Kelty hikers

[BeantownBaby9]

can anyone tell me about Kelty hikers for kiddos, especially the older models of "town" and "summit"? we are an avid babywearing family, and want to do some good hiking in NH this summer, and want a really sturdy carrier. any help or comment would be appreciated. TIA!

[hikingmommy]

REI has a good selection of frame backpacks. We bought a Sherpani and have been happy with it. A nice feature of it is that you can adjust the length of the back while you're hiking - good if you and your partner and different torso lengths. It also has a lot of cargo space, stirrups for baby's feet, and a sun visor and rain cover. I'd suggest going to REI (you, your partner, and your kid) and trying on the different models. Find a salesperson who knows what they're talking about and check out the different features. Backpacker magazine has reviewed some - you may be able to find the reviews on their website.

REI is currently having their 20% off sale for members, too!

[alittledeer]

My husband and I went to REI as well and bought one of their own REI models. I forget the name of it. It was super comfortable for both of us, had pouches for sippy cups and a detachable mini backpack as well as a rain guard. It is super sturdy and well built and my son loved it. He fit in it from about 6 months until last summer when he was 2.5! He's also SUPER tall for his age and weighs bout 36 lbs now.

[DaughterOfKali]

I saw some Kelty (and REI) hikers at Kid 2 Kid in Natick.

[jjawm]

We have an older version Kelty we're trying to get rid of - too bad you're in Boston. That said, they hold up really well.

[fyrwmn]

we have one of the newer model kelty's and we barely use it. i *think* dh may have used it two or three times. it looks like a regular backpack but opens up and has a carrier built in, plus a zip off small backpack. honestly, i much prefer the ergo. it is so much more comfortable for me! i'm still comfy carrying dd (3yr) now at 7 months pg. btw, i'm in nh and quite jealous that you're going to get to do a bunch of hiking. i think we're taking this summer off what with having a baby this june and all.

[eloise24]

We use our Kelty ALL the time (older model) and love it. Fits us well (we're short) and is comfy. DD loves being able to see out of it. She's still quite comfy in it at 14 months (and about 19 pounds).

[LeslieB]

I've been using a Sherpani Rumba for a few years now and LOVE it. It's been on a lot of hikes and is still going strong.