I may have mainly grown up on Disney but that doesn’t mean I didn’t also occasionally enjoy other entertainment venues, like Nickelodeon, in my youth. And I know I am not alone. Those of us who watched the network’s cartoon Rugrats, in the 90’s are sure to be thrilled that the good people at ThinkGeek recently listed a store-exclusive Reptar Back Buddy Backpack ($39.99) on their site. Reptar the dinosaur was one of the the show’s made-up media icons, featured on cereal boxes and chocolate bars as well as in toy aisles and even his own ice skating show.
Here is the fantastic beast in all his backpack-y glory! Reptar measures 20 inches tall and 16 and a half inches long (including the tail). And there is no need for you to be concerned about the bag’s arm straps being too short. They are extendable enough to fit most adults, even larger ones.
Just in case you forgot which network was home to Reptar and his Rugrats friends, there was a colorful glossy tag attached to his left claw to remind you.
Here is a view of Reptar’s left side (the right side can be seen in the header image). This plush backpack is so downy soft that even the felt of his teeth are a tactile delight. Reptar’s “body” is ever-so-slightly under-stuffed, most likely to help accommodate the storage of more items. A bonus side effect of this is that he is super-squishy and a treat to hug. On the off chance you prefer your dinosaurs to be more tightly-stuffed, add some items into the zippered compartment in his back and you are good to go.
The blue spines on Reptar’s back are soft as well. I suspect that is why some of them have a tendency to flop over if left unattended. If you plan to wear this backpack in a busy place, like a con or a mall, be aware that the tail does extend outward and that is something that you should keep in mind when maneuvering down aisles or through crowds.
This is the position of the backpack’s straps. I didn’t have any problem with the straps getting twists while in use but after I have noticed it happening after a cuddling session or two. Thankfully, it can be easily remedied. The straps themselves are soft and non-abrasive – something I was concerned about when I saw the picture of them online.
A typical problem with plush backpacks are their lack of storage capacity. This issue is surprisingly nonexistent when it comes to the Reptar Backpack, however. The zippered compartment, found on the dinosaur’s back, opens wide and can hold a ton.
How much is “a ton?” Well, I successfully toted around an iPad Mini 2, wallet and keys, earbuds, infinity scarf, fingerless gloves, and sundries bag (which, as you can see, is about the same size as the iPad Mini 2 – a smidgen bigger than 8 inches by five inches). Oh, and my iPhone S. That isn’t in the picture because I used it to take the photos for this review.
This backpack has only one flaw, albeit a minor one. After one day’s use, some of the paint on the zipper was already starting to wear off. This is purely cosmetic and hardly noticeable unless under intense scrutiny but still something that should be noted.
I had so much fun with this Reptar Back Buddy Backpack. I even received several compliments walking around with him (five in the span of one afternoon!). Plus, he is just a great travel buddy, even doubling as a cushion during waiting room visits. I award this wearable piece of nostalgia a 5 out of 5.
[This review is based on a sample provided by ThinkGeek. All opinions are my own.]