Mine was from not REI but somebody like REI, basically industrial strength camping gear baby kit and was also awesome. Lasted through my kids, then my sister’s, and now a cousins. Like 10 kids and almost 20 years and still looks nearly new.
Sorta. I agree, they are a for profit company now. They do still let members vote on the board of directors, which is kinda cool, but it also seems like those elections are a sham with little to no oversight these days. And you can sell your own shit back to them, which is kinda co-op adjacent at least. What I really hate is that they got rid of their classes and trips, it was a big part of what drew me into the membership in the first place.
Well, other than it being all tacti-cool in aesthetics, standard baby gear is not as well arranged as what's in the picture.
That gear in the pic would let you carry the baby stuff with your hands free and able to actually take care of an infant out and about. Waaay better than the usual shoulder sling or backpack options, and absurdly better than the kinds meant to be carried by hand.
There's a reason surplus gear used to be wildly popular. It was mostly designed to work. It would be better than what you could get outside of a surplus store, even when what you were getting was years out of date and current issue was better. With companies making stuff that's built with stuff like molle in mind, following principles that make what's being carried leave hands free but be reasonably accessible, shit just works better, even though it looks ugly.
If I'm toting an infant around, I don't need pretty, I need comfortable and capable.
Legit though, I used to have to carry similar supplies (minus the actual diapers and infant) for my job, and it was really hard to find things that were durable, well compartmentalized, had good capacity and could be cleaned relatively easy.
Towards the end of my working years, that kind of "military inspired" stuff started showing up, and it really did beat the pants off of other options I had been using.
It was super nice to be able to really organize all the ppe, wipes, gloves, spare pads, etc I had to tote around to patients. Not that nothing else worked, it just didn't work as well.
I felt like a moron with the whole tacticool vibe, but not enough to switch back lol
I remember ordering stuff back around 2008/9 off eBay. I always went with black. Even now it's still cheaper for the mil stuff than actual work bags. Like shit I'm shopping for a new rolling toolbox and base price for most are like 200 for basic shit
Right? This is a perfect application for tactical gear. Modular, expandable, easily accessible storage is ideal for baby gear. This just looks a little dumb because it doesn't show any attachments.
Yeah, molle rocks. The bag I had when I was working, I kept gloves and wipes in two front pouches I could swap out fast. I'd have multiples prepped so I could grab and go, stick them on and be out the door faster. Super nice when I would have multiple patients and something messy happened, or I'd need to resupply at home. Take care of the prep once a week or so assembly line style and spend less time not getting paid to do work stuff.
Baby supplies are really similar, and a parent of an infant is going to have similar time issues (for different reasons).
Women's apparel notoriously often lacks any pockets. At least historically. Not sure if there is a connection with the standard baby gear but an odd coincidence regardless.
I'm sure there are advantages to the "baby on your chest" design vs. other designs. But, that's not what people are commenting on. They're commenting on the tacti-cool suburban ninja elements.
Like, the loops on the front of the carrier. Real police and soldiers use those to carry items like flashlights, guns, knives, extra magazines, etc:
First of all, hubby at the Wal*Mart doesn't need quick access to guns or flashlights. He might need quick access to a wet wipe, but I don't think they make tactical wet-wipe pouches.
Second of all, The reason that attachment system is useful for body armour is that things are directly on the wearer's chest. They can look down, see the item they need, and grab it immediately. When the tactical attachment system is on the baby's back, you can't look down and see it anymore. You could reach around and fumble for something, but if you're doing that, why not just put down the tacti-cool shoulder bag and look in it instead?
Finally, surplus gear is great. This isn't surplus. It's imitation military gear. Surplus gear is good because it's actual military gear designed to hold up in harsh environments. In military gear, form follows function. It's brown because it's designed to be decent camouflage in many different environments. Brown isn't going to help hubby hide in the cereal isle at Wal*Mart. It has PALS straps because they're the best way to attach gear and make it quickly accessible. As I pointed out above, fumbling around behind the baby's back for something doesn't serve that same function. The surplus gear is also reasonably durable because soldiers wear it while doing heavy physical activity in harsh environments.
I would imagine that your bog-standard baby carrier is actually going to be reasonably durable for its normal intended use of lugging a baby around. That's what people buy it for, and if it doesn't hold up people will buy something else. The size of the straps, the padding, etc. for a standard baby carrier will be one where form follows function. But, this tacti-cool baby gear is probably not durable. The manufacturers know that people buying it will be buying form over function, so they won't be putting the emphasis on something durable, but on making it look visually similar to army gear. It's not military surplus, it's Hot Topic imitation army gear.
To all the people putting guys down for using it, screw you. If it gets dad's more involved in parenting, that's categorically a good thing!
Is it a cheap trick to boost some men's confidence? Yes. But so what? If your wife has an overly girly nappy bag, an "ironic" overly manly one has a lot more effect than you might think.
A lot of men are very insecure, when it comes to parenting. There is a massive amount of training and advice out there for mums, but VERY little for dads. We are left in a limbo of either being disconnected, and complained about, or bumbling and being complained about. It's improving, but slowly.
I agree. To me, this is just an amusing fashion choice. If you're gonna need the gear, so you may as well have fun with it.
Honestly, when it comes to any accessory or tool, it's going to have an aesthetic. Who cares what that is (as long as it's not offensive). There's also a tendency to consider terms like 'fashion' to be emasculating, but that's what this is: fashion. Plus, kiddo isn't going to care about logos and any gender representation; the only shit they're giving is in their pants.
Other fashion choices for diaper bags that could be explored:
Metal (leather/pleather, spikes, denim, band patches)
Goth (like above, but with less denim and more ankhs and crosses)
Gamer (cosplay appropriate bags, pokemon that's also a bag, D&D mimic on a shoulder strap)
Sports (tons of practical and team-branded merch options here)
Office (suit material, inoffensive beige, briefcase handles and leather)
Handyman/tradesman (toolbag or toolbelt aesthetic, tool manufacturer branding)
I am a dad and a baby toolbag sounds awesome. I love the way a good toolbag makes your stuff accessible to you and would absolutely want a baby version (or perhaps an insert into an existing toolbag?)
That's kind of where my head was going. I also had a good chuckle when I imagined a bright turquoise baby-bag with "Makita" on the side. Then again, that's exactly how you get a refrigerated compartment for milk.
Not sure if I want more parental involvement from the kind of guy who wants military aesthetic everything, but I get what you mean. I guess everyone’s style will be cringe to somebody
My kid has been wearing 2nd hand metal shirts for about 15 years. That was also the aesthetic when we made quilts for him as a baby.
I gotta imagine there’s people out there laying heavy judgment on that decision. We think it’s hilarious. Poor dude was like 13 the first time I got a call about a Cattle Decap shirt he was wearing. I guess, technically it was sacrilegious but I appreciated him self advocating and pointing out a “guns, god, country” shirt another kid had on.
Thanks for attending my ramble about judging people’s parenting fashion.
I don't think the military style is the issue per se, rather than a society that is heavily gender coded, to the point that men who want to get involved with their kids find themselves constantly using female coded gear, which is a constant reminder that "you're doing a female task!" and only pushes them away / attracts ridicule.
Let them fucking have this. It's baby steps, you know?
