Infant Hiking backpack recommendations?

with spring near, wife and I are stoked to come out of the cabin fever of a winter with a newborn to return to long day hikes in the mountains!

What packs do y’all recommend as something that would be good for a 6month old and effectively grow with her into toddler stages?

Looking at Kid Comfort, Kid Air, and the Thule one but this community tends to have good recommendations so what do you use?

Back weight distribution, and ventilation are keys for us - given the hit Tennessee summers!

 

Loved our Deuter.


Wanna buy a used one?

 

Yeah its between Deuter, Thule, or Osprey. Saw some reviews that the Deuter could be a pain to adjust on the fly and get the kiddo in and out easily but most sites rate it as the best or at least top 3.

Which one is this specifically? We'll probably go new for something like this but... PM me with further details and we can chat.

 

I think it is the Kid Comfort 2. Will check and can take pics if you want.

 

I bought one off Amazon for about $100 and am very happy with it. I almost splurged on the expensive ones from REI and am glad I didn't. I was realistic in what I was going to do, which are day hikes. I think if I planned on doing multi-day hikes, then yes the more expensive ones are probably worth it. I have no issues, including safety, with my "cheap" one.

 

Ended up going with an expensive one because - that's what business credit card points -> Amazon gift cards are for! ha! Have been on 5 good long hikes since we got it and I actually love the workout I can get with the little one and her gear in tow. I did experience a resurgence of some old knee pain from running stupid distances years ago (what possesses anyone to think the human body is meant to safely run 26+ miles is now beyond me)!

So as happens with these things, I then used my REI dividend to get a decent set of lightweight hiking poles since this carrier has her up a bit high and can make it top-heavy. She loves the view though and we're having fun introducing her to springtime while we shake the winter cabin fever

https://www.deuter.com/US/us/kids/kid-comfort-3-46534-grey-black.html

Highly recommend this one if the budget will allow it - very well designed and great distribution of weight and the flexible hip belt does move with you so it doesn't ever cut in like I've experienced on other hiking packs!