Best Child Carrier for our family.
Pros:
Well designed, well executed.
Cons:
Due to its higher price, not many retailers floor this product.
The Bottom Line:
Just walking around the duck pond on the weekends? You don't need it. Hiking hard in the hills? Go get one.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
As with most product purchases...it's not until you own it that you really understand if you like it or not. Luckily for us, we chose wisely with the Deuter Kid Comfort III.
Living in the bay area of California we have many retailers carrying most of the popular brands of kid-carriers. I spent a good bit of time inspecting most of them (Kelty, REI, Sherpani...etc) for fit, workmanship and of course price. After review, there was no question which one seemed preferable for us...at least on paper.
Our family is active outdoors, long hikes up and down hills on tight trails are common. Come summer, hike-in camping trips are the norm. If your needs are less, then certainly the other child carriers will suffice.
As I've learned from other backpacks, fit, weight balance, and comfort are essential for long term enjoyment. The KCIII has an easily adjustable system with a fully vented back pad. The result is an extremely comfortable, cool fit for Mom or Dad (pack mule). All straps, webbing and clips are top-quality and well-stitched. Lifting handles are comfortable and strong.
But let's not forget the little one. The child's floating, padded harness and easily adjustable saddle make for a quick, but stable fit. The quick-release, side entry is brilliant...allowing for easy loading and unloading of your child. The soft, washable chin pad allows for a comfortable resting place for your napping drooler. The smartly designed, one-piece sun shade deploys easily (from its cleanly-designed storage) and remains in place via two shock cords. Ample storage for baby gear and and adult snacks are well designed into the back of the pack. Side mesh pockets are within easy reach for smaller items. Finally, a well-designed vertical pocket exists directly behind the adult's harness for an optional H20 bladder. The right shoulder strap has a clamp included for your drinking hose for those hot day hikes.
All said, this Ferrari of child carriers has the "necessary" features of a quality pack without all the silly "bells and whistles" of some other brands. Other carriers have many "ad-ons" like sun shades, which aren't integrated into the pack. If it's not attached, I'll lose it. It's sized reasonably well to fit onto tighter hiking trails. It's not cheap, but I know we'll use the heck out of it...and therefor, worth the money.
