Carriers/Backpacks

[Joe]

I am looking to buy a carrier or backpack of some sort as my son is growing out of his baby bjorn. Can anbody recommend any???

We have a Bushbaby. Really comfortable, not cheap, but loads of storage for other bits which means you don't need another bag if you're out on your own with your son. We nearly got a Kelty (Bloss should soon be able to comment on these!) but opted in the end for the BB because we found the internal frame suited us better than the external one.
Provided your son is not particularly heavy for his age it will last you a long, long time. Some friends recommended it, and when we were buying it, a couple in the shop with their baby in the same model raved about theirs.
I see there's a banner on the site for an internet retailer of all sorts of back carriers. Brilliant idea, but I'd really recommend trying to find a good stockist and going all together to try out the different brands, especially if there is a height disparity between you and your partner. Then if the website is cheaper, which it may well be...

We have a Bushbaby too. It was definitely the most comfortable of the ones we tried but by no means the cheapest.

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We have a Kelty Explorer and think that it's amazing. The primary criterion was that we both had to be able to use it (my husband is about seven inches taller that I) and the Kelty is fully adjustable. It has v secure and comfy strapping and seating for the small boy and comes with all the extras (eg sun/rain/mozzy hood) (btw many have a sun hood and a rain hood rather than one which serves both purposes - could get irritating). It is v light but v strong. It (apparently) lasts until child is c 4/5 but I think that he'll be walking by then - I don't plan on carrying him when he's that heavy! It has fully adjustable hip strap, shoulder straps, chest strap etc so everyone can adjust until the weight is distributed properly and can carry easily - this is v imp if you want to be able to walk more than 20 mins. One of the other imp things (and what made us buy this rather than the BushBaby which was also v comfy) was the fact that as you set it down the leg things pop out and you can sit it on the ground - this is vital when travelling solo and have only one pair of hands. Brilliant - I would be their sales rep! The instructions also provide much amusement - apparently one shouldn't go downhill skiing or running on a running machine with the child in it!

I'm currently in the same situation as Joe - looking for a backpack. My husband is 6 foot three with an incredibly long back. we have been shopping and so far the only one that seems to fit us both is a macpack but its rather expensive .
I haven't seen the bushbaby anywhere. where did you get them from folks?
has anyone got a macpack and what do they think?

Alison, branches of the John Lewis Partnership stock Bushbaby - you can also buy them over the internet. They are very similar to Macpacs but that applies to the price too, sadly. Definitely worth it though if you walk long distances in town or country.
We actually got ours with the expert help of Fishers of Keswick, a specialist outdoor pursuits shop. I have always thought of them as being a rather pricey, tourist-oriented establishment, but the staff there were incredibly helpful (huge range of Kelty, Karrimor and Bushbaby) and full of personal tips on choosing one.
We are from London and had not found a single shop that sold more than one range/model in weeks of looking and asking around, so it was impossible to compare like for like. We were visiting the Lakes anyway at the time - we didn't travel 360 miles just to buy it!
Good luck with your hunt.

We actually bought ours at Lilliput - a small chain of stores in SW London. They had half a dozen or so carriers to choose from. I have found them to be a good place to go and have a look at a wide variety products such as highchairs, car seats, prams etc. Their prices are certianly not especially competitive though.

Try the ad link at the top of the page - babybackpacks.co.uk - They stock the Kelty Kids range, the Bushbaby range, Vaude, and Karrimor.

Alison, we have a Macpac (either a koala or possum, can't remember which at the moment) and wouldn't change it for anything! It has got to be one of the best buys ever!!! It was expensive but well worth it.

It is very comfortable for both my husband and myself to use and we do a lot of bushwalking/hiking etc as well as carting Tom around the farm in it. We have done two-day hikes (camping in between) with Tom in the Macpac. We bought one when Tom was about 9 months old and still use it now (he is 2). I think they are so good because Macpac are specialists in hiking backpacks, not just a company that makes baby gear and has decided to do a backpack! (not that I can comment on the other brands discussed here as I have never heard of them in Australia!).

