A good kid carrier is a must-have for any outdoor family. And having one that suits your needs might not be as straight forward as you think. So we jumped on the chance to review the new Deuter Comfort Air.
Deuter Kid Comfort Air
- Tested in: Hiking, snowshoeing with 35 lbs toddler.
- Cost: $239.00
- Availability: Exclusively at REI until late spring of 2014.
- Best Use: Hiking, Trekking with young children. For parents that want a comfortable, high performing design, with less weight.
Selling Points:
The all new Kid Comfort Air is Deuter’s first kid carrier to integrate the Aircomfort back system which maximizes ventilation and helps reduce perspiration by up to 25%. This back design allows air flow from three sides and is great for warm and hot weather adventures.
We love many other things about this pack as well. In short it has everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Compared to “fully loaded” packs like the Deuter Kid Comfort III
There are also two mesh side-panels for water bottles, snacks, or small necessities. Side entry buckle allows easy access into the child seat from the side and makes getting into/out of the pack super easy. Compared to other carriers (Kid Comfort 3) this pack has a lower back, which we prefer so we can limit hitting low lying branches and trees with it.
Comfort Air with hydration hose out lower compartment
Significant Specs:
- Adjustable 5-point child safety harness with color-coded buckles offers maximum safety but also easy handling and adjustment
- VARIFIT adjustable shoulder harness lets you easily customize the fit by making individual height adjustments for torsos measuring 15 – 21 in.
- Aluminum frame design ensures stiffness and durability; foldout stand creates a stable base when setting the pack on the ground
- Deuter recommends that the maximum weight of child and gear not exceed 48.5 lbs.
Desired Improvements:
- A small hydration hose hole coming out of the main compartment so that we don’t have to feed the hose through the zipper.
Deuter Comfort Air (left) Deuter Comfort 2 (right)
The Bottom Line:
Fantastic, high quality pack that is easy to adjust and very comfortable. Very similar to the Deuter Kid Comfort II
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I’m curious on the weight of this pack. We will need to upgrade from the Ergo (just too hot) but for overnight hiking…would you recommend this pack? I’m thinking one parent will carry 75% of the gear and the other will carry our son and the remaining gear. Suggestions on overnight hiking/camping?
Nicki- This pack would work great for it. It is basically the same as the Kid Comfort II but with the new and improved back system. We did a trip just like you mentioned last summer. Here is the link:http://kidproject.org/2013/06/12/trip-report-family-of-five-backpacking-into-willow-heights-lake-wasatch-range/ As for whether this is the BEST option, that is a balance of certain specs and needs on your part. This pack is 6.3 oz. And the suggested “loaded” weight limit (kid+gear) is 45 lbs (depends on how far over spec you like to push your gear. 🙂 ) You can attach extra cargo on it with climbing runners and carabiners for a backcountry trip. (Photo at end of above link) A pack like the Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 has a lot more cargo storage (hydration pocket, lower cargo, mesh side pouches and detachable backpack.) But is probably 2 pounds heavier (maybe more). Its “loaded” weight limit is 50 lbs. So really it is a toss up. Our review of the Pathfinder will post soon. Good Luck! Any of the Deuters or the Pathfinder would be a good fit.
Tahnks! We are really hoping to do longer hike ins…I keep telling my husband it’s possible!, but I’m honestly not sure how. We like to hike in 5-10 miles, camp over and then hike back or better yet, make a loop. I’m picturing myself with baby and some gear – likely overloading the pack…and then a pack on my chest as well. and my husband with the big gear – tent, food, etc. but that begs the question — what would happen if we had two kids! ahhh. one step at a time! and what about a two nighter. I think we need more friends willing to help with the load. or perhaps pulling a chariot if the trail allows.
Nicki – I think multi-day overnights are totally doable (as long as mom/dad can handle the weight and mileage) with 1 young kid. Once you move to two kids, we had to embrace a season where our trips were shorter. But soon we’ll be back to longer trips with our kids powered on their own two legs! Friends are a MUST! And I’ve known people to load up a jogging stroller with all the gear and push it into a backcountry site! Of course you’d have to be wise about the trail you chose. So a Chariot might work too! Also, two backpacks with a carrier that can go on the front (ie. Beco/Ergo/Boba) would work too. Just remember that it can be hard to see the trail (esp. down hill) with infant on your chest. 🙂 LASTLY – (we’ve just started tossing around this idea) but why not go with Yurt/backcountry hut trips for a few years during the young kid years? You still get that backcountry feel without the hassle of carrying quite so much gear!
Absolutely, yurts/huts are great! And sorry to sound negative here…but that really only cuts out a few items in the pack! At least here in AK you still need a sleeping pad and bag, just not a tent. Most huts you still need a stove and such equipment – and sometime a bear canister too!! Oh how I miss the hut system of Colorado. But, yes, that is a great idea. We will absolutely make it work. Thanks for the inspiration!
You are right, it really doesn’t cut THAT much out of a pack. For some reason it just feels less stressful… but I can’t say why exactly! Good luck!
Hi, and thank you for sharing your blog, it is awesome and inspiring! I have used the deuter kid comfort II to carry my son across Europe for a over a month. My spouse and I traded off carrying our son using the comfort II while the other carried a traditional large backpack. It was a great trip! We traveled very light, but it was completely doable and comfortable. Now I have another son, and because I gave the comfort II to a friend, I’m looking for a new child carrier backpack. I like the benefit of the increased airflow in the comfort air. I am interested if there is much difference in the fit of the packs because the comfort II has back pads and the air has mostly mesh. I’m leaning towards the air, but am familiar with the comfort II. I also live in a warm climate. Do you think I’d be happy with the air back panel?
Thanks!
Dan
Dan, Sorry for the slow response! I guess I would go try one on. I think the basic padding, size, and fit is the same, with a mesh back panel so it isn’t as hot. So it seems ideal for your warm climate. But as always, I cannot promise it will fit like your Comfort II. And honestly we haven’t had prolonged experience with that carrier in specific. Side by side they appear to be identical minus the mesh part.
Ended up buying it, and I really like it. Definitely good for warm weather due to the liberal use of mesh. I appreciate its smaller profile /trim design. I like how the design enables me to remain nimble and light on my feet. It passes the baby sleep test. First use, 5 minutes down a trail, Max, 8 months, comfortably and safely asleep 🙂 I highly recommend this product. Expensive yes, but enables my small family, including a hiking 5 year old, to get out more often and keep the adventuring spirit alive.
Thanks for the feedback and I am so glad you like it!
hi,
can i bring the bag for airplane hand luggage?
Thanks
I actually have no idea! I will ask around. I am slightly worried it wouldn’t fit in a overhead compartment but I would guess you could gate check it.Best to ask the airline directly.
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Hi, my hubby and I just bought the Kid Comfort Air and we’re trying to find a suitable hydration bladder for it. Which one did you guys put in the main compartment? Were you able to fill it completely? Thanks!!
Ah yes, one of the flaws (IMO) in this pack… We have 3L Platypus hydration bladders. I have everything good to say about Platypus and after 5+ years have still not ever had one leak (unless we forgot to lock the bite valve… our fault). We could only fill it to 2L to have it fit in the Deuter Air’s pouch though… and we got all the air out of it too…
Thanks for the quick response! Sounds like we’ll have to settle for wrestling air out of bladders too :\
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