Deuter Kid Comfort III

We were initially hesitant to purchase this pack only because it is relatively new to NA (say compared to the Kelty) and there were not a lot of reviews on it. However, it has been around Europe for a long time and we did manage to access the reviews (in German!). We have yet to take this pack on an extended trip and we will add to this review when we do.

So far we've taken short hikes (up to 2.5 hours). Our daughter is unfortunately too small to fit into this pack even though she can hold herself up well (she is currently 4 months old). The straps just remain too loose on her. The manufacturer recommends the child be able to sit on their own before using this product. Our daughter should probably fit in another month or so.

We have been hiking with another child in it -- who is 3 years old. We found it very comfortable even on uneven terrain/off trail (for example rock hopping through streams). The child loved it and had no complaints (she definitely would have complained if she would have had to hike the mountain herself!).

Adjustments are easy and there is a great compartment under the seat. We love the sun shield that is built in -- it can fold right out of the way if needed, but does not obscure the child's view even when fully up. We also have the rain cover which is great when the weather demands more protection. The child still has a reasonable view with the rain cover on. The pack is well built and the weight is very reasonable for the amount of support the pack gives.

We got this carrier for an amazing price ($222 Canadian at Mountain Equipment Coop) which is in fact cheaper than what we could find for this pack on the web in North America or in Europe! We plan on taking more extensive trips and hikes soon especially when we can put our own daughter into it!