Kelty TC 3.0 Carrier baby backpack

This is such a great idea for a child carrier. At first try I didn't like this pack...at all. I thought that it was cumbersome, big, ugly & didn't really see the need to have all that storage. I went home & slept on it, went back & tried it again. This time I compared it to the Kelty Tour & the Deuter Kid Air Comfort. This TC is smaller in size when on your back than the Tour & Roughly the same size as the Deuter (which by the way I have & also wrote a review on) Instead of carrying the diaper bag, stroller, carrier & managing to juggle all the things you need when taking 2 kids on an outing out to the car, I can just put it all in the TC. Well everything except the stroller of course. I don't have to bring both my diaper bag & carrier, since they are now one. What is nice is that the back pack when not completely stuffed can be cinched in on both sides making for a more compacked backpack. My husband was totally amazed that there was even a child carrier in it! The 2nd back pack can be zipped off if you don't want the extra bulk or if you have a little one who prefers to carry his own stuff. The cockpit is super cozy & has straps to close the seat in on the baby for a compact & comfy ride. My son Loved the Deuter but I think he enjoys the fit of the TC more. Of course it comes with Kelty's lifetime warranty which is nice. The reason I chose this model over the 1.1 is the fit. The 1.1 doesn't have as many adjustments as this model. The best I could describe it is like a heavy backpack with a waist belt. Granted it weighs less than the 3.0, but when you have a childs weight on your back why not make it the most comfortable? The 3.0 also came with a rain/sun hood, a mirror (for spying on the little monkey on your back) with pouch located right on the shoulder strap & a change holder on the waist belt. The rain hood alone costs $35. The 3.0 has a sturdy bottom which makes for easier loading & unloading. The 1.1 is like loading your kid into a soft backpack that doesn't want to stand up. I imagine if there had been something in the pack portion it would have been a little easier. The 3.0 is taller than a normal, say Jansport backpack. A lot taller. There are so many different adjustments that can be made to the 3.0 it amazes me. Oh Sooo comfy. When my son sits in the cockpit there is no pressure on his legs like there normally is in a standard framed carrier, therefore he has better circulation in his legs. Normally they sort of hang in a seat, the pressure being mostly on their inner thigh. But with this design they sit with their legs wide open, how they tend to sit all the time anyway, & the base of the pack works as a place to rest their feet. I do have to say that it can be a little tricky to get them into the seat, but after you have done it a couple of times it gets easier. It's a bit like trying to get them into a soft seated bouncy saucer, you just get one leg in when the other comes out. You just have to make sure their feet get inside the correct holes. If you are looking for an easy, just put your kid in quickly & go type carrier this one might not be for you. It takes a little time to do the buckling (which by the way is easily accessible & fully covered on their shoulders) and cinching required to make for a safe & comfy ride. It is definitely not as easy as a standard framed carrier, but this was not made to be one of those. This one is made for convenience, quality & comfort for both toter & totee. If you do decide to get one have someone help you fit it to your back. Any backpacking store should be willing to help.