carrying a lo hiking

zazzu

Anyone ever used metal frame hiking pack that they use to carry their kiddo in? I have an ergo, but it seems like it would get uncomfortable fast. Dh and I aren't serious hikers, but want to take a few day trips this summer. I've seen a few at consignment stores, but wonder if it's worth it to get a new good one.

Seattle_JiLLn

Have you tried the back carry on the Ergo?  It should be pretty comfortable for a long time.  

I do know people with the metal frame ones though and they like them.  I don't see why you'd need new vs. used if you're not doing a ton of serious hikes. 

Zista

Ditto SJ that the back carry on the Ergo is actually pretty comfortable.  I also have a fairly decent frame carrier that a friend gave me at our baby shower.  You are welcome to come take it on a test run and see if you like it before searching, and since I doubt we will be hiking even close to every week, you can just borrow ours whenever you want to.

JodiLinn503

I just wore DD on my back in the Ergo yesterday on a hike. It was really comfortable. But, she hated not being able to see ahead of us. She kept craning her neck to see around my arm since she wasn't high enough to see over my shoulders. The biggest benefit I can think of to the metal frame would be that DD would be higher than in the Ergo.

Mama_v2.0

I also always just use the ergo. (I have no problem wearing a child all day in one...even a front carry with a backpack on back if they child is less than 20 lbs.)

chibipoe

If you're just doing occasional hiking your regular carrier in a back carry will probably do. We have a Dueter (frame carrier) because we do a good amount of hiking and we like use it for vacations instead of a stroller. It has much better padding and distributes the weight a little more evenly but they are very heavy. It's great for us because both kids can fit in it so when we get the inevitable "I'm tired!!" from Syd we can carry her too.

JDCSKF

We have a Kelty Frame Carrier and love it. It was one of the only things I couldn't let go when I got rid off all my kid stuff. DD loved to be able to see over our heads and we have the shade attachment for hot days.

WatchPot

If you want to pay the money for it, yo can go to REI and try them.  We got the sherpani but wish we'd have gotten a Deuter.  We still carry W in it (were out today in fact) and he's about out grown it and we probably won't get more than this season out of it

Last year, he was 2 1/2 and abt 30# i hiked with him in a back ergo.  I could go 5 miles before he to be too much.  This year, at 36# in the sherpani, I can barely go 4 miles round trip.  So it's a cacth 22.  You want a good pack but after awhile it becomes unreasonable to carry such a heavy kid for too long.

That being said you are welcome to borrow our Sherpani at any time. 

applecider

We have a blue Kelty kid backpack with a sun cover.  We got it used on Craigslist from some Canadians.  It's fantastic.  (Although it's mostly DH that wears it.)

As long as its a good brand with backpack-making experience I would feel totally comfortable buying it used.  Kelty is good.  REI makes good ones too.

doublem

I had a mei tai and an Ergo with me at camp a few weeks ago with E - I had her on for 1-3 hours at a stretch, taking 30-minute breaks here and there as my class stopped for lessons/activities or so I could nurse/change her.  I figure I was probably carrying her a good 8-9 hours out of the day, and both of them were quite comfortable.  She was somewhere above 17# then.