Kelty 2010 FC 3.0 Review & PreOrder Link

Are you looking for an awesome item to reconnect yourself and you family in the great outdoors? I have been dying to get out into the Mountains, but with a one year old, it isn’t so simple. This summer we wanted to hit the Hot Air Balloons up in Driggs,  Idaho for the 4th of July…Our first issue was not wanting to drive the distance in the early am to make it there by 4am and our second is if we wanted to camp and be in the area how were we going to get the family up in the mountains to do that? Needless to say we didn’t go again…

So my search started for a way to get around the not so easy terrain of the mountains and the dirt walking paths of the middle of NoWhere  around our current home. There are a ton of ideas to accomplish what I wanted, but a backpack type carrier is what seemed the most functional for both locations. What kid doesn’t love sitting on their parents shoulders?

A tiny bit about Kelty: Founded by Dick Kelty in 1952 after hand-making packs for friends, Kelty grew to earn a reputation as the Cadillac of backpacks. Innovations such as aluminum frames and waist belts were unheard of before Kelty and have changed backpacking forever.

We received a Kelty FC 3.0 to review. The FC 3.0 is Kelty’s top of the line child carrier designed to provide outstanding comfort for long hikes on the trail.  The FC 3.0 features a fully padded, ventilated cockpit and five-point adjustable harness to keep kids comfy and secure. A patented auto-deploy kickstand engages as soon as the pack is taken off making loading and unloading simple, safe and worry-free.  The FC 3.0 comes with 1150 cubic inches of storage space divided between under the seat and rear compartments.   Extras include a sun/rain hood and changing pad.  $249.95.

I was worried at first…the box looked huge and immovable, but my 7 year old was able to bring it in with no issues. The box barely weighed a thing! The backpack was fully assembled and all we had to do was pull it out of the plastic. The color is lovely too. With the baby being a girl the green color can go either way and it isn’t harsh (I did think about a bright color being able to be spotted if we got lost, but I know we aren’t going to wander in areas I don’t know or off a trail).

Kelty has all the things I needed to survive a backpacking trip. The FC 3.0 even came with a sun and rain hood that easily attaches to the backpack to keep the baby cool and dry. There are a ton of pockets that can fit all the items I know I want to bring and can keep them in close reach. My favorite is on the waist belt. There are two small pockets that my camera fit into and my keys in the other. The designer even added a diaper changing pad. I love this because I change bags and go places and sometimes I don’t want to use my everyday stuff for special trips. I am not worried it will rip or tear. This item is high quality constructed.

Pros

Semi Ridged back support. It is soft enough to be comfortable, but hard enough in the right places to provide support. If you are worried about this being painful in the wrong areas (I was) you can adjust it easily with the straps. I have had 3 back surgeries and need a 4th so I have a tender area right where the belt wraps around. I was able to comfortably wear this with Cord in it and not have an issue.

Ample storage area for diapers, snacks, and other hiking items in a lower bag and upper bag area. Tiny Velcro pockets for the smaller items.

Easy to adjust everything.
Washable padding for child’s chest and neck area (a plus for a teether).

Easy to set down with the stand.

Mini Issues to me…

The stand sticks out more than I like, but it isn’t really an issue if you aren’t in a crowded area. It makes me want to buy the TC model for everyday use!

It’s hard to pick a kid up alone if you have them sitting on the floor, but I was able to do it.

It was so sad to take Cord out because she wants to live in it…Seriously I need the everyday TC model now!

Don’t miss out on any Wonderful Outdoor Day! This is a Must Have for any family on the go or one that wants to become an on the go family. The holiday season is the perfect time to purchase this fully updated and upgraded Child Carrier before it hits the stores.

Thanks to an exclusive partnership with outdoor equipment retailer REI, Kelty’s complete line of 2010 Frame Carriers- FC 3.0, FC 2.0, and FC 1.0- will be available for purchase online at www.REI.com starting December 1st.  For shoppers wanting to see these carriers before buying, the FC 3.0 in green will also be available on November 10 at over 100 REI retail stores across the country.

Don’t miss out on all the fun Kelty has become a fan on Facebook.

Kelty has a monthly giveaway contest on their Facebook page…Send in your pics and you could win some free gear of your own!

More info is available in the Here.