Family Travel Forum - Child Carriers for Your Precious Backpack Passengers

One of the biggest concerns in traveling with kids is "pack horse" issues -- how to carry them, their stuff and yours, through cities, airports, trains, and planes. Here is our take on child carriers -- the special backpack worn by adults with a child inside.

Lightweight back carriers are adequate for infants who can sit upright, 4-8 months old, weighing up to 20 pounds.

For extended periods of walking with a child 20-50 pounds, you will want the semi-pro backpack carriers. These have serious shoulder straps with ample waist belts (which carry most of the weight), and the ability to customize the straps for a comfortable fit. There are straps to hold the child in place in a padded compartment, some storage space, and a folding leg to keep the pack upright when off your back.

IN THE CITY OR IN THE MOUNTAINS: BACKPACK CHILD CARRIERS

Many Family Travel Forum experts agree that Tough Traveler (800/GO-TOUGH) takes the day. Their backpack components are the most comfortable and the easiest to adjust. They are designed to slip on effortlessly with your child inside. (If there is no elevated flat surface, this can be a tricky task.) Their child compartment also offers the best ride and child protection. The Tough Traveler carriers fold into a fairly flat profile for travel and have an ample storage area beneath the seat. There are seven models ranging in price from $107 to $199. They are available at some camping stores, some kid-stuff stores, and direct from the manufacturer.

URBAN WARRIORS

Backpack child carriers have come a long way since their infancy a decade ago. Not gone, but supplemented, are the primary-colored nylon rucksacks which made urban trekkers feel clumsy and out of place on sidewalks. Today, many child carriers sturdy enough to carry infants from about 15 lbs. to 40 lbs. are also smart, stylish and chic: witness Tough Traveler’s Colt, one of the prettiest and most compact of the newer breed.

Whether you're visiting the animals at the Dublin Zoo, checking out "David" at the Accademia del'Arte, or maneuvering your way through the O'Hare Airport, you'll be thankful for this traveler's helper. The Colt ($130) is designed so your child can see the sights, but the worst thing curious little hands can explore is their sherpa's hair and earlobes. The carrier does take its toll, but having your young one snuggled safely on your back frees up a hand for your older child to hold. This is a nice feature if your children are too far apart in age for a double stroller.

A nice-size, detachable pouch under the child seat is perfect for a couple of diapers and some travel wipes and there are loops attached to the carrier for clipping on your child's favorite toy. At 28" x 15" x 5" it's compact enough when folded to fit in an overhead bin, even with the new carry-on restrictions. Style always seems to have its price: the Colt's suede-like finish is washable but not as easy to clean as the old nylon models. One parent found the optional umbrella – sunshade attachment frustrating to assemble and a bit claustrophobic.

Writes Steve Ramkissoon, "In New York City, where every shopping isle is narrow and strolling is as strenuous as exercising, we found the backpack brought relief. We were constantly concerned about cigarettes and sharp items being at eye-level with our daughter, Dylan, as we strolled down crowded streets, so now we enjoy family outings more due to her high vantage point. She too, enjoys riding on daddy’s back to enjoy an unblocked view. And since strollers are not made for men or anyone taller than 5'7’',’I take the Tough Traveler with us even on vacation.

Writes Daphne Gil D'Agostino, "A great product. My only real complaint is a difficult customer service department, but enough improvements have been added for you not to have to deal with them."

Tough Traveler also produces the fully adjustable Filly and Stallion models. According to Tough Traveler spokesperson Nancy Gold, "We are known for being able to fit the tiniest adults (under 5') up to the biggest (6'6").

TRAIL HIKERS

Parents who intend to actually hike with toddlers strapped to their backs should consider long-time outdoors supplier, Kelty, whose line of child carriers are priced from $100-$275. As important as good boots, hikers need a carrier with more padding for themselves and the child, more flexibility in the child seat suspension system, and an upgraded load distribution system to accommodate the child's weight. Real pluses are adjustable shoulder, torso and waist straps to accommodate different size sherpas, and adjustable harnesses and seat buckets to accommodate growing children. Each element costs more money, so committed hikers will want to shop with their precious cargo and try on various models to determine the best fit for their needs. (We recommend you bring a partner to assist in this process.)

The Kelty Wanderer ($140) is the lightest of their rugged ripstop nylon models, weighing in at under 6 lbs. with a removable pouch and light mesh back panel to reduce heat for the wearer. Parents seeking more back support should consider the Journey ($160). The variety of adjustable straps and load distributors, placed to accommodate a taller adult, make it more comfortable for longer walks or for carrying bigger kids.

Madden Mountaineering offers The Rumba (www.kidssource.com, $220) for long distance hikers, with 2800-cubic inches of storage housed in detachable packs. The Caravan's enhanced internal frame makes it extremely comfortable, and possible to carry a combined child/cargo weight of 70 lbs. on overnight expeditions. Best are the attached booties, which eliminate rib-kicking from those little tootsies behind you.

ALL-PURPOSE KID TRANSPORT

Most families prefer to invest only once in a carrier suitable for a variety of activities. One popular model is The Kid Carrier (Tough Traveler, $176), a lightweight, versatile, easy to clean all-day pack suitable for urban and rural hikers. Writes Steve Ramkissoon, "By about eight months, walking our dog and strolling our daughter had become a task, but now I love taking them both out together. The five-point safety harness and very high walls for the baby make me feel secure that even if Dylan stands while we are strolling, she will not fall. Daddy also loves those pockets in the back since carrying a diaper bag is another hassle. The shoulder pads, adjustable control strap and wide hip belt all help in easing the pressure of all that weight over long periods."

Evenflo, maker of the Snugli line of soft carriers for newborns, has designed both the Cross Terrain ($100) and the Cross Country ($70) models to easily adjust to different heights, necessary if the carrier is to be used by more than one adult. Each has a five-point padded harness, mesh panel, under-seat storage space, and a canopy.

Writes Daphne Gil D’Agostino, "When my son was young I could easily travel around Chicago for hours, bopping all over town, climbing on and off busses and subway cars. I would meet people for coffee, sit sideways on a chair and never even have to take him out of his carrier, allowing him to fall asleep using the back of my head as a pillow. My daughter, a more restless spirit, sometimes tries to wiggle out of the carrier, but a five-point harness securely prevents such accidents."

MORE SOUND ADVICE

Have you thought about what you really need from a child carrier? If not, we recommend you visit the site for REI, an outfitter we'd certainly trust our kids to. When you click on their "Child Carriers" section, you'll find an article entitled "Expert Advice: How to Choose Child Carriers" which is well worth the read. While you're at the site, check out REI's own urban hiker model, The Tagalong, priced at $120, but with fewer adjustable parts and much less storage than our pick for the hip urban chick, The Colt.

And one last tip: if you're investing in a child carrier, you might as well share your child's pleasure in the ride. Peek 'n' Back (AYA Resources, www.firsttreks.com, $8) is a small, unbreakable, rear-view mirror which Velcros onto your carrier's shoulder straps to make catching that pretty smile a breeze.

Product tester Daphne Gil D'Agostino is a playwright, manager at Barnes & Noble, and mother of Devin (5) and Daelynn (19 months) in Toledo, Ohio. Product tester Steve Ramkissoon is an international auditor at the global construction management firm, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and father of Dylan (14 months) in New York City. Toni Page Birdsong is a writer and practical Mom of one in Los Angeles, CA.

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