Backpack Child Carriers

Hi A.,

I dont use the traditional child backpack carriers that are sold mainstream. I really like the carriers made by Ergo, Angel Pack and Beco. They are buckle style baby carriers where you can wear your child in the front or back. They are made to distribute the childs weight evenly and can be used from infancy to toddlerhood. I personally use an Ergo and I can carry my 1 year old in it or my 4 year old. I have carried my 4 year old on my back before (with the Ergo) and she weighs about 35 lbs give or take. Ergos are great for kids that are shorter. My kids both have short bodies but Becos or Angelpack LX have longer bodies and come in some really yummy fabrics.

Here are a couple of links to get your started.

www.ergobabycarrier.com
www.becobabycarrier.com
www.angelpack.com

We have a Sherpani metal frame backpack carrier and both my husband and I use it with our 20 month old son. He is about 27 lbs and it works great! I think it fits my frame really well. We bought it from upsideover.com, because they had the best price when we purchased, but places such as REI have it too.

Yeah to the soft packs by Ergo, Beco, and Angel baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had my Kelty backpack since my daughter was 2 and she is now 12. It still looks bran new and I now have 4 kids in all that have used this AMAZING backpack. It has a zip off back pack you can store stuff in. It also has a sun shade. I use this backpack and it is very comfortable.. My husband also really likes it. I got mine at REI. I think it might have cost a little bit more, but was well worth it. I have a lot of friend that borrow my backpack because they just don't like the one they have. I know one problem that people have is that their babies little legs turn purple from being in the the backpacks to long. I have NEVER had this problem with this backpack. Good luck hope this helps..

Kelty Pathfinder Child Carrier

Our Price: $190.00
Sale: $119.95
You Save: $70.05 (37%)

www.sunnysports.com

I LOVE MY CARRIER. I have hiked in Zions National Park and Around were I live and it is perfect. I can put it on by myself (with my child in it). Works Great!

A.,
Hello! My chiropractor approved the Baby Trekker carrier for me. It is the same one that Vin Diesel wore in the movie "The Pacifier". It can be used as a front pack or to carry your baby on your back. You can use it for babies 8 pounds to 40 pounds. It is has really nice padded straps for your shoulders/neck and a strap around your waist. It seemed really big when my baby was newborn and she hated it for the first few months because I would strap her in so snuggly. Now she loves it though. She is 8 months and I carry her on my front facing out so she can see everything. I hope to try it with her on my back this summer when we go hiking. The company that makes the Baby Trekker is in Canada and there are a few websites you can look at. I ordered from www.mountainbaby.com I got a handwritten thank you note with my order that I thought was pretty original! It also came with a DVD to show you how to put it on and take it off for different carrying positions and with different size babies/toddlers. Good luck!
K.

I just recently purchased a backpack carrier for hiking and we love ours. We weren't sure if your 2 year old son was going to be okay with it, so we bought a cheaper one and it actually has worked out well. My son is also pretty tall for his age and I was afraid he might be too big for it, but he fits it perfectly if you're looking for something that will last awhile for your daughter.

We bought the Evenflo Snugli® Cross Terrain Carrier off of Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Snugli%C2%AE-Terrain-Carrie...)
It's only $89.99 and the shipping was faster than expected. They also carry it at some Walmart stores if you don't need it soon, they can ship to store free which is cheaper than Amazon.

Anyway, I'm 5'0" and dad's 5'7" and it fits nicely, easily adjusts, stores flat, and has really convenient storage space. I'd definitely recommend this one over the other expensive ones if you're on a budget.

Hi A.,

I too did a lot of research on backpack carriers. We ended up purchasing the Deuter Kid Comfort III. It's great for a woman's frame and then the adjustable strap works well for my husband since he's much taller. I ended up ordering it as I'd read a number of positive reviews online. Another "selling point" for me was that it has room for a Camelback bladder which is helpful on any hike. :-) Have a good day!

I love my Deuter Kid Comfort II. I am petite and it fits me great and is very size adjustable so it also fits my husband very well. good luck

Ergo baby carrier!

The Ergo baby carrier rocks.
ergobabycarrier.com (i think)

My friend has this one and swears it is so comfortable and much better than wearing the baby bjorn up front. They found the other back carriers too bulky for her to wear. I am looking right now into getting one as well.

http://www.ergobabycarriers.com/babycarriers/category/car...

Another vote for the ergo. The frame-packs are just too bulky for me. We hike about 3-4 times a week, with a lot of elevation gain, and my back is never sore. Plus it's great for Red Rocks shows and summer festivals where you don't want to block everyone's view.

