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 or the Kelty Pathfinder 3, this is a very simplified pack. It has one storage compartment under the seat and a suspended mesh panel on the back. You can put a hydration system in the main cargo area easily, though it isn’t designed specifically for it.

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.

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.

The Bottom Line:

Fantastic, high quality pack that is easy to adjust and very comfortable. Very similar to the Deuter Kid Comfort II in terms of design of backpack.  This pack will be perfect for families that adventure year-round and are looking for better ways to manage the “sweat factor”.

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