{"id":13412,"date":"2015-07-27T13:24:48","date_gmt":"2015-07-27T13:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/?p=13412"},"modified":"2015-07-28T09:57:00","modified_gmt":"2015-07-28T09:57:00","slug":"gear-review-child-carriers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/gear-review-child-carriers\/","title":{"rendered":"Gear review: Child carriers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DavidIf you want to get off the flat and up the hills with your wee one, a child carrier is called for. But which one? David Lintern and family take a look…<\/em><\/p>\n

The adage \u2018try before you buy\u2019 is never more true than with child carriers \u2013 they are relatively expensive, have differing features, and a relatively small window of use before your little one isn\u2019t so little anymore \u2013 so you want to get it right. And a bit like rucksacks \u2013 even if you find a retailer that stocks a variety of these to compare them properly in the flesh, it\u2019s hard to know how they will feel fully loaded after an hour or so.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also obvious from trialing these that designers are thinking about taller carers only \u2013 probably assuming that an adult male will always be carrying. This is a pretty impractical assumption even if you are a heterosexual outdoors couple (what if dad is hefting the rucksack with 3 people\u2019s gear\u2026?) and it means the choice for women carers is even smaller, unless they are over 5\u20198. If the unit is the wrong size for your back or adjusted incorrectly, it will hurt or worse, and ultimately won\u2019t be used as often as you\u2019d like. The child\u2019s seatbelt is also worth close consideration. Less important is storage \u2013 all of those tested here have enough room for nappies and snacks, and your child is already heavy enough half way up that hill without loading the bag with other extras. Get \u2018dad\u2019 to carry it!<\/p>\n

Very young children can’t support their necks too well, so wait to get one of these until the tiny terror is at least 6 months or older. Prior to this, we used a front sling which offers more contact and support. There’s no real upper limit for using child carriers, it’s more about what the parent is able to carry and whether the little one will want to walk or not. Somewhere between 2 and 3 is probably realistic, with 4 being the maximum. Most are designed to carry up to 15-20kgs, which is definitely too heavy once you add in the weight of the pack itself!<\/p>\n

\"Poco<\/a>Osprey Poco Plus<\/h3>\n

Recommended Price:<\/strong> \u00a3180
\nWeight:<\/strong> 3.2kg<\/p>\n

Child\u2019s Seatbelt:<\/strong> The shoulder straps for the little one are simple and easy to use. They click together on top of the child\u2019s shoulders \u2013 best in this roundup without a doubt. Child seat height is adjustable.<\/p>\n

Carry comfort:<\/strong> Good weight transfer to a very comfortable hipbelt and a nice, easy carry initially. They\u2019ve taken a lot of the design work from their rucksacks over to this carrier, including the ventilated back system. I find this really luxurious and non sweaty but perhaps a bit less stable than others here, in that the child\u2019s weight is held further away from my centre of gravity. The adjustable back length is secure once adjusted, but for us vertically challenged types, the back was too long even at its shortest setting. This meant the pack became uncomfortable after prolonged use.<\/p>\n

Storage:<\/strong> Well designed. Double hip belt pockets, phone pocket on the shoulder strap, stretchy side pockets and oodles of under seat storage. More than ample.<\/p>\n

Other Features:<\/strong> Solid, wide based click rest for when the unit is stationed on the ground (warning: don\u2019t leave your child unattended in any of these carriers \u2013 they do go over \u2013 where there is a will\u2026) The best sun\/shower cover on test \u2013 really well thought out and included in the price. The unit folds down fairly well when not in use. Not enough padding near the babies face in the cabin, so a nap for the little one was harder.<\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> Great buy for parents over 5\u20198, feature rich, extremely well made and durable. Just make sure you are tall.<\/p>\n

