Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

If you are a serious hiker, i.e. you intend to take your baby on hikes of more than a few miles on a regular basis, this is the pack for you. Yes, it is priced like the Bentley of baby carrier backpacks, but your body and your child will find it well worth the cost. Relative to a good internal frame expedition backpack, the price is not out of line. I originally tried an older Kelty model with my 6-month old on a 3-mile hike, and my back was killing me for weeks afterward because all the weight was on my shoulders, and the center of mass was very far back. In contrast, the Deuter feels like my regular internal frame pack except that the load sometimes moves around, grabs me with its little hands, kicks me with its feet, and cries when it is hungry or tired. The suspension is essentially the same as with an internal frame pack; it has a thick sturdy belt and shoulder straps, a partially elastic sternum strap, and load adjusters on the belt and shoulder straps to pull the weight forward and taut. The hydration pouch is well-placed, and small pockets on the hip belt can hold the included mirror and a small wallet or phone and keys. Other pockets on the back and sides are large enough to hold diapers, clothing, snacks, etc. I even strapped a sleeping bag underneath. The sun shade is great not only to protect from UV but also to keep branches from hitting the passenger. My son is now 8 months old and has weathered numerous day hikes and an overnight backpacking trip in the Deuter. He seems quite comfortable in the pack, enough to have fallen asleep several times during longer hikes. I am 5 feet 3 inches, and the pack fits fine.

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

I just wanted to say thank you! We bought this pack for our 16 month old son prior to our trip to Spain. We did our research and decided that based on its specs, it was the one for us. We were never disappointed! Miles apon miles of walking during our 21 days in Spain and our son loved it and we loved being free to take pictures. No way this could be done with a stroller. We never heard a whimper, when he was tired, he simply fell asleep.

The waistband pockets served perfectly as a wallet for our Euros and storage for our GPS, the multiple rear pockets served as the perfect diaper bag. So we were never without an ample amount of drinks, snacks and diapers for him. But more importantly, even with all the extra items (pockets are BIG), the load bearing system is remarkable!

A definite must for any active family… beats the stroller any day of the week as our mobility was never limited and he could see EVERYTHING!

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

We love this carrier and used it in the airport and the rainforests of Costa Rica. We initially purchased the Sherpani Rumba online because it looked like the best one, but I couldn't make it comfortable enough for myself at 5'3" and it seemed really bulky. We spent almost an hour at REI and ended up with the Dueter because it was far superior to the rest. Here's how: This one is MUCH easier to get the child in and out. The kick stand lies back against your body instead of sticking out like the Kelty and Sherpani, knocking everything over. The bottom portion is more like a chair and very comfortable for the child. Our 2yr old's legs hang much more naturally in this one. The large cushioned head rest is just right for long naps. It is very easy to adjust from myself to my 6'2" husband and equally comfortable to both of us. Our 5 yr old can even fit in it for short rides and says it's quite comfortable. We did use the convenient hydration pocket and found the other compartments roomy and useful, although, it would be nice to have a removable day pack.
I did not want to pay that much for the carrier, but the splurge has absolutely paid off. Sometimes you really get what you pay for.

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

I did a lot of research on hiking child carriers and learned that a Deuter would be the best choice. I decided on the Kid Comfort III instead of the II because of the built-in sunshade and the chin pad. Other reviewers had many complaints about the packs without built-in shades, and I can tell you that being able to zip the III's shade away is nice! One less accessory to store! I've never used a hiking backpack before and I was a little worried of overall weight distribution. I have back issues and constantly pinch nerves/muscles but have had no problems with this pack. My son also loves being in the pack and never complains during a walk. He has fallen asleep and the chin pad worked great! He even stayed asleep in it for 30 more minutes after I got home and took off the pack. The child seat is also great...I didn't like the sling-type seats of other brands. This pack is ergonomically correct for both of us! Love it!