I'm lucky France isn't in the hands of Y'allqaeda just yet, and that I ain't worried I'll catch the gay if I wear the wrong colour, but I can't imagine what it's like in the US, honestly.
men who want to get involved with their kids find themselves constantly using female coded gear
This isn't an issue with baby carriers. Look at the top results on Amazon. They're mostly black or grey. Sure, more than 90% of the images with a parental figure show a woman, but the items themselves aren't "gender coded".
Given that, the idea here is that carrying around a baby is itself a gender-coded activity, so men need to use gender-affirming clothing to emphasize that they're not women by buying something that looks similar to what a soldier might wear. That's what's fucking stupid. Just buy the standard black baby carrier. I promise 90% of the world won't think you're less of a man because you're caring for your offspring.
Most of those baby carriers fit like shit on men because the shoulder straps are too close together. I hadn't found one I found reasonably comfortable until these tactical ones started appearing.
Man if this is what gets a dad involved in raising the kids I feel bad for the kids. Is it looking at the child when they are first born? Is it the smile on the child's face as he sees thier dad walk through the door after a long day? Nope it's the camo gear that does it. They didn't want to be involved when is some girly baby, but now that there's men's gear specifically marketed toward manly man now he's interested. That kid is screwed.
Dad's get frozen out of a lot of early parenting things. Anything that gives men the confidence to get more involved is good.
E.g. my wife took our daughter to "sing and sign". I decided to go along when I could. Out of 20 parents, I was the only non-mum. The next meetup, there were over 1/2 dozen dad's, and a grandad. The instructor was surprised and pleased with this. All it took was them knowing they wouldn't be the only dad there.
If a "manly" bag gives them the confidence to break the norms, then good on them!
The carriers were one of the best buys we made for my daughter. She hated the pram, but loved being carried. With a carrier, she was close, and warm, while being involved in what we were doing. We could also get on with the basic tasks of life.
FYI, the wraps, for smaller babies are also great. The baby cuddles you get are amazing. Also the smell of your own baby is like crack cocaine. It's one of the best bonding tools out there.
What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? I'll have you know I graduated top of my class in my local birthing center's new parent training, and I've been involved in numerous home diaper changes, and I have over 300 confirmed formula bottles. I am trained in gorilla binkies and I'm the top "got your nose" player in the entire US playground system. You are nothing to me but just another babysitter. I will put your baby the fuck to naptime with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my fucking words. You think you can get away with saying that shit to me over the Internet? Think again, fucker. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of nannies across the USA and your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, maggot. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your diaper genie. You're fucking dead, kid. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can change your diaper in over seven hundred ways, and that's just with my bare hands. Not only am I extensively trained in one-armed baby wipe retrieval, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the American Association of Pediatrics and I will use it to its full extent to wipe the miserable shit off your baby's butthole, you little shit. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little "clever" comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your fucking tongue. But you couldn't, you didn't, and now you're paying the price, you goddamn idiot. I will shit fury all over you and you will drown in it. You're fucking dead, kiddo.
I kind of want to see black and white Peppa Pig skull patches that poke fun at Punisher patches, but I think the irony would be beyond the thin blue line crowd.
When I first saw this when my wife was pregnant I was really annoyed & upset & scoffing at the thing. But then I looked at it & it has all the functional shit I should expect out of parenting gear & pockets/ loops galore.
then I got mad all over again because it shouldn't just be MEN'S baby gear that has all the utilities.
"Military" as an aesthetic is very 90s-minded. Like, 30 years ago, when I was a dumb teenager who was excited to see the live-action GI Joe movie, cosplaying as an Elite Operator Guy felt no different than playing around as a cowboy or a knight or a jedi.
Now? Idk. I can only expose myself to so many "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" gore videos, with guys dressed like that opening fire on a crowd of starving Arab children, before I've lost my taste for this kind of aesthetic choice. Its beginning to feel like I'm seeing a guy who wraps his kid in a swastika themed blanky.
I also wondered about this, so I googled "diaper bag". Literally all the results just look like normal bags. They aren't covered in rainbows and butterflies. Just a random color + bag.
Plenty of diaper bags with sportsball branding and Comic Books for Adults aesthetics.
Of course, there's a lot of military advertising in both of these media circuits, so... shrug Any time you need to make your diaper bag look like something other than a diaper bag in order to feel secure, you've been cowed by The Patriarchy.
I've seen a few in shades of matte gray and camel tan that work great. Very boring and gender neutral. No need to proclaim your sexuality when you're using them.
I don't have an issue with the product. It could be funny in the right context.
I have a problem with the manner it's marketed. The ad doesn't say good things about its own product, but instead tries to attack competing products as girly.
I don't think i have ever owned anything camouflaged and i never seen anyone wearing camouflage thinking that it doesn't look ridiculous. I'm all for practical stuff and i like my things to be optimised and well aranged. If it needs to look like you go into desert storm with your 2 year old to feel better about yourself, i guess. It's not much different than a woman wearing make up or high heels, just for rednecks
NGL as a dad myself, I would be far more likely to make fun of this guy and his tacticool diaper bag than any dad carrying around the girliest bag their wife obviously picked out. It's way cooler to not give a shit what other people think of your child raising accessories.
Also, it looks like he is wearing his child as a tiny human shield. Squishy plate carrier.
The baby carrier and bag my wife got do not fit on me. The "mens" ones all look like this, so I had no choice.
On a related note, I find most of the bags marketed towards women focus more on aesthetics than usefulness and have poor functional design all over the place. These "tactical" bags tend to focus on functionality, which is a big plus IMO.
Diaper bag on Amazon literally listed as "for women" has more functionality that that side bag. They don't make Molle pouches for wipe dispensers like that side pouch this one has. Most of the 1st 20 results are the same level of 'functionality' - I don't doubt that some women's bags are more about aesthetics but this is literally advertising the aesthetic of the bag to men over function. Is there a diaper changing mat included with that tactical bag?
It looks cool, I'd use it! When you start making fun of me I'd just shrug and carry on, because I don't care what judgements some weirdo makes about my accessories.
NGL as a dad myself, I would be far more likely to make fun of this guy and his tacticool diaper bag than any dad carrying around the girliest bag their wife obviously picked out.
And people are calling the guy in the OP image fragile...
Not sure how this is any different than buying any of the branded fashion bags. Those offer no special or unique functionality, just a name and maybe a specific material design.
I was so confused when my coworkers were talking about some hard to get tote bag and when they finally brought one in it just looked like a regular cheap tote bag but apparently it was expensive for unknown reasons
I actually own this. It’s fantastic!!!!! The baby diaper bag is a must have. It’s been to hell and back with two kids on many of family trips across the country and outings. the material it’s made out of are kid proof which is saying a lot
I just wanna say, you are a cool person and don't let the chuds here saying mean things about people who like this stuff get to you. They're the insecure and fragile ones who can't tolerate a tactical style bag making someone happy. Let the men have their fun, assholes!
Here's the sad thing dawg. I love the tacticool aesthetic. I love the feel of the material and I love patches. But the entire industry is propped up and advertised for these "I am a manly man man who man's harder than women and other men" and that's so sad. It's an aesthetic ruined by the culture it belongs to.
This has the opposite effect to me. If I see a man taking care of their kid, taking them to the park, carrying them, generally being a parent, that to me is more manly than whatever this is.
What if he has these accessories because they make him happy? Would you be a judgemental shit-bag to him about it or just think cool dad for actively caring about his kid?
