Customer Reviews

KangaKid(2010)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We purchased this pack for our trip to Switzerland with our 8-month old. We loved this pack. The bag itself can hold all the diaper bag essentials and more. When baby isn't riding the harness zips out of sight. The bag is a little short for long torsos which can make the weight distribution a little uncomfortable, but still a good pack. Our baby likes riding up high and has napped in this as well. The pack rides high on your back so it can look a bit odd when there is no child in it since regular backpacks sit much lower.

We bought this pack for a trip to South America which included a cruise. While on our trip the backpack portion served as our diaper bag and we used the carrier when we were in situations where a stroller was not appropriate. My 13 month old son loved being able to see everything and I loved knowing he was safe as we got on and off of boats and traversed rough terrain. We also have a full size carrier pack, but we end up using this more because of it's storage capacity and smaller size. I would highly recommend, especially for airline travel.

We purchased this pack for a trip for a trip to Europe and walking my older child to school. My son was two when he started riding in the pack and well over three when I insisted he was too big to ride anymore--he would still be in it today if he could. The child carriage is safe and secure--I've seen a four-month old enjoying hikes and never worried about my son slipping out of the sides or top. The storage offers plenty of room for what you need for a day--diapers, snacks, water--and works as a great pack even without children. My husband and I could easily adjust the pack to fit and could smoothly transition while walking, no extended stops required. This made traveling through airports much easier for me--while I had to take my son out for security checks every time, he'd go right back in and I never had to worry about him wandering in a foreign airport. The pack made him feel much more secure--he could see the action and interact with adults from the safety of our backs. We not only used the pack for trips, it was in daily use walking my daughter to and from school everyday. Like I said, my son would still ride in the pack if he could. I have tried a variety of carriers over the years (Bjorn, hip sling, baby sling, kanga kid, strollers) and when we travel with young children, the sling and kanga kid are must haves.

I quickly turned into a Deuter fan using their cycling packs, and have since purchased their packs for skiing, general hydration, and, of course, carrying our son (who is just now outgrowing his KangaKid as he approaches 2 years old!). Heck, we liked this pack so much we decided to have another baby! :)

Anyhow, this pack is a diaper bag on steroids. My wife and I will typically pack an outer layer of clothing, a handful of diapers and wipes, a light lunch for us as well as food and milk for the boy, his extra layers of clothes, and then a compact camera and other personal items.

Besides the kid carrying portion, there are separate zippered compartments: a big main compartment, a smaller fanny pack-sized compartment, and an even smaller wallet/key/cell phone sized section. And of course there are the elastic/mesh side pockets for bottles, hats, dirty diapers tucked inside plastic shopping bags.

The kid carrying section is very secure, with a shoulder harness, a lap belt, and cinch straps on the sides to ensure Junior stays pressed tight to my back.

The straps for me are wonderful: a generously padded waist belt to lift the load off my shoulders, tension-adjustable shoulder straps that ensure they don't bite into my shoulders, and an elastic chest strap to keep the shoulder straps from sliding their way off.

Getting a squirmy infant into this contraption is a bit comical, and should be practiced whilst sitting on a cushy bedroom matress. Once the kid is loaded and secured, the pack becomes quite top-heavy while slinging it across my shoulders. This, unfortunately, is the case with the other baby carriers I've used, and is all about technique and supporting the child's weight near the bottom of their torso while performing this maneuver. It's easy to become proficient at, and a second person is nice (though not necessary!). Like I say, practice a few times on the matress while gaining experience and confidence.

I might point out that, unlike other Deuter packs, this one is intended to have a limited life span (max child weight of about 30 pounds, says Deuter). So, unlike a backpack you might use until it dies, many owners only keep these for a couple of years before getting rid of them **Hint, Hint** (sorry, Amazon).

(Update 6/13/11): just wanted to mention that I crammed out 2 year 2 months boy back into this for a 2 mile walk yesterday. I didn't think he was going to fit but his weight is still right at Deuter's 30-pound max; his height is 34 inches. He was a tight fit -- I needed to loosen all the seatbelt straps to the max and he was a little hesitant to get in, but after a little complaining and once I had him on my back he was having a good ol' time we probably had our best trip ever.

(Update 9/4/11): Our oldest is now 2 years 5 months, still 30 pounds but now 37 inches, and still fits. We loaded the pack with lunch, diapers, three small blankets, various hats, a full box of wipes and the usual variety of "stuff" and set out on a short hike with no intention of carrying anybody in the pack. But our route took a turn for the adventurous and, well... I'm glad we had it with us. This was unquestionably the fullest load I've carried yet (kid & gear combined).