibou bag.
$98 can seem like a hefty price for a fanny pack / waist bag, but this one is packed with features that help justify that price point. And the quality materials mean it’s not only beautiful but built to last.
There are also mini versions of the original and the standard size in canvas set at lower prices.
Colors and Size
The Kibou bag comes in a variety of colors to match any style or preference!
The bag is available in:
Blush
Black
Brown
Charcoal
Olive
Smoky Indigo
Jade
Midnight
Kibou bags are sized at 11” wide, 6” tall, and 4” in depth. The belt is adjustable from 31” – 46” with a free belt extender available as well.
Materials And Build Quality
What really separates the Kibou bag from other fanny-pack-style bags are the materials and build quality.
The Kibou bag is made of recycled vegan leather – but before you scoff at the vegan leather part, this one is not like what you’d expect.
I have definitely had the experience of vegan leather breaking down and shedding within a few months of use, but I found that’s because it isn’t sealed and made correctly.
The Kibou vegan leather feels a lot like real leather would and is just as durable. I can definitely tell it is sealed to be able to withstand a lot of abuse and still look good as new! The bag is intended to be put to everyday use, so the outside is designed to be frequently wiped and cleaned.
The inside is lined with premium nylon canvas which is made to be stain-resistant (and is also wipeable). There is also a waterproof-lined pocket, but more on this in the Features section.
Both the vegan leather and the inside lining is compliant with California’s high safety standards (Prop 65 compliant), so it is going to be safe for your furry loved ones.
All in all, a hardy workhorse kind of bag.
Pockets
The Kibou bag features a multitude of pockets, both for storage and clever convenience.
There is a front pocket sized at 7.5” W, 3.3” H, to 1” D which tapers at the bottom. This one has wallet slots for credit/debit cards and cash.
The main pocket is 11” W by 6” H by 3” D that tapers to 1.5” at the very bottom. This one is your main storage component, and there is a surprising amount that can be fit in there.
There is a small waterproof envelope pocket-sized at 8” W by 6” H that has a waterproof lining. This is meant for wet wipes or any wet belonging you want to keep separate from the rest of the bag.
The back flap is 7” W by 4” H and includes a detachable pad for your pup to sit on.
Shipping
Shipping is free and very fast for all Kibou bags.
Pros & Cons
Available in 8 beautiful colors
Very stylish and aesthetic bag
Lots of convenient pockets
Front pocket flap acts as a wallet with card slots
Back pocket flap has an included detachable pad for you or your pup to sit on
Waterproof pocket to hold wet wipes, slobbery dog toys, or anything else wet that you may not want to touch the rest of your bag
Fully adjustable strap to fit from XS to XL, with the option for a free extender
Very durable materials that are easy to wash and wipe clean
Free shipping
Can be considered on the pricey side
Key Features
Variety Of Colors
There are eight great colors to choose from.
Durable Materials
The material is going to be able to take a beating for sure, and cleaning is as easy as wiping it down.
Waterproof Pocket
The waterproof top pocket allows you to place up to 20 wet wipes (and keep them wet!) or store damp belongings. The pocket is lined and easy to clean.
Detachable Sitting Pad
The detachable sitting pad folds out to 12” wide by 22” long to offer a clean place to sit for either yourself or your pup. This is neatly tucked away in the back pocket.
Credit Card Slots and Key Ring
The front pocket acts as a wallet, so you don’t need to carry an extra wallet on you. The main pocket has a clippable key ring that keeps you from losing your keys.
Many Pockets
As covered in the overview, this bag has four well-thought-out and designed pockets. A main pocket for the majority of your belongings, a smaller pocket with card holders for your phone and money, a wet pocket, and a back pocket flap for the pull-out pad (or the pad can be removed to make it an extra storage pocket).
Adjustable Belt
The belt adjusts to a pretty large sizing scope, so everyone fits. I am an extra small, and this bag sits just right on my hips.
Is the Kibou Bag a Good Value?
Where there may be some hesitation on the Kibou bag is the price point – at $98 for not real leather, some may shy away.