\"VAUDE_<\/a>Vaude Shuttle Premium<\/h3>\n

Recommended Price:<\/strong> \u00a3225
\nWeight:<\/strong> 3.7kg<\/p>\n

Child\u2019s Seatbelt:<\/strong> Shoulder straps are split left and right and fasten at the child\u2019s belly \u2013 fiddly to reach with the child in situ, but works well once the child is fastened in. Child seat height is adjustable.<\/p>\n

Carry comfort:<\/strong> The heaviest carrier here, but does accommodate parents with a smaller back. The back length adjuster is a bit of a faff but once set is rock solid. Lumber support and hip belt are particularly good and mum (5\u20192 female) found this very nice to wear whilst I (5\u20198 male) found it a little bulky. The carry is strong on comfort and stability but that weight is noticeable compared with others here. <\/p>\n

Storage:<\/strong> Loads of storage in the side pockets and under the child seat. A single hip pocket for the adult, but weirdly nowhere to hang your climbing rack on the other hip\u2026<\/p>\n

Other Features:<\/strong> Very wide and stable click rest, with a crafty little cable pull built into the hip belt pocket to enable a single parent to retract it. The neck support and child\u2019s cabin pillow is the best on offer of all the carriers here \u2013 a fleecy frog\u2019s face which can be removed for washing. The weather cover includes both sun and rain covers and operates a little like a pop up umbrella \u2013 it\u2019s included in the price.<\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> Comfortable, good for shorter parents, well featured – but heavy! Note we also test-drove the Vaude Wallaby (\u00a3145 1.9kg), which is lighter and cheaper but a lot less comfortable to wear. It still got us up Ben More and back, but I found the frame dug into my fleshy parts by the end of the day, and it was too long for mum.<\/p>\n

\"L10571<\/a>LittleLife All Terrain S2<\/h3>\n

Recommended Price:<\/strong> \u00a3200
\nWeight:<\/strong> 3kg<\/p>\n

Child\u2019s Seatbelt:<\/strong> Baby is secured by an over the head strap arrangement, which fastens at the thigh \u2013 the straps dangle a bit when your child is small, but very easy to pass the child\u2019s head through. Child seat height is adjustable.<\/p>\n

Carry comfort:<\/strong> Easily adjustable length and well ventilated for the parent\u2019s back, but mum found it a little too long to wear comfortably. Both parents found that the hip belt was positioned too high in relation to the base, which meant the base dug into our bottoms.<\/p>\n

Storage:<\/strong> dual hip belt pockets, masses of storage both under seat and in a removable mini-rucksack, for when the wean gets a little bigger and wants to start pulling her weight.<\/p>\n

Other Features:<\/strong> This carrier is designed a little differently to others, in that there\u2019s no click rest and the base is \u2018always there\u2019. The idea is that you use your foot to stabilize the little one\u2019s entry and exit. I liked this in theory but in practise it\u2019s not always possible to station yourself in the right place if your charge is wriggly or \u2018reluctant\u2019! A good sun visor and full raincover included in the price. A high quality small mirror in the hipbelt pocket to see how she\u2019s fairing up there, which is a nice touch \u2013 one of the things we noticed when using these on our own is that it\u2019s harder to check on the little one, in that she\u2019s behind you!<\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> Because of the design, a little bulky to pack in a car and cupboard when not in use, and they really need to look at that hip belt position in relation to the base.<\/p>\n

\"Deuter<\/a>Deuter Kids Comfort 2<\/h3>\n

Recommended Price:<\/strong> \u00a3200
\nWeight:<\/strong> 3.3kg <\/p>\n

Child\u2019s Seatbelt:<\/strong> The shoulder straps are like conventional rucksack straps (attached to the unit at both top and bottom), meaning it can be tricky to secure in front of her. Secure once in place. Child seat height is adjustable.<\/p>\n

Carry comfort:<\/strong> This is the carrier we have ended up using most often for the hills, because it fits both of us well, the back length adjuster is easy to change but secure and doesn\u2019t stretch, and the weight transfer to the hips is good. The back isn\u2019t ventilated but the carry is stable.<\/p>\n

