Product Spotlight: Life is Good Flower Cord Cinch Sack

I’m hoping to bring you a few more product reviews and giveaways here in 2012 – the kind that will make it a little bit easier for you to head outside exploring with your kiddos.

First up: The Life is Good Flower Cord Cinch Sack.

Why this product? With it just about time for me to give up the backpack/diaper bag that has so long accompanied me on our outdoor adventures, I’ve been on the lookout for a smaller, lighter substitute.

Lucky me, the folks at Appalachian Outdoors asked me to field test any of their Life is Good products.

I chose the Flower Cord Cinch Sack hoping it could fit the bill as my new go-to adventuring bag. (And yes, I admit I liked the hot pink corduroy, too.)

Here are a few specs on the bag:

• Made of 100% cotton corduroy
• Dimensions: 17.5” x 12.5”
• Drawstring closure
• Adjustable straps
• Small zip pocket in back (none inside)
• Machine washable
• Retails for $25.95

Field Test Results on the Flower Cord Cinch Sack
I took the Flower Cord Cinch Sack out on a few test runs while putting this review together. The verdict? It’s a good option for short outings that don’t take you too far from the car (think: park or beach). But made-for-the-trail it is not. Some specifics:

• Lightweight, comfortable and cute!
• Sample cargo the bag could comfortably hold: two kid-sized jackets, camera (with case), cloth diaper and snacks
• Handy zip pocket in the back is perfect for keys or a small wallet
• The machine washable feature comes in handy for post-beach clean up
• Since this is a cinch sack, it’s pretty much a catch-all – which can make finding things in a pinch tricky (like when your 3-year-old is screaming at you for a snack that’s fallen all the way to the bottom of the bag)
• Lack of a firm bottom means the bag doesn’t stand upright on its own
• No comfortably spill-free place to carry water bottles  

The Giveaway
You know I love to share the goods around here. So guess what? I’m giving away a Flower Cord Cinch Sack to one lucky reader. Excited? I hope so!

To enter, leave a comment below telling me about one fun outdoor adventure you have planned for 2012. Good luck!

• This giveaway will run through midnight PST on Sun., Jan. 8, 2012.
• Sorry, but this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
• The winner will be chosen using the nifty random number generator at random.org.
• Winner will have 24 hours to reply to my notification; if I don’t hear back after that, I’ll pick another winner.

Note: I was given a gift certificate to pick any product(s) from the Life is Good line available at Appalachian Outdoors. In exchange, I agreed to field test the product and share my honest review here. You can read my full disclosure policy for more information.