Child Carriers

dewingrm

dewingrm

Joined
Oct 23, 2001
Messages
1,451
I have a 9 month old and my wife and I would like to do a lot of hiking this year. Last year we couldn't get out very much because my wife was either pregnant and miserable or we had a newborn. I know that I would like a carrier that has a metal frame. Storage space isn't totally necessary as one of us will be carrying a backpack and we will only be doing short 1/2 day hikes. I would love to keep the cost under $100. I've found a few used Kelty's listed on eBay for well under $100. Does anyone have brand or model recommendations? Any info would help.

Thanks
 
myright said:
I've got this one and it's great. My son is only 5 months and it'll probably be about another month or so before I'm comfortable with him sitting there by himself.

I've had him in a few times and it's super easy to get on and off with a kid in it.

http://www.deuterusa.com/products/productDetail.php?packID=kidcomfortI&sub=family&tert=family
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Thanks for the reply, that's just the kind of comments that I'm looking for. The deuter looks very nice. Does anyone have experience with Kelty carriers?
 
I'd be really interested in hearing if someone has the transit carrier by Kelty. It looks like a backpack that could be used more comfortably when the kid is not in it.

The rigid frame is probably a heck of a lot more comfortable for the child, but it's a dedicated back pack with not that much room for other storage.

I had my son who is 5 months and probably close to 19 lbs in a the baby bjorn today, on me, for over an hour. Holy crap - he got heavy :)

I hope someone chimes in about the kelty.
 
dewingrm said:
Thanks for the reply, that's just the kind of comments that I'm looking for. The deuter looks very nice. Does anyone have experience with Kelty carriers?
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I also have a Deuter, but it is a different model and color. The guy at my favorite local outfitter store recommended it, as he had used one for his son.

I found it as comfortable as an external frame backpack, and my daughter seemed to like it too, and was content during day hikes for as long as I wanted to carry her. It has a rain/sun awning and a useful compartment under the seat. There is a fold-up stand so you can prop it on the ground when it is time to feed the passenger.

My daughter is about three now and has just about outgrown it. It's still in great shape. Maybe we could make a deal - if you're interested, send an email:

magisterbeck@hotmail.com



(edit) whoops, you were asking specifically about Kelty
 
I recommend one of these. Makes for a great sleeping bag warmer and will give you something to live for in a survival situation. Some models can cook too. :eek:

b-Angelina-Jolie-carry-4c65ae83b1a2.jpeg
 
I've got a Kelty that i purchased off ebay a few years ago. It is a rigid frame with aluminum bars and a small pouch for bottles, etc. It does not have the fold out legs of newer models, but does fine w/o them. I have found it comfortable and none of the kids ever complained. I'm done with that faze of my life (hopefully).
 
..you guys have it all wrong. ..you need a child carrier that will feed its self after setting up camp:

 
It's strange that I was on ebay looking at these and decided to check out WSS before logging off. First thing I see is this thread. I'm also in the market for one ( I have a 22 lb 9 month old) so I feel the pain of the OP whose wife was either pregnant or with the newborn all year last year.

I noticed two ( including me) looking for these and two posters with ones they no longer use. If both of you want to get rid of them maybe we could all profit here. I'll wait till the OP has decided if he wants either, then I'll jump on the other if everyone wants to work something out.

David
 
My sister has the Kelty FC 3.0 and loves it. She upgraded from some crappy Evenflo modle. The only gripe she has is it's quite a large pack if you're just bumming around somewhere. The kid LOVES it. Granted she usually falls asleep in it, but that's no different than a stroller. The plastic window on the rainshield thingy is a lifesaver because aparently most kids pull their parents hair when it's dangling right in front of them.

The nice thing about the Kelty versus others is that Kelty is in the business of packs, and adopted one for child carrying. That's the opposite of baby companies who are in the business of babies, and are trying to make a backpack carrier for them. They really don't have the years of pack research that Kelty has. There's no way they're going to make a pack that is as comfortable as a Kelty, IMHO.
 
Funny seeing this here today because I was going through the garage this weekend and looking at my kelty thinking it was time to get rid of it.

I have had my kelty for 8 years and it is in as good a shape today as the day that I bought it. I have been able to comfortably carry my kids in it from when they were about 18 months old until they reached about 45-50 pounds. The kelty is a very well designed external frame pack which carried my boys in relative comfort. The design and harness was very safe for the kids because they sat deep inside of it and there is a strap that would go over the childs shoulders and keep them very secure. I found the harness and hip belt very comfortable and I can't remember having any problems over the years with this great setup. The biggest short coming That I can recall Is when carrying the last of my 3 boys and it related to the size of the storage space on the kelty. It was great carrying diapers and wipes and food for 1 kid but the space was limited if you were trying to pack for more.
I would highly recommend one of these for any hiking family. My kids loved it and I think it has really gotten them interested hiking at a young age because it made it so much easier for my wife and I to take them. :thumbup:
 
I used a couple cheapo kid carriers and really should've upgraded to the Kelty my friends had or another one that was more comfortable (both for my son and me), more supportive and better made. Don't go with the garage sale ones that look like cheap lawn furniture. Trust me.
 
I appreciate all of the recommendations and offers. I plan on going to REI tomorrow to look at a few carriers to get an idea of the different designs and models. It's hard to judge how a carrier is going to fit and function from pictures on the internet.

Thanks again for the recommendations.
 
Take a look at rei's online outlet too. They're doing another 20% off and there's a couple Sherpani's in there. Hope that's not deal spotting, he was heading to REI anyway.
 
dewingrm said:
Does anyone have brand or model recommendations? Any info would help.

Thanks
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The Kelty series are awesome, and I highly recommend them.

I have taken my daughter out in this pack for 4 of the past 6 days. We are fairly certain that pack is one of her first five words.

3233121216_0d3260ccba_m.jpg




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My daughter is our third child to use this pack. The Pathfinder model is part of a series which includes Journey and the Adventure. The FC 3.0 appears to be the 2008 model year of this pack. From what I have seen of that, the FC series MUCH nicer. I recommend the stirrups for the kids, as they can shift their weight and stay in the pack much longer. For example, with the stirrups my daughter is happy for up to 70 minutes; without the stirrups the boys had tired out much earlier.

You may notice that in the first picture, the sternum strap is almost around my neck. While the current fit is not perfect for me, it does well by my wife and her friends.

I'd bet most of the used packs you could find on auction sites have been used less than a half dozen times; truly a bargain.

Lastly, in the second photo, the pack was stable and the knife was prone to fall sideways.
 
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dewingrm,

I bought one in late 2007, the REI PiggyBack. I was torn between it and the Dueter, but alas, it was on sale. I like that it has a zip off pack on the back that can be used if you need the extra storage or removed if not.

I started taking my son when he was about 18 lbs and now he is around 25. I find it pretty comfortable and he loves it! It has load lifter straps which help pull him in close to the back. The only issue I have had with it so far is the bar on the bottom front pokes me in the lower back. I have been planning on covering it with a piece of water noodle, but have not gotten around to it yet, so it must not bother me that much. We have gone on several 1/2 day trips and he loves being able to sit above my head and see what is going on...until he falls asleep, which he usually does after an hour or so.

I know you were asking about the Dueter, and after I read the reviews and what not, it was a toss up, but the REI won out again because it was on sale. Put 'em on and load them with about 20 lbs adn walk around, you'll know which one is right.

Let us know what you decided. Good luck, congrats on the baby and enjoy getting out with them!
 
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