Product Information
Manufacturer: Kelty
Product description
Kelty produces a line of child carrier products ranging from frame carrier models to soft shell backpacks designed for carrying a child. We purchased the Kelty FC 3.0 with the intention of using it for several years (upper weight limit 40 lbs), doing some hiking and backpacking. The FC 3.0 comes with a small zip off backpack, diaper changing pad, a sun/wind shade, and a small storage pouch beneath the child seat.
Field Report
Please be sure to read the update at the end of this post
Most of our use of the Kelty FC 3.0 Child Carrier has been on hiking trails near Sandpoint, ID. We took it on vacation with us to Glacier National Park and also to a wedding in Texas. Most of the hiking terrain was hilly, mountainous, and wooded. Most of our hiking was done in sunny weather at tempatures between 55-90 degrees F.
We started using the Kelty FC 3.0 Child carrier as soon as our son was big enough to use it (minimum 16 lbs and able to sit up unassisted). From the first times we used it, he loved it. One of the best ways to ensure him taking a nap was to go for a hike, so we did. There is nothing quite so nice as a napping child and a few hours outside to give momma the energy to carry on with her day. As Samuel got older and started talking, he stopped napping and gave us a running commentary of the hike as seen from his perch high up on our shoulders.
PROS:
- Stable, well balanced load in spite of carrying a very active, wiggly baby
- the carry harness, adjusted properly, works exactly like a normal backpack shifting most of the weight to the hips.
- the cockpit/child seat is removable and washable. Most of the pack is easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
- easy to adjust torso length
- automatic deploy kickstand
CONS:
- Size: I have read that this child carrier is more compact than many other frame pack type child carriers, however, we drive a very small kia rio. When we put this carrier in the trunk or the back seat of the car, it took up all the room available.
- Upper weight limit is well beyond the useful range.
- The storage pouch was not as big as I had hoped.
When I was wearing the Kelty FC 3.0 Kid carrier, I loved it. This child carrier performed flawlessly. It was easy to get Samuel into and out of. Sometimes I had to take his shoes off to get his feet in the right holes. Once he was in, it was easy for me to swing him up on my back or get him down. The kickstand is designed to fold up and deploy with pressure added to the backpack shoulder straps. I love not having to fiddle with a kickstand after I have picked the pack up or put it back down.
The torso length adjustment is awesome for a pack that is often switched between two people. The pack length adjusts by simply pulling a spring loaded pin and sliding the harness up or down. This made it fast and easy for my husband and I to switch who was playing sherpa for His Royal Highness.
When we were carrying him, the load felt very stable, in spite of all the energy and wiggles of a small child. The pack held close to my body rather than shifting around.
We actually used the zip-off backpack more than we used the full carrier. It was the perfect size for an around-town diaper bag, so I used it almost every day.
The pouch beneath the child seat did not have as much storage as I had originally hoped. My plan was to do some overnight backpacking trips with Brenton carrying most of the gear in his pack and me carrying Samuel and a small amount of gear in the child carrier. Once we put extra diapers, a sippy cup, a blanket, and a complete change of clothes, the pack was pretty much full. This is plenty enough storage for a normal day-time outing, but there wasn’t any space left over for actual camping gear.
Being a first time mom, I looked at the upper weight limit (40 lbs) and expected to be able to use this carrier for 3 years (or more). This spring I put my 2 1/2 year old son in the backpack and on my back. The first thing he did was stand up and jump in the carrier. While he still felt secure in the backpack (I wasn’t worried about his jumping causing him to fall out), I had serious concerns about the safety of my back if he were to continue jumping in the child carrier. We won’t be using the child carrier this hiking season.
As you can see the negatives of this backpack are more personal preferences than problems with the design. The Kelty FC 3.0 does exactly what it was designed to do, and it does it wonderfully. My biggest problem with it is that it doesn’t fit in our car very well.
UPDATE: After writing this review, I got to thinking. Most of the people I know don’t start their kids in these backpacks when the kids are 16 pounds. Most people start their kids in a kid carrier at about 2. I decided not to give up on the kid carrier just yet. I fiddled with the adjustments and lowered the seat height. Voila! I put Samuel into the lowered seat. I asked him to stand up. He tried really hard but the lowered seat made it impossible for him to stand up against the harness.
We will be using this pack for hiking this summer. I have another plan for our backpacking trips. Leaving my only real complaint about the Kelty Kid Carrier FC 3.0 that it doesn’t fit in our very small car very well.
Check back later this week to find out my solution for this season of backpacking with a toddler.
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