At First Treks we have always taken child carrier packs very seriously. We believe they are one of the most essential pieces of equipment for enjoying a wide variety of outdoor adventures with your young child. We carry child carriers from three outstanding companies: Deuter, Sherpani Alpina and Vaude. We have selected these companies' child carriers for one simple reason - we believe they are the best. Vaude and Deuter are both German based companies extremely well respected in Europe. They each produce a full line of innovative back-country quality backpacking equipment for adults and children. They have applied decades of experience in pack engineering to create child carriers that are easy to use, very rugged and extremely comfortable for both the child and adult. Deuter has been a leader in helping to develop European safety standards for child carrier packs. Sherpani Alpina is a very well respected Colorado based company that specializes in designing and making packs for women. Several years ago they acquired the award winning line of child carriers from Madden Mountaineering. Sherpani has made several substantial improvements to the child carrier line, while maintaining the fundamental frame design that made the award winning Madden child carriers unbeatable for their comfort and outstanding load carrying capabilities.

Sherpani Alpina, Deuter and Vaude each have a full line of child carriers to accommodate each individual's needs. Each model offer excellent security and comfort for the child. Two of the most significant differences between the child carriers are the adult harness systems and the packs' carrying capacities (volume and weight). The first question to ask yourself is what will you be doing with the pack and the second is who will be wearing the pack. If you will be using the child carrier for serious back-country adventures such as day-long or multi-day hikes, you will want a child carrier with a substantial adult harness system and enough capacity to carry a good amount of gear. If more than one adult with significantly different torso lengths will be using the pack, you will want a pack with a fully adjustable harness system. The Sherpani Rumba has by far the greatest carrying capacity. It also has a very comfortable, fully adjustable harness system. The Deuter Kid Comfort III and Vaude Butterfly Comfort also have substantial carrying capacity and fully adjustable harness systems. The Sherpani Rumba Superlight can carry a good deal of weight, but it has a fixed length torso system. It is a great fit for people with medium torso lengths who want to eliminate some of the bulk and weight of fully adjustable systems. If you are likely to be wearing the pack for many hours at a time, but aren't as concerned about carrying capacity, the Deuter Kid Comfort II would be a great fit. It has a well padded, fully adjustable harness system. If you are likely to be using the carrier mostly for shorter adventures and around town, the Deuter Kid Comfort I is a great light-weight choice. While the harness system is fully adjustable and quite comfortable, it is not as substantial as some of the other carriers. If you want more of a conventional backpack that can also serve as a very functional child carrier when need, the Deuter KangaKid will give you that versatility. For the youngest of children who you want to snugly in the front, the extremely well designed Sherpani Emi is a fantastic front pack.

Other consideration is the weather and climate in which you are likely to use the child carrier. If you will be using the carrier in the rain or in areas with little shelter from intense sun, a sun/rain hood is important.

First Treks staff is happy to answer any questions and to assist you with finding the child carrier that perfectly matches your needs. Call us toll free: 888-672-7657.

Go To Child Carrier Backpacks

Deuter KangaKid

Deuter Kid Comfort I

Deuter Kid Comfort II

Deuter Kid Comfort III

Sherpani Rumba

Sherpani Rumba Superlight

Sherpani Emi

Vaude Butterfly Comfort

Child Carrier Accessories