Customer Reviews

Kelty TC 3.0 Transit Child Carrier

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought a baby bjorn for my husband while I was still pregnant with our first child, thinking that it would be cute to see him walking around with a little baby in front. Well, that never worked out since he's a tall and big guy and the bjorn, even adjusted to the largest size, just didn't feel right and my husband just never warmed to the idea of carrying around the baby like a kangaroo. I ended up using the bjorn exclusively and loved it.

This backpack, to my surprise, was requested by my husband when our daughter was 7 months old. He was on an airplane when he saw another father carrying his baby "in a backpack, but it looked like the baby was carrying the backpack." That's how we came to this Kelty backpack.

We love it. Our daughter is all smiles and laughter when he buckles her in and puts it on, I think because she loves the high perch. She probably feels like a big girl, being able to look down at everyone and everything. My husband likes the backpack because it's comfortable and, I guess, seems manly.

It did take a lot of adjusting to get our daughter strapped in correctly; lots of putting her in and taking her out to get it just right, but it was worth it. My husband did read through the instructions in order to understand all the functions and make sure he was using them correctly (and he doesn't usually do that).

Our daughter is now 9 months old and 20 lbs and 30 inches long. She fits in it well and I think we will be able to use it with her for awhile longer. The backpack itself seems sturdy and is roomy. The sunshade comes in really handy and is easy to put on. We've not taken it in her for long hikes yet, only walks around the parks and mall (after all, we live in the desert now) but are looking forward to using it back home in the Pacific Northwest.

I used this product for almost two years with my first boy and I can't wait to use it when my new little one arrives. This was fantastic because unlike many of the products that are similar made by baby companies, kelty is a long standing hiking, backpacking and camping company. That means they have taken all of the weight distribution methods used in their backpacking products, so my 30 lb one year old was easy for me to carry at 5'2" and we just adjust the lumbar support to fit my husband at 5'10". The lumbar support works just like a high end back pack or ruck sack that distributes the weight of your pack and baby to your hips, not your lower back or shoulders, making it a comfortable ride for all. Even my dad with his sciatica said his back was fine carrying my son around in this when he tested it. The padding and sun protection for baby is great, especially when heading to the park or the zoo. My son loved riding on mommy or daddy and I loved that I didn't need a separate diaper bag. Where this product was truly worth every penny was in the airports. My husband and I are both active duty and we do allot of traveling, frequently alone with baby. This made getting on and off a plane with a wiggly, unstable 1-2 year old easy because they just ride on your back through the airport or more importantly as your are boarding the plane once you are forced to check your stroller at the gate. You are hands free and able to carry that juice cup, bottle of water and car seat or baby essentials while kiddo is riding happy on your back. The best part is there is plenty of room for all your baby gear and a change of clothes for you and baby in case you get stranded somewhere WITHOUT NEEDING A SEPARATE DIAPER BAG OR CARRY ON. This is hands down one of the best baby products I have ever bought. If you're not sure you will ever use it outdoors, just go with the 2.0, same product just no rain or sun shades. The fact that the outer backpack can separate while baby is still riding on your back is also a huge plus, so you don't always need the whole backpack to come off. The only minor complaint is the diaper changing pad that comes with it is tiny, so you may want to grab some disposable ones to take with you, but I just took the one that came with my normal diaper bag. Hope this helps!

My wife and I are hiking enthusiasts and we've bought this item after reviewing a lot of similar products in the web. We have not a single moment disappointed. In fact, we have been asked multiple times where we can find this bag that can contain our son so happily!

Pros:
My son has been travelling in it since he can sit up at 3 months. We have been to hiking, groceries, city walks and even short bike rides (although strongly discouraged by Kelty). The adjustment with the torso and child seat is a must if you are really serious about using a child carrier (which is not a/v in the TC 1.x versions). It fits my son very securely and so comfortably he is always happy to be straped inside it. When I expect my son would get tired in long walks I would put him in a lower seat level so when he falls asleep his head won't be left with much dangling.

I have no regrets getting his 2008 model although the new 2010 TC3.0 model is out already. The new 2010 model with its foot piece may help in loading the child when an extra hand is needed for a small child without much control of his legs. But my son (and me) now gets so much used to the bag they seldom get caught. The big plus with this 2008 model is the satellite pack, with an extra 300 cubic inches of volume to its 2010 counterpart. This space really make the difference when you're expecting a lunch outdoors. What's more, the satellite pack serves as the child's own pack so whenever he wishes to walk by himself, I'd make him share the responsibility of carrying his own diaper load. No wonder this $30 cheaper 2008 model is going fast!

Cons:
My only negative comment is the cord holding the child mirror can get caught quite easily. I had the mirror slipped out a few times in the first week of use and eventually I broke my mirror while hurrying to get my child down for a diaper change. So I'll recommend tie a superdouper secure knot to prevent it from slipping free, or better still, use a elastic sling instead of the provided cord so the mirror doesn't easily get caught while mounting your child up and down.

When we first got this carrier my baby girl weighed 20 pounds. She is now 30 pounds, and still fits great, though it does get a bit heavy after a few miles!

