Carrying a breast pump well has less to do with how a bag looks and more to do with three things: whether you can carry it hands-free, whether the insulation window matches how long you're actually gone, and whether it fits the way you actually move through your day—commuting, flying, or juggling it alongside a diaper bag. Here's how to think through each one.
Commuting: Backpack or Sling?
For a daily commute, the choice usually comes down to how much else you're carrying. The Sarah Wells Norah Backpack ($199) is built around a convertible backpack-and-tote frame that opens wide like a doctor's bag, so it carries hands-free on the walk to the train or the parking garage, then converts to a tote if you need to dress it down for a meeting. It's sized to also carry a laptop and the rest of your workday alongside the pump itself.
If your commute is shorter or you're making a quick outing rather than carrying a full workday's worth of gear, the Sarah Wells Allie Sling ($99.99) is the lighter option—a compact crossbody built specifically for wearable and portable pumps, with the strap adjustable to either side so it doesn't get in the way of carrying anything else.
Flying With a Pump
Air travel adds two extra variables: TSA logistics and not wanting to also wheel a second bag through security. The Sarah Wells Fiona Backpack ($199) includes a luggage strap that slides directly over a rolling suitcase handle, so it becomes an extension of your carry-on instead of a third thing to hold. Its structured frame also holds its shape in an overhead bin or under a seat, which a soft, unstructured tote won't do as well.
For a shorter trip or a layover where you don't want to carry a full-size bag through the airport, the Sarah Wells Allie Sling works as a compact carry-on companion—small enough to go in addition to a personal item without adding real bulk. For the TSA specifics—what to pack, how pump parts screen, and what to keep accessible—see our packing and TSA guide.
Pairing With (Not Replacing) Your Diaper Bag
A pump bag doesn't have to mean a third bag on top of your work bag and your diaper bag. The Sarah Wells Abby Tote ($215) is built to read as a work bag first—a structured, rectangular silhouette with real leather straps—so it can double as your everyday carry instead of adding a visibly separate "pump bag" to the rotation. That's a different approach than the Sarah Wells Allie, which is designed to be the minimal add-on you grab alongside whatever else you're already carrying, rather than a bag that replaces anything.
Which approach fits depends on whether you'd rather consolidate into one structured bag or keep pumping gear separate and minimal.
How Much Room You Actually Have Left for Everything Else
Carrying a pump is rarely just about the pump. Here's what you're working with in each Sarah Wells bag, which matters once you add a laptop, a lunch, or a change of clothes on top of pump parts:
- Allie Sling — 13.5″H x 7.5″W x 3″D — room for the pump itself, collection cups, and the essentials you'd carry in a large purse; not built to also carry a laptop
- Fiona Backpack — 15″H x 13″W x 6″D — a padded laptop pocket plus a roomy main compartment with multiple zip pockets for pump parts and personal items
- Norah Backpack — 16.5″H x 13.5″W x 7″D — the wide-opening doctor-bag frame plus a padded laptop sleeve, built to carry your whole workday alongside the pump
- Abby Tote — 15″H x 16.75″W — eight interior pockets plus a laptop sleeve, in a flatter, shoulder-carry shape rather than a backpack
If you're trying to get down to one bag instead of stacking a laptop bag, a diaper bag, and a pump bag, the Sarah Wells Norah, Fiona, and Abby are built with that in mind. The Allie isn't trying to be that bag—it's built to be the thing you grab in addition to whatever else you're already carrying.
Ways to Keep Breast Milk Cold All Day?
The Sarah Wells Norah, Fiona, and Abby bags each carry two insulated side pockets rated to keep milk cold for up to 6 hours, which covers most commutes and workdays without needing a fridge in between. For a day that runs longer than that—a delayed flight, a long layover, an off-site meeting that runs late—pairing your Sarah Wells bag with a Sarah Wells Cold Gold Cooler adds up to 8 more hours on its own included ice pack. We cover the full organization system, including the Cold Gold and the Pumparoo wet/dry bag, in Chaos-Proof Your Pump Bag.
What Does the Sarah Wells Epic Warranty Cover?
However you're carrying it—commute, flight, or daily rotation with a diaper bag—all four Sarah Wells bags are covered by the Sarah Wells Epic Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship, for as long as Sarah Wells, LLC is operating. It doesn't cover normal wear and tear or damage from an accident.
Are Breast Pump Bags HSA/FSA Eligible?
Sarah Wells' Norah, Fiona, Allie, and Abby bags all qualify as breast pump bags with cooler compartments under IRS guidance, so you can pay with an HSA or FSA debit card directly at checkout. See our HSA/FSA guide for the full walkthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the easiest way to carry a pump on a daily commute?
A convertible backpack like the Sarah Wells Norah covers most commutes hands-free; a compact sling like the Sarah Wells Allie works better for a shorter trip or a quick outing.
Can I carry a pump bag on a plane as a personal item?
Most pump bags, including Sarah Wells', are sized to work as a personal item or fit under the seat; a bag with a luggage strap, like the Sarah Wells Fiona, also attaches directly to a rolling carry-on so you're not juggling a third item through security.
Do I still need a diaper bag if I have a pump bag?
It depends on the bag. A structured, work-first bag like the Sarah Wells Abby can double as your everyday carry; a compact bag like the Sarah Wells Allie is meant to be an add-on alongside whatever else you're already carrying.
Are breast pump bags HSA/FSA eligible?
Yes—Sarah Wells' Allie, Norah, Fiona, and Abby bags all qualify as breast pump bags with cooler compartments under IRS guidance, and the card can be processed directly at checkout.
See the full lineup at sarahwellsbags.com.
