Kelty K.I.D.S. FC 3.0 Frame Child Carrier

by Kelty

Product Features

• Top-of-the-line child carrier with sophisticated suspension system
• Ventilated back panel, padded shoulder straps, and contoured hip belt
• Frame and seat are covered in breathable fabric to ensure all-day comfort
• 5-point adjustable child's harness; patented sun/rain hood; zip-off diaper bag
• 50-pound load limit; measures 15 x 30 x 19 inches (W x H x D); lifetime warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Not every child carrier is tough enough to make it through a day on the trail. Thankfully, the top-of-the-line Kelty FC 3.0 passes the toughness test with flying colors, making it ideal for both a hike in the woods and a stroll to the grocery store. The FC 3.0 boasts a sophisticated suspension system with a ventilated back panel that wicks moisture away from your body, padded shoulder straps that adjust to fit all shapes and sizes, and a padded hip belt that contours to your shape. The result is unmatched comfort over the long haul. Fortunately, the carrier is just as snug for your child, with a fully padded frame and seat covered in breathable fabric to ensure all-day comfort. And thanks to the five-point adjustable child's harness, the FC 3.0 offers unparalleled security for your youngster. The carrier even includes an auto-deploy kickstand with patented No-Pinch hinges, making it a breeze to load and unload.

In addition, the FC 3.0 isn't just a single-summer investment, as its adjustable seat and custom-fit leg straps in the cockpit are designed to accommodate your child for years. It's also weather-protected, with a patented sun/rain hood that will protect your precious cargo from the elements. And parents will love the variety of handy extras, which include a changing pad, an under-seat storage compartment, toy loops, a zip-off diaper bag with shoulder straps, and a GPS/cell phone pocket. Other details include carry/lift handles, a removable, washable cockpit pad, a lightweight aluminum frame, 3M reflective tape, a waist belt storage pocket, load-lifter straps, and a sternum strap.

The FC 3.0 child carrier includes a comfortable suspension system with a ventilated back panel and padded shoulder straps.

Specifications:

• Torso fit range: 12 to 20 inches
• Body fabric: 600D poly/brushed nylon
• Maximum load weight: 50 pounds
• Volume: 1,100 cubic inches
• Dimensions: 15 by 30 by 19 inches (W x H x D)
• Weight: 7 pounds 14 ounces
• Warranty: Lifetime

About Kelty
Kelty has been building affordable, reliable outdoor gear since 1952, helping everyone--from the first-time camper to the experienced mountaineer--embrace the outdoor experience with confidence. Dick Kelty launched the company after years of making backpacks in his home or garage for friends, hand forming and welding each of the frames while his wife sewed the pack bags. The original Kelty packs included aircraft-aluminum contoured frames, padded shoulder straps, waist belts, clevis-pin attachments, nylon pack cloth, zippered pockets, and hold-open frames. Dick Kelty quit his carpentry business in 1956 to focus full time on Kelty Packs, and turned an old Glendale, California, barbershop into his first retail store and factory. In the ensuring years, Kelty expanded its product line to include daypacks, luggage, waterproof clothing, child carriers, jogging strollers, and more.

Product Description

This top-of-the-line trail-based carrier has a unique five-point, adjustable child’s harness for your youngster. This pack is easy to use and comfortable for parents and children and comes with patented technology.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 15 x 30 x 19 inches ; 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000ZC362C
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,149 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #2 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Camping Backpacks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daughter and I are impressed, December 28, 2007

By 

Tara L. McCay (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kelty K.I.D.S. FC 3.0 Frame Child Carrier (Misc.)

