re are also two hip pockets, onegold necklace for teenage girl

There are also two hip pockets, one of which contains the mirror, which are great for phones and car keys since the pack can make reaching your pockets a bit awkward. These reviews screamed biased to me and we felt like many of the reviewers received their carrier for FREE and didnt really use it for prolonged use. The Elite has a structured waistband for additional support and it adjusts with pulls inward which is natural for the wearer. If you love the great outdoors and do a lot of walking, then the Thule Sapling Elite is a great investment. It is a small but ingenious idea and we wonder why we never thought of it. When the carrier is on your back, you can reach behind you to retract the stand. Lastly, getting hit in the head, A LOT. The Thule Sapling seems to have one of the smaller child cockpits in comparison with an Osprey Poco Plus or a Deuter Kid Comfort II. All rights reserved. Thule is a Swedish brand known for producing high quality outdoor goods, such as bike trailers, rooftop tents, car roof racks, backpacks, and camper van accessories. Easy to adjust child height and shoulder harness. I consider that pretty high praise considering how averse she is to falling asleep when interesting stuff is happening around her. Thules brand is the best. The Thule Sapling Elite is a most definitely a quality piece if kit, aimed squarely at families who spend a lot of time in the outdoors and who appreciate style and functionality. This is a problem I have with most packs, I have the hipbelt cinched almost all the way and the excess strap is dangling down to my knees. Thule had two child carriers available, the Sapling and Sapling Elite. No ads. The hipbelt fins also adjust easily, just undo the hook and loop, slide the fin in or out, and reattach. We love a good canopy for protection from the sun and rain. It turned out we werent applying enough force to extend it fully, but once in position it greatly assists our daughter in or removing her from the carrier. Thank you for the review. The best part for me was the kickstand though, since whenever we stopped to rest, or we rode public transportation, we could simply set the carrier on the ground and not need to worry about it falling over. But I never got a sense the pain was due to the bag, only the weight I was carrying. So we avoided getting the pack from Amazon and ordered it from a reliable online outdoor store instead. The stomp pad is a little flap which normally sits Velcroed in place behind the base of your back but which, when flapped down and stood on, provides stability and leverage when lifting a child out of the carrier otherwise they can rise off the ground as one. Its the perfect child carrier backpack for prolonged use without bruising your hips, as well as offering a proper fit for short parents; unlike the Osprey and Deuter carriers which are absolutely dealbreakers. I found it was tempting to use all of that space and load the carrier with all bar the kitchen sink before a decent walk, but this is a temptation to be resisted as much as possible as theres no point weighing yourself down with clobber. We love what the Elite has to offer and think most families will too. We really couldnt find any negative reviews regarding comfort or safety issues with the Thule Sapling Elite. The lower storage compartment (which I recommend loading first before the backpack, for balance purposes) offers a fair bit less space than the upper compartment, but was perfect for the smaller items, like bottles and diapers. The pack also includes very roomy waistband pockets that you can use for snacks, phone, keys, wallet, or other quick-access items. Letting your kid just see your face in the mirror can help calm them if theyre being particularly fussy as well. Aw youre welcome! And once you know the settings which work for you S,M,L for the hips, S,M,L,XL, for the torso readjustment takes a matter of seconds. BabyGearLab is reader-supported. It helps improve weight distribution depending on the size of the child and wearer. The removable backpack is a huge boon for hiking since, without it, my wife would be forced to carry all of the supplies, such as water, snacks, first aid kit, etc., which would really be difficult for her for a prolonged hike. The Thule Sapling Elite continues in this long line of quality craftsmanship and does not disappoint! Chances are you already have a day back pack, but at least this option keeps everything neat and self-contained. How can we improve BabyGearLab? Consequently I was expecting a lot from the Thule Sapling Elite child carrier, so its good to report that overall, I wasnt disappointed. Republication, in part or entirety, requires a link back to this original post and permission from the author. Although it looks sleek, if I forget to pop it in, Im afraid I might poke a kid in the eye instead of just bonking them like I would with the closed loop bottom like on the Deuter Kid Comfort. A cut in the plastic buckle on the shoulder strap can cause the shoulder strap to release, posing a fall hazard to a child in the carrier. If you have an older passenger, they might be able to help you out too. Outdoor adventures are better with a baby on your back. We strongly believe in the power of getting families outside. But were not. Ideally, though, Thules instruction manual says that you should be adjusting the height of the seat, and the childs chin should be level to the top of the drool pad. Sure, it gets a bit hard on the back simply due to the weight youre carrying, particularly during hikes. I am a fan of other Thule products, but this isnt my favorite