Backpack carriers for kids over 3yrs? (Asia travel)

[caden]

Has anyone tried to use one of those higher weight capacity back carriers for kids over 40lbs? We have twins and will be traveling in Asia (China, japan, Korea and SE Asia, probably). My kids can walk just fine so maybe I don't need this but I'm thinking it might be safer/easier if we were in a crowded area we weren't familiar with. My kids sometimes refuse to hold hands, have a fit that we aren't going in the direction they want to go, walk at totally different speeds... That's the kind of annoyance I'm wondering if these carriers could help with. I won't have a stroller. I don't think I would be physically able to carry a 40 pounder all day so I'm not sure how realistic these are. Just curious if anyone else has tried this.

[frlcb]

That seems like it would be uncomfortable for a long period of time. The problem is that you have yo carry it around when they aren't in it. What about getting one lighter umbrella stroller that they can alternate in?

[caden]

Mar 9, 2014 15:48:35 GMT -5 frlcb said:

That seems like it would be uncomfortable for a long period of time. The problem is that you have yo carry it around when they aren't in it. What about getting one lighter umbrella stroller that they can alternate in?

I'm torn on whether I'd rather carry around an empty carrier or an empty stroller. At least with a carrier I wouldn't have to worry about bumpy pavement, you know?

Eta: I think if I only had one stroller seat there would be a fight over who got to sit in it, so id need 2 singles.

[frlcb]

Mar 9, 2014 18:54:01 GMT -5 neeps said:

If you had children younger than your twins, the twins would have to learn to deal and the baby(ies) would be the ones getting the free ride. I don't see how the fact that you don't have younger children changes this at all.

A stroller in SE Asia & China sounds like a complete PIA. If you're hiking then I could see the backpack - maybe. But just to be a tourist, I don't. If the kids are done, put them on your shoulders for a while, stop in an ice cream shop, grab a taxi, etc. You don't have to pack them around all day.

I do agree with this. I prefer bringing a stroller for the airport and when I think we will be in a complete exhaustion situation, but much of the walking we did around SE Asia (Laos, Cambodia) would not have been conducive to a stroller actually. But I have an almost 3 year old who weights less than 30lbs and I went hiking with her a couple of months ago and wore her in a Kelty carrier, which goes up to a high weight, and it was like 30 minutes, and I wanted to die.

[katfco]

I have a kinderpack for my almost 2-year old and they make larger ones for older/heavier kids. I love it. It's really comfortable. DS is a little over 30 pounds and I've carried him for several hours in it.

[caden]

Mar 9, 2014 19:04:47 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Mar 9, 2014 18:54:01 GMT -5 neeps said:

If you had children younger than your twins, the twins would have to learn to deal and the baby(ies) would be the ones getting the free ride. I don't see how the fact that you don't have younger children changes this at all.

A stroller in SE Asia & China sounds like a complete PIA. If you're hiking then I could see the backpack - maybe. But just to be a tourist, I don't. If the kids are done, put them on your shoulders for a while, stop in an ice cream shop, grab a taxi, etc. You don't have to pack them around all day.

I do agree with this. I prefer bringing a stroller for the airport and when I think we will be in a complete exhaustion situation, but much of the walking we did around SE Asia (Laos, Cambodia) would not have been conducive to a stroller actually. But I have an almost 3 year old who weights less than 30lbs and I went hiking with her a couple of months ago and wore her in a Kelty carrier, which goes up to a high weight, and it was like 30 minutes, and I wanted to die.

That convinced me Thanks!

[frlcb]

Mar 9, 2014 19:41:36 GMT -5 caden said:

Mar 9, 2014 19:04:47 GMT -5 frlcb said:

I do agree with this. I prefer bringing a stroller for the airport and when I think we will be in a complete exhaustion situation, but much of the walking we did around SE Asia (Laos, Cambodia) would not have been conducive to a stroller actually. But I have an almost 3 year old who weights less than 30lbs and I went hiking with her a couple of months ago and wore her in a Kelty carrier, which goes up to a high weight, and it was like 30 minutes, and I wanted to die.

That convinced me Thanks!

But saying that I just looked at the kindercarry the poster above posted and think that may be better since it isn't a metal frame! I just sent a message to a friend of mine who has one to see if they like it, will let you know

[katfco]

This is a picture of DS in my kinderpack. He's only a year and a half in this picture, but he was the size of a 2-year old at the time. I'm 5'6" to give you an idea of proportions. I wore him hiking.

Attachment Deleted

[caden]

Mar 9, 2014 20:27:24 GMT -5 katfco said:

This is a picture of DS in my kinderpack. He's only a year and a half in this picture, but he was the size of a 2-year old at the time. I'm 5'6" to give you an idea of proportions. I wore him hiking.

View Attachment

thanks! That looks cute. How do you think carrying a ~40 pounder would feel in it. Way too heavy?

[Deleted]

My family and I are going hiking this May with our 5 (will be 6) year old who weighs about 40 pounds and I have been doing a lot of looking around for something portable and not going to break the bank because we're only going to use the thing once. Saw this on Shark Tank and was intriguided - thought it was an awesome idea loved it went to purchase it - then saw the price tag.

www.myfreeloader.com/

FLCRBJKLMNOPQRSTUV, can you convince these guys to send you one that you will review on your blog then you send it to me and I will guest blog while carrying Q around Estes park in it? Hmmm kay thanks!

[frlcb]

Mar 9, 2014 21:43:00 GMT -5 totziens said:

My family and I are going hiking this May with our 5 (will be 6) year old who weighs about 40 pounds and I have been doing a lot of looking around for something portable and not going to break the bank because we're only going to use the thing once. Saw this on Shark Tank and was intriguided - thought it was an awesome idea loved it went to purchase it - then saw the price tag.

www.myfreeloader.com/

FLCRBJKLMNOPQRSTUV, can you convince these guys to send you one that you will review on your blog then you send it to me and I will guest blog while carrying Q around Estes park in it? Hmmm kay thanks!

I love my name

This looks interesting. If I convince then it's yours to test!

[katfco]

Mar 9, 2014 21:13:33 GMT -5 caden said:

Mar 9, 2014 20:27:24 GMT -5 katfco said:

This is a picture of DS in my kinderpack. He's only a year and a half in this picture, but he was the size of a 2-year old at the time. I'm 5'6" to give you an idea of proportions. I wore him hiking.

View Attachment

thanks! That looks cute. How do you think carrying a ~40 pounder would feel in it. Way too heavy?

I think it depends on your strength level and how long it would be. I can carry him for some time, but all say every day might be wearing. A few hours every dat? No problem.

[anna7602]

I loathed the Kelty. Nothing about it was comfortable, least of all the metal frame.

Will your kids actually want to be worn? My biggest back killer as DD outgrew my existing carriers was the fact that she kept wriggling around and wanting to be out before we'd gone more than a block or two. This was well before she hit 40 lbs., but it hurt my shoulders immensely to have someone pulling on the straps, etc. trying to bust out. I *thought* it would help me navigate foreign airports to wear her on my back and keep my hands free when she was almost 3 years old, but I realized it was better for my spine to just keep her on the ground.