Storage:<\/strong> stretchy side pockets for suncream, snacks and ample room in the base for changing gear. A single hip belt pocket, for mum and dad\u2019s sweets.<\/p>\n

Other Features:<\/strong> Good padding and neck support in the cabin for the napping little\u2019un. Click rest is super stable and can be operated by a single parent wearing the pack. But the raincover\/sunscreen is sold separately \u2013 marks deducted for that! The unit doesn\u2019t really compress so well.<\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> Over time, this has ended up being the best compromise overall for more serious outdoor use in terms of features, weight and comfort. That sounds like a backwards compliment, but it isn\u2019t: For us, a carrier needed to fit both parents, be stable on the back and on the ground, and keep our little one safe and secure. This does all of those things extremely well.<\/p>\n

\"ESCAPE-3-quarter_WITH_HOOD_2000x2000<\/a>Phil and Teds Escape<\/h3>\n

Recommended price:<\/strong> \u00a3169
\nWeight:<\/strong> 3kg<\/p>\n

Child\u2019s Seatbelt:<\/strong> The child\u2019s shoulder strap is a circular, over-the-head stretchy foam circle, which clicks in on a big solid buckle at the chest. This can feel a little like squeezing her head though, although it is pretty stretchy. Extremely secure once in. Child seat height is adjustable.<\/p>\n

Carry comfort<\/strong>: The lightest offering here, I found this very comfortable, but for mum it was still a shade too long in the back, even at it\u2019s shortest setting. There\u2019s less padding here, so for those of us who are used to stripped down rucksacks, that lightweight feeling is a real boon \u2013 others may prefer more lumber support. <\/p>\n

Storage:<\/strong> Small stretchy side pockets and a small base unit mean there\u2019s less volume available overall, although as I\u2019ve explained earlier, I don\u2019t see this as an issue. There\u2019s still ample for the baby\u2019s kit, and once she\u2019s in your knees will thank you for not piling on the excess weight. There\u2019s a small, detachable rucksack for the little one to carry when she\u2019s willing and able, and a single hip belt pocket for the adult. The other side has a small mirror in a slip pocket.<\/p>\n

Other Features:<\/strong> The click rest doesn\u2019t look like much at all, but it\u2019s actually very stable. The unit packs very well into a cupboard or car boot. It comes with a sun\/rain cover, a mirror and a changing mat discretely tucked into a secret zipped compartment, well designed and included in the price. It does need more of a pillow for the little one to have a nap comfortably, but the child\u2019s neck is well supported by adjustable side panels.<\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> If the back length works for you, don\u2019t be put off by of the \u2018urban\u2019 flavoured marketing in favour of something more \u2018outdoorsy\u2019 – this is an excellent unit: lightweight, bulk free and good value. It was my personal favourite of all those we tried, closely followed by the Deuter, but ultimately wasn\u2019t the best choice for us as a family because of the back sizing.<\/p>\n

\"Lintern-02327\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Our ideal child carrier?<\/h2>\n

It would have the child\u2019s shoulder straps, hip belt and weather roof of the Osprey, the bulk and weight of the Phil and Ted\u2019s, the mirror and detachable rucksack from the Littlelife, the single-parent-operated retractable click rest and child\u2019s head support from the Vaude, and the parent carry comfort of the Deuter. The fact that we ended up favouring the Deuter shows that features, whilst interesting, are ultimately less important than function and comfort. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you want to get off the flat and up the hills with your wee one, a child carrier is called for. But which one? David Lintern and family take a look… The adage \u2018try before you buy\u2019 is never more true than with child carriers \u2013 they are relatively expensive, have differing features, and a relatively small window of use before your little one isn\u2019t so little anymore \u2013 so you want to get it right. And a bit like rucksacks \u2013 even if you find a retailer that stocks a variety of these to compare them properly in…<\/span> <\/p>\n

Read more ›<\/div>\n

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