child carrier. Adjusting the child cockpit wasnt the easiest either, especially when your child was in it. The Elite shoulder straps are stiffer than the previous Sapling, but still comfortable and supportive. Its sold as suitable for children from 6 months upwards. The sleeve for your hydration bladder makes sure you wont go thirsty. They work to design and create gear that is easy to use, safe, and stylish for transporting everything you need for fun for an active lifestyle. We are now linking to the Thule Sapling (non-Elite) and hope to test it soon. Second is the sunshade. In fact, from what Ive read, the only complaint that most customers have from Amazon is that they received a wrong version from the third-party seller. Read how our product selection process works. Im debating between this and the Deuter comfort 3 which seems to have more padding when sleeping. There is a place to put your foot for added resistance to make it easier to do adjustments to the buckles and straps. b/7/6/d/b76d6d6965b7a5d896988fc6f654dc0f67ea3eba_134474.jpg, Stylish, comfortable, fully adjustable, packed with features, great storage, Thule Sapling Child Carrier Rain Cover 35, Removable backpack and roomy hip belt pockets. The carrier comes with two main storage compartments: an upper detachable backpack, and lower storage compartment. My 4 year old said she felt more cramped in there than our Deuter. Am I the only one having this issue? THAT WAS IT! In addition to all the features on the Sapling, the Sapling Elite has a removable backpack, extra roomy hipbelt pockets, and pocket mirror included. The following table will show you the difference between the two:if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'sightseeandsushi_com-box-4','ezslot_19',113,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sightseeandsushi_com-box-4-0')}; It arrived in a big box and it came fully assembled with a users guide and instructions on how to adjust for proper fit for both the wearer and child. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Very timely for my family. Okay, this last one really only applies to hyper kids and is more of a joke than a real con. The Elite has a stable cockpit for passengers and testers were even able to jog with the pack on without too much disturbance for the passenger. Got feedback? Depends on your height, but you have to test and fit! We thought wed need to wait a few more years for our daughter to get older before we could get back into hiking, or that wed need to hire expensive babysitters for weekend getaways (no family nearby). It hides all the straps for seat adjustment underneath and there are more Velcro straps in the way than the older version. Yes, it is! The Elite is very comfortable for the wearer with multiple adjustment points and unique features for an ergonomic fit for most wearers. These features include adjustments you can make while wearing the pack with your baby in place. Thanks a lot. It has its own storage pocket and is easy to attach to the pack when you need it. But that type of fixing, securing and strapping know-how has plenty of other applications, and carrying that most precious cargo of all children seems like a logical move for the company. I definitely suggest buying a good set of hiking sticks, (we have these ones), if you plan on buying this or any other carrier pack, preferably carbon fiber hiking sticks for durability. Any usage tips when using a child carrier backpack? This is a really well made piece of kit. So, easy adjustability is vital if you are to get the most out of any back carrier and the Sapling Elite has an initially bewildering array of belts, buckles, straps and sliders to allow you, your partner and your child to get a comfy fit. Its quick and easy to adjust between parents of different heights and very comfortable for both you and the little one. While attachment is difficult, it is more convoluted with a higher number of steps than the competition. Our daughter is 15 months old and its perfect for her and theres plenty of room for growth. Read on for our full review! Thule Sapling Elite was one of the best purchases weve made for our child, as it allows us to recover some of the freedom lost from having a child in the first place. The hip pockets were the one feature that I fell in love with straight away. Easy to wear and adjust between parents of different heights. We hope you take some time to look around to be inspired, educated and know that you are not alone. This pack is great for all day adventure. We found it to be a doddle to get these right for us and indeed quickly realised that we are close enough in size and shape not to need to readjust as we swapped over carrying duties. There are some minor issues that weve found, but theyre far from dealbreakers. Due to those deal breaker reviews, we decided to get the Thule brand. The compartment underneath offers plenty of storage for diapers, clothes, and other baby items, plus a detachable backpack for more storage. I was actually quite impressed with the storage capacity of the backpack given how much space the child seat takes up. A top complaint in a lot of customer reviews if that there is no easy spot for the wearer to stash a water bottle within reach, and I agree with that. Thule never sends us anything. Even when wearing a jacket with plenty of pockets, you tend to find that the carriers straps make them difficult and sometimes impossible to access, so the hip pockets get a double thumbs up. My 62 husband felt that this frame was too small for his body. Read how our product selection process works, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 11 Best Family & Kid-Friendly Hotels in Tokyo, How to Really Plan the Perfect Trip to Japan: First-Timers Guide, When To Visit Japan: Best and Worst Times, Japan in 10 Days: The Ideal Itinerary For A First-Timer, Guide To Choosing The Best Bag For Traveling Japan, Japan Vacation: Every Cost You Need to Know. Initially, we were looking at getting the Osprey POCO AG Premium. For us, Thule Sapling Elite is the BEST child carrier backpack out there. Again, once inside she seemed very comfortable and only seemed to take issue with being placed on the ground, but getting her in and out is quite a task for one person alone, and was made much easier if one person prys the seatback open while you place the child inside. Have you managed a solution for the lack of a chin rest? Hiking Kid Carrier Comparison: Deuter, Osprey, Thule, ALL our hiking kid carrier reviews (including SSCs), Hydration sleeve (Bladder slides between the mesh back and child cockpit). This pad is comfortable with adequate padding but is no longer designed at an angle, so it is potentially less comfortable for napping than the old Sapling. But for a parent or couple who wish, over the course of several years, to include their child in an active, outdoor lifestyle, then this product is a good investment. Copyright 2022 Tales of a Mountain Mama | Bamboo on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. I guess if two of us were out for a walk, one could use the carrier and the other could use the removable back pack to carry bulky or heavier items. If all babies and all adults were all the same size it would be a piece of cake to make a comfortable back carrier. The design helps take the weight off any pressure points and helps the wearer to keep going for longer periods. However, the features and quality seem to justify this price when compared to the packs. As of August 2020, Thule is discontinuing the Sapling, but it is currently still available at many retailers (maybe even at a discount soon). The construction leaves the space where your child sits with a tight fit, despite the adjustable side straps, and getting her legs through the leg holes was sometimes a problem. The waistband on the Elite is comfy and the strap pulls forward which is very user-friendly. Thanks. The yoke of the shoulder straps was too far down his back even on the XL setting. The headrest on the Elite isn't as contoured as the old Sapling, but still supportive and comfortable. To adjust the harness height, you must unhook the headrest, push it forward and then adjust. The Thule Sapling Elite is no longer available. The Thule Sapling Elite is a high-end baby backpack carrier for little ones from 16-48 lbs. What do you think of the removable backpack? BabyGearLab does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.See our Terms for more info. This was a bit of a disappointment, as I find that I like to check on Ava quite regularly and any old compact mirror stashed in a pocket will do that trick. However, the reality is that no matter how much you might want put in a big day in the woods, the coast or the mountains, your child is unlikely to want to spend more than a couple of hours in a back carrier in any one stretch. Thats why well be making full use of the Thule Sapling Elite from now on, especially after we invest in the optional rain cover, which is essential if you wish to get the maximum use out of this product in the British climate. We also love the clever additional features, such as the sunshade and the stomp pad. I found the hip belt to be anything but comfortable, it digs into my sides and when its belted in feels uncomfortable to have around me. Our daughter has always slept well! If you want your passenger out, you will need to completely remove the sunshade due to its x shaped canopy supports that spring it open. The stirrups only have one attachment point with about 8 of adjustability. I feel like most child carriers fall into this range, so far the only carrier that has come close to fitting both my husband and I is our Deuter. Overall, the feature makes it easier to carry little ones and gives them a feeling of enclosed comfort. The Elite cockpit sides and be tightened for smaller passengers to prevent excessive flopping in the seat. This feature helps the pack fit parents of different sizes better than competitors without torso adjustment options. There is no easy way to just have it half attached like I can with our Deuter and Osprey (just unhooking the front attachments so the sunshade stands straight up at the back of the pack). We both tried and tested Deuter Comfort 3 and Thule Sapling Elite at an outdoor gear store. If youre the type of new mum who prefers a remote location to a remote control then chances are you are in the market for a backpack-style child carrier, capable of tackling the rough as well as the smooth. If I had to pick one issue I found to be a genuine problem of the Thule Sapling Elite, it would be with getting our daughter into or out of the seat. You can see there is a size difference in the stock photos in the beginning. The child seat and harness adjustments on the Elite are largely under the drool pad. *You help support BabyGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. I dug deeper and searched for more reviews online and, finally, I found some user reviews from people who used it specifically for hiking and travel. No sponsored content. The Elite stirrups are height adjustable for a custom fit for comfort or leg length. Im thinking of trying a neck pillow. To adjust the seat height, you have to detach the chin pad. This is one of the easiest packs to adjust for the wearer. Living in a relatively remote