Weak. Just buy a desert tan Pelican Case and cut a baby shaped hole in the foam. Put the baby in the case and throw the case in the back of your Humvee. That’s what a real man would do.
All the people on here calling guys who like military/tacticool aesthetic insecure are no different than people calling guys fags for wearing skinny jeans.
Being insecure when you see a guy in tight pants and feeling things your pastor told you that you shouldn't
Noticing insecurity in others, as they scramble to camouflage something they've internalized as an "other gender" coded activity.
Turning your diaper bag into a tacti-cool military gear is more akin to the sorority sports team that needs to color everything pink and add a tutu as an accessory, so nobody will mistake them as being too butch. It's the fashion equivalent of shouting "No Homo!"
You are making an assumption about someone's everyone's character, worldview, lifestyle and political association based on a single piece of information - how they like to dress. You're one step away from crossing the street when you see a black guy or asking an asian for help with a math problem.
EDIT: a few disagreed, at least with their votes, but you don't see this military obsession anywhere else, except perhaps North Korea.
EDIT2: I find it funny that I've gone from -2 to -5 and still nobody has written a reply explaining exactly what I've said is "wrong". The thing is that I think I'm right, and unless someone else explains why I'm wrong, that's not going to change anything! USA is a joke! Just like North Korea! Just like any authoritarian country! And in case you were on the fence: FUCK THE POLICE!
What happened to men in the US that they can't carry their children's stuff, or can't even hold on to their girlfriend's handbag without having to hide in public? It's so weird.
Unfortunately for me, I look like the average maga chud...
When I hold my wife's purse, I become instantly flamboyant. "Do you like my purse? It goes with everything! It makes me feel like a bitch!" It makes the "dudes" cringe, and I fuckin LOVE it. I also don't mind being the one to pick up the industrial sized package of pads or tampons if I'm close to the store. (My daughter is at the point where she's pretty shy about it.
They are revoking themselves because they are fragile. I have no issues doing, carrying, or drinking "girly" things and still feel like a man. It's pathetic how fragile masculinity is for most American men.
Oh definitely. Masculinity in the US is largely about projecting the idea that it might be a bad idea for someone to fuck with you. You don't want to be someone who can be freely bullied or victimized without repercussions. It's part of why some men spend lots of money and time training to win street fights they'll probably never get in to (apart from the physical fitness and health aspects, of course).
So, I don't hate tacti-cool baby gear, but it does make me angry.
It should have been high quality baby gear targeted at guys being silly. The glaring contrast between its function and its theme should be intentionally funny.
Instead you've got sexist shit trying to convince guys that it's okay, you can still be hyper masculine even if you care for your children, and selling profoundly inferior crap that's not even leveraging the ridiculous marketing options.
All the actual baby supply companies have instead started using the stuff you would want out of "tactical baby gear", and coloring it in cheerful colors that aren't traditionally gendered.
It's just a wasted opportunity for a good laugh that instead brings more shit into the world.
It kind of started as a joke. I remember "serious" brands like maxpedition having baby bags with tounge in cheek names, as well as places online like think geek selling "tactical baby bags" and the like.
Yeah, I do sort of remember some of that. It's one of those things where I think people realized that the people laughing hardest weren't laughing at the same joke, and that kinda takes something away.
Yeah, it looks like it's got a lot od straps to make it easy to adjust and ir looks better then the stupid fucking colors of other baby carriers. The wide shoulder straps look comfortable too
This sort of thing is really only exclusive to the US markets. Elsewhere in the world, it is rare to see components of tactical gear outside of the specific situations they are for. However, military gear is the nastiest for the job, so you tend to only get it if strapped for cash. Obviously this means there is no military themed stuff like in the US, beer coolers, baby carriers, slippers, etc. For the insecure man.
I live in Germany and there are three "survivalist" stores with mostly surplus and replica military equipment for sale in my city alone. Also genuine military gear can be absolute dogshit. It depends on the country of origin and era but stuff is not automatically durable just because it was designed for war.
Here you can see an image of a surplus backpack that looks just like the one I used to carry as my schoolbag:
This is what they call the exception proving the rule; you think you've countered them, but by explaining that it's literally one of three army surplus shops you have to go to and not just the local Wal-Mart equivalent (EDIT: or whatever clothing store, the size of the chain isn't relevant), you've proven their point quite well.
Shopping just works a bit different here with fewer large chains. Also walmart doesn't sell surplus. The point is you see people using that stuff all the time here too. Our equipment just looks less conspicuous.
We have those stores in my country too. But we only use them for quick, cheap, "it'll get the job done" stuff. Everything else we take outdoors is lighter, tougher, higher performing, has more practical use.
Only the general infantry gets general basics, else we'd see it sort after by the civilian sector a lot more.
Honestly, it's training that gets the job done. The gear is always complained about. Army surplus is like access to a government's Wish.com. Plenty of people think they've found the best for a bargain.
Good idea let's push men out of the parental roles we said they had to take up while simultaneously still expecting them to pull the trad bread winner roles.
Sometimes I’ll get an ad for something like a “tactical windbreaker” or “tactical cargo pants” and I panic and think “what have I done that the surveillance state thinks I want this?!”
Until I saw some of these ads I never considered a windbreaker could even be tactical or whatever the alternative is, strategic? Am I wearing strategic pants because they aren’t tactical?
If they’re camo they’re tactical, if they’re black they’re strategic, and if it doesn’t have a place to holster a gun then it’s just women’s clothing. If you don’t have a quick pull holster in your baby carrier with five extra magazines and a flash bang then the terrorists have already won. Freedom isn’t free, or something like that.
I say this literally wearing a pair of Underarmor Cargo pants - things marketed as tactical are cringe. I keep an Arktis pack jacket in my car in case of rain alongside an e-tool.
Anyone who can't stand to carry the Minnie Mouse shoulder bag full of diapers is a total loser. If you buy anything 'tactical' to assert your 'manhood' you only further prove it only took you 20 seconds to do your part of the work for making the baby.
I'm a woman, but I feel like if I were a man I'd be offended by the fact that large swathes of America seem to think that manhood and the military and its aesthetics are the same thing.
Like, men can have other jobs. I've known men who are accountants and scientists and even healthcare workers and educators. I've known men who are pacifists and anti war activists. Hell men can even have other interests that are culturally associated with their gender. You could do sports themed baby bags, or "fun things culturally associated with kids doing with dad" ones, or even barely change the aesthetic but make it astronaut themed.
Like, I worry that this increasing association between masculinity and the military is being done on purpose in an attempt to prime young men to go lose parts of their bodies and minds in foreign countries, and I'm reminded of the cultural buildup to the first world war
I have a carrier that is "tacticool" it's comfortable but I mock myself for having it. My original one was a hand-me-down and I really liked it so I was trying to get a link to it and found out it was discontinued or recalled for a design flaw that could cause hip problems for the baby. I really liked the feel of it so I bought another one that had a similar design but without the flaw.
It's nice having my own carrier and it looking different from my wife's. It also has some nice features like a sun shade I can cover the kids head with.
I also have no problem rocking the pink diaper/snack bag.
So a pink diper bag is fine, but this one screams insecure masculinity. Sure. How about, if you like the design, buy it. And if you don't, don't. Your comment is like a guy saying that make up screams insecure femininity.
I think all people who wear camo look stupid and I'm not afraid to say it. Kinda like how I know I don't want to engage with anyone wearing an American flag tshirt. Fuck all of them.
