“Your traveling days are over.” I’ll never forget the number of people telling me that when my wife and I announced that we were having child #1.
Four years later, what we hear now is much different. “Your child is such a world traveler.” “You go on so many adventures as a family.” “You hiked what with a toddler?!” It’s true, we didn’t really slow down at all after we had our precious little girl.
There are a lot of reasons why we chose to keep traveling, keep exploring, and to take her with us on every new adventure. But one of the simplest reasons was that we found a way to make traveling with a child less challenging.
Thanks to the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Child Carrier it is much easier to take our daughter anywhere and everywhere with us.
You see, where we go she goes. And she absolutely loves it. She affectionately calls the child carrier “the pack” and loves “going for rides in the pack”.
Whether it’s walking the dogs around the block, going for a nature hike, or exploring a new city, the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 has made life and travel with a curious toddler practically effortless.
How the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Compares to other Child Carriers
| Child Carrier | Pros | Cons | Weight |
| Deuter Kid Comfort 3 | Collapsible kickstand Removable shade for easier storage. | Not as light as some. | 7 lbs |
| Osprey Poco | Features removable day pack | More expensive. Heavier. | 7.6 lbs |
| LuvdBaby Premium | Removable shade and collapsible kickstand for easier storage. Removable backpack and insulated pouch. Less expensive | 40 pound weight limit. Complaints of zippers breaking. | 6.7 lbs |
| Besrey child carrier | Least Expensive. Lightest. Collapsible kickstand and waistband. | Not as comfortable. | 5.5 lbs |
| WIPHA Baby Backpack | Large storage compartment. Collapsible for storage. Less expensive. | Boxy. Weight felt on shoulders more. | 6.6 lbs |
About the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 (also called the Deuter Kid Comfort iii)
The Deuter Kid Comfort 3 is the perfect kid carrier for active families with toddlers. You can safely use it beginning when your child is old enough to sit up on his or her own, although a 6-month-old might look a little small in it. It is one of the best baby and kid carriers for travel!
Because it has a weight limit of 48 pounds, you’ll get plenty of use out of it as your child grows. Our 4-year-old only weighs 32 pounds, so there is a good chance she will still fit in it at 6 years old! Although, by that point, I’m making that kid walk!
The Deuter Kid Comfort III has a soft, padded 5-point harness child seat. The harness is adjustable for each child’s size. It also has a soft chin pad which provides a comfortable place for your child to rest or even nap.
The interior is removable and machine washable for easy cleaning.
Deuter’s AirContact design is intended for maximum ventilation to reduce that oh-so-lovely back sweat that happens when wearing a child carrier for an extended amount of time.
Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Accessories
The Deuter Kid Comfort 3 comes with several accessories to help protect your little one from the elements and keep them comfortable and content.
Removable shade
It has a removable, stowable shade that quickly folds up and fits in one of the storage compartments. The shade is great for keeping your little one out of the sun, whether you are hiking or simply outside on a sunny day.
Rain Cover
The Deuter Kid Comfort 3 also comes with a rain cover with clear side panels to keep your child dry in wet weather.
This came in particularly handy when we hiked the Great Wall of China when our daughter was 3 years old. It poured rain during our entire hike, but for the most part, our daughter stayed dry, although her legs did get wet because she didn’t keep them inside the carrier.
Storage compartments
When hiking or traveling with a baby or toddler, storage compartments are vital aspect of any child carrier. Diapers, snacks, an extra change of clothing, and a water bottle are all things you might need to store in the child carrier.
The Kid Comfort 3 has a large storage compartment in the back that is big enough to fold up a rain jacket and keep a large Nalgene water bottle in.
There is also a smaller compartment on the top where you can keep a phone, a camera, or a map, and side pockets.
Additionally there are large side pockets and a zip-pocket on the waistband where you can store a credit card or driver’s license.
Teddy bear
Perhaps our toddler’s favorite accessory that comes with the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 is a small teddy bear. I always believe it’s the little things that matter most, and for our daughter, this small stuffed animal was an instant selling point for her.
In my opinion, if Deuter put enough thought into this child carrier that they decided to include a stuffed animal, they probably put a lot of thought into the every aspect of its design and functionality. And it shows.
Beyond the little things, like the teddy bear, the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 passed the comfort and durability test for us, as well. We’ve taken our child carrier to more than a dozen countries, on countless airplanes, and on numerous hikes.
It’s been in the heat of the Central American sun and survived two weeks of non-stop rain. It hasn’t ripped, torn, worn down, broken or lost any level of functionality in any way.
Child Comfort
Strapping a child into the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 is quick and easy. In fact, our daughter climbs into it on her own.
The child carrier has adjustable shoulder straps for your child that each clip in between the legs. There is a padded seat, and the portion of the safety harness that goes between the child’s legs is also padded for comfort.
Kids can let their legs dangle or tuck them inside the child carrier. We have found our daughter often uses the bottom of the carrier to serve as a footrest.
To be honest, I am a bit jealous of our daughter when she is in the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 child carrier. She sits higher, which means she is able to see much more than I can. She has a built in pillow to rest her face on and take endless naps whenever she feels like it. And she is able to stay covered in her own little shaded area.
It’s practically impossible to find a picture from our travels where she isn’t in this thing.
Our daughter is a very curious child, so when she was about 8 months, she no longer liked being worn in a chest-facing baby carrier.
We switched from the Ergo to the Deuter Kid Comfort because it allowed her to sit up high and see the world while still being safely strapped in a five point harness.
Not only does she seem comfortable in the Deuter Kid Comfort 3, she truly seems like she enjoys being in it. This has kept her perfectly content on multiple trips and nature hikes throughout her toddler years.
Parent Comfort
Carrying the extra weight of a child on your back can take a toll on your body, so it’s important for whatever child carrier you choose to distribute the weight evenly.
The Deuter Kid Comfort 3 child carrier is adjustable for your particular frame. It distributes the weight evenly across your shoulders and positions much of the weight on the hips rather than the back.
I’m not going to pretend you don’t feel the extra weight of carrying a child. You do