I like the REI carriers. You can get a compact shade, too- nice for sunnier walks. I also liked that the REI staff would "fit" the carrier to my frame and not a generic one. For regular old errands and grocery shopping, I use a maya wrap or a moby (the moby is also decent for shorter hikes, too.)
Best wishes!
mare

We had a aluminum frame Kelty with my first child, but it was so bulky and heavy (though my daughter did love riding in it). With my second child, I was given the Ergo. It can go on your front or back, and it comfortable and easy to use. It is soft, and can be stuffed just about anywhere (in luggage, backseat of the car, etc). They are a little pricey, but worth it. Look them up on the internet.

I love the kelty packs as well. They are more compact and don't have all that extra mumbo jumbo that gets in the way. Very functional for snowshoe-ing, hiking and even manuevering around the airport. My son loves it because he can see without all the crazy canopies and all that jazz.

Hi A., I am almost 5'3 and my husband is 6'1 we have a Kelty and love it.
Two things I like about it that you could keep in mind when looking at other brands...I like that it has a little zip off backpack to store diapers and snacks in and it also has a removable sun shade that I loved when we hiked in the hot desert sun of Nevada and also when we hiked in the sprinkles of Vancouver, BC.
Hope you find one you like!

I tried the front carriers, and found they hurt my back, and they weren't very comfortable for my hubby, either. I got a Playtex Hip Hammock... its a side carrier, and it is AMAZING. It's adjustable, so both myself and my husband can use it, and our son LOVES it, he isn't forced to stare into our chests, he can look infront, or behind me. To top it all off, it's suede, and sooo soft! Good luck!

We bought a Kelty, the one that comes with a detachable hood and zip-off backpack. The straps adjust to fit either my husband's frame or mine. The only drawback is that the velcro on the hood attachment, at least on our model, which is admittedly several years old, is on the outside, which is good for the baby, but it means that my hair sticks to the velcro as we are hiking. However, all that aside, it is easy to set up, easy to take off, even when you are alone, and folds pretty flat. The backpack is not huge, but you don't want much more weight, at least I don't, when you already have a child in there! Good luck, and good for you to show your child the joys of the outdoors while she is still little!

We have a Kelty backpack that's nice because you can adjust to fit your frame. Both my husband (5'10") and I (5'3") use it with no problems. They have several different models, but I would recommend one that has a removable sun shade (which also comes in handy if you get caught in the rain) and backpack (which is handy for diapers, snacks, camera, etc.).

We really like our Ergo (front and back carrier) and our Mei Tai (front and back aslo - babyhawk makes some awesome ones!). If you have smaller shoulders then maybe the ergo isn't for you. We have one and while we love it I have very small shoulders and its a little big for me. Don't be intimidated by the ties on the mei tai. After the first couple times it is no biggy. Becco (beco?) also makes a good carrier very simliar to the ergo but I have heard it is better for smaller shoulders. I hope you find the right carrier for you and your little one!

We have an ergo for short term carrying (actually, it works really well for longer too--this is one of my favorite things we have) and a Sherpani for hiking. She loves it. If you're in Denver or Boulder, it's local too and you can even stop by the company sometimes. Sherpani is designed specifically for women, but my husband uses it too. (http://sherpani.us) Good luck!

A....I did weeks of research for a backpack for a child just that age last summer. I had a 6 hr backpack trip up a mountain that really involved me having BOTH my hands available. (It wasn't a simple hiking path) I also wanted something more geared for a toddler and would grow a bit with her and have a larger wt range. Also, we have ATV's and many times I like to take her with me but she falls asleep and then it's hard to drive with a "noodle" with a helmet wacking you! hehe Being on the 4wheelers..I couldn't have a pack with a frame so I researched the Patapum. They have infant or toddler styles. Also, certain companies allow you to trade in the infant ones for discounts on the toddler ones. Anyway, I bought the toddler one. I had her on my back pretty much the full 6 hours (not counting diaper changes etc). I climbed over rocks with hands and legs easily because she was so well balanced on my back and she is the youngest to summit this one mountain we climbed to the top of. (Just to let you understand why I took her and my 5 yo and 7 yo on such a trip...it was grampa's wish that his ashes be spread here so 22 of us made the trek together that day..we were all camped at the bottom). Anyway...I LOVE the way this sits her on my hips so comfortably. She also took a nice nap and the setup has her head comfy and not rolling all around. She didn't mind the carrier at all so I believe she found it comfy. I've used it on the 4wheeler both in front and on back and the helmet doesn't hit me in either position. The belt and shoulder pads are nicely padded and the biggy, I can get the pack on with her in it without help. I looked at all these other brands these folk have mentioned but after researching and using this pack, I wouldn't try another. I'm happy to have this for the next bb too and highly recommend this soft, non-frame pack. Also, you'll find it's cheaper than many of these other suggestions. KimM

Kelty Kids Journey. A little more expensive, but fits my husband (6 ft, 180 lbs) and me (5 ft 1 in 150 lbs). Has a rain fly, and my daughter really likes it.