Also, yes. A pink diaper bag is a great way to telegraph that you aren't afraid of what others think. Or maybe that you care so much that you chose pink, but at least that's not indicative of a bizarre respect for combat and war.
If you intentionally chose/wear something to make a statement (or "telegraph something") isn't that the exact same thing with the camo diaper bag, they might also want to telegraph something - so you are not that different.
I was speaking about a hypothetical third person, but you misread it and made it as though I was making these decisions. I don't have children and make no decisions about diaper bags. And ye, I'm hyper different from assholes who wear camo, drive trucks, or buy black rifle coffee. Fuck every one of them.
I'd get that type of diaper bag, if I had kids. I like the look. Most of my bags and backpacks are black MOLLE-covered military looking shit. You can like a functional aesthetic without being insecure about your masculinity. Some people just thinks it looks good, you know?
No different than 'feminine' bags with cute flowers on them
I don't remember the exact stat but it's like 90% of gender affirming care is for a person's birth sex. Ie. Hair growth, penial enhancement be it chemical or surgical( I think that quack got shut down though), estrogen for women test for men, gave muscles, fake asses/tits.
I didn’t make them so insecure that they decide to put 110% effort into buying stuff that will make them more “manly” even though it has the opposite effect on most people.
Most advertising aimed at men nowadays seems to be targeting insecure men. Everything promises horny women, coolness and wealth.
This seems a bit personal for you so maybe don’t go around blaming people you don’t know.
NGL I'd definitely assume any dude dressed and tatted like the guy in the ad was extremely insecure, yells at their kids, and has a loan on a F150 they're underwater on.
Smells more like Call of Doody.
It’s MY doody, and it’s a BIG one!
What’d you get a medal for? Wiping?
Lol I was going to say, you don't actually have to change the name, you just have to say it the right way for it still lto apply to parenting.
What the hell kind of name is Soap? How'd a muppet like you get to be a daddy?
When my kids were babies a “man’s” diaper bag looked like a leather satchel.
Thing was awesome, too. The flap was attached with Velcro and was padded plastic on the inside so you could use it as a changing mat.
It held about a dozen diapers and a full pack of wipes and a change of clothes and snacks.
All the moms at the park were jealous.
Mine was Hello Kitty. All the moms were jealous.
Mine was from not REI but somebody like REI, basically industrial strength camping gear baby kit and was also awesome. Lasted through my kids, then my sister’s, and now a cousins. Like 10 kids and almost 20 years and still looks nearly new.
Rei is for me a little girl controlling large robots, with a really concerning backstory
What is this REI you speak of?
Maybe I'm just out of the loop - and hope for not being alone in it
Recreational Equipment Inc. It's a big outdoor store in the US. They have camping and hiking stuff mostly, not really fishing or hunting.
And, just like Canada's MEC it used to be a co-op, and still likes to pretend to be a co-op, but is actually a for-profit corporation these days.
Sorta. I agree, they are a for profit company now. They do still let members vote on the board of directors, which is kinda cool, but it also seems like those elections are a sham with little to no oversight these days. And you can sell your own shit back to them, which is kinda co-op adjacent at least. What I really hate is that they got rid of their classes and trips, it was a big part of what drew me into the membership in the first place.
Thank you!
I would love to have a bag kind of like those cloth knife sets: rolls out into a change pad with all the goodies
Well, other than it being all tacti-cool in aesthetics, standard baby gear is not as well arranged as what's in the picture.
That gear in the pic would let you carry the baby stuff with your hands free and able to actually take care of an infant out and about. Waaay better than the usual shoulder sling or backpack options, and absurdly better than the kinds meant to be carried by hand.
There's a reason surplus gear used to be wildly popular. It was mostly designed to work. It would be better than what you could get outside of a surplus store, even when what you were getting was years out of date and current issue was better. With companies making stuff that's built with stuff like molle in mind, following principles that make what's being carried leave hands free but be reasonably accessible, shit just works better, even though it looks ugly.
If I'm toting an infant around, I don't need pretty, I need comfortable and capable.
Someone actually Down voted you for a really good response to the image that was posted. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with what you said.
It just looks dumb because some men like to cosplay being a soldier too much
ATGE
No idea what that means.
Ah, my old Reddit days showing.
/r/ATGE
Awful Taste but Great Execution
Ooooh yeah forgot about that one
It's just a standard baby holster and a shitty bag. You not got baby holsters where your from? Like what they don't allow open carry?
Heh, good one.
Legit though, I used to have to carry similar supplies (minus the actual diapers and infant) for my job, and it was really hard to find things that were durable, well compartmentalized, had good capacity and could be cleaned relatively easy.
Towards the end of my working years, that kind of "military inspired" stuff started showing up, and it really did beat the pants off of other options I had been using.
It was super nice to be able to really organize all the ppe, wipes, gloves, spare pads, etc I had to tote around to patients. Not that nothing else worked, it just didn't work as well.
I felt like a moron with the whole tacticool vibe, but not enough to switch back lol
PPE? Against projectile vomiting? Need iron dome style lasers for that.
You aren't kidding lol. Projectile diarrhea is even worse imo. And I've had both get past ppe before. Not good times
I remember ordering stuff back around 2008/9 off eBay. I always went with black. Even now it's still cheaper for the mil stuff than actual work bags. Like shit I'm shopping for a new rolling toolbox and base price for most are like 200 for basic shit
Right? This is a perfect application for tactical gear. Modular, expandable, easily accessible storage is ideal for baby gear. This just looks a little dumb because it doesn't show any attachments.
Yeah, molle rocks. The bag I had when I was working, I kept gloves and wipes in two front pouches I could swap out fast. I'd have multiples prepped so I could grab and go, stick them on and be out the door faster. Super nice when I would have multiple patients and something messy happened, or I'd need to resupply at home. Take care of the prep once a week or so assembly line style and spend less time not getting paid to do work stuff.
Baby supplies are really similar, and a parent of an infant is going to have similar time issues (for different reasons).
Modularity is awesome.
Women's apparel notoriously often lacks any pockets. At least historically. Not sure if there is a connection with the standard baby gear but an odd coincidence regardless.
Hate the aesthetic but I would have killed for a diaper bag like that.
I'm sure there are advantages to the "baby on your chest" design vs. other designs. But, that's not what people are commenting on. They're commenting on the tacti-cool suburban ninja elements.
Like, the loops on the front of the carrier. Real police and soldiers use those to carry items like flashlights, guns, knives, extra magazines, etc:
First of all, hubby at the Wal*Mart doesn't need quick access to guns or flashlights. He might need quick access to a wet wipe, but I don't think they make tactical wet-wipe pouches.
Second of all, The reason that attachment system is useful for body armour is that things are directly on the wearer's chest. They can look down, see the item they need, and grab it immediately. When the tactical attachment system is on the baby's back, you can't look down and see it anymore. You could reach around and fumble for something, but if you're doing that, why not just put down the tacti-cool shoulder bag and look in it instead?
Finally, surplus gear is great. This isn't surplus. It's imitation military gear. Surplus gear is good because it's actual military gear designed to hold up in harsh environments. In military gear, form follows function. It's brown because it's designed to be decent camouflage in many different environments. Brown isn't going to help hubby hide in the cereal isle at Wal*Mart. It has PALS straps because they're the best way to attach gear and make it quickly accessible. As I pointed out above, fumbling around behind the baby's back for something doesn't serve that same function. The surplus gear is also reasonably durable because soldiers wear it while doing heavy physical activity in harsh environments.