But, the fact that the vegan leather is made to both mimic the feeling of real leather and the durable qualities, this definitely adds more value to the bag. The multitude of features also justify the price point, and it convenience is certainly valuable.
For a bag that is intended to last you years upon years of daily use, $98 can feel a lot like a steal – especially with the offer of free shipping! All in all, I feel like the Kibou bag is a great value (not just a good value).
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Clean The Kibou Bag?
The material is meant to be washed – you can take a wet cloth and a small amount of dish soap to wipe down the bag. Disinfecting wipes also work well! Just make sure not to put the bag entirely underwater as this can damage the lining inside. Avoid any harsh chemicals as this can degrade the coating in the vegan leather (and you want the bag to last a lifetime!).
What Waist Size Does Kibou Fit?
Kibou bag straps are fully adjustable, so they can range from an XS to XL because the strap can go from 33”-48”.
If you need a strap that goes longer than 49”, Kibou is happy to mail a free strap extender. Add the belt extender to your shopping cart and add the code EXTENDER at checkout to get this belt extender for free. This is limited to one per customer per bag however.
What’s The Return Policy?
Kibou offers a full refund to the original payment method within 30 days of receiving the bag, but the bag must be returned with all original packaging, accessories, and dust bag (and of course, unworn).
Our Experience With the Kibou Bag
My pup Lorelei and I go everywhere together, whether it be enjoying some sunshine on the patio of a local coffee shop to hikes in the beautiful mountains. As mentioned pretty repeatedly in this review, the search for a perfect bag is endless. My dog may only be 10lbs, but she requires a lot of belongings at all times, and that is where the issue tends to lie.
I had high hopes for the Kibou bag and was very excited to see how it matched up with my needs. It is not an unusual idea to convert a baby bag into a dog walking bag, predominantly because both require a lot of pockets and a convenient sling design.
The Kibou bag came in a beautiful dust bag, already attesting to the higher quality of this particular product. Inside of the dust bag was a very sweet little thank you note alongside the Kibou bag itself, another lovely touch that did not go unnoticed! Everything was very neatly wrapped and presented, a big A+ on that.
I ordered the blush color, and it really is so beautiful. It’s a desaturated and soft pink, definitely not overwhelming! The texture of the bag was really nice, as someone who owns real leather as well, it was very similar.
Although I had read the dimensions prior to receiving my bag, it didn’t hit me just how large it is until I saw the bag right in front of me. It’s a very decent size and I could immediately tell that everything I need to carry with me for both Lorelei and myself will certainly fit.
The belt was very easy and simple to adjust, and fit my waist at the perfect spot. Making the belt longer turned the bag from a waist bag to a sling across my body, another convenient way to carry it. I really liked how well the Kibou bag fit the shape of my body, it was formed and tapered very well for the female form.
The zippers were very easy but still had enough need for force to know that they wouldn’t just fly open at any time. I liked the positions of all of the pockets, as it really was easy to grab my phone, a credit card, or my pup’s poop bags and treats! The wet wipe pocket at the very top was a really awesome addition, as I carry pet-friendly wet wipes with me at all times. My dog gets a lot of allergies and often needs her face and paws wiped, so having a very convenient way to carry these (and access them in a pinch) was monumental.
I also really loved the sitting pad addition to the bag – my dog does not sit on the ground with her bare bottom (yes, we all laugh at this) and this pad makes for a perfect little seat for her wherever we are. It’s such a funny little feature that makes this bag #1 on my list of grab-and-go purses that I own.
The few times this bag did get a bit dirty from our adventures, it was very easy to clean. I just took a damp paper towel and wiped it off, looked good as new!
All in all, I am so thrilled and pleased with the Kibou bag – catching myself taking this bag with me almost every day.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I find that the Kibou bag really is a fantastic companion to daily walks. You can tell the thought that went into the design of this bag, and really appreciate it to the fullest extent when you start using it every day.
Oftentimes, features sound good on paper but you don’t really get the feel for it until they are put to the test, and the convenience that this bag has offered me is worth every penny. Plus, it doesn’t look like any old waist bag, so I’ve even had the bonus of getting compliments on it from strangers!
