Baby backpacks for long distance

“We're looking for a new backpack to carry our 10-month old on trails. Something that we'll be able to use until she doesn't need one anymore. We have one now that's fine for short trips but want something that will be comfortable for her and for us to use extensively on longer trips. Any advice?


bex”

“http://community.webshots.com/photo/478745862/478745862ljqxeG

Hey Bex, check out the picture above. I dayhiked with my 8 month old daughter this past weekend using this older version of the Kelty child carrier. It was rather comfortable, but I only hiked for about 6 miles. The shoulder straps are pretty thin, but they fely allright while hiking.

I would look at the new version or the REI version. We have the REI here in Oak Brook and one in Vernion Hills. I say take the little on to the store and try a pack on!”

“Just realize that no matter what you buy, or how expensive it is...it will never be comfy ;-) The problem with kid carriers are that they project the baby out soooo far off your back. That and the packs weight is 5-8 lbs!! I had a Kelty for a long time with my son, it was the old Explorer (a nice pack). But eventually I gave up, and got a jogger stroller with 16" tires. Loved that jogger..it had rear shocks, etc. (It was an Instep-under a $100 even) We went so many places in it. Ford loved it. As long as bikes are allowed, they are allowed. They can go over about anything. Heck, I had his jogger all plushed up-he had the fleece liner, the rain cover...I had the urban mom latte holder ;-) I even took it down beaches when we lived on the island. Best $79 I ever spent!
Finally at 5 The Man told me I had to sell it...wahhhhhh!!!! (Oh well! Now he hikes with me ;-)”

“I'll be watching this thread!!

I already have the jogging stroller. I gotta get the rain cover for it, and it doesn't have a latte holder! :( Big fat tires and lots of seating/laying positions though. AND it was FREE!

I'll be needing something I can take on the trail though. :)”

“I had a friend carry his daughter in a child carrier on a hike a month or so ago. It was the most uncomfortable looking contraption I have ever seen, next to the iron maden.

IRON MADEN ... EXCELLENT!

That said, the problem that I saw was that in order for the kid to be able to look about and not be staring at their parents back hour after hour they had to be high up in the air. That meant that the kids weight sits in a fairly awkward place.

The other problem I saw was that you had to pick gummy bears out of your hair at the end of the day. Oh well, such is the burden of parenthood.

Good luck!
last edited: 10/17/05 7:32:48 PM”

“And getting kicked in the kidneys..cold sticky fingers in your hair....oh the memories..lol!!”

“One of mine got me with poison oak. He kept grabbing at these leaves along a cut bank, and played with my ears and hair riding along. My ears swoll up like trolls ears.”

“What a cute baby, Wounded Knee! I'm sad to hear that even the Kelty packs aren't comfortable. On to plan B--anyone ever tried hiking with baby in a sling? People all over the world travel long distances with their kids in those things and they are so versatile. You can adjust the straps a million different ways to put the weight on your shoulders, your chest, one shoulder, etc. Haven't tried it, but would love some feedback.

I have a Schwinn jogging stroller as well as a Jeep "all terrain" that both have shocks. I'm addicted to strollers and other things to put her in because we walk and bike everywhere. We also have 2 backpacks and my most loved posession, a bike trailer! We get our groceries, take our laundry, exercise the dogs, *everything* with the trailer and she loves it. It's really nice now that gas is so flipping expensive too. We just have the $100 In-Step from Target with a storage compartment in back, the most inexpensive one we could find, and it is awesome. Don't even get me started. I love that thing.

bex”

“I had a Kelty Expedition (I think) that has been sold years ago. It had stirrups for their little feet so they could kick and streach their legs but couldn't get me. It also was truly comfortable. It weighed in at something like 9 pounds but was so thickly padded it rode comfy. Also actually had enough storage to go out for awhile, not just overnights and dayhikes.
I imagine Kelty has refined the model a bunch since then (I bought it as soon as I found myself pregnant, 5 years ago) and hopefully they cost less now. Mine was originally $325 (on sale for $199 at Sierra Trading Post, who still sells carriers at amazing prices sometimes).

Here's a picture:
last edited: 10/18/05 7:27:10 AM”

“Tough Traveller. Hands down the best baby pack. Colden and I have summitted over 10 4Kers with it, and I am very happy with the pack. Also, its made in the USA, only weighs 4 lbs, and puts my son's weight a lot closer than the kelty one did.

I had the kelty one for a year and gave up on it after a dreadful 5 hour ridge walk that left me with bruised hips and shoulders. My son was only 23lbs at the time. Now that he is 30lbs, I am much happier carrying him in the TT, and only get bruises after about 10 hours of intense hiking. The kelty pack weighed in at a hefty 8 lbs.

-percious
www.percious.com”