I've been looking for child carriers that appeared suitable for true in-the-woods hiking and which could carry supplies as well as a toddler. I'm using this pack to carry a 20lb 15 month old in Arizona and I'm impressed so far. There are multiple adjustments for different torso sizes that allows you to make sure you're carrying most of the weight on your hips. The padding is substantial and similar to what you'd see on a higher end internal frame backpack. You don't experience any pressure points if you've adjusted it correctly. Your passenger has multiple seating adjustments so you can position her high or low depending on size and to make sure her arms are free. The shoulder straps and leg straps are also very adjustable and easy to access. The kickstand pops out automatically which is very nice and has a pinch resistant rubber hinge insert to keep fingers out of the way. They did a great job in trying to cram as much storage into the pack as possible without throwing off your center of balance. There is storage under the seat suitable for lunch, water, and a first aid kit. And storage in the form of a small daypack that zips behind the seat. This is big enough for kid supplies, diapers, lunch, change of clothes. You could use this for a long day hike but there is no way you'd consider trying to carry anything more, i.e. a sleeping bag. The rain/sunhood is also a requirement in my opinion for Arizona and is easy to attach. My daughter hasn't squirmed or complained in it yet and actually tries to climb in it when she sees it in the living room. Pre-kid I've done a lot of backpacking with a variety of frame styles and now I've carried my daughter with slings, wraps, baby bjorn's and on my shoulders. In my opinion this carrier is very well designed by somebody who has done a lot of both.

68 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the same as Kelty FC3.., January 17, 2011

By 

flyboy "karlpk" (Alexandria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kelty K.I.D.S. FC 3.0 Frame Child Carrier (Misc.)

This review entails my experience with three packs. The Kelty FC3, the current FC 3.0 and the Deuter II. I originally owned the older Kelty FC3. Over the course of a year of heavy use, it began wearing out (material was tearing, and ripping, foam was coming off the internal stays). To be honest I probably put over 200 miles on this pack in all kinds of weather. Kelty agreed to replace the pack with the FC 3.0, the current model. But only after sending them pics of my old pack with the shoulder straps cut from the pack. A big mistake on my part...

The Kelty FC3 was probably the premier backpack out there when it came out. It probably still is. It fit well, the kids loved it. Getting them in and out was a little cumbersome but not too bad. Lots of little extras. The pocket on the back came off to be a separate backpack, the small mirror to see what junior was up to, the reflective piping all over the pack, the diaper pad, cupholders on the back, the all weather type hood, and the kickstand. Lots of niceties. Safety wise it was the best, with the rollbar type cockpit, that probably actually saved my son once when I took a bad fall. Any other pack and he may have been crushed.

The FC 3.0 keeps the rollbar type construction and the kickstand, but the similarities pretty well stop there.

a. The new harness assembly upper belts are not attached to the back of the pack passenger compartment but rather float on two straps in the back of the compartment. (the older model had some serious velcro here)
b. The back/sides of the passenger compartment padding are no longer attached with velcro due to the mesh sides panels. This can make them collapse while trying to insert the child.
c. The base of the open area where the childs legs hang now has mesh at the bottom, which if the childs legs are inside the mesh when he is inserted can make it next to impossible to raise his legs to get them out. Before he could just move them out if he desired. Now, you have to once again lift the child out and try to guide both legs to the outside of the mesh as you lower him( more of an issue as you child get larger).
d. The sunshield. Previously this was more of an all weather hood. Given that I am outside in all kinds of weather this was a real sell point for me. In addition to the material itself, my concerns are as follows: (this might be repetitive). The shield seems to sit about two inches lower, even with me lowering my son to a lower seat height, the shield sits on his head. If I put him any lower the sides of the pack would probably not allow him to lower his arms. The top cross piece is now manually inserted vs being sewn in. The bottom elastic of the side netting runs across my sons face. He looks like an dog in one of those airline under the seat pet carriers stuffed in there.
e. Passenger material. Initially I thought the softer material was an improvement. Now I'm not so sure. My son spends a lot of time back there eating, drinking, drooling, whatever. This stuff is lighter in color and will show stains more than the older black nylon material, and looks like it could be a real pain to clean. Only the front pad is removable for cleaning, but the entire compartment has this stuff on it.
f Lack of small details. THe old pack had the reflective piping which I was happy about as a lot of my walks end up finishing as the sun goes down, and I'm walking home. The web cup holders on the outside of the pack were very useful. The mirror was great for knowing if my son was sleeping, done drinking from his water bottle or had made a mess of the last piece of food I gave him.

