Tough Traveler Kid Carrier: He Ain't Heavy...He's My Son

Well, actually he IS heavy. That's why we stopped using our cherished front carrier and purchased the Tough Traveler Kid Carrier about four years ago our son was 4 months old. We selected Tough Traveler because we like to hike and we wanted something that would be comfortable for both us and our son during day hikes. The Gerry backpacks we looked at just didn't seem to provide enough support for the baby and enough padding for the adult.

Tough Traveler has several (five?) different models to chose from. We selected the Kid Carrier because it was the less expensive of the heavy-duty models (cheaper than the Stallion). It's still not cheap, though ($150).

What We Like About the Tough Traveler Kid Carrier

I used to do a lot of backpacking BK (before kids) so I'm familiar with the desirable features in a regular backpack. I was immediately impressed with the fact that the Kid Carrier also had some of these features, as well as some useful features for the child. Some of these are:

~Plethora of adjustable straps: The Kid Carrier has adjustable shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and a hip belt that adjusts in both overall width and tightness over the hips with two mini-straps. I always cinch these down tight because it keeps the weight on the hips and off of my shoulders and back. There is a center adjustable height strap so the pack can be easily adjusted to adults of different heights - nice for us since I'm 5'2"; and my husband is 6'.

~Quick release buckles: Both the hip belt and the sternum strap can be easily unbuckled with one hand.

~Well-padded straps: The shoulder straps and hip belt are well-padded so the straps don't cut into you.

~Safety harness for the child: The harness for the child goes over both of the kid's shoulders and across their waist. When tightened properly, the harness will hold the child in the pack, even if the adult falls or trips over a log (been there - done that). However, adjusting the harness straps is not the easiest task, especially when the child is in the pack, so we've often failed to tighten these as much as we probably should. The seat for the child is also adjustable for larger toddlers or smaller babies.

~Sturdy collapsible stand: It's easy to load and unload the kid from the pack because it has a built-in stand. We've never had trouble with our kids falling over in the stand but I wouldn't ever walk out of reach in case they thrash about and knock it over. When you put on the pack, you can collapse the stand against the pack so it doesn’t stick out and catch on branches or hit unsuspecting bystanders in the face.

~Generous storage compartment: The Kid Carrier comes with a large zippered compartment on the back beneath the child's seat that can hold diapers, bottles, lunch, hats, camera, sweaters, etc. We've crammed an amazing amount of stuff in this pouch.

~Optional rain/sun hood: We purchased this shield and have used it a fair number of times. It forms an arch over the child's head and blocks out the rain and/or sun - theoretically. However, it really only works if the rain/sun is coming straight down because the hood does not provide much coverage on the sides. Our kids always seemed to want to lean to one side, maybe because it was easier to see, so we had to also use hats to protect them. When not in use, the hood can be easily dismantled and stored in the bottomless pit of the storage pouch.

~Optional diaper bag/day pack: Tough Traveler sells an optional daypack that you can strap on to the back of the Kid Carrier if you need to carry even more junk than you can fit in the storage compartment. If you feel the need to carry that much stuff on a day hike, you should either learn to be more selective in what you pack (leave the laptop at home) or get a pack mule.

Our Experience With the Tough Traveler Kid Carrier

We've used the Kid Carrier for babies as young as 4 months (not recommended for younger than that) and for kids as old as 4 years. The weight limit on the pack is 45 lbs., though I'm not sure why anyone would want to carry that much weight. My son weighed less than 40 lbs. the last time he rode in it and it was hard on his Dad's back - I wouldn't even consider carrying him.

At 4 months, our son could barely peek out of the side of the seat but he still seemed to enjoy the ride. I started using the Kid Carrier with my youngest son when he was about 4 months old, too, and he loved it. We clip on of his teething toys to the loop in front of him so he can have something to play without worrying about him dropping it. All of our kids have liked being up high in the backpack and being able to see everything. We've never had a child complain or fuss in the Kid Carrier - mostly they just fall asleep.

It's best to get some help in putting the pack on and taking it off, though I have done both many times on my own without trouble. I find the Kid Carrier very comfortable, except when I tried to carry my 18 month old daughter when I was 7 months pregnant (I know - what was I thinking?). For obvious reasons, I could not fasten the hip belt and therefore all of her weight was on my back and shoulders. I barely made it a block. My husband does not like the Kid Carrier as much as the Stallion (larger pack) because he feels like even at its longest adjustment it's just not quite long enough for his torso.

One problem you should be aware of is that the aluminum frame can rub against the child's leg and leave a blackish mark on their pants or skin. Our daughter's white boots were permanently stained from her riding in this pack. The two white labeled straps on both sides of the pack can be loosened if you want to completely collapse the backpack for storage. However, you don’t want it collapsing with your child in it so you need to make sure you tighten these straps before you put your child in the pack. The white labels provide a warning about this hazard.

Do I Recommend This Child Carrier?

Yes. Overall, I've been very pleased with the Kid Carrier. We've had it for over 4 years and it hasn't shown any signs of wear. We've taken it on some long day hikes but mostly we just use it to walk around town. You don't have to be a hard-core hiker to use this pack though, if you are, you'll definitely appreciate it.