Deuter Kid Comfort II Backpack
I love to have Worm close to me. He’s my right hand man! Besides, I’m not a huge fan of strollers. They’re cumbersome and bulky for most situations (not to mention inconvenient for everyone except for the child riding inside). So when I can manage it, I carry my little guy. When our family was looking for a baby carrier, we were hoping to find one that fit our lifestyle. And our lifestyle includes solo parent hikes while managing three creatures (a baby and two dogs) over hills, through woods, and into the city. The Deuter Kid Comfort II was a great choice for us.
Kid cargo backpacks are pretty incredible nowadays and this one is no exception. The Deuter Kid Comfort II has a well designed aluminum subframe, cooling system, and pockets galore.
But first, let’s talk about the most important thing. Comfort for me. The KC2 is incredibly adjustable and breathable. In a backpack, those two characteristics make this backpack very comfortable. My wife and I have two different body types and yet we both agree on the superior comfort of this pack. The hip support belt is thick and very supportive. I don’t get any irritation from hours of it resting on my bony hips. The breathability is also top-notch. I never feel like the pack is sticking to my back or that I’m not getting any airflow underneath the straps or other contact surfaces. Deuter calls it the Aircontact system and it works as described. Deuter also has something called a Vari-flex system built into the pack. It allows for the KC2 to cling to your body as you negotiate uneven terrain without making the backpack feel rigid. To me, the Vari-flex system gives me more control over the pack on technical trails.
The KC2 looks to be pretty comfortable for our baby. He gets a 5-point harness with padded straps. He gets a soft, removable drool pad/sleep pad/chin pad. The kid seat is adjustable to some extent and even has a side entry/exit buckle. I haven’t used the side entry buckle yet, so I can’t speak on the convenience of it. For now, it’s still fairly easy for me to top load my precious live cargo. The only issue I have with this part of the backpack is that when my boy falls asleep, his head can rest directly on the side entry buckle. (I’ve read this about other users of this backpack as well.) Also, please note that we started using the KC2 with a 1-year old. I cannot comment on how well it fits a younger, smaller passenger.
A huge selling point of this pack was the built-in hydration system. Between the carrier and the carried one, there’s a side access compartment for putting up to a 2 liter hydration pack. I didn’t see this on any of the other packs that I looked at. For us living in a dry climate, hydration is important and being able to store fluids in a separate compartment is extremely convenient. The only down side is that a hydration pack doesn’t come standard with the KC2.
One of the drawbacks of the pack are the zippers on the Kid Comfort II. They are a little irritating. First off, I’ve got large hands. Small zippers are not good for large hands. The worst offending zippers are on the large rear compartment. I always need two hands to get the thing opened and closed. I can’t imagine the level of irritation I would get to if I was in cold weather with gloves on and had to open that compartment.
Why we didn’t choose the Kid Comfort I: We live in warm weather so it was important to have a cooling system for the back. We also wanted the hydration pack. The KC1 doesn’t have either.
Why we didn’t choose the Kid Comfort III: The KC3 had a more restricted viewing area due to its integrated rain/sun cover. It was also taller. I didn’t think the larger KC3 backpack was going to be as versatile for city use as well as trail use.
Overall, the Deuter Kid Comfort II does everything we need it to. It’s large enough to carry equipment for our baby, our dogs, and ourselves for a sizable day hike. The KC2 has a 48.5lb total weight capacity. It’s comfortable for the wearer on long walks over various terrains. The excellent design of this pack really shines through. I highly recommend giving the KC2 a look if you’re in the market for a kid carrier.
— Dimensions —
Weight: 6 lbs 8 oz (2950 g)
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Overall Rating: 9 Worms
Ease of Use: 9 Worms
Performance: 10 Worms
Features: 8 Worms
Durability: 8 Worms (It’s still early, so this rating will get modified as we use the KC2 more and more.)
Manliness: 10 Worms
Retail Price: $239.99
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Pros:
Extremely comfortable. Easy to adjust for different sized adults. I love the large compartment at the base. Plenty of pockets for compartmentalizing your hiking life. It comes with a cute little teddy bear for the kiddo!
Cons:
Rain/sun shield must be purchased separately. No built-in storage for the rain/sun shield in the pack. (You can store the rain/sun shield in the hydration pack compartment, but why not a dedicated place for it?) Hydration pack must be purchased separately. Pack sometimes squeaks when walking.
Things I would modify:
Add a second hip belt pocket. Add a dedicated rain/sun shield storage compartment. Add rings or some system to clip sippy cups/snack cups to hip belt. It would free up my hands a bit more.
Where to find:
Me vs. Gavin 
I have to agree. I myself have a Deuter Kid Comfort II, and the pros far outweigh the cons. I’ve used this carrier since my daughter was 6 months old. I love how you can adjust the seat up to better accommodate a smaller child. My only beef with the KC2 is the locking kickstand. I love the stability, but when I have it positioned on my back, it’s next to impossible for me to reach the release button. So, now I always unlock it on the lift, before I put it on my back. Thanks for the review!