Recommend your toddler carrier PLEASE!

cubsfan1

We are going out to Portland in August and will be doing some hiking...I think DD will hike for part of it (we go on weekends around here and she does ok) but obviously she will get tired and need to be carried at some point. We are looking at backpack type carriers...want one that is comfy, has a sun shade...she is 30lbs.

TIA for the help ladies!

anna7602

We have a Kelty and it feels like DD was too heavy for it past 30 lbs. The carrier frame alone, without a child in it. weighs 7 lbs.

Just throwing this out there in case you're starting a "what to avoid" list or in case someone else wants to weigh in on the Kelty with a better experience. FWIW, DH and I are both on the smaller side, so 37 lbs on our backs means a lot!

JOEBunny

I hate our frame pack.  I think it is a kelty too.  We never use it.  We use the ergo and a sun hat.  The Ergo weighs about a pound and the weigh sits on your hips.  It has a little pocket that fits a diaper or two, some wipes in a zip lock, bug spray and a camera, and I use carabiners to clip our water bottles to it. 

GabbyG

I've tested kid-carrying backpacks and the best one IMO is the Deuter, unless you are particularly tall, in which case it might not be a comfortable fit.

keg

JOEBunny:

I hate our frame pack.  I think it is a kelty too.  We never use it.  We use the ergo and a sun hat.  The Ergo weighs about a pound and the weigh sits on your hips.  It has a little pocket that fits a diaper or two, some wipes in a zip lock, bug spray and a camera, and I use carabiners to clip our water bottles to it. 

I'd go the Ergo route too.  I love, love, love mine and regularly carry my DDs on my back in it. 

 

Jen&Len

If you can get your hands on one, I second the kinderpack.  You can probably use either the toddler or preschool size.  I'm able to use both sizes with DS.

Susan&Skip

we have an older Kelty that we bought of Craigslist for like 1/3 of the cost.  DH and DS LOVE it.  i've personally never worn it; i'm only 5'2".  DH is 6'3" so it works great for him!  We use it all the time for hiking.  Last time we used it was DS was just at 30lbs last fall to our trip to TN.  I recomend looking on craigslist.

 

azcobride

We bought a used Evenflo Snugli (this one: https://cgi.ebay.com/Snugli-Cross-Country-Backpack-Child-Carrier-Gently-Used-/140558945371?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b9f74c5b). Ours was missing the sun shade but we just use a hat. I like it and carry DS in at all the time, I have even hiked with it while pregnant and been comfortable for an hour-long hike. DS is 27.5 lbs.

Harper'smom

Jen&Len:

If you can get your hands on one, I second the kinderpack.  You can probably use either the toddler or preschool size.  I'm able to use both sizes with DS.

This or an easier option to obtain is a Boba. We love ours and use it with 28mos old DD often. It has a higher shell than a Ergo and DD is tall so we needed that feature.