It's a great time to be a Knackpacker. Summer is finally here and people are heading outside, traveling and seeing friends. So, in celebration of the new season, we are launching a new series called “What's In Your Backpack.” These articles will feature various Knackpackers talking about the things they carry in their Knack Packs (and we’ll confess: we like to peek into other peoples’ bags every now and again!). We thought that since Father's Day is just around the corner, it would be great to make the inaugural article all about dads.

Meet Matt Blackham - Pro Athlete and Dad

Matt is a professional baseball player. The New York Mets drafted him in 2013 as a relief pitcher, and he now plays for Kansas City in the independent league. Matt became a father in 2019, and after an arduous search for a backpack that he could use for both road games and daddy duties, he found the answer in a Series 1 Knack Pack. 

Knack: Matt, tell us about your experience with your Knack Pack

Matt: I will only use Knack bags for the rest of my life because of the great experience I have had with them. I love these bags because the design is great for everything I need them for. My Knack is perfect for traveling during the baseball season, as a gym bag during the off-season, and most importantly, I use it with my kids!

Knack: What's in your backpack, Matt? Any must-haves that you can't live without?

Matt: When I'm at home with the kids, I always pack my Knack with water/ baby bottles, diapers, swim diapers, wipes, extra baby clothes, sunglasses, Barbies, and an extra glove and ball for my daughter. I love this backpack because of all the space and different compartments it has. It really helps me to separate my baseball stuff from all the dad stuff I have in my bag. 

Knack: What are your favorite Knack pack features?

Matt: My favorite feature of the Knack Pack is the travel section, where I can unzip the bag like a suitcase and separate my stinky gym clothes from everything else in my Knack Pack.

Meet Lonnie Rao - IT Exec and Dad

Lonnie is a programmer for a New Jersey-based insurance company. He works in a hybrid setup, spending three days in his Newark office and two days at home. He and his wife welcomed their first child, Mark, in 2019. Mark’s wife works as a supervising nurse for a nursing home in Passaic, New Jersey, so she doesn’t have the same hybrid work option that Lonnie has. As a result, he takes baby Mark with him whenever he needs to be in the office. This setup means that he needs to have a bag that can carry his office essentials and Mark's baby gear. Luckily, his wife gave him a black Series 2 Large Knack Pack.

Knack: Tell us about your experience with your Knack Pack.

Lonnie:  It's a life-saver. I love how I can expand the bag and use the extra suitcase section for Mark's stuff. With all the things I pack into this bag, I expected it to break down after a few months, but it's still good as new. Unbelievable.

Knack: What's in your backpack, Lonnie? Any must-haves that you can't live without?

Lonnie: When I take Mark to work, my must-haves are: my laptop, charger, notebook, pen, baby bottles, diapers, wipes, extra shirt for me, extra clothes and shoes for Mark, action figures, coloring books, crayons, and his toy tablet.

Knack: What are your favorite Knack Pack features?

Lonnie: Aside from the expandability, I love the durability of the materials used in this bag. I mean, I stuff this thing to the max and it's yet to show wear and tear. I also love the padding in the back. It's very comfortable.

Hats off to Matt and Lonnie for doing such a great job juggling careers and fatherhood. We are really happy that their Knack Packs are making their lives easier. Hey, it's no small feat to be a full-time dad and still strike out batters or write clean code day in and day out. And that's why Father's Day was created – so we can celebrate dads like Matt and Lonnie for the unconditional love they give their families. 

Celebrate the dad in your life by giving them the "Gift of Knack." Be sure to order before June 9th to get it to Dad in time! And, as our gift to you, we’re offering bonus free ground shipping on all Knack Packs and Slings!