I would imagine that your bog-standard baby carrier is actually going to be reasonably durable for its normal intended use of lugging a baby around. That's what people buy it for, and if it doesn't hold up people will buy something else. The size of the straps, the padding, etc. for a standard baby carrier will be one where form follows function. But, this tacti-cool baby gear is probably not durable. The manufacturers know that people buying it will be buying form over function, so they won't be putting the emphasis on something durable, but on making it look visually similar to army gear. It's not military surplus, it's Hot Topic imitation army gear.
I mean, I referenced the tacticool thing already, but you do you
Fellas is it gay to have a kid?
only if you got a diaper bag without camo
Diapers. Butt wipes. Saltines. M4A1 with grenade launcher attachment. Binky.
Only if it's a boy
If the gays don't have kids we will run out of gays /s
Only if you teach them to be literate.
What if I'm gay and I can't read?
Maybe prioritize learning to read over procreation. There will be plenty of kids available when you’re ready.
Imagine keeping cum as a pet
And now that gets to live rent-free in your head just like mine lol
To all the people putting guys down for using it, screw you. If it gets dad's more involved in parenting, that's categorically a good thing!
Is it a cheap trick to boost some men's confidence? Yes. But so what? If your wife has an overly girly nappy bag, an "ironic" overly manly one has a lot more effect than you might think.
A lot of men are very insecure, when it comes to parenting. There is a massive amount of training and advice out there for mums, but VERY little for dads. We are left in a limbo of either being disconnected, and complained about, or bumbling and being complained about. It's improving, but slowly.
I agree. To me, this is just an amusing fashion choice. If you're gonna need the gear, so you may as well have fun with it.
Honestly, when it comes to any accessory or tool, it's going to have an aesthetic. Who cares what that is (as long as it's not offensive). There's also a tendency to consider terms like 'fashion' to be emasculating, but that's what this is: fashion. Plus, kiddo isn't going to care about logos and any gender representation; the only shit they're giving is in their pants.
Other fashion choices for diaper bags that could be explored:
Edit: not a dad. Some of these may already exist. Point being: it's all a matter of taste.
Also punk. You could cover pretty much any bag with patches
I am a dad and a baby toolbag sounds awesome. I love the way a good toolbag makes your stuff accessible to you and would absolutely want a baby version (or perhaps an insert into an existing toolbag?)
That's kind of where my head was going. I also had a good chuckle when I imagined a bright turquoise baby-bag with "Makita" on the side. Then again, that's exactly how you get a refrigerated compartment for milk.
Not sure if I want more parental involvement from the kind of guy who wants military aesthetic everything, but I get what you mean. I guess everyone’s style will be cringe to somebody
My kid has been wearing 2nd hand metal shirts for about 15 years. That was also the aesthetic when we made quilts for him as a baby.
I gotta imagine there’s people out there laying heavy judgment on that decision. We think it’s hilarious. Poor dude was like 13 the first time I got a call about a Cattle Decap shirt he was wearing. I guess, technically it was sacrilegious but I appreciated him self advocating and pointing out a “guns, god, country” shirt another kid had on.
Thanks for attending my ramble about judging people’s parenting fashion.
If it gets dad interacting, and bonding with the baby, it's good for both of them.
For most buyers, it will be a minor statement "I chose to be a hands on dad". For certain demographics, that's a big deal.
I put it in the same category as bright pink tool kits. They look slightly silly, but get people involved.
I don't think the military style is the issue per se, rather than a society that is heavily gender coded, to the point that men who want to get involved with their kids find themselves constantly using female coded gear, which is a constant reminder that "you're doing a female task!" and only pushes them away / attracts ridicule.
Let them fucking have this. It's baby steps, you know?
I'm lucky France isn't in the hands of Y'allqaeda just yet, and that I ain't worried I'll catch the gay if I wear the wrong colour, but I can't imagine what it's like in the US, honestly.
This isn't an issue with baby carriers. Look at the top results on Amazon. They're mostly black or grey. Sure, more than 90% of the images with a parental figure show a woman, but the items themselves aren't "gender coded".
Given that, the idea here is that carrying around a baby is itself a gender-coded activity, so men need to use gender-affirming clothing to emphasize that they're not women by buying something that looks similar to what a soldier might wear. That's what's fucking stupid. Just buy the standard black baby carrier. I promise 90% of the world won't think you're less of a man because you're caring for your offspring.
Most of those baby carriers fit like shit on men because the shoulder straps are too close together. I hadn't found one I found reasonably comfortable until these tactical ones started appearing.
What about a diaper bag with the UNSC logo on it and a baby bjorn that says "
player 3 🎮"?I mean I’d take one of these
And one for the Texans
Holy shit, I'd wear that baby hjolster. I would absolutely get chaps and dig my dancing boots out of the closet for the outfit.
If you see another dad with one you can have a baby draw duel
It's funny, but can you imagine how much that kid would get shaken around just from a standard walking motion?
Or while dad is riding a horse
As an old dad, you have my sign off. Especially if you can get a jumper that says 1v1 me. I always appreciate a kid that will stare you down.
Pretty much.
Rainbow shirt - ugly looks by conservatives.
Camouflage pattern shirt - ugly looks by the hippies.
Cthulhu shirt - ugly looks by the Christians.
SUPREME shirt - ugly looks by society.
I was gonna say muppets shirt, but then I remembered that I know people who were traumatized as children by the Fire Dancers in Labyrinth.
It's the marionettes in sound of music for me. Somehow they fell right into my uncanny valley.
Man if this is what gets a dad involved in raising the kids I feel bad for the kids. Is it looking at the child when they are first born? Is it the smile on the child's face as he sees thier dad walk through the door after a long day? Nope it's the camo gear that does it. They didn't want to be involved when is some girly baby, but now that there's men's gear specifically marketed toward manly man now he's interested. That kid is screwed.
Dad's get frozen out of a lot of early parenting things. Anything that gives men the confidence to get more involved is good.
E.g. my wife took our daughter to "sing and sign". I decided to go along when I could. Out of 20 parents, I was the only non-mum. The next meetup, there were over 1/2 dozen dad's, and a grandad. The instructor was surprised and pleased with this. All it took was them knowing they wouldn't be the only dad there.
If a "manly" bag gives them the confidence to break the norms, then good on them!
True. Still funny.
Word!
1 for 2.
There's the door, see yourself out.
It's literally making their parenting hands-free.
The carriers were one of the best buys we made for my daughter. She hated the pram, but loved being carried. With a carrier, she was close, and warm, while being involved in what we were doing. We could also get on with the basic tasks of life.
FYI, the wraps, for smaller babies are also great. The baby cuddles you get are amazing. Also the smell of your own baby is like crack cocaine. It's one of the best bonding tools out there.
