REASONS TO BUY
Organizing accessories
Cooler included
Subtle style
REASONS TO AVOID
Lower quality
Limited internal storage
jay elle Type A Review
Professional looking bag with organizing accessories included, but not as durable as other options
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ December 19, 2019
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD
RELATED: The Best Breast Pump Bags
Our Verdict
The jay elle Type A is a little black dress in the pumping bag world with a variety of accessories included in the purchase price. While we like anything that contributes to better organization, some of the accessories feel like a box check rather than a truly useful addition. This bag is large and fits most pumps and smaller laptops but it lacks true organization and it would benefit from more pockets or dividers. The included cooler works well though and your milk will stay cool during work until you get home to your fridge. We like this simple bag and the design will go with almost any outfit or workplace, but the quality isn't as nice as some of the competition and we wonder how long it will last.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The J.L Childress company started over 30 years ago when the founder, Jan Childress needed a breastfeeding product she couldn't find. The company offers a variety of gear items mostly centered around travel and organization with the majority of products on the company website listed as “accessories.”
Most pumps will fit inside the side pocket on the Type A, including the larger Spectra. Credit: Abriah Wofford
The interior of the Type A is roomy but there aren't many pockets and it is good that it comes with some accessory bags for organization. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The jay comes with multiple accessories to help keep things organized or in their place. The included cooler works well and is something not offered by the competition making it one of the few options to provide milk storage that isn't a part of the main bag or pump holding space. This bag is also large enough to hold almost any pump and it can accommodate almost any other supply you'll need to bring aboard like a 13-15-inch laptop without a case.
Even with the Type A zipped closed, the contents are not fully contained as the ends are still open. Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Type A has very liquid repellent fabric, which helps it stay clean. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The materials sued in the making of this bag feel on the cheaper side and it lacks the durable feeling of the more expensive options. We do like that it comes with accessories, which may be what you are paying for, but we wish the attention to detail and overall design we're more impressive.
The Type A has an average size and weight compared to the competition. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight/Bulk
The Type A is similar in size and weight to the average bag in this review weighing about 1.4 lbs and large enough for a 15-inch laptop. This weight is not heavy but the larger size and ability t carry more might have you lugging something heavy if you take full advantage of the storage space.
The small interior pocket on the Type A is good for preventing smaller items from getting lost in the bottom of the bag. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Features
The jay elle Type A has a variety of features not found in the competition. The majority of which are designed to help keep things organized or working smoothly. These features are by way of accessories including a cooler, wet bag, pouch, and dry cloth. The cooler is small and similar to the option that launched the company 30 years ago. We like that milk has its own storage location away from the other goods and think this will help keep things cleaner inside the bag. The accessories pouch is suitable for keeping pump parts in the same location and the wet bag and dry cloth keep messes to a minimum. If you like accessories or bag style organization, then this might be the bag for you.
The exterior zippered pocket on the Type A is designed with tablets and smaller laptops in mind. Credit: Abriah Wofford
The small zippered pocket on the outside of the Type A may not holder larger smartphones but is good for keys and other small items. Credit: Abriah Wofford
The bag has a side zipper for pump storage and the pump can be used inside the bag. The exterior has minimal pockets, but the small zippered pocket is perfect for a smartphone or keys. The larger rear zippered pocket can hold tablets or smaller laptops though they won't have much protection from bumps or drops as any cushion or case won't fit here.
The metal feet on the bottom of the Type A are sort of indented making them inset and somewhat useless and the bottom of the bag still sits on the ground. Credit: Abriah Wofford
The rolled imitation leather on the shoulder/tote straps is comfortable enough even when the bag is full. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Style
This bag has a simple black design to match any outfit or occasion. It has “vegan-leather” shoulder straps for easy carrying and black plastic hardware. The body of the bag is nylon and wipes clean easily without much liquid retention in the fabric. The interior of the bag is a contrasting pink color that will prevent items from getting lost in a “black hole” and it also wipes clean.
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