Over the past 5 years we have logged hundreds of miles with the Kelty FC 3.0. In fact, on numerous occasions, we have wished we were Kelty reps. One particular ‘Wish-I-was-a-Rep’ occasion occurred while vacationing in Yellowstone National Park. During that trip in 2012, we were asked in two unrelated instances if we knew of somewhere close-by where someone could purchase this exact child carrier…wish we would have had a couple additional carriers in the car we could have sold for a few extra bucks J
Kelty really went out of their way to provide all the
necessities, and convenient amenities, for including your little one on an
outdoor adventure. When we initially
spent a little more to get the 3.0, I thought we were being a little frivolous;
honestly, how often are we going to need a changing pad and a sun/rain
hood? Every single time! Let’s be realistic, odds are, it is sunny, or
it is raining when you are out hiking.
What other weather is there!?!
And the hood even doubles as a crude, caveman style pillow during those
ever too frequent times when the little tyke’s head starts to bob around as
your methodical bounding through the woods hypnotically eases them into a
sandman slumber. Also, potentially
needing no further clarification, the changing pad does not fall into the
convenient amenity category. This necessity
has alleviated those moments when you wonder why a freshly cleaned bottom is a
magnet for leaves, twigs and grass. Although it can be a good time plucking
tiny blades of grass off slightly damp baby buns…J
In what may be considered by some as slight overzealousness, we did take our little family of 4 to the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park when Sawyer and Talmage were 3 years old and just over a year, respectively. In a feat of super human toddler strength, Sawyer made it to the top under his own power (another story in and of itself)! But Talmage got to ride in the Kelty FC 3.0. More than once on the way up the final ascent we were stopped by an overly frazzled middle aged hiker questioning the security of the kid carrier…and maybe our sanity. “He isn’t going to come out and go toppling down the mountain, is he?” “Nope, not unless I go rolling down with him!” I would smile. You may not need to personally test the shoulder straps in the exact same way, but I can assure you that a child can in fact be turned upside down without slipping right out on their head…Don’t judge!
You obviously aren’t packing a tent and a couple sleeping
bags in the extra storage pockets, but the space is more than capable of
handling the entire families need for food, water, a few toys, extra jackets
for the crew, and a change of baby clothes, with room to spare for a camera and
a few Band-Aids. Seriously, I am always
amazed how much we can pack into the carrier and still have plenty of space for
an entire human!
The waist belt is padded and comfortable with those handy
pockets which are great for keys, chap stick, and maybe a couple strategically
stashed packages of fruit snacks for those…kid moments.
Don’t judge (too harshly) but this carrier has been a life
saver on numerous occasions. Despite
having been to Old Faithful in Yellowstone and the top of Angels Landing in
Zion National Park, as well as Bryce Canyon, Brian Head, Lake Blanche in Big
Cottonwood Canyon, Wall Lake in the Uinta Mountains, almost every trail in Snow
Canyon, and numerous other adventures…it has also provided babysitting services
while mowing the lawn…more than once.
And maybe similar services while vacuuming the house…and hypothetically,
as some added weight when doing pull-ups, but hey when you have something that
works, you use it…right!?!
Would I recommend the Kelty FC 3.0 to a friend? Absolutely!
In fact, we do all the time. We literally could not have lived without
this piece of equipment in our repertoire over the past 5 years raising our two
boys in the great outdoors. It will be a
bitter sweet day when we don’t have one of the munchkins strapped to our back
while out on another adventure. But,
until then, it is nice to know this pack will get our babies wherever we choose
to drag them!
Get out there! Get Dirty! It’s never too early to get those
kiddos a little dirty in the great outdoors!