What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? I'll have you know I graduated top of my class in my local birthing center's new parent training, and I've been involved in numerous home diaper changes, and I have over 300 confirmed formula bottles. I am trained in gorilla binkies and I'm the top "got your nose" player in the entire US playground system. You are nothing to me but just another babysitter. I will put your baby the fuck to naptime with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my fucking words. You think you can get away with saying that shit to me over the Internet? Think again, fucker. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of nannies across the USA and your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, maggot. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your diaper genie. You're fucking dead, kid. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can change your diaper in over seven hundred ways, and that's just with my bare hands. Not only am I extensively trained in one-armed baby wipe retrieval, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the American Association of Pediatrics and I will use it to its full extent to wipe the miserable shit off your baby's butthole, you little shit. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little "clever" comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your fucking tongue. But you couldn't, you didn't, and now you're paying the price, you goddamn idiot. I will shit fury all over you and you will drown in it. You're fucking dead, kiddo.
Props.
If this motivates them into being good dads then great
Pretty much.
The tactical dads I know are a bit cringy with their military swag, but they're around for their kids.
Yeah, around enough to indoctrinate them too I'm sure.
You would think the love for your own child would do that.
Not socially acceptable (/s? It depends)
If this is a mashup of Dream Daddy and Red Dawn, I’m in.
Tagline: Love is a battlefield!
Such a waste. Men get so few opportunities to wear peppa pig branded gear and still get respect and recognition from passers by.
Don't worry, I'm sure they make peppa pig tactical patches
I kind of want to see black and white Peppa Pig skull patches that poke fun at Punisher patches, but I think the irony would be beyond the thin blue line crowd.
sorry, but the closest thing to that I could find was a hello kitty punisher skull
That works too I suppose.
The thin hot pink line?
I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed.
Peppa Pig is a shit head. Her dad is one of the worst personification of a father that I have ever seen in a children's show.
Why would I want to represent that?
Now a Bluey Diaper Bag ...
I want the crowds to part for me like Moses. That's why mine is Caillou themed
Bluey gang rise up
The biggest perk of obvious-looking diaper bags is that you can sneak weed brownies into pretty much any event or theme park.
Just say you get hypoglycemic and they let snacks through.
When I first saw this when my wife was pregnant I was really annoyed & upset & scoffing at the thing. But then I looked at it & it has all the functional shit I should expect out of parenting gear & pockets/ loops galore.
then I got mad all over again because it shouldn't just be MEN'S baby gear that has all the utilities.
the patriarchy done got me again
My wife got me a Diaper Dude bag. It was just a navy messenger bag but it had all the pockets for everything you needed and it wasnt huge.
Inoffensive and functional diaper bags do exist.
Wait. You’re telling me the pocket cartel even has a stranglehold on diaper bags?!
Yo, guys. Is it gay to take care of your kids?
Better butch this up.
I do like the idea the baby gear can be designed aesthetically for the parents using it. Not just soft pinks and blues, and preschool prints.
Ya, I'm not into the aesthetic but it does represent the societal progress in parental roles.
"Military" as an aesthetic is very 90s-minded. Like, 30 years ago, when I was a dumb teenager who was excited to see the live-action GI Joe movie, cosplaying as an Elite Operator Guy felt no different than playing around as a cowboy or a knight or a jedi.
Now? Idk. I can only expose myself to so many "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation" gore videos, with guys dressed like that opening fire on a crowd of starving Arab children, before I've lost my taste for this kind of aesthetic choice. Its beginning to feel like I'm seeing a guy who wraps his kid in a swastika themed blanky.
I meant I could get behind them using other aesthetics, not military, but were chosen with adults/parents in mind.
I also wondered about this, so I googled "diaper bag". Literally all the results just look like normal bags. They aren't covered in rainbows and butterflies. Just a random color + bag.
Fair enough. I was just thinking of the diaper bags a few of my friends have.
Plenty of diaper bags with sportsball branding and Comic Books for Adults aesthetics.
Of course, there's a lot of military advertising in both of these media circuits, so... shrug Any time you need to make your diaper bag look like something other than a diaper bag in order to feel secure, you've been cowed by The Patriarchy.
What if you want it to look like a diaper bag without being in baby pastels? Is that ok or just the patriarchy again?
I've seen a few in shades of matte gray and camel tan that work great. Very boring and gender neutral. No need to proclaim your sexuality when you're using them.
I don't have an issue with the product. It could be funny in the right context.
I have a problem with the manner it's marketed. The ad doesn't say good things about its own product, but instead tries to attack competing products as girly.
I think we have the same problem with whats being shown.
I don't think i have ever owned anything camouflaged and i never seen anyone wearing camouflage thinking that it doesn't look ridiculous. I'm all for practical stuff and i like my things to be optimised and well aranged. If it needs to look like you go into desert storm with your 2 year old to feel better about yourself, i guess. It's not much different than a woman wearing make up or high heels, just for rednecks
NGL as a dad myself, I would be far more likely to make fun of this guy and his tacticool diaper bag than any dad carrying around the girliest bag their wife obviously picked out. It's way cooler to not give a shit what other people think of your child raising accessories.
Also, it looks like he is wearing his child as a tiny human shield. Squishy plate carrier.
Shocked we didn't see Elon wearing one of these with his
human shieldchildThe baby carrier and bag my wife got do not fit on me. The "mens" ones all look like this, so I had no choice.
On a related note, I find most of the bags marketed towards women focus more on aesthetics than usefulness and have poor functional design all over the place. These "tactical" bags tend to focus on functionality, which is a big plus IMO.
Diaper bag on Amazon literally listed as "for women" has more functionality that that side bag. They don't make Molle pouches for wipe dispensers like that side pouch this one has. Most of the 1st 20 results are the same level of 'functionality' - I don't doubt that some women's bags are more about aesthetics but this is literally advertising the aesthetic of the bag to men over function. Is there a diaper changing mat included with that tactical bag?
It looks cool, I'd use it! When you start making fun of me I'd just shrug and carry on, because I don't care what judgements some weirdo makes about my accessories.
Right? If you like it, you do you. It's shitty to criticize someone for liking a certain style.
And people are calling the guy in the OP image fragile...
My wife is also not completely selfish and realises I'm also gonna be using these items so we pick something neutral.
Not sure how this is any different than buying any of the branded fashion bags. Those offer no special or unique functionality, just a name and maybe a specific material design.
I was so confused when my coworkers were talking about some hard to get tote bag and when they finally brought one in it just looked like a regular cheap tote bag but apparently it was expensive for unknown reasons
FOMO
It's not.
When something is marked up and marketed specifically to men, it's proof how insecure men are.
When something is marked up and marketed specifically to women, then women are victims and we call it the pink tax.
Guaranteed anyone who uses this makes fun of people for "spending too much on designer crap"
Hot take: This is just an aesthetic, like baby aesthetic. Nothing wrong with it. Bro lines CoD
Who gave this baby an infant to carry?
You mean an actual dad being an actual dad and buying things that make him happy and encourage him to use them more?
Remind me how you aren't the baby here?
So much marketing is directed towards men set on convincing others they're not gay
Which in itself is kinda gay lol
Not that there's anything wrong with that
Wow a recent Seinfeld reference - nice!
I think all Seinfeld references are right about there now.
I actually own this. It’s fantastic!!!!! The baby diaper bag is a must have. It’s been to hell and back with two kids on many of family trips across the country and outings. the material it’s made out of are kid proof which is saying a lot
If you just had the bag or the carrier it would probably fly under the radar. But if you're going full tactical I'm gonna assume you're not ok.
Ah the truth any dad knows:
"This is military-grade material!" - yawn
"This has survived two kids without a single tear or stain." - how soon will it be delivered?
If this is the same quality as my Maxpedition backpack, I can imagine it's some durable stuff!
