Petunia Pickle Bottom Sashay Satchel Review

The Petunia Pickle Bottom Sashay Satchel is a versatile and darling bag that we believe moms will love. We immediately fell in love with just how easy it was to convert the Sashay Satchel from a handbag to a backpack. The Petunia Pickle Bottom brand is synonymous with quality but expensive products, the Sashay Satchel represents an affordable option from their line without skimping on craftsmanship.

Performance Comparison

Storage and Ease of Use

We awarded the Sashay a score of 7 of 10 in this category. Our main beef with it is that it is a long and narrow bag which can be a problem with organizational maintenance. As everything in it needs to be oriented vertically, you will be stacking and unstacking items throughout the day. Digging for items in the depths of the purse is a common occurrence which can ultimately cause varying degrees of chaos.

Fortunately, however, the Sashay Satchel boasts just enough smaller pockets (5 interior and 5 exterior) and compartments to keep the most frequently used items separated from the rest of the contents of the bag. The key here is remembering where everything is stashed. Key clips are god sends as keys always seem to be the main culprit of lost items within purses and bags.

Though this version we tested is fabricated of with organic cotton, it stands upright like a champ when empty. The bag maintains its lovely posture whether empty or full.

We were disappointed at the lack of metal feet on the bottom of the bag to protect the base but it was very easy to wipe the bag clean with a damp cloth. We were actually surprised at the lack of metal feet on this bag, as other more affordable options such as the BEABA Stockholm and the Skip Hop Chelsea included them.

Comfort

For comfort, the Sashay scored a of 7 of 10. This is one of the heaviest bags we tested, weighing in at 2.6 pounds. The only heavier ones are the BEABA Stockholm and Storksak Bobby. The extra weight is barely noticeable when the bag is worn properly on ones back. However it can be felt when carried as a handbag. Of the shoulder straps we tested, these did not irritate our exposed skin. We do think if the bag were to be worn excessively in this manner while carrying a heavy load it could begin to irritate skin. Sadly the straps did cause softer shirts and sweaters to “pill” where friction occurred. We liked the soft, pliable handles when utilizing the handbag carrying method.

Quality

We found the Sashay Satchel to be one of the highest quality diaper bags we tested and thus, it earned a 9 of 10 for quality. It is a finely crafted bag with great attention paid to detail. The fabric we selected to review is made with certified organic cotton (more about this below in Other Versions and Accessories section), unique to the Sashay among the other bags tested in this review. The interior fabrics are sewn well and easy to clean. The exterior fabrics have lively yet stylish patterns on them that are busy enough to hide stains until you have time to clean them off.

Stitching is fine and well-secured, zippers do not catch or skip teeth, and brass metal hardware is sturdy and easy to operate. The handles are secured to the bag extremely well, and the brass square rings that attach it to the bag enable you to completely hide the purse handles when in backpack mode. Only the BEABA Stockholm features handles like this. The adjustable shoulder straps while not completely detachable, are very easy to hide in the bag when not in use.

The Sashay Satchel's closures are high quality. The dual zipper closure on the main compartment closes completely and magnetic snap closures on the two exterior pockets perform well under stress. And, after two months of wipes in the wipes case, they did not dry out as so commonly can occur.

Lastly, the changing pad is one of our favorites in this round up review. While it could use a little more padding, it is large in size when laid out yet folds up small attached by a small patch of velcro and has durable, wipe clean fabric. We particularly like this Petunia Pickle Bottom changing pad because it is stand alone, unlike the attached changing pad in their ever popular Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack.

Style

This bag is right on trend on both the handbag and diaper bag markets and earned a 9 of 10 for style. Moms we encountered loved the cute patterns and versatility of the bag. What really cinched its award for “most versatile” was when we took it to a party sans baby and our friends without kids mistook it for a purse.

Of all the bags we tested, this bag represents the cream of the crop in terms of style, and we think those who invest in it will be able to use it for years after they have grown out of the need for a diaper bag.

Best Applications

We loved traveling with the Sashay Satchel. It endeared itself to us during moments on our trip when we desperately needed both hands to lasso our busy toddler. Overall, this bag is an excellent choice because it is a high-quality, stylish, functional and durable bag.

Value

Despite boasting a slightly higher price tag ($139 list price) than some of the bags we tested, based on our findings, it will be worth every penny you'll pay for it. Compared to the Ju-Ju-Be Be Right Back, the Sashay Satchel is light years ahead in terms of value for cost.

Conclusion

The Petunia Pickle Bottom Sashay Satchel is a great physical representation of what many moms today are seeking in life; a balance between motherhood and self-identity. This bag boasts an excellent marriage between style and functionality that we think moms will love.