Small outgrew her Vaude Butterfly Comfort a while ago and this had limited our family walks to a mile or two as her little legs tire easily and I had thought that a days rambling with the kids was something to look forward to in a couple of years.
However, whilst flicking through the Vaude Dealers Catalogue (my favourite bedtime reading) I spotted the Koala - a carrier for children aged 3-5 years. Perfect I thought, ordered one and have just had the chance to road test it.
The manufacturers specs;
Carrying aid for children from 3-5 years who need a little break while out hiking with Mom and Dad. Not designed for long hikes.
- Weight: 300g
- Max. Load 24 kg
- Easily stowed in the pack after use
- Centre of gravity close to the body
- Padded mesh back
- Lightweight padded shoulder straps
- Sternum strap
- Fabrics: 210 D Dobby Polyamid PU coated
Vaude have designed the koala for occassional light use - I think it is ideal to pop in a bag and let little legs have a rest and recharge whilst out and about. There won’t be any hiking up Snowdon with it but I think the possibility of adding a mile or two to a family walk is quite exciting.
The soft padded construction means the Koala packs down well, the mesh bag the carrier comes in measures approx 26cm x 19cm x 13cm, I was able to fit it in to a small shoulder bag. The mesh bag also meant that the straps did not get tangled with all the junk I usually carry in my bag.
The child sits in the Koala in much the same position that they might sit whilst having a piggyback. Small said that she was comfortable when sitting in it although did also say that tucking her legs up over my hips was more comfortable than having them dangling. Some of the literature I have read about this carrier claims that a child could sleep whilst being carried in it - without the child supporting their own body weight I can’t imagine being able to walk more than a couple of hundred metres. I had to ask Small to tuck in close to my body as I felt unbalanced if she leant too far back.
From the load carriers point of view this was more comfortable than I thought it might be - I’m not going to say that you couldn’t tell you were carrying a child but compared to a piggy back there were definate advantages;
- having your arms free for taking photos, holding a dog lead, reading a map;
- not having a small child’s arms pulling around your neck;
- the childs weight is spread across your back and shoulders reducing neck strain.
I had also expected to feel the extra weight in my legs but the centre of gravity is kept close to the body spreading the extra weight, whilst I only walked a short distance (half a mile) I didn’t feel any strain in my legs.
If you have been used to carrying a large toddler in a framed carrier the transition to the Koala will be simple and comfortable, and in theory your child should be walking most of the way anyway.
Small was able to step in to the Koala easily and the straps were very easy to adjust - just like adjusting a backpack - she also felt secure and didn’t grab at my shoulders or neck.
As an addition to our walking kit I think the Koala will open up some opportunities to get the kids walking a little further and am quite excited about using it properly.
My only complaint - when I’m carrying Small on my back where do I put my backpack? Just as well I have Boy Wonder to carry it for me :-)
We are stocking these at the Little Wide World online store from April 15, 2010 priced at £35 (+p&p)… http://www.littlewideworld.co.uk.
