question about backpacks

~Roo'sMama~ wrote: I'm looking for a good framed back pack carrier for our camping trip next month ~ our budget is kind of low so I'm looking for used ones on ebay, and I've found some nice Kelty Kids ones. Has anyone ever had one of these? Or another brand that you thought was good? Dh found some on ebay - the brand was Tough Traveler - but I didn't think they looked as nice as the Kelty ones. TIA!

coasterqueen replied: Are you specifically wanting a backpack? What about a sling? That's what I used with Kylie and so did Dh. It's what I hope to use with Megan as well when we go on our camping trip next month.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Yeah we want a backpack - we have a snugli front and back carrier and I don't want to use that for this - it's not a very good one and it's never been really comfortable for me. I hadn't thought about a sling... he's so big. How does that even work with an older baby?

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Well my dh found a really nice Kelty Back Country on ebay for just exactly what we had to spend - it was buy it now only so I got it. I hope it's as good as it looks - there was only one review on it on epinions but it was a really good one so here's hoping. It has a sunshade and that was one of the things I really wanted.

coasterqueen replied:
They work more like a hip pack. I'll see if I can find some pics of Kylie in one. She was 8 months at the time we went camping, but I slung her til she was 2 years old.

BTW, you can make your own sling. DH made both of ours.

Jamison'smama replied: I have good friends who LOVE their Kelty. They still use it with their 2 year old.

I love my sling but my DH prefers a back pack. Jack sits in the backpack when DH works in the yard every weekend.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Karen I'd love to see some pics of Kylie in the sling. I wanted to make a sling when Roo was a little baby but just never did ~ it would be cool to make one and try it now... it would never hurt to have both on the camping trip either. I'd really like one for the next baby too.

Brenda I'm glad to hear your friends like their Kelty - I don't know anyone who has one but they look really nice and get good reviews. I get a little nervous buying something I don't know much about on ebay.

coasterqueen replied: Here's some we had on our website.

This one is Kylie on the hip in the sling w/Dh. She was about 7 or 8 months here.


Another one:


One of me and her


I have many more of her older, but only have hard copies in albums. But you can see how Ryan held her on his hip. That is the slings he made for us. Very cheap. I held her on the hip as she got older in it all the time.

Jamison'smama replied: Great pictures Karen. I love that your DH makes the slings. Does he make other things?

mammag replied: We have a Kelty Kids backpack that I got with Conner and still have and use with Keegan. We love it! We bought the diaper bag attachment for the back. You can even buy an umbrella like cover to attach if you ever want to do that. They are very sturdy and I found it much more comfortable than a front carrier when they are older. Just make sure you adjust it properly so that it is higher on your waist because it makes it so much easier on your back.

DH even used it a few weeks ago to cut the grass while I was gone with the other kids. He loves being in it also.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
The one I ordered has the cover thing with it - I'm glad of that because Andrew has really fair skin and I'm worried about him getting sunburned while we're hiking. It doesn't have the removable bag though - I'm going to look into ordering one.
I'm glad you like yours - I'm getting more and more confident that we got the right one. I almost bought one by Baby Thyme last week off of ebay, but decided to wait because I couldn't find any reviews or anything about them. Now I'm glad I waited.

Karen I love those pictures! Kylie looks so cute in the sling. That's so neat that Ryan made your sling too. How did he make it? I should make one too to bring along just in case.

coasterqueen replied: Brenda & Sara,

Dh's mother taught him to sew when he was a little kid. His mother sews beautifully and DH does a pretty good job himself. He only sewed those because he was being too cheap to go out and buy 2 regular slings. I asked him if he'd make me a new one recently and he told me to beg his mom to do it. He can sew just about anything but he chooses not too. Darn for me!

Sara I got the pattern for the sling off of Kellymom's site. If you do a search on her site you should find it.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Sara, I'm sure you will be happy with the Kelty! We bought one about a year ago for Wil, but we ended up buying the REI brand instead. They had both the Kelty and the REI and the only difference really was comfort. I found the REI more comfortable on ME, but DH was undecided. So it really all depends on the fit for your frame. I felt a little too top-heavy in the Kelty, but both were very good makes. Good luck! Again, I'm sure you'll be happy with it!

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
We've had it for about a week and so far we love it. The only thing that's weird is that the most comfortable fit for both Dh and me is the have the torso thing on the lowest setting... I guess we most just both have short torsos. Oh well it's comfortable anyways - Dh wore it a few days ago when we went on an hour long walk and he said it was still comfy by the time we got home.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: I just saw this but wanted to chime in I have a Kelty backpack which I LOVE. I found it brand new at a consignment shop still with tags and got it $100 off. I was still comfortably carrying Matt in it when we went hiking back in December (pre pregnancy) and he was 32 lbs. then. I am sure I will be able to use it on him again afer I no longer have the big lumpo in front that is currently getting n the wa of buckeling Dh has a cheaper one (got it at BRU but don't remember which one) and I think my Kelty one is far superior. With the sun shade thing on it also helps hold their heads up if they fall asleep. Have fun camping

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Oh that's cool - we haven't tried it with the sun shade yet. He fell asleep in it the last time we used it and his head was practically hanging over the front of it. I'm thinking about making a way to stick a little pillow on there when he falls asleep.

I'm glad to hear of another who loves their Kelty. I think we made a good choice.