Rolls Royce of backpacks?

[deliakate]

Hi everyone, we don't want to risk totally spoiling DS in everything, but DH has asked me to find out what is the top brand for backcarriers these days? Does anyone know?

I know that we want to use one instead of a cloth sling, mei tai, or anything else. DH will be doing most of the carrying, so he feels justified in looking for the ones that will cause him least strain on his back etc.

Thanks!

Little Life Elite is v good as framed carriers go, esp as you can adjust the back length to fit. I bought one for DH to use, then he decided that he did actually prefer using a Meitai as it was snugglier

Thanks. We want it for hill walking etc - would the mt be secure/ comfortable enough for that? Also, having storage built in is a plus.

Yes, the MT is very secure and comfy - we've walked a lot with ours. The storage in the framed carrier is a bonus, but usually we've found that the non carrying child person can carry enough for the family - and as your child gets older, you don't want to add much extra weight to the whole thing.

The main disadvantage to the framed carrier for us was that as DS started to walk more, you still had a lot of carrier to schlep around - wheras the MT folds up, or just straps flat against your back and doesn't get in the way

I think the Ergo Baby Carrier is a really good compromise between framed carrier and MT. My husband has used it regularly with both our kids from babyhood right up to about 3-4 years old. As CMOT says the advntage of a carrier like this is that it's not bulky to carry around when they want to get down and walk for a while. The Ergo has a pocket which is big enough for nappies, wipes, purse, etc, and has a sleep hood in case they fall asleep. We've done serious big hillwalking with a toddler in the Ergo, and also used a framed backpack, and found the Ergo much more comfy, because it doesn't muck up your balance/centre of gravity the way a framed one does.

You really ought to think about investing in the the Vaude Butterfly if you're into serious walking and hiking. Its the best in terms of safety and for your back. And as a framed carrier, you can set it down as well. DH and I use it, I am 5'1 and he's 6'2, it works brilliantly for both of us. On the negative side it is a bit on the heavier side, but the safety aspect is unparalleled.

By the way, meant to add that we do a lot of serious hiking, and I have used the Bushbaby framed carrier as well, which is lighter, but I just feel its a tiny bit flimsier.

IMO, it is the Manduca. Bigmamaslings is a vendor of it. Had an Ergo before but the Manduca makes it look average. the Manduca is better thought through than the Ergo.

If you want pretty & functional, then a Connecta.

I am partial to wraps and MTs myself but can deffo recommend Manducas.

the bushbaby or the macpac ones get my vote- best thing to do is try a few on (with something heavy in it!)

we have a deuter kid comfort 3. we tried a lot out in shops as we did a lot of serious walking including walking the westhighland way (90-odd miles over 5 days) when dd was 9 mo. we chose this one in the end as although it is quite bulky it provides a lot of shelter for the baby when the weather is bad. it has a high back so is comfy when they sleep too, although dd did most of her sleeping slumped over the front!