We received a Kelty Kids pack as a shower gift when we had our son. He loves it and it works well for both my husband & I. The model we have came with a zip off "mini-pack" that we use as a diaper bag, and a sun/weather shield that is removable. My son it going to be two in a few weeks and it adjusts great to his changing size. Hope that helps - good luck and have fun in the wild outdoors.

The Ergo Baby Carrier is by far the best! Safe up to 40 lbs and all the weight is on your hips and close to your body. The other framed backpacks have all the weight up high and hanging off of your back. I can't say enough great things about the Ergo Carrier. Check out their website.

We have an REI brand carrier. It is adjustable so that both my husband and I can wear it comfortably.

I really like the Moby. Look up moby wraps on the web.

The Ergo is great. My son is 35 pounds, and I still carry him for hours with no problem. The frame backpack carriers are just to bulky. Have you check out the babywearer website? They helped me pick out all of the carriers I have needed. Plus told me how to use them correctly.

We bought the Ergo baby carrier. It has been comfy for mom and baby and will support a 40 lb. kid. Good luck!

We have a Kelty and like it a lot. My son just turned 4 and is 36 lbs and still fits just fine. I was able to use it when he was lighter but now he is too heavy for me to handle but my husband has no trouble at all.

Hi, we use a Rumba SHErpani lite. It is awesome and built for a women's frame (though don't tell my husband - he is short so it is okay). I did a lot of research before I bought and this was the one thing I splurged on as you want to be comfortable. We use it all the time as my 16 month old does not like his stroller. And it only weighs 4 pounds and goes up to 50 lbs!. Their is a regular Rumba as well, but it weighs more and who really needs a backpack up to 70 lbs?

Anyways, I really recommend it. We had to borrow a Kelty once and my son hated it. He never cries in the Rumba - it even has harnesses for his feet so his legs don't fall asleep on longer hikes. And it is black and stylish (I think other colors are available as well). I know you said you had someone to buy from, but we got ours from REI online just so you can take a look at them. Good luck.

I love my Ergo Carrier. It works with kids up to 40 lbs and is made of soft material (not the metal frames). That would be my pick! K.

Kelty!! and REI. I think REI's brand actually is made by Kelty. We hike a LOT in the warm months, including a few of the 14'ers (14,000 foot peaks), and have both carried our son in our Kelty backpack with zero problems. Before we got our backpack we borrowed a friends, which happened to be the REI brand. Just as comfortable, and just as sturdy. That "test ride" was on one of the 14'ers, too!

Good luck, and have fun shopping!

P.S. Check Ebay...you can find great deals on the backpacks there.

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm trying to sell you a carrier... but if you are open to using a cloth carrier (which would be great for woman's frame because you tie it for a "custom" fit - cloth carriers tend to be more comfortable in general because of this), you might want to check http://www.cottoncradles.com/babycarriers.htm They have many carriers that can be used with a toddler (or older child) for a back carry.

We had an Evenflo. It was 1/2 the price (or more) of the Kelty but we still found it super comfortable. Don't know if they still make one but I'd suggest checking into it. It had an adjustable frame that actually adjusted in less than a minute. So it was easy to switch from me to my husband in the middle of a hike or the middle of the mall.

My favorite is the Kelty backpack! It is not one of the fancy models that they have that are bulky(you know the ones that you can buy with the canopy, diaper bag attached etc.), but their basic one(mine is green-they used to only make this model in dark green-used to run around $70 new) Anyway, the reason I like it is because it is more streamlined and fits me better. The other larger ones put all of your childs weight on your shoulders; however, this one has a waist belt(that is actually at my waist) and it takes off much of the weight on my shoulders and distributes it to my waist.

I had one, I think it was made by Snugli, and it fit me quite comfortably. It help a child up to 40 lbs and was smaller than some of the other ones I looked at. It was also less expensive. I had good luck with it. I wish I still had it! I didn't keep it after my son grew out of it and now I have a daughter. :)

I have a Sherpani. It is awesome. We went backpacking in Alaska, 8 miles one way, and this backpack was worth every penny. I purchased the backpack at an REI store.