8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Deuter Kangakid (Alpine) 2006 - Baby Carrier / Backpack
Date of Review: Mar 2, 2006
The Bottom Line: Highly recommend this pack for many reasons ** but caution that no stand = difficult to get on and off with the weight your baby inside. Takes strength & practice.
I just tried out this backpack / kid carrier by Deuter (a trusted manufacturer of hiking gear) and while I like it a lot when it is on and I am hiking, I have mixed feelings about it.
Positives: Good construction, lightweight, very good storage capacity, well padded for wearer, straps hold baby in tightly, baby sits very close against your body, takes very little space to store (think easy airplane carry on.)Holds a total of 15kg /about 33lbs ( that is total weight including baby & gear).
Challenges: Without a friend /partner to help me, this pack was very difficult for me to get on and off alone. With the weight of a squirmy baby inside, because of its soft bottom design/no stand or other tripod/base to help stabilize it, It was hard for me to find a way to put baby in, get him buckled up and then keep him upright while I tried to swing the pack on. This maneuver took quite a bit of practice and the help of a very patient little one.
I would still recommend it but strongly caution that if you are not terribly strong to heft it over your shoulders with a squirmy baby inside, or have someone to help you, that it might be better to wait for this one until your child can help by standing up/balancing on their own. It also takes practice.
No Sun/Rain shade available.
Storage Information:
1) Two Side Mesh Pockets: for water/toys on the outside mesh pockets. 2) Two easy access pockets on the outer back side:Upper - can zip two good size oranges into it.
Lower - Med size with a mesh area toward the front and the rest of pocket is divided by nylon wall in case you need it divided. 3) Main Compartment: Has small separate nylon zipper area at top to secure keys/wallet etc. Extremely roomy interior - narrower at the top but opens out to hold a lot more toward the bottom.
Kid Compartment:
Well padded. Shoulder straps seemed a bit narrow to me but it did not seem to bother my baby much. Seat area is well padded for child's hips and it has a fairly wide lap/midsection belt to help hold baby in securely. Baby is situated right up against your back and sort of leans in toward your shoulders. Baby must be able to sit up very well on his/her own because there is no headrest or other padding to help brace his/her head when they are in it. No foothold/ footrest for baby because there is no frame for baby to wedge feet against, but dangling/kicking feet are not problematic for short hauls/hikes.
Great for Short Torso:
I am 5'7" but have a short torso and the Kelty designs I loved but their frames kept hitting me too low to be comfortable on uphill hikes. This product fits my body great and the center of gravity is better for me because baby is right against my body. It's kind of like a Baby Bjorn for the back. The pack is also very comfortably padded for the wearer in the lower/lumbar belt and the scapula/shoulder/upper back area.
If I can just get better at the on-off, it could be great for walks, shopping, etc. I would still use a frame design for longer/ all day hikes and camping trips.
The compact size and soft design makes it a great take along for a baby on the go, air travel, bus/ferry/train travel.
