The arrival of a new bundle of joy doesn’t have to mean the end of quality hiking time in the great outdoors anymore. A who’s who of the outdoor recreation industry has sought to capitalize on the large number of active parents and grandparents in the U.S.
Kelty pioneered the child carrier pack and is now joined by the likes of REI and Sherpani.
These packs which mimic the frame construction of standard backpacks are typically designed to hold babies from around 6-8 months up until kids 5 years old or 45lbs. Our Kelty pack (shown above) is remarkably comfortable and effective for long hikes and has solid hip belts and shoulder straps. The packs usually have a kickstand mechanism that keeps the pack upright while loading your child. Depending on the size of your child it sometimes is helpful to have another adult help with the loading and unloading of the pack. Other amenities may include extra storage and rain and sun shields. While nice in theory, we’ve never used our sun/rain shield. It limits your child’s range of view and seems confining. Sunscreen and a hat work fine. Storage on the other hand is a different story, you cannot have too much of it in our minds. The ability to pack in snacks, water, diapers, wipes and a change of clothes frees you up from having to carry several different bags.
It’s good to remember that unlike your sleeping bag and camp stove, your child is likely to occasionally lunge for objects along the trail, so be aware of your balance. Best for standard hiking and trips around town, heli-skiing, mountain biking and adventure racing less so…
By David on 06/27/06 in Gear, Fitness
tag this | permalink | trackback url
