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The Deuter Kid Comfort Series backpack carrier was actually the second backpack carrier we tried in our toddler-hiking-days. To be honest, it’s a strong contender for “favorite” (Matt preferred this Deuter, while Cristen preferred the Osprey Poco (read about that here)… but we were equally happy to carry either).

It has five versions within the series:

1) Kid Comfort Venture - this is their most basic back, scaled to only the must-have features and at a lower price point. It gets the job done well, no complaints. It has the same hip belt and shoulder strap system as the other backpacks, but not the extra storage pockets and space that you might want to longer or solo-with-the-kid treks. The sunshade can be added as an extra accessory.

2) Kid Comfort Active - this pack is actually a little lighter-weight than the Venture, which is interesting. That said, they start applying some better tech to the back with ventilation and adjustment abilities. There is a bit more storage on this pack as well. It’s a great option for not much more money spent over the Venture. The sunshade can be added as an extra accessory.

3) Kid Comfort Active SL - this is the Active pack, but sized for women. Not having tried this directly, I’m not sure how I feel about that. Normally, I’m all about women-specific-designed gear because we’re just built a little differently! However, unless I knew I was going to be the main person carrier this pack, I would like opt for the Active version that can be adjusted to fit a variety of people comfortably. For much shorter torsos, this could be a great option, though.

4) Kid Comfort - this pack has all the features of the Active version, but starts to beef up the comfort and add more pockets and storage. I think the biggest difference here is that your little passenger gets a much cushier ride with the squishy pad in front. This can actually make a big difference for your child: as we hiked with The Dude in a backpack, he would almost always fall asleep. Having this pad gave him support and a comfortable position, no matter what the trail was like under mom or dad’s feet. The sunshade comes standard with this pack.

5) Kid Comfort Pro - this is the big dog of the fleet. While it is slightly heavier, too, it adds the most storage for longer hikes, including a detachable daypack. This might not seem like much, but if you’re base-camping and making short “feature” hikes that are toddler-friendly, having the daypack can be a nice bonus when you don't want to carry the whole rig. This is definitely the coziest ride for the kiddo with a taller back/headrest and it also has space for a water bladder. And, of course, the sunshade comes standard.

Each of these has the standard aluminum kickstand so you can reach back, pop it out into position, and set the backpack down safely on the ground without it toppling or having to constantly keep a hand on it.

Our experience with the Deuter Comfort Pro was that it somehow felt heavier duty than the Osprey Poco Plus. While heavy duty wasn’t essential for his youngest years of being in a carrier, this was the pack we went to when our son was bigger, heavier, and we needed a really beefy hip belt and load system. It definitely did the job and we were able to carry him (plus stuff) to the backpack’s max load (48.5 lbs/22kg).

As far as warranty goes, here’s what their website says: “Deuter USA, Inc. warrants its products against defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product. This warranty does not cover the damage caused by extreme use, improper care, or the natural breakdown of material over time. If a product is deemed defective, Deuter will repair or replace it. If damages are not covered under warranty, Deuter offers repair services. Charges for repairs will be calculated at the time of evaluation.”

I’ll let you decide on that. While similar to other brands, there is some gray area of understanding and what is considered extreme or natural. That said, we’re very glad they offer repair services!

Deuter has been around since 1898, proudly making adventure gear for all manner of occupations and enthusiasms. They’re also quite committed to the planet and have been a bluesign system partner since 2008 (you can read more about that here).

Finally, when your child has outgrown the backpack carriers, Deuter offers some comfortable and adventure-ready backpack options for him or her to get excited about carrying all by themselves!