Gear Review: Kelty Kids FC 1.0 Carrier

While hiking with Kendra’s parents in South Carolina, I got the opportunity to try out her mom’s Kelty Kids FC 1.0 Carrier with Addison. We went a on 3-mile hike on a easy trail with Addison riding in the carrier most of the way. She really seemed to enjoy the view from the pack – it rides much higher than our
Deuter Kid Comfort III, so she was able to see more scenery than usual. She seemed comfortable for most of the hike, though she did press against the bottom of the pack to stretch out her legs several times. The five-point harness held her well.

I liked how light it was – the pack itself is just under 5lbs, and with Addison and her extra diapers and clothing, I was only carrying about 26lbs on my back. The 950 cu. inches of storage space seemed more than adequate for our needs for a short day hike, and I really liked the little D-rings in the cockpit that allow toys to be clipped on for Addison to entertain herself.

However, as much as I enjoyed having less weight on my back, the pack rides very high, so I felt off-balance over rocky and uneven terrain. Also, there is no compartment for a bladder, nor are there pockets to hold water bottles. I had to keep asking Kendra for water during our hike, which was frustrating. (I should note, Kendra, who is 5’3″, likes this pack much more than our Deuter carrier in terms of comfort.)

At $149.95, the pack is very reasonably priced, though it will set you back another $34.95 for a sun/rain hood.