Vaude Butterfly Comfort

My partner and I both like this carrier a great deal .... better still our daughter LOVES it! As with all things there are pros and cons:

1) True the carrier IS heavy and bulky... BUT the bulkiness doesn't matter so much if you are out and about on a proper walk/hike (not around busy shops or on the bus etc). In addition the weight kind of disappears once you have it on since it is very comfortable and disperses the load extremely well between your hips, back and shoulders. There is ample space for the child's nappies, spare clothes and food etc in the built in storage compartment. However if you want even more storage you can buy a special daysack which fits onto the carrier and keeps your hands free.

2) Yes there are a lot of adjustments to make to get the carrier to fit you and cradle your child correctly. However this doesn't take too long and we didn't find it fiddly at all. The kickstand makes the carrier rigid whilst loading in your child which to us is a real bonus. Once the carrier has been correctly adjusted our child is held securely and comfortably and starts grinning like a loony! We really feel that her spine is nicely aligned and her arms and legs are not all bunched up or forced into strange positions as with some soft carriers. Better still there are stirrups for when the child is older so their legs are always held properly and not swinging and kicking you. Our daughter loves being so high up and being able to see over the top of our heads, rather than looking at our back as with our ergo carrier... The headrest is great and our daughter has slept happily in this carrier.

3) Yes it is expensive but we feel it is exceptionally well made and comfortable and therefore great value for money. Plus we got a great deal on ours - shop around and you will not have to pay anywhere near the RRP.

The only caveat I would add to all this is to say that both my partner and I are strong and well built - if you are very petite then definitely try before you buy - you may not find the carrier as comfortable...

I thought The vaude was really heavy and bulky, the childs seat is too complitated and fiddly and seams to hold my son in as if its some sort of torch a device. we returned ours to our local walking shop and exchanged it for a differnt brand. sorry to go agaist the flow but that how we found it.

We bought the Butterfly Comfort 111 (they are now up to version V) when my son was a baby and we were camping in the Lake District. It has now been used for two children over the last seven years and is still in excellent condition showing no signs of wear and tear which is a sign of the excellant quality of this carrier.

The feature that most appealed was the ability to adjust the torso length - there is a seven inch height difference between me and my partner and this meant we were both able to adjust the carrier to wear comfortably.

The carrier included a sun/shower shade and a changing mat which stowed into the storage compartment still leaving plenty of room for nappies, packed lunch and waterproofs.

The stability of the carrier when it is resting on the floor means that getting the child in and out of the carrier is easy and the adjustable straps make it look like a comfortable ride for the child (my son regularly fell asleep in the carrier so it must have been comfy!).

Although it is one of the more expensive carriers I think the torso adjustment is worth paying the extra for to make sure you get a really good fit - especially if you are planning longer walks or hiking.

We purchased the Vaude after using a Bush Baby elite for over a month. At that time our child was 5 months old. What attracted us to the Vaude is the difference in the way baby is held in the carrier. Another real benefit we now realise is the frame stand which pulls back so the carrier will sit on the floor safely while you fit baby in, we didn't realised how useful that was until you have tried fitting an active child a few times. With the carrier safely supported on the ground you just lower baby in, the Vaude encloses around the childs waist with a very comfortable waist belt. This has lovely padding and is 5inches deep at the sides for protection. It closes with a fastener as used on the top of a ski boot, the waist belt also adjusts up and down. Also with a ski boot fastener you can then easily adjust the seat height up and down with child in. This means you feel confident you can ensure babies legs are comfortable and that babies arms above the waist belt can move freely. The seat area has a lot more shaped padding than on the Bush Baby. A v shaped harness comes from low down the back of the seat, this is padded around back of babies neck and fastens at the front once over the shoulders. All the buckles at the front neatly slot into each other so they are not going to stick into babies tummy, The tension on the harness is adjusted so baby isn't being pulled down but can't bounce up either. This means Baby is completely secure with lots of lovely padding around her waist, nothing squashing her and her arms and legs are free to move. We try to walk an hour a day and immediately noticed a difference in eleanors enjoyment of the walks because of this. The carrier feels much lighter on because it is a lot more comfortable, the height of the shoulder straps are adjusted in seconds, the waist belt and back padding are so much better, much more like a top quality rucksac. It has surprised us just how much better the quality of all the buckles belts and fastenings are. The carrier has padded handles at the front and back so mum or dad can help to lift off the floor easier once baby is fitted. We are so pleased to have found this model because it means we are getting to enjoy walking again.

UPDATE IN 2010

Reviewed this on here in Mar 2009, it has since been in action at least twice a week, every week and is really just as good as the day it was bought. The way your child is cleverly secured grows with them nicely, whilst leaving their legs and arms free, stirrups are good when child is bigger, soft padding on childs seat area has resulted in no comfort complaints, indeed eleanor lets out a joyous laugh everytime she is hoisted up onto my back in it. Has also been great to take eleanor swimming, eg you can leave her safe in it for a few mins while you get changed etc.If you intend to do some serious walking with a child carrier,try borrowing a 14+KG child and walk a few miles before you buy, it is hard to know the benefits of good design, ergonomics, shoulder straps, waist belt etc for both child and adult carrying until you experience this. The vaude has been superb, we have been able to go anywhere (whole day walks ) without being worried about eleanors comfort safety. Now she is walking most of the way herself so I guess it has done its job.

Superb product really suitable for hill walking. Great self adjusting system for back. Good neck support suitable for quite youngish babies. Although very expensive it has enabled my husband and me to continue with our love of mountain walking.