Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Child Carrier

Bought this for a vacation last year and have since completed a few day hikes and an overnight trip on the AT with my 2 year old.The bag is solid, very adjustable and can hold a surprising amount of gear. I was able to pack my Eno Onelink hammock setup, food, diaper bag, extra clothes, bug spray, and water inside and hung my sleeping bag below the kick stand and my son’s stuffed animal off the top handle. Plus little things like my cell phone, keys, etc fit nicely in the hip pockets.My son is 35 lbs and 36+ inches at 2.5 years old and still fits nicely in the seat. Full weight with the gear was 55 lbs and the bag still felt solid and comfortable. I will continue to get more mileage even as he grows above the recommended weight limit. I think he could grow another couple inches and a few more pounds before he is too big.Only things I would add are some extra straps for hanging a sleeping pad / sleeping bag and a couple loops for poles. Nothing a carabiner, cord or zip ties can’t fix. Oh, and a rain cover.Otherwise the rain / sun hood hasn’t been too useful. I thought it was a crucial feature when buying, but I rarely have used it. Nice to have, but probably just extra weight. Might try to use it to support a bug net next time.If you are on the fence on this one, I do recommend it. It was a lot of money but after hiking with a few other people with babies I can easily say this bag provides a much more comfortable ride for the adult and child than all the others I have seen in person.

I haven't tried the other child carriers, but I have a nice Osprey and a nice Thule hiking bag, the kind with the internal frame and all the little features they have these days. I also have my old Army ALICE pack, which is honestly not terrible, but isn't comparable to these things.This Kelty is my first experience with the company. The bag is solid, looks awesome, the blue looks like faded denim rather than a flat color. The most important thing about enjoying this is to read the short manual and get it open and ready before using. If you place the shoulder straps out of the bag, have the height set, put the baby or toddler in, then latch and tighten it up, it is very easy, the child is safe and comfortable. But if you don't do that, it is too confusing to figure out on the fly with a child in the way.The weight is supported well, but not perfectly. My child hangs out the bag moving around, and it's just not the tight center that a well packed bag would have. My shoulders feel fine, my hips too, thanks to the really nice belt and shoulder straps. They are really good.There's not a ton of storage. This isn't that kind of bag. It's not even as much as my diaper bag has. But there's enough for a couple diapers, water, snacks, and a place for dirty diapers or something else. Also space for a water bag, stretchy slots for its straw, stretchy side for a thermos or water bottle. There are also feet straps. My daughter seems to like taking her feet out and playing with them with her hands. I don't really care.My daughter adores this thing. She is all smiles, singing the whole time. The only real trouble is picking the bag up with her in it, and it's not bad at all depending on your upper body strength. The kickstand is easily closed if you have long arms (I am six feet tall) but if you don't you can't reach it. To be honest, I don't think you necessarily have to close it.I get jealous looks at the park hiking around while other parents have strollers. I just seem to be having a great time. My daughter is only a couple inches over my head, but she can see enough and I don't have to worry at all about hitting her head.It's not hard to see your baby wearing this. She doesn't have any marks or really tiredness from the walks. My longest hike is six miles and it's a great workout.

This is our first hiking backpack. Our kiddo does great in this pack and my wife and I (both taller than average) find it quite easy to customize the fit for comfort. Having done multiple hikes I can say it's a great pack to go with.Pros:LightweightHydration bladder pocket with "straw" guidesEasy to custom fitComfortableExtra storageWaist pocketsCons:Price? Just kidding, this is a great price for the features.Great pack, you won't be disappointed. Also, make sure to watch the Kelty videos for proper adjustment.

This pack has been AWESOME! We were able to take the little guy out into the woods and into the mountains with ease! There's a few pockets for diapers, wipes, bottles, water, snacks, bug nets, sunscreen, and all the other things you'd need to go out for a few hours of hiking. There's even a waterproof bottom pocket for dirty diapers.Pros:Nicely balancedRuggedStorage spaceComfortable to wearPlenty of space for a kidMultiple handles to help lift it on and off your backBuilt in sun shadeSturdy kickstandCons:I'm not flexible enough to close the kickstand once I have the pack on. Either a partner will need to help close it, lean against a tree or big rock, close it prior to putting it on, or just leave it open.That's the only thing I've had issue with, and it's really not a problem.

This is a great hiking carrier. My husband has used it three times now with our 10 month old. What we like is that it’s lightweight, there is plenty of pockets, and we especially like that the seat where the baby/child sits is ergonomically correct. It positions their weight evenly across their bottom and legs. No crotch sitting like most hiking carriers. Our baby has seemed really comfortable in it!What we don’t like is that the straps should be more padded, and that this carrier is really made for an average size man or tall women. It’s a bit big on me, and I’m 5’5’ ish. We would also like it if the child seating area was removable and washable.All in all this carrier is a good one!!