The Macpac one we have has fully adjustable everything, even the seat height for the baby can move up and down. I was surprised to hear someone mentioning to Macpac as I didn't know they were available in the UK. Macpac is a New Zealand company that specialises in hiking and camping gear!

Bells - where is Lilliput? I live in Ealing so moust of SW London would be accessible
I was in John Lewis in Kingston at the weekend and they had Kelty but not bushbaby. The Kelty dug into my neck for some reason. Karrimoor didnt fit my husband and one other make didn't fit my son - his feet got squashed between the pack and me.
Because my husband is so tall we want to try them on.
Has anyone got one with wheels? I saw a woman yesterday with one. She said she got it in Mothercare and it was great for her

There are 3 shops - Queenstown Road Battersea, Putney and Wimbledon. I go to the Battersea one as unlike Peter Jones or John Lewis it has a free car park directly adjoining the store. They also have a good amount of stock at any one time so you can usually take your purchases with you instead of having to order in advance.

A vote for the GS90! Its fab, stands up on its own when you take it off - and costs much less than the Bushbaby.

Oh, and Joe, I presume you've read mumsnets backpack reviews?

I'm adding my vote for the Macpac Possum - we've used it extensively with both our kids, both for trolling around town and for hiking up serious mountains. It's comfortable for me (5'6") and my husband (6'1"). It's one of the bits of baby/child kit we've bought that has been really worth having.

Hi,
I don't know whether anyone can advise me on which is a good back carrier to buy. After looking at the reviews I tried 3 Bushbaby ones, Premier, Venus and Travelite and found them all extremely uncomfortable - must just be me as all the other reviews rate these highly. I am 5ft 9 tall and have narrow shoulders so whether this was the problem I don't know. Anyway, I have tried the Vaude Swing and Deuter Kid Comfort I (which were both quite comfortable) and can't decide which to go for. I live in Tewkesbury and Cotswold is the only store round here and only stocks a limited range which is not helping my situation. I need a carrier that is easy to get the baby (now 1 year old) in and out of easily (so possibly one with a stand) and as I get too hot too quickly, I want one that allows air flow between the carrier and my back. Has anyone gone any feedbak on the Swing or Deuter Kid Comfort I (in particular how comfortable their child was and what age they were in the carrier till as the Swing looks smaller than the Deuter) or any other suggestions.
Any feedback appreciated. Thanks

I've got MeiTais and LittleLife Elite. I'm the same height as you, and similarly built and it is very comfortable as it has an adjustable back length. We tend to use the MTs day to day, but the LL is great when you have more stuff to carry.

If you like, you could try mine - I'm in Pershore.

i would recommend either a mei tai or a soft structured carrier like an ergo,patapum,AMC,beco..etc

have a look at slingjax

Last wednesday I carried my 5 year old for over 3 miles in an AMC. I am only 5ft4 and she is a big girl.
I cannot recommend these enough

Thanks for the responses re baby carriers. My concern with the cloth ones (I had a Kari-me and gave up with it, as it took ages to put on and wearing waste amounts of fabric made me far too hot), are the mei tai or AMC similar to this?

Nope the mei tai is like a rectangle of fabric with a strap at each corner. very simple to tie and get comfy.

The Soft structured carrier like the AMC is rather like a back pack in that there is a padded waist which does up with a buckle. then the shoulder straps are padded and usually have a buckle to adjust it to fit.
Check out that link to slingjax above for more pics

Thanks again. I did look at the slingjax website which shows the AMC Active II but does not say the maximum age or show the back carrying position. Is this what you have and if so does it make you hot having the child close against you back and are they comfortable as there doesn't seem to be much to these carriers?

Yes I understand your reservations. Trust me when I say that they are much more comfy than the metal framed carrier. There may not seem much to them but that doesnt mean that they are any less comfortable. IT just means that they have been carefully thought about as to the exact needs of the baby and the mother.
You will get a little warm but you generally adjust your clothing to suit.
Please dont be put off by the fact that there doesnt seem much to me. They are extremely well made and very very comfortable.
I can send you pictures of back carrys in the AMC or similar carriers.

ergos are fanastic.best thing we brought for ds2

AMC website

Ergo

yamo