Hikers, Backpackers, campers - what baby carrier?

Friends gave us a gift cert. to REI to buy a backpack carrier - the
kind with the frame, and we were all set to get it then had second
thoughts. http://www.kelty.com/kelty/index.cfm?
cid=415&fuseaction=Kids.ShowProduct&type=carrier&I D=24
One advantage is that you can put the baby in it while it's on the
ground (so manageable with one person). However, it seemed somewhat
bulky.

We'd use it mostly for day hikes and occassional overnight camping,
although with kids we're not likely to do major backpacking trips,
nothing more than a mile in from the car, but that means we'd still
have to carry some gear. The person carrying the baby wouldn't carry a
lot extra, but would at least have a small additional pack for some
gear..

If you camp/backpack, which type of carrier do you prefer?

We already have a couple of slings and a the Kelty wallaby http://
www.kelty.com/kelty/index.cfm?
cid=415&fuseaction=Kids.ShowProduct&type=carrier&I D=18 - is the
backpack carrier a lot better than the Wallaby infant carrier (this
was a gift, but we've hardly used it)

On Jan 27, 11:18 am, "cjra" wrote:
Friends gave us a gift cert. to REI to buy a backpack carrier - the
kind with the frame, and we were all set to get it then had second
thoughts.http://www.kelty.com/kelty/index.cfm?
cid=415&fuseaction=Kids.ShowProduct&type=carrier&I D=24
One advantage is that you can put the baby in it while it's on the
ground (so manageable with one person). However, it seemed somewhat
bulky.
snip
If you camp/backpack, which type of carrier do you prefer?


We have an evenflo backpack that is like the Kelty, just not
as nice. We used it a ton for DD1 and she loved it. She sat
pretty high and could really get a good look around. Mostly,
we used it for walking around the neighborhood (2+ mile
walks). It was comfortable, fit both DH and I and DD had
no trouble falling asleep in it. It was nice to be able to
stand it up so I could load her up by myself.

My sister is much more of a camper/backpacker and
they have a kelty and really like it. They've used it alot.
I don't know which model but it has the canopy, a back
pocket and frame. We used it this past Christmas for
our 2.5 year old (DH carried her) on a 3 mile moderately
strenuous hike. It was great.

Mary W.

As far as comfort goes, none of the backpacks I have tried are as
comfortable as my Baby Bjorn Active front carrier (the one with the
new fangled back support system). But there comes a time when the
child is simply too large (too wide or too tall) to fit in any front
carrier. With Monkey Boy, we reached that point just about when he
was able to walk wherever we needed to go, except on hikes. For dirt
trail and even cross country (off trail) hikes longer than 2 miles
(4km), a backpack child carrier has been wonderful. Most
particularly, we have enjoyed orienteering together!

I have used several frame backpack child carriers, loaners from other
people. One is a permanent loan. I have not tried nearly enough of
them to say which one I prefer, but I can say what is generally true
about backpacks. The best backpack is the one that fits you (and your
passenger) best. You and your child simply need to try a few on, to
find one that is more comfortable *for you* than the others.

I really like the kick-stand type that you can park on the ground with
the child in it. Most of them now have this feature. I wish that
more conventional frame backpacks had this feature too. Note that if
the backpack child carrier can be parked, the child will need to learn
to hold still enough to avoid falling over.

cjra wrote:
Friends gave us a gift cert. to REI to buy a backpack carrier - the
kind with the frame, and we were all set to get it then had second
thoughts. http://www.kelty.com/kelty/index.cfm?
cid=415&fuseaction=Kids.ShowProduct&type=carrier&I D=24
One advantage is that you can put the baby in it while it's on the
ground (so manageable with one person). However, it seemed somewhat
bulky.


We had this backpack carrier. It LASTED very well without any problems
through my two children as well as two other children in between. It
was still in pristine condition when we gave it away for good last year
(after 8 years of use). We liked it because of the kickstand and the
little backpack. It can be a bit difficult, depending on the child, to
get the child strapped in (it's harder with children with large heads).

It WAS bulky but we ended up using it quite often, mainly at festivals
and fairs where strollers would not work so well. As for the small
backpack and lack of gear space, well, after carrying a 25-30 lb child I
really didn't want to add another 15 lbs of gear. I let DH carry the
other stuff in a regular backpack.

I would recommend this carrier.

