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We have a Phil and Ted's one.
Is fine when they are young but they will get heavy after a while. Hardly used ours much really.
We are in Blackburn south if you are interested in having a look at it.
Pain is getting them in and out (Defender bonnet is a good height tho).
Cost was good tho...not overly expensive.
Chris
I am a macpack fan usually HOWEVER it is personal choice in what fits you. macpack had a bar that dug into my back. My wife and I purchased the mountain designs one. We have gotten hours of fun out of it. But we went a lot further than any pram would even dream of going. As for the up to 4 years, they were born with legs.
When I did my research on the subject the cheep ones were fine as long as you could didn't go too far into the bush and couldn't carry them out if somthing broke. The huge price is due to high quality parts made not to fail in the bush.
We bought one in 2001 when we went around Oz for 4 months with a 9mth old baby. We are now onto our 3rd child.
My suggestion is to get one that can stand up by itself when it is off your back. Ours has a folding leg that allows this. You will find that kids fall asleep in them and it is great to be able to take it off your back for lunch/morning tea, stand it up, and have the kid sleep on.
If you stop for lunch and the kid is awake, you can stand it up and feed them in it like a short version high chair.
We bought a second hand kathmandu baby carrier, very good too, it came with a sunshade that detach's from the carrier, and has pockets for bibs and bobs. We paid around the 90 dollar mark. It was fully adjustable to suit the rugrat and she seemed to enjoy the trips with it. Got it fom 'that' auction site. Good luck.
thanx everyone for your replies, some good info in there.
Since I've been asking around, we've "scored" a preloved "Baby Bjorn" front carrier to use for now. We'll still be getting a backpack because I think this will definitely be better as Nick gets bigger and we venture further. I've PM'd ColC.
Stevo
They're definitely a great investment... We've got two for our 4 and 2 yr old, and they've been very well used. Not only do they let you go anywhere that your fitness will take you, they take up a lot less space in the back of the 'fender than a pram would. We're about to head off to the Grampians next week and will be taking both.
We've got a Macpac Possum we bought new and a cheaper one we picked up on eBay. Both have been good. The Macpac is quite indestructible. It's still carrying our 4 year old and I'm going to break before it does I think... I wouldn't put her in the cheaper one though, but it's coping with 2 yr old just fine... Comparing expensive to cheap, well, kids are happy regardless. But the Macpac is more comfortable, more rugged, and doesn't bounce around as much. Macpac does hold it's value very well too... I've seen second hand ones go for almost as much as new.
If you are getting one, consider a neck pillow for the kids (you can buy these from Macpac, but they'll fit any of them) as they'll undoubtedly fall asleep, and maybe a sun hood...
Kids are always happy in them. We whack a camelback bladder into the Possum and everyone's happy... Getting them on loaded is tricky, but is manageable. Just watch out for low branches and kid's heads!
Have a look at the "Ergo Baby".
Wife Daughter and I just did a bit over a month in UK, no pram access in most castles and chuches etc.
The ergo baby is good because it can be worn on either the front or the back. It is not a bulky aluminium frame one, these tend to have a high centre of gravity which is tricky with a wriggling or floppy sleeping child and will have you squatting under trees / low ceilings.
The ergo baby stores compactly and has a reasonable amount of storage for toys or snacks. It has a head shade / head holder for floppy sleeping head and comes in a variety of colours.
My daughter is about 10 - 12kg and I had no worries at all. I am very happy with it and obviously would reccommend it.
Good Luck
FURY
The best and most versitile piece of kit for people with small kids, my youngest is now 5 (small in stature) we have only just stopped using it. They are well worth the money. All three kids have outgrown it and it has outlived numerous strollers, prams and a $1000 tandem bushwalking pram that swmbo had to have. It has bushwalked, gone to the beach, horse events, car shows, markets etc........
We had a VauDe and it was a sound investment. Easy to carry (like a good backpack), child could sleep, enough storage for all the necessary bits 'n' pieces. Even a sun shield (detachable) was provided. Almost a shame they grew out if it so quickly.
Cheers
Under 6 mths - in a front pack carrier, Over 6 mths or there about, in a back-pack carrier.
We have always had a simple alloy frame back pack, nothing fancy and fold up small.
Now on child # 4 @ 6 mths.
All of my kids have travelled many km's on my back in a back-pack in all parts of the country, bush, beaches and o/seas travel. Having kids means your life changes, but not that you have to stop doing what you enjoy doing.
In preference I would use a backpack over a pram in a shopping center, although I try to avoid those places as much as possible.
Cheers