community on the west coast of Scotland where the nearest piece of pavement is several miles away, it turns out that a backpack child carrier is an essential piece of kit for me and my partner. As for the padding, it was easy to remedy it using my daughters baby blanket. The new seat height is only adjusted from the front but is easily done with a child in the seat. so we ended up with Thule because it was both comfortable for my husband, me, and our daughter. Is the padding enough? If you dont plan to use the Thule Sapling Elite on a very regular basis, then something cheaper should be all you need. During the search for the best child carrier backpack, we were choosing between these three brands: We wanted to compare apples-to-apples here, so we choose between these backpack carriers because they each seemed to be designed for older babies, aged 7 months to 4 years old. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. Some complained that Kid Comfort didnt provide a good fit and didnt adjust well for shorters parents. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. The Elite has two handles for holding, positioning, or storing the pack. The passenger shoulder straps are soft and adjust between the frame and the headrest. The included mirror accessory is great for checking on a sleeping passenger without taking your pack off or requesting help. One last small feature I am not a fan of is the fabric covering the bottoms of the frame on the pack. Hi Susan, yes, we almost always use a small blanket to tuck under her chin whenever she falls asleep. The cockpit on the Elite is cozy and well-structured for little ones to feel secure when riding. Although I do my major adjustments without a kid in the pack, sometimes you need adjust once they are in, and that was not easy to do in this pack. The Elite also weighs about 0.5 lbs more and costs $50 more. Aside from the defective buckles, many customers complained about a faulty hip design, which caused hip pain and even led to bruising after prolonged use of the carrier during their travel or hike due to the hip belt digging in. Straps only went down to my mid thigh. The blurb goes on; And with premium features like a child viewing mirror, removable backpack and roomy hipbelt pockets, you and your child will never want to leave the trail. Even better, especially the bit about the viewing mirror, as Ive often found myself mirror-less and resorting to trying to get a reflection in my smartphone glass to see what my daughter is up to. Even my petite 1 year old seemed snug in there. Then we put our daughter in and we waited to see if she would be uncomfortable and to our surprise, she liked it! But again, this was not a dealbreaker and was easily remedied by just tucking a small plush blanket underneath her chin when its time for her to take a nap. It has the side entry for big kids, quick adjustable seat configuration, and essential stepping spot to pull your kid out of the carrier with ease. The inclusion of the detachable backpack allowed me to share the load a bit, making the hike easier for her. It has loops on the front, and Velcro that attaches to the back. They were at an OK length for my 4yo, but my 14 month could barely reach them. This model also includes a handheld mirror that lets you check on your passenger without taking the pack off. Since I clearly cant fit into the seat I will be basing this off of the reaction of our child. Yes! This pack includes storage in two ways, a large compartment and a mesh pocket on the pack itself, plus there is a removable day pack that includes a large zippered compartment, a small zippered pocket, and a medium-sized mesh pocket. The two legged kickstand isnt my favorite. Thats it. Great review and sorry found the part about the head striking most entertaining. The sunshade, which comes as standard, stows flat in the backpack and springs open into a mini gazebo, providing good coverage from overhead sunlight, but inevitably compromising on protection from slanting rays to allow a child to see out. But that tightness doesnt seem to be an issue once inside, and she seems to enjoy the ride! Please contact us for more information. The Sapling had too many things that I didnt love to call a winner in my book. All the pockets, sleeves and storage options in the world are of no use if child and parent are not physically comfortable when using this type of kit. I love the blue and grey combination, as did my partner. There is joy and growth in the challenge, the bonding and the adventure. Basically it is ready to go straight out of the box, so we lost no time in testing it against the marketing blurb Id previously read online, which promised that the Sapling Elite: safely and comfortably carries your precious cargo while on the trail and effortlessly transitions between parents with simple torso and hipbelt adjustments. Just what we need. According to the size chart, I should be on the M setting, but the yoke was a ways down on my back and I had some gapping under the shoulder straps. Plenty of storage with roomy hip belt pockets for essentials. These were both huge deal breakers for us because we needed a carrier backpack that could easily be adjusted between me and my wife, and the balance issue denotes a poorly designed carrier. I would also suggest purchasing the rain cover, even if it is really annoying that it costs extra. You can buy the Thule Sapling Carrier on Amazon. Not with this pack! The mesh slash pockets on the side of the cockpit are not big enough for storing an adult water bottle. The removable day pack will fit all that and more. Easy to adjust between users and plenty of storage makes