Very similar quality. I was very surprised putting it next to my 511 bags.
I just wanna say, you are a cool person and don't let the chuds here saying mean things about people who like this stuff get to you. They're the insecure and fragile ones who can't tolerate a tactical style bag making someone happy. Let the men have their fun, assholes!
Honestly is one of those cases of "if tbis stupid thing gets you to do it, go ahead".
Call of doody
I'm not a regular dad. I'm a cool dad
It's good advertising is what it is.
They know there are millions of underdeveloped, insecure men out there that need to feel like they aren't the little bitches they actually are.
Here's the sad thing dawg. I love the tacticool aesthetic. I love the feel of the material and I love patches. But the entire industry is propped up and advertised for these "I am a manly man man who man's harder than women and other men" and that's so sad. It's an aesthetic ruined by the culture it belongs to.
This has the opposite effect to me. If I see a man taking care of their kid, taking them to the park, carrying them, generally being a parent, that to me is more manly than whatever this is.
If they're buying this, they're taking care of their kid. Why else would they be buying a diaper bag?
What if he has these accessories because they make him happy? Would you be a judgemental shit-bag to him about it or just think cool dad for actively caring about his kid?
I mean, with how America is going, a kevlar baby carrier might be a reasonable purchase. Sigh.
That’s more things you’d want to start putting on a 4th birthday registry.
Just in time for the school year… if we still have education as an option by then.
Weak. Just buy a desert tan Pelican Case and cut a baby shaped hole in the foam. Put the baby in the case and throw the case in the back of your Humvee. That’s what a real man would do.
Tactical papoose.
All the people on here calling guys who like military/tacticool aesthetic insecure are no different than people calling guys fags for wearing skinny jeans.
No. Thinking that girly bags make you girly is the same as saying skinny jeans makes you gay.
Being insecure when you see a guy in tight pants and feeling things your pastor told you that you shouldn't
Noticing insecurity in others, as they scramble to camouflage something they've internalized as an "other gender" coded activity.
Turning your diaper bag into a tacti-cool military gear is more akin to the sorority sports team that needs to color everything pink and add a tutu as an accessory, so nobody will mistake them as being too butch. It's the fashion equivalent of shouting "No Homo!"
You are making an assumption about
someone'severyone's character, worldview, lifestyle and political association based on a single piece of information - how they like to dress. You're one step away from crossing the street when you see a black guy or asking an asian for help with a math problem.Hot take: don't let nazis ruin ice cream
Oh man, a MOLLE bag where all the straps are Pride rainbow stripes? That would be awesome.
"Oh I'm white that must mean I'm a white supremacist because some clowns ruined being white"
That's what you sound like. You've got to understand how completely absurd what you said is, right?
Found the guy who is afraid to wear skinny jeans or use a normal diaper bag.
Elon Musks bullet proof vest.
True, but this post is about the carrier, not the baby itself.
*American men
EDIT: a few disagreed, at least with their votes, but you don't see this military obsession anywhere else, except perhaps North Korea.
EDIT2: I find it funny that I've gone from -2 to -5 and still nobody has written a reply explaining exactly what I've said is "wrong". The thing is that I think I'm right, and unless someone else explains why I'm wrong, that's not going to change anything! USA is a joke! Just like North Korea! Just like any authoritarian country! And in case you were on the fence: FUCK THE POLICE!
What happened to men in the US that they can't carry their children's stuff, or can't even hold on to their girlfriend's handbag without having to hide in public? It's so weird.
You might look GAY for even holding a purse.
Yes but why is looking "Gay" so villified that many men would rather die.
This viral "comedy" video always bugged the fuck out of me.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BHz3eEFtKeo
Unfortunately for me, I look like the average maga chud...
When I hold my wife's purse, I become instantly flamboyant. "Do you like my purse? It goes with everything! It makes me feel like a bitch!" It makes the "dudes" cringe, and I fuckin LOVE it. I also don't mind being the one to pick up the industrial sized package of pads or tampons if I'm close to the store. (My daughter is at the point where she's pretty shy about it.
I am all in to take one for the team.
There are many places of the world you can't even wear camo because you literally have to be active military to do so.
It's a diaper bag, calm down.
That's what we're saying, yes.
Bro its a funny meme diaper bag that makes memelords happy
Men need to feel like they're in the army to take on operation traditionaly woman's work
I don't know if this applies everywhere, but masculinity in the USA is real tenuous, and may be revoked in an instant.
They are revoking themselves because they are fragile. I have no issues doing, carrying, or drinking "girly" things and still feel like a man. It's pathetic how fragile masculinity is for most American men.
Oh definitely. Masculinity in the US is largely about projecting the idea that it might be a bad idea for someone to fuck with you. You don't want to be someone who can be freely bullied or victimized without repercussions. It's part of why some men spend lots of money and time training to win street fights they'll probably never get in to (apart from the physical fitness and health aspects, of course).
It's a little bit like being in jail.
Its a capitalist mindset. Resources are scarce so I need to be prepared to fight for them / defend what I have.
So, I don't hate tacti-cool baby gear, but it does make me angry.
It should have been high quality baby gear targeted at guys being silly. The glaring contrast between its function and its theme should be intentionally funny.
Instead you've got sexist shit trying to convince guys that it's okay, you can still be hyper masculine even if you care for your children, and selling profoundly inferior crap that's not even leveraging the ridiculous marketing options.
All the actual baby supply companies have instead started using the stuff you would want out of "tactical baby gear", and coloring it in cheerful colors that aren't traditionally gendered.
It's just a wasted opportunity for a good laugh that instead brings more shit into the world.
It kind of started as a joke. I remember "serious" brands like maxpedition having baby bags with tounge in cheek names, as well as places online like think geek selling "tactical baby bags" and the like.
Yeah, I do sort of remember some of that. It's one of those things where I think people realized that the people laughing hardest weren't laughing at the same joke, and that kinda takes something away.
This is why I got one in 2019 but never got to use it because of Covid. Probably shouldn’t use it now with the new one on the way.
Use it anyway. The real wuss move is to shelf something you like or find useful because a dumb ad ran on facebook.
Sadly, yeah. Like, a Hawaiian shirt and stupid tactical gear should be silly guy outfit, not "bring the race war".
You know what's better than recycling? Reusing what you got. Personalize it and rock it like a mofo
Laugh it up, funny boy. I know that even my six month old gets called up and sent to Afghanistan I'll be ready and you won't.
Well Idiocracy definitely isn't satire anymore.
Make Idiocracy Satire Again!
the kid doesn't even get their own holster? WTF is the kid supposed to do with it's gun?
Kid is riding shotgun he better have that pistol at the low ready, watching my six. Holster? You trying to get me shot?
Don't forget to complete your style with your tactical baby.
Someone will think that's your armor plate carrier
I mean in a way...
Ohh that's dark. I like it.
It’s pretty gross to pin this on an entire gender.
Kevlar for your baby seems like a good idea in the US
Tactical dads are OP
Yeah, it looks like it's got a lot od straps to make it easy to adjust and ir looks better then the stupid fucking colors of other baby carriers. The wide shoulder straps look comfortable too
What a ridiculous thing to own (and I actually served!). 😅
Ridiculous, funny, and practical. My favorite combo.
