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Child carriers

Ah, the great outdoors. Summer is perfect for going bush, but not many tramping trails are pram-accessible. So we sent a few intrepid dads into the wild, with some unruly toddlers in tow, to try out these three child carriers. When they returned a few hours later, sunburned and exhausted, we fully expected to hear a litany of complaints about the experience. Surprisingly, they had a good time, and found that toting toddlers around in a child carrier was quite enjoyable. If you’re the adventurous type, know that having children doesn’t mean you have to give up outdoor pursuits. Just get yourself a child carrier and disappear for a few hours on a favourite track (don’t forget to pack sunscreen, snacks, and water)!

Macpac Possum
$229.95 from www.macpac.co.nz
Weight: 2.55kg • Capacity: 35l • Holds: 20kg
A highly comfortable and sturdy carrier, the Macpac Possum does the job in style. It’s extremely comfortable, with good shoulder and waist padding, all adjustable to fit your frame. It has two large pockets that will fit supplies for a day trip, plus small pockets on the waist strap. Harnesses allow you to strap in your child to ensure they are secure and comfortable, which, along with the seat, are also adjustable, enabling you to use this for years as your child grows.
What we loved: Macpac are known for their quality products, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Made from strong, breathable material, it’s fully adjustable. For loading and unloading, there is a small pull-out balancing “kickstand” that will hold the backpack upright while you strap your child in. Once the backpack is on, snap the stand back into place and you’re off. With additional extras like a padded neck support if your little one dozes off and an attached sunshade, this makes for a great carrier suitable for our unique New Zealand conditions.
Tricky bits: Our no-waist men found it a bit grating on their hipbones. They wish that someone would invent a hiking pack — of any variety, not just
child carriers — that accounted for men with no waists who carry the weight of a backpack on their shoulders.
Bottom line: Great quality, stylish looks and comfortable, this is an excellent choice for short or long treks. You’ll be grateful for that extra support and comfort once you get going, not to mention all the storage space.

Deuter Kid Comfort II
$359 from www.outdooraction.co.nz
Weighs: 2.75kg • Capacity: 18l • Holds: 22kg
The German-designed Deuter Kid Comfort ii is the Cadillac of child carriers. Suitable for children who can sit up by themselves, it has a smaller capacity than the Macpac, but makes up for it in looks and functionality. With features including anatomically shaped shoulder straps, a height-adjustable child seat, a five-point safety harness, and a headrest, it also has a built-in hydration system with a water tube that you can easily share with your little one (if you don’t mind toddler germs).
What we loved: The breathable back system meant that even when we were a bit sweaty from hoofing it, we stayed reasonably cool. The five-point safety harness has bright yellow buckles, making them easy to see. It even comes with a wee teddy bear that fits into one of the mesh pockets. The shoulder straps are separate from the waist support, which gives you a bit more flexibility of movement when you’re wearing it. And the sun visor is handy.
Tricky bits: As good as any child carrier can be, you still have to carry a child plus provisions on your back. If you’re just starting out, begin with small walks, building up slowly until you’re ready to tackle a half-day or a full-day trek.
Bottom line: Super-stylish and hard-wearing, the design is thoughtful and
detailed. Also, the team at Outdoor Action are more than happy to help you
properly fit the child carrier so you can be sure you’re wearing it properly when you’re out on your own.

Kathmandu Baby Carrier v4
$349.90 from www.kathmandu.co.nz
Weighs: 3kg • Capacity: 25l • Holds: 19kg
This seems to be the only child carrier made by popular chain-store Kathmandu, and it’s quite hefty. Made of tough, durable 450-denier nylon, it comes in a sky-blue colour that doesn’t look out of place if Mum is carrying the child instead of dad.
What we loved: Lots of features including an adjustable harness, breathable mesh back, and adjustable child seat. There is also a detachable storage compartment with a fold-away change mat, and a “rearview mirror” so you can easily see what your little one is doing, especially if they’re zonked out asleep on the padded headrest. There’s a cool hipbelt bottle holder as well.
Tricky bits: The heaviest of all the child carriers we tested, it’s also quite bulky. The hip support strap was practically useless on our thin-waisted dad product tester, and he found that he was carrying all of the weight on his shoulders, which made him very sore (and grumpy!) upon returning home.
Bottom line: An improvement on Kathmandu’s earlier models of child carriers, the overall design hasn’t changed radically, but there are some cute kid-friendly additions. Comfortable, but felt a bit more clumsy than the
others. We’d like to see Kathmandu really rethink this child carrier, and also show some more product information on their website — the description there is pitiful.

Where to go for the gear

If you’re in the market for quality outdoor gear, stick to speciality stores
rather than going for the cheap brands you can buy at discount stores.
• Outdoor Action (www.outdooraction.co.nz) has a wide selection of quality
accessories for all sorts of outdoor adventure pursuits, not just camping and tramping. With staff members who are outdoor instructors, search-and-rescue team members, and outdoor enthusiasts, they are “experts by
experience” and can answer all of your questions with authority.
• If you’re planning a camping trip, tent town (www.tenttown.co.nz) only
stocks highest-quality tents designed for New Zealand’s unique weather and conditions. They also do custom work and tent repairs, and have a wide range of high-quality camping equipment.
• Check out Macpac (www.macpac.co.nz) for a good choice of child carriers. They also have a wide selection of sleeping bags, tents, and accessories.
• Kathmandu (www.kathmandu.co.nz) has a good selection of outdoor
clothing that’s very popular with “townies” as well as campers! They also
stock a range of camping equipment.
• With nine stores nationwide, Bivouac (www.bivouac.co.nz) has a good range of outdoor clothing and accessories, as well as other equipment.
• Snowgum (www.snowgum.com.au) has a wide selection of outdoor
performance clothing and footwear, as well as some equipment.