the Sapling a good choice for all day hiking or adventures. Let us know! My 4 year old (40 tall/40 pounds) was in the lowest seat position, which rests on the tops of the lower storage area. The Elite includes features for increased airflow along the back to make it more comfortable for the wearer in hot weather or longer trips. Last MinuteEssentials for Your Trip to Japan. Next, you insert the poles into the front sleeves and put the button through the loop. The design is more visually appealing than the two other child carrier backpacks and it seemed popular. This is also a slight con you cant quite dial in the fit if you need something in between those four points. How did we end up with Thule Sapling Elite. Purchase the Thule Sapling for $299.95 from REI or Amazon. The Elite has more storage than most of the competitors. Comfort for both wearers and baby even with prolonged use. I do not enjoy buckling my child into this carrier. Click HERE to see. No lack of space for stashing diapering supplies, spare layers and a few snacks. Making adjustments for the height of a child is equally simply and involves using a side squeeze buckle to raise or lower the webbing on which the little one sits. The Sapling also has a unique feature where you can tighten the pack back to front bringing the child closer to you to help stabilize the load (similar to compression straps on a backpack), but it also makes their cockpit even smaller. Tonnes. The ELite is somewhat expensive, with a price higher than most competitors. You get about 3.5 inches of adjustment on both hips from all the way in at S to all the way out at L. Front or back carrier which should you choose? The front clips that you need to attach the shoulder straps to always end up under your child and you have to dig around to find them before you can attach the shoulder straps. We honestly thought we were doing it wrong at first because after adjusting we were like, thats it? But it turns out thats how easy it was to use and adjust the Sapling Elite. Remember, if you trip and fall while wearing this pack, your kid will fare much worse than you will. In our experience, children use the back headrest less frequently than they do the front drool pad/face rest. Im already familiar with a child carrier that I reckon is great quality, a LittleLife, so I felt that I had a pretty good bench mark to compare the Sapling Elite to. This pack cannot fit her properly. How is when the kid is napping? Other tips include storing the pack in a cool dry area to prevent mold, and washing it after use; the drool pad in particular. As of August 2020, Thule has discontinued the Sapling, but is keeping the Sapling Elite. If not the mirror, the Sapling Elites stand out features are a separable backpack, a pocket for a 3l hydration bladder, a kick stand that allows the whole thing to stand upright, two extremely practical hip pockets and copious storage space. Not just for helping to take some of the stress off your legs while hiking, but also for the stability and safety. It offers comfort and adjustability along with a range of premium features. These features give you a custom fit that can improve the wearer's comfort as the day progresses. The Thule Sapling and Sapling Elite are easily adjustable child carriers ready for all day adventures. Retailing at 259.99, it sits at the top end of the baby backpack market, costing just a bit more than Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Child Carrier (230) and almost double the Little Life Cross Country S3 Child Carrier (125.99). I am barely 51 and SMALL is the best for me. We find that reviews on Amazon are petty and unfair which is why we wrote this review. Full review on the Thule Urban Glide pushchair. But if you just head for the hills occasionally, you would be better off opting for something cheaper and with fewer features. You have to undo the hook and look closure behind their head, pull out the shade, and then reattach the hook and loop to the shade. The waist pockets on the Elite are so large you can fit all your quick access items inside. The Elite includes comfort-related adjustments that you won't find on the competition. These major complaints were major deal breakers and made us scratch Osprey POCO AG off our list of choices. As with all packs, we definitely recommend heading to a local outfitter and trying on a variety as all packs fit everyone a little different and everyone has different preferences. We After months of intense testing with six leading Backpacks tested thousands of baby and kids products, Comfy to wear and ride in, lots of storage, canopy and hydration pocket, Best child comfort, custom fit possibilities, loads of storage, Easy on the wallet, fit for narrower builds, comfy for passengers and parents, Higher price, hard to adjust seat, may be too long for shorter torsos, Very limited storage, canopy costs extra, no dedicated spot for a hydration bladder, Lower quality, not very comfortable for parent or child, Comfortable pack with lots of storage, a canopy, and easy to use features, Super comfortable carrier for parents and children with lots of useful storage, This high-quality, less expensive pack is comfortable for babies and parents with narrower builds but the storage is limited, Inexpensive option with good storage, but it isn't that comfortable to wear or ride in, 35.6cm x 35.6cm x 78.7cm | 14" W x 14" H x 31" L, 40.6cm x 25.4cm x 78.7cm | 16" W x 10" H x 31" L, 38.1cm x 27.9cm x 76.2cm | 15" W x 11" H x 30" L, 37.3cm x 24.1cm x 72.4cm | 14.7" W x 9.5" H x 28.5" L, 210 denier polyamide fabric. The cockpit is also adjustable and fits most children with ease and comfort.