Macpac Vamoose

This is a great carrier. Not cheap, but extremely lightweight and the height of comfort for both you and your baby. Lots of extras - sunshade, booties, raincover - and plenty of pockets for everything else you need to carry.

Great :adjustable ,comfortable, comfort for child and you .Lots of extras available such as shade canopy ,rain cover etc.

Put our son in this when he was just 5 months old (he was strong). he is now 16 months and still loves it. we do a lot of hiking and long distances and this pack has enabled us to keep doing this. the harness for him is great, my husband and i both find it comfortable to wear. the rain cover and sombrero sunshade are brilliant. the rain cover completeely encases the pack and him so even when it gets blowy you feel confident he is warm dry and snug. worth every penny

We bought the Macpac Vamoose (as a present from my parents) because we did a lot of walking. However, we did not use the pack as much as we had thought we would for a number of reasons: (1) a friend passed on a Papoose lightweight carrier which was perfect for hoofing it to the corner shops - the Macpac was much tricker to put on and off when you were alone with Bub, (2) we didn't walk as often as we had thought when she was really little - the seasons were all wrong and we also ended up on some extended driving holidays instead, (3) Bub was walking at 9 1/2 months and of course then wouldn't be cooped up in the Macpac for long periods, so even when we did go for bushwalks we had to factor in her wants, and (4) while we have used it to put her in when doing longer rougher walks as she got older, it became a real struggle to put her in. Having said all that, it was by far and the way the most comfortable to wear - the harness was GREAT. The ease of access to both front and bottom pockets not so. I guess the bottom line is that I really wanted to love and use this pack but looking back on it (daughter now 3 and hardly in it) we have not got value for money from it. It really does pay to hold off on the expensive purchases until just before you need them.

I bought this around a year ago for my (now) 2 1/2 year old. Deliberated for ages as it's so much money but don't regret it at all. Yes it's heavy when not on your back but extremely comfortable when loaded up with your baby and other luggage! Guess you might want something else smaller if you're just nipping out for a quick walk or won't be using it very often I've tried some other cheaper backpacks that friends have bought and, I'm afraid it's true that you get what you pay for - they're simply not as comfortable. I've carried my chunky two-year old for miles in this. Even better he loves it, and given the choice between this and the buggy would choose this every time. Great features include the clip-on/zip-on bag and a mirror that allows you to see your baby behaind you and check they're OK.

WOuldn't be without it!

Helen

Many felt this carrier was worth the additional cost because "it's so comfortable to wear and for the baby". The price includes loads of extras, including a sun-shade, bug screen and rain cover. Like the Possum, it has great storage space under the child: "My husband carried a three year old, plus all our food and water for a day's hiking" and was highly commended for its simple adjustment system. Some found it heavy compared with the Possum "which was more manageable" but all agreed that "it's perfect if you do a lot of walking with your child".

Expensive but well worth it. Why would you carry a valuable and moving baby in something not designed to distribute the weight properly - when that's exactly what we do for our luggage? The only one made by a rucksack manufacturer who has thought about babies instead of a baby manufacturer who thought they could make some money out of backpacks!