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

We originally had a Kelty Trek backpack. It always felt like the suspension was off and was not comfortable for myself or my 6 month old. I decided to invest in the Kid Comfort III. This pack is great. The entire unit is very easy to adjust. You can switch between parents of different heights within 2 minutes. In the Kelty, my son would fall asleep and his head would fall forward against the frame stays. The Deuter has a removable/padded chin rest for him to sleep against. The seat is also very comfortable for him. The sun/rain shield is incorporated into the seat and is very easy to get out, set up and return when not in use. This is the only frame child carrier I could locate with a hydration pocket - essential for summer months and hikes. You do need to manually pull in the kickstand, but I do not find this difficult. I use this pack for trips to the zoo, parks, hikes and other longer activities. I use a soft carrier for shorter trips to the grocery store. This pack is worth the money!!

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

I took my large 6-month-old to try on all the different child carriers, and this one is the best. We first purchased the REI brand child carrier because it seemed comfy and was on sale, but after using it on one trip had to return it because it was uncomfortable for my son when he falls asleep. It probably would have been fine for a toddler, but we wanted something we could use now for my baby (we are done with the front carriers like baby bjorn; he's just too heavy). This Deuter III carrier is comfy for him at all times -- awake or asleep, and has tons of room to grow. We have not gone any further than hiking 3 miles at a time, but he loves it, and it's comfy for the wearer too. It has fabulous features that make the price more palatable. You don't have to purchase a separate canopy, it has a soft pillow for sleeping on, the wide seat is better than others, the water bladder area is great, and there is great storage space in the back). It doesn't pack down very small, but neither do any of the other carriers we looked at. It doesn't have a removable daypack, but after trying the REI carrier that had a removable daypack we decided it wasn't a useful feature and adds unnecessary weight.

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

I tried several packs before settling on this one, including models from Sherpani, Kelty, and REI. This one was the most comfortable for myself and, it seems, my 8 month old. It is extremely well engineered and constructed. The stand is very stable and feels safe. Everything is easily adjustable for baby or adult, and I love the little details like the removable chin rest, the rear-view mirror, and of course the Deuter bear. The head rest will be great for longer hikes and likewise, the soft tush cush seat seems much more comfortable than those with a suspended harness. I think this will be much easier on him for long days on the trail. We are a tall family, so not sure how it would feel for those who are more petite, but I think this pack is more comfortable than my regular pack (an Osprey). I will definitely look to Deuter for any future pack purchases. For those of you looking for something to use on occassional shorter hikes, the Kid Comfort II has all of the great Deuter basics and is a little more compact.

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

I'm 6'5"/225lb and finding a pack that fits well is a challenge. This pack fits my torso great. Was a bit apprehensive at first to spend this much but the REI employee highly recommended this pack. First hike was eleven miles and it did great to put the weight on my hips. Nice padding! My legs carried all the weight and my back was not sore the next day. My son (7mo at the time) enjoys riding/sleeping in this pack. The rain/sun cover does it's job well. Cargo area and pockets hold everything for a comfortable day out. 5-point harness keeps my son in place. Child area is padded well as well. Kick stand is great. Also room for your hydration bladder. Nice handles for getting the pack on your back. There is another on the back surface so another person can help you get the pack up. Excellent pack. Would easily recommend to friends/family.

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

My husband, my son, and I all love this pack! Because I am 5' tall and my husband is closer to 6', we have a hard time fitting us both. A lot of the time, we have to compromise on our gear. Not this time; this pack fits us both! The pack has enough torso and tightening adjustments so we both get a great fit. The shoulder straps and back padding are comfortable and breathable. There is a place to put my hydration reservoir, which is important on long hikes. The pack has a ton of storage space for my gear, as well as all the things needed to keep our son happy on the trail. Our 10-month old rides in style, with ample cushioning, ventilated padding, and integrated sun-shade. He's been hiking in a chest pack since he was 2 months old, so he thinks his new ride rocks!

Comments about Deuter Kid Comfort III Child Carrier:

This is absolutely the best pack out there. We tried every pack at REI and our 9 month old son cried in every one. We reluctantly put him in the Deuter (because of the price) and he not only smiled, he laughed the whole time.

The seat makes all of the difference in the world.

Yes, it is a lot of money, but it was money well spent after we went on our first hike and heard him giggle (then fall asleep) the whole way.