This sort of thing is really only exclusive to the US markets. Elsewhere in the world, it is rare to see components of tactical gear outside of the specific situations they are for. However, military gear is the nastiest for the job, so you tend to only get it if strapped for cash. Obviously this means there is no military themed stuff like in the US, beer coolers, baby carriers, slippers, etc. For the insecure man.
I live in Germany and there are three "survivalist" stores with mostly surplus and replica military equipment for sale in my city alone. Also genuine military gear can be absolute dogshit. It depends on the country of origin and era but stuff is not automatically durable just because it was designed for war.
Here you can see an image of a surplus backpack that looks just like the one I used to carry as my schoolbag:
This is what they call the exception proving the rule; you think you've countered them, but by explaining that it's literally one of three army surplus shops you have to go to and not just the local Wal-Mart equivalent (EDIT: or whatever clothing store, the size of the chain isn't relevant), you've proven their point quite well.
Shopping just works a bit different here with fewer large chains. Also walmart doesn't sell surplus. The point is you see people using that stuff all the time here too. Our equipment just looks less conspicuous.
We have those stores in my country too. But we only use them for quick, cheap, "it'll get the job done" stuff. Everything else we take outdoors is lighter, tougher, higher performing, has more practical use.
Only the general infantry gets general basics, else we'd see it sort after by the civilian sector a lot more.
Honestly, it's training that gets the job done. The gear is always complained about. Army surplus is like access to a government's Wish.com. Plenty of people think they've found the best for a bargain.
Military people be laughing at the term "military grade"
Russian Military bought out the entire stock.
Good idea let's push men out of the parental roles we said they had to take up while simultaneously still expecting them to pull the trad bread winner roles.
No, men are not ok.
Sometimes I’ll get an ad for something like a “tactical windbreaker” or “tactical cargo pants” and I panic and think “what have I done that the surveillance state thinks I want this?!”
Until I saw some of these ads I never considered a windbreaker could even be tactical or whatever the alternative is, strategic? Am I wearing strategic pants because they aren’t tactical?
If they’re camo they’re tactical, if they’re black they’re strategic, and if it doesn’t have a place to holster a gun then it’s just women’s clothing. If you don’t have a quick pull holster in your baby carrier with five extra magazines and a flash bang then the terrorists have already won. Freedom isn’t free, or something like that.
got a lot of this guy, he's never heard of the tactleneck in slightly darker black
I say this literally wearing a pair of Underarmor Cargo pants - things marketed as tactical are cringe. I keep an Arktis pack jacket in my car in case of rain alongside an e-tool.
Anyone who can't stand to carry the Minnie Mouse shoulder bag full of diapers is a total loser. If you buy anything 'tactical' to assert your 'manhood' you only further prove it only took you 20 seconds to do your part of the work for making the baby.
The widespread presence of your very cool tactical pants among the broader population is a strategic advantage. Or something.
I'm a woman, but I feel like if I were a man I'd be offended by the fact that large swathes of America seem to think that manhood and the military and its aesthetics are the same thing.
Like, men can have other jobs. I've known men who are accountants and scientists and even healthcare workers and educators. I've known men who are pacifists and anti war activists. Hell men can even have other interests that are culturally associated with their gender. You could do sports themed baby bags, or "fun things culturally associated with kids doing with dad" ones, or even barely change the aesthetic but make it astronaut themed.
Like, I worry that this increasing association between masculinity and the military is being done on purpose in an attempt to prime young men to go lose parts of their bodies and minds in foreign countries, and I'm reminded of the cultural buildup to the first world war
The baby must be at least Level IIIA / III right? Better than no plate at all.
Help, I can't see my baby. I put them down on the grass and now they're gone!
I have a carrier that is "tacticool" it's comfortable but I mock myself for having it. My original one was a hand-me-down and I really liked it so I was trying to get a link to it and found out it was discontinued or recalled for a design flaw that could cause hip problems for the baby. I really liked the feel of it so I bought another one that had a similar design but without the flaw.
It's nice having my own carrier and it looking different from my wife's. It also has some nice features like a sun shade I can cover the kids head with.
I also have no problem rocking the pink diaper/snack bag.
Is it okay to say I like the color and it looks more comfortable then the other carriers I have seen?
It's a ridiculous ad so people would talk about it and it seems it's working...
I can't imagine an accessory screaming, "I'm insecure in my masculinity!" any more than this.
Fellas? Is it gay to take care of the child you made with a woman?
If one is attracted to perfume and makeup and pretty colors then women partners are the easy choice. Just sayin' 🤪
Not at all. But it's stupid to carry a camo bag while you do it.
Apparently you can have a whole child and still feel unmanly enough to buy this, lol.
So a pink diper bag is fine, but this one screams insecure masculinity. Sure. How about, if you like the design, buy it. And if you don't, don't. Your comment is like a guy saying that make up screams insecure femininity.
I think all people who wear camo look stupid and I'm not afraid to say it. Kinda like how I know I don't want to engage with anyone wearing an American flag tshirt. Fuck all of them.
Also, yes. A pink diaper bag is a great way to telegraph that you aren't afraid of what others think. Or maybe that you care so much that you chose pink, but at least that's not indicative of a bizarre respect for combat and war.
If you intentionally chose/wear something to make a statement (or "telegraph something") isn't that the exact same thing with the camo diaper bag, they might also want to telegraph something - so you are not that different.
I was speaking about a hypothetical third person, but you misread it and made it as though I was making these decisions. I don't have children and make no decisions about diaper bags. And ye, I'm hyper different from assholes who wear camo, drive trucks, or buy black rifle coffee. Fuck every one of them.
🐟
I'd get that type of diaper bag, if I had kids. I like the look. Most of my bags and backpacks are black MOLLE-covered military looking shit. You can like a functional aesthetic without being insecure about your masculinity. Some people just thinks it looks good, you know?
No different than 'feminine' bags with cute flowers on them
PALS webbing and baby equipment is the most natural combination in the world
If it wasn't olive green, I'd use this for sure
That's cool as hell lol, I wish I had these when I needed them.
The meme potential alone would have me rocking them all day.
For the most fragile of egos.
I got one, in 2019 when I had my first kid because I’m a gamer and thought it was cool…Covid hit and never used it lol.
Gender affirming care.
I support this, but most of these assholes would be mad at me calling it this
That's exactly what it is.
I don't remember the exact stat but it's like 90% of gender affirming care is for a person's birth sex. Ie. Hair growth, penial enhancement be it chemical or surgical( I think that quack got shut down though), estrogen for women test for men, gave muscles, fake asses/tits.
Men are okay.
People that need this are not men. They are perpetually insecure children.
People who tell other people they're not men deserve the Hague.
YOU are the problem.
I didn’t make them so insecure that they decide to put 110% effort into buying stuff that will make them more “manly” even though it has the opposite effect on most people.
Most advertising aimed at men nowadays seems to be targeting insecure men. Everything promises horny women, coolness and wealth.
This seems a bit personal for you so maybe don’t go around blaming people you don’t know.
Another fail on your part. Try again.
NGL I'd definitely assume any dude dressed and tatted like the guy in the ad was extremely insecure, yells at their kids, and has a loan on a F150 they're underwater on.
Just the bag or carrier I wouldn't even notice.
Jesus Christ these men are so insecure
No, way. I'm not taking that girly diaper bag. My friends will call me a fag. I don't want to look ridiculous.
We just used the free one we got from the NSW government. This thing looks stupid and I bet you'd feel stupid after 5 mins wearing it.