Child Carrier Recommendations

We liked the Deuter. Our son took naps on it regularly :)

We did several moderately long BPing trips in Kelty’s kid carrier, 12-17 years ago.

Consider how the sunshade works (the sun is never overhead in the US, so it needs to have sides to it).  A Chrome Dome or just a compact travel umbrella and some velcro straps can do a lot to block sun from one side.

Or plan on a large-brimmed hat on the child.  That is warmer and harder to see past, but lighter and better in high winds.

Carrying a little mirror (like on a folding compass or from a make-up kit) is really helpful to check on the kid without disturbing them by taking the carrier off.  Eventually, I put a round mirror on a watch band so it would be super-handy on one’s wrist.  Or on a wrist sweat band.  Worked best for me on the inside of may wrist.

I’d try to discern if you can get the pack bag completely off the frame so you can send it through the wash.  Modern laundry detergents are really marvelous at removing all manner of food detritus and bodily fluids.  If not, I end up filling a rinsed-out trashcan with warm water and Tide and repeatedly dunking packs with too much kid spit-up, caribou blood, etc on them.

I had a Deuter—the largest model with the build-in sun/rain-shade—and it was just too much of a beast for me. Maybe if I had the one with the detachable shade I would have liked it better. Maybe my son just didn’t like that ride (memories of him trying to unscrew my head from my body).

I ultimately got really into woven wraps. They’re the flat tarps of the baby-wearing world.

Like Katherine, my wife much preferred the woven wraps to the backpack.

I believe there was another thread on this same topic within the past 6 months…try a search.

The Deuter “Kid Comfort” packs are quite nice, especially the side buckle feature that allows the pack to open up to allow better access for buckling the child in.  Most likely whatever you buy will be just fine:  kids love riding in them and probably don’t really need all the bells and whistles that the manufacturers put on (stirrups, teddy bears, etc.).  Just make sure whatever pack you buy is comfortable for YOU.  It should fit like a backpack.

We had both the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 and the Poco Premium. I preferred the Deuter.