Does anyone hike/backpack/camp with their kids?

I have a 1 year old and I think by next fall she’ll either be too big or too wiggly to be carried in the backpack carrier (Kelty Kids). Does anyone take thier toddlers hiking? Camping? Any suggestions? We go in the mountains of PA.

I took my son on his first hike at six months old, in a Snugli carrier, with a daypack on my back. A month later we went on our only backpacking trip using the same carrier. By the time he was 9 months old we’d switched to a Kelty Meadow KIDS carrier, which we used for two years for day hiking, but as my wife is too weak to carry the kid, we never were able to figure out how to go backpacking, unless I carried over 50 lbs, including the kid, which is too much for the Kelty Meadow.

We used the Kelty until he was 2 years & 5 months old when we tried to experiment to see how far he could walk, which was about 33% of the time, with 66% of the time riding on my shoulders, which wasn’t very comfortable. So we purchased a Sherpani Rhumba UL carrier for our vacation to Hawaii, at age 2 1/2, weight 30 lbs, and he rode in that about 66% of the time on several day hikes. (I don’t recommend that carrier because the stitching came out and we had to return it, but we did get a full refund.)

At around 2 years, 10 months he hiked about 75% of the way on a seven mile hike around Muir Woods NM, the rest on my shoulders. I don’t plan to put him in a carrier any more, but if we hadn’t had it in Hawaii our hikes would’ve been impossible.

We never had a problem with wiggliness. You are kind of torturing them if you keep them in there a long time, so we never did extremely long hikes, and always stopped and let him rest and play as much as possible, moving no more than 1 MPH over a whole day, their experience of the woods just as important as mine. He’d usually fall asleep in the carrier in the afternoon for an hour or two. We never felt the need to bring toys along to keep him quiet.

Kelty Kids Pack Webbing Fail

Kelty Speedster Swivel Deuce Child Stroller, Blue $474.95

Kelty Speedster Swivel Deluxe Child Stroller, Blue $399.95

Kelty Speedster Swivel Deluxe Child Stroller, Curry $399.95

Kelty FC 3.0 Child Carrier, Blue $340.73

Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 Child Carrier Pack $279.95

Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 Child Carrier Pack $279.95

Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 Child Carrier Pack $279.95

2012 Kelty Kids Pathfinder 3.0 Frame Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $279.95

2012 Kelty Kids Pathfinder 3.0 Frame Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $279.95

Brand New! Kelty Journey 2.0 Child Frame Carrier (Legion Blue) $264.91

Kelty TC 3.0 Child Carrier, Blue $249.35

Kelty TC 3.0 Child Carrier, Green $233.09

2012 Kelty Kids Journey 2.0 Frame Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $229.95

2012 Kelty Kids Journey 2.0 Frame Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $229.95

2012 Kelty Kids Journey 2.0 Frame Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $229.95

2012 Kelty Kids Journey 2.0 Frame Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $229.95

Kelty Journey 2.0 Child Carrier Pack $229.95

Kelty Journey 2.0 Child Carrier Pack $229.95

Kelty K.I.D.S. FC 3.0 Frame Child Carrier Blue $225.95

Kelty TC 2.0 Child Carrier, Blue $221.14

New Kelty Kids FC 3.0 Child Carrier Backpack Hiking Camping Traveling Framed BLU $199.99