But that's the good news-- after a few miles it's still just as comfortable as the first mile. Very well designed.

The reason I did not rate it a "5" is for two reasons: The sun shade is plain awkward to use, as you can either have it on or off-- there's no way to just let it hang there, ready to put up. A better design would involve some way to fold it back.

The second reason is the cargo space just isn't adequate for anything but a day hike. We went backpacking, just an overnighter, and had trouble fitting everything we needed in this pack and one other full-sized pack.

The reason I rated it a "4" instead of a "3" is because my daughter loves to sit in it! As soon as she sees it she insists on a ride, if only just around the house. I've mowed the lawn several times with my daughter on my back and it works great. She has even fallen asleep in it, it is so comfy.

My husband and I selected this model for an early birthday present for him. We ordered the black color. Just and FYI... The model pictured is not what we received. The bag looks like the other colors except black, grey, and tan. This was not a big deal as I guessed that would happen. The deal breaker for this carrier (and the reason we had to return it) was its size. My husband is 6'3" and the fit of the carrier is too small for him. The chest clip in the front rests right under his neck. The torso adjustment also does not adjust to fit him properly. We tried every combination of adjustments and could not make it work.

The other thing he did not like is that this bag is designed for a lot of the weight to remain on your shoulders rather than your hips. What the description on Amazon does not say (that you can find on Kelty's website) is that this model is intended to be used for short trips like the farmer's market, short hikes, etc. If you want to do any extended trips, than this is not the right model.

In the end, my husband wants something that will fit him properly and take the weight off his shoulders like a camping backpack. We like Kelty products and found everything else about the carrier to be great. We decided in the end to return this and purchase the Kelty FC 3.0.

I get questions and smiles everywhere I go with this backpack - it is a real attention getter. We've taken it hiking, to the beach and on short walks. Our 11 month old loves it when he gets in. I'm a little concerned that he gets hot with the thick material padding all around him, but he doesn't seem to overheat.

The cons I can see so far:
1. Sunshade only encourages our baby to crane his neck to the side in order to see what's going on up front. Therefore, very little use to keep him out of the sun, arms tend to go out to the sides as well. A hat or some sort of clamp-on umbrella (will be looking for one soon) would be better.

2. Diaper bag is a little too small to be useful for more than 1 diaper and a small bottle, couple snacks. Not large enough for a full day of activity.

3. Inside bag is large but not enough pockets/compartments to keep extra bottles, etc organized...it's just a big empty space.

4. When child falls asleep there is nowhere for him to rest his head. It's great that it is comfortable enough to sleep in, but the kid's head just goes limp to the side and looks terrible for their neck...if any suggestions for keeping their head propped up, please let me know.

In spite of these cons, I give it four stars for being something that frees up my hands, enables us to go on hikes with our baby and is comfortable enough for him to fall asleep in if he gets tired.

I purchased this solely on the positive reviews people have gushed about this product, and to be honest the well priced offer. The very next day I received this I took my 1 year old who is about 25lbs for a semi long hike and boy was I uncomfortable. 20 minutes into the hike and I started feeling the tension around my shoulders. There's not enough padding on the shoulder straps in turn created some sourness on my shoulders in the following days. I had to constantly move the straps from side to side to alleviate the tension and find a comfort area. Also this is a pretty heavy backpack, you do not want to occupy the pockets with anything to add to the weigh. Side pockets weren't bad although I couldn't fit my iphone in one. Without the casing of the phone it would fit perfectly. Another gripe I have is that without a bottom stand it is hard to put my child in and heave the pack onto my back. At least he was comfortable and enjoyed the hike.
So I returned it and ordered the Deuter Kid Comfort II. Almost dbl in its price, but I believe it's worth it, since I would never use this model of Kelty again.
I give it 1.5 stars.

We got this to replace an older baby carrier we picked up at "Toy's R Us" made of hard plastic about 8 years ago. What a difference in child carrier ease. Our boy is about 24lbs and at the upper end of the 12 month range and just loves hanging out with dad in this for jobs around the house and garden. Dads a big fellow and above average height and he says this is a good fit and makes carting the little guy a breeze. We tried the solid frame and this one just felt better. It does sit up with the child in the seat but not as sturdy as the flip out frame. It helps to have someone load and unload the little guy, but you get use to the holding and twisting pretty quick as dad can have him in and out in a matter of seconds in about four to five moves. Great carrier and recommended.

I would definitely buy this again. The kids love love love being carried around. We have used it to transport them through the airport, onto the plane. We've travelled Europe with it and people are always asking where we got it. It's great for when their little legs get tired if you're standing in line and they can just jump up into it. The removable section has been awesome for a mini diaper bag/snacks/camera. When not in used it condenses down into a normal backpack look.

Great amount of storage, smaller pack is removable. Sun/wind shade works very well, and pack seems very safe. have used it since my son was 9 months, he is now 3 and 33 lbs and still rides in it on short hikes. He was not able to sleep in it when younger, without his head flopping far to the side. The kid asleep in the picture is comfortable b/c the dad is leaning forward. No one actually hikes like that. Would be nice to have a head rest in front of the kids face for sleeping. Hiking always lulls kids to sleep.