Anyway,I no longer have the FC 3.0. I picked up a Deuter II to replace it. Initially I liked the Deuter. I really like the sunshield, rainhood combo which is about thirty bucks extra but well worth it. The main issues with this pack are:
a. I don't know why but the shoulder tightening straps on mine seem too short. When I take my son off I have to release the straps all the way, and even then its a challenge to get my arms out of those straps. Then when putting the pack on with the straps full released, its hard to grab them to pull tight, as I only have about an inch to do so. It's very awkward/uncomfortable.
b. The kick stand is awkward too. You need someone to push it back in or to pull it out unless your very flexible. I keep forgetting it's out there and go into places knocking over everything, when I realize it's the kickstand.
c. The frame. I love the fact that it has the side entry. However I really miss the safety of the Kelty rollbar.
d. For some reason my son hates this thing. Perhaps he spent too much time in the Kelty.

Anyway, the Deuter is gone. I managed to find a new Kelty FC2, which is the same as the FC3 on a closeout site for $99.99. It's the same as the FC3 only without the mirror, diaper pad, or all weather hood, all of which I still have anyway. My next choice was going to be Ebay for a good used FC3.

Be careful in reading the reviews for the FC 3.0. A lot of those reviews are really for the older FC3. Many 09 reviews and all the earlier reviews are for the FC3. The two packs are radically different, although similiar in appearance. I sent Kelty a lot of photos and info and they said they are looking at redesigning it again in the future. I still think they're a great company. Looks like they just tried to really cut costs on this new pack. If safety is a big concern, I still think Kelty is the way to go.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Carrier for wearer and child, July 31, 2008

By 

J.D. (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kelty K.I.D.S. FC 3.0 Frame Child Carrier (Misc.)

We wanted to get a nice backpack carrier to carry our 21-month old daughter for our upcoming trip to Montana. We were doing lots of hiking around Glacier National Park, but we also wanted it for walks around the neighborhood. We narrowed it down to the Sherpani Rumba and the Kelty FC 3.0, and bought both so we could try them out (then return the one we didn't like). I really wanted to like the Sherpani, but it was just not as comfortable as the Kelty. No matter how much adjusting I did, both my husband and I always had aching shoulders after not even an hour walk. Also, our daughter was able to wiggle halfway out of it, then would cry because she would get stuck halfway. She was just not comfortable in that pack, and would even try to avoid being put in it. Not so with the Kelty! It fits like a dream, both for the wearer and the child! Our daughter literally begs to get in it. We had some very long hikes, and she was always happy as a clam in the pack. We even wore her around the airport. She would be sitting in the airplane for hours, be tired and cranky, yet still got excited about climbing back into the Kelty carrier when we got off the plane. When adjusted correctly, you never feel the weight in your shoulders. I even walked around town for a few hours with my (at the time) 18-month old daughter in it when I was 4 months pregnant, and I didn't feel it at all until I got home. Then, I felt like I just did a 2-hour step workout, but still no shoulder pain (my legs sure did feel that I was walking around with an extra 20-30 lbs, though!).

After using this pack a lot around town (and even around the house while making dinner and such), and taking it across the country for hiking, I still absolutely love it. The storage space is more than enough for your daily needs, and, because the small backpack unzips from the back, I was even able to leave my diaper bag at home and just use the small Kelty backpack. In the small pack, I usually brought fit diapers, wipes, changing pad, lots of snacks, plus personal items like wallet, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, antibacterial gel, etc. Then in the bottom part we would fit lunch for 5, plus sweaters for the baby, hats, a large digital camera, and maybe a few other odds and ends.

The ONLY complaint I have is that the load lifters are accessible to the child, and they can easily pull up on the buckle and release them (quite a shock when you're hiking and all of a sudden you feel all the weight on your shoulders). Our daughter usually can't get to them when the sunshield is on, but when it's off, she always plays with them. Besides that, it is the perfect pack. Our daughter fell asleep in it 3 times while hiking, and she is NOT one of those kids who just falls asleep wherever. I think that says a lot about the comfort of this pack. It is worth every penny.

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