Kelty FC 2.0 Child Carrier – Green. 20010005 $189.99

Kelty FC 1.0 Child Carrier, Green $206.45

KELTY KIDS DEUCE COUPE JOGGING STROLLER 2-CHILD DOUBLE/DUAL $199.99

2012 Kelty Kids Transit 3.0 Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $199.95

2012 Kelty Kids Transit 3.0 Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $199.95

2012 Kelty Kids Transit 3.0 Child Carrier BackPack NEW – 4 COLOR CHOICE $199.95

Kelty Transit 3.0 Child Carrier Pack $199.95

Kelty Transit 3.0 Child Carrier Pack $199.95

Kelty Transit 3.0 Child Carrier Pack $199.95

Kelty Transit 3.0 Child Carrier Pack $199.95

Kelty TC 2.0 Child Carrier, Curry $190.78

Kelty Kids FC-2 Child Carrier $150.00

Kelty K.I.D.S. FC 3.0 Frame Child Carrier – Brand New $150.00

Kelty Junction 2.0 Child Carrier Pack $169.95

Kelty Junction 2.0 Child Carrier Pack $169.95

Kelty Junction 2.0 Child Carrier Pack $169.95

Kelty Junction 2.0 Child Carrier Pack $169.95

NEW KELTY FC 2.0 Black Frame Child/Kid Carrier Backpack $168.99

New KELTY TC 3.0 Green Framed Child Carrier Backpack $167.99

New KELTY FC 2.0 Curry Framed Child Carrier Backpack $159.99

New Kelty Kids Frame Carrier 2.0 $159.00

Kelty FC 1.0 Child Carrier Baby Backpack Green $142.93

Kelty TC 2.0 Child Carrier Baby Backpack Curry $142.93

Kelty TC 2.0 Child Carrier Baby Backpack Blue $142.93

Kelty Kids FC 1.0 Frame Child Carrier Aluminum Color Curry Tan NEW WITH TAGS! $139.95

Kelty TC 3.0 Child Carrier, Curry $120.00

KELTY KIDS Elite Infant Kid’s Child’s Carrier Backpack $129.99

Kelty Mijo Child Carrier $129.95

Kelty TC 3.0 Child Carrier, Black $123.19

Kelty Pathfinder Backpack Child Carrier $95.00

Kelty Kids Back Country Backpack Child Carrier GREAT! $99.95

Kelty Kids Journey Child Carrier Backpack EUC Fast Shipping $99.99

Kelty Mijo Child Carrier Blue One Size NEW! $112.98

Kelty Kids TC 2.0 Transit Child Carrier BackPack NEW $109.99

KELTY KIDS Trek Infant Kids Childs Carry Backpack 28″ $89.99

KELTY KIDS Elite Infant Childs Carrier Backpack 31″! $85.49

KELTY KIDS Base Camp Infant Child Carrier Backpack 28″ $85.49

Kelty KIDS Town Framed Child Carrier Backpack $79.99

Kelty Kids Explorer Child Carrier Backpack $79.99

New – KELTY DIAPER BAG 20050060 DUFFLE – 4921505 $35.99 Compatible with all 2002+ KELTY carriers. Square buckle attachment. Changing pad included. U-shaped zipper. Model: 20050060Dimensions: 14.00 (Length) 12.00 (Width) 6.00 (Height) \N…

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Kettler Kettrike Air Navigator Trike $229.00 Offering a smooth transition from stroller to trike, the brightly colored Kettler Kettrike Air-Navigator Tricycle includes a parental control steering system that locks handlebars into place for parental guidance when using the optional pushbar. The Auto-Freewheel allows your child to rest his or her feet on the pedals while you guide them with the pushbar. Using the optional tandem add-on, you c…

Kettler Kettrike Junior Tricycle with Pushbar $118.00 Push your little one along in this Kettrike Junior. Kids can feel proud and confident while peddling, while parents can give them a safe, controlled ride. Features:Four-position telescoping frameFour-position adjustable high-back seat with hand holdHigh-carbon steel frame with fade-resistant polyester powder-coat finishLimited turn radius steering device and low center of gravity to help prevent t…

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Loveseat Deluxe Portable Beach,camping,pool Side Chair, Easy Fold with Carrying Bag. $29.99 Great for indoor and outdoor use Portable and easy to carry Ideal for camping and all outdoor activities Durable powder-coated steel frame 900 Denier waterproof polyester back and seat rests Weight: 18 lbs. Locad capacity: 450 lbs.Maximum weight(2 people) (225lb each) Opened: Seat: 20″L x 37″W x 32 1/4″H Back: 20″L x 50″W x 24″H Folded: 6 “L x9 1/4″W x 33 1/2″H Dual polyester cup holders Color: Bl…

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