Jeanne

DH has tried a couple and never got on with any, he preferred an outward
facing front carrier for walking type things right through the first year
(he found an extra fleece to wrap round the babies feet, then a coat loose
enough to zip up over the top was very helpful), then we got a soft back
carrier in Korea, basically like a mei tai, but bjornified (it's got clips
and webbing etc), though it can't do a hip carrier and he's done loads in
that with a kid on his back up to about 2.5, the reason for not using it
beyond that was simply another kid, not that it was too much or anything.
The only advantage I can see of a structured back pack thingy is that you
can put some gear in it, but they are usually so heavy that it seems minimal
benefit, you may get a more enjoyable walk by figureing out other ways to
carry what you need.

Anne

cjra wrote:
Friends gave us a gift cert. to REI to buy a backpack carrier - the
kind with the frame, and we were all set to get it then had second
thoughts. http://www.kelty.com/kelty/index.cfm?
cid=415&fuseaction=Kids.ShowProduct&type=carrier&I D=24
One advantage is that you can put the baby in it while it's on the
ground (so manageable with one person). However, it seemed somewhat
bulky.

We'd use it mostly for day hikes and occassional overnight camping,
although with kids we're not likely to do major backpacking trips,
nothing more than a mile in from the car, but that means we'd still
have to carry some gear. The person carrying the baby wouldn't carry a
lot extra, but would at least have a small additional pack for some
gear..

If you camp/backpack, which type of carrier do you prefer?

We already have a couple of slings and a the Kelty wallaby http://
www.kelty.com/kelty/index.cfm?
cid=415&fuseaction=Kids.ShowProduct&type=carrier&I D=18 - is the
backpack carrier a lot better than the Wallaby infant carrier (this
was a gift, but we've hardly used it)

We have a Kelty with the external support bar - I forget which model.
We like it a lot.

-L.

Wait til your tot weighs 35 pounds or more.. then you'll be happy to have
a
carrier with a hip belt. I had one of those silly "Maya Wrap" things and
it
fell apart right away and was never very comfortable to use.

our carrier, soft though it is, does have a hip belt, fine so far with a
30lb child

Anne

On Jan 27, 8:18 am, "cjra" wrote:

If you camp/backpack, which type of carrier do you prefer?


If you can find one around anywhere (we used overstocks.com a few
years back), you might want to look at the Yakima Grasshopper carrier,
especially if the adults carrying the child are significantly
different heights. I'm 5'4", DH is 6'3", and this was the only one we
found that could easily adjust on the fly to switch between us. It's
a bit heavy and bulky for everyday about-the-town use, but we've taken
DD backpacking in it from 15 months on.

I think Yakima discontinued their kids gear a few years back (we have
both the Grasshopper and their jogger), so they're not easy to find,
but we think they're both very well made.

Kerry D

cjra wrote:
Friends gave us a gift cert. to REI to buy a backpack carrier - the
kind with the frame, and we were all set to get it then had second
thoughts. http://www.kelty.com/kelty/index.cfm?
cid=415&fuseaction=Kids.ShowProduct&type=carrier&I D=24
One advantage is that you can put the baby in it while it's on the
ground (so manageable with one person). However, it seemed somewhat
bulky.

We'd use it mostly for day hikes and occassional overnight camping,
although with kids we're not likely to do major backpacking trips,
nothing more than a mile in from the car, but that means we'd still
have to carry some gear. The person carrying the baby wouldn't carry a
lot extra, but would at least have a small additional pack for some
gear..

If you camp/backpack, which type of carrier do you prefer?

We already have a couple of slings and a the Kelty wallaby http://
www.kelty.com/kelty/index.cfm?
cid=415&fuseaction=Kids.ShowProduct&type=carrier&I D=18 - is the
backpack carrier a lot better than the Wallaby infant carrier (this
was a gift, but we've hardly used it)


We have the REI Piggyback, which we like a lot. It was really a tossup
between this and a similar Kelty model, I can't remember exactly why we
went with the REI in the end. We got the rain hood thing with it, whihc
I used a lot. If the adults who will be using the pack differ in height
at all, then go for one with an adjustable back height. If you are near
and REI, go in and try them on and have a pro form the store help you -
they can show you how it should fit and feel and teach you how to adjust
all the buckles and straps t get the proper fit, which is what makes all
the difference. If it's on right, it's feel great and the weight of the
child won't bother you much at all. If it's on wrong, then it will dig
and poke and cause a lot of strain.

Karen

Although I didn't hike much with a baby, I did hike a lot with the
kids when they were pre-school. I've just found a letter from my mom
about hiking in Yosemite and the Pinnacles in California. She said
that for every step they took, the children (who would then have been
about 2.5 and 5) took three - running up ahead and then coming back.
At one point they got together and pushed my dad along. They did the
Vernal Falls trail, although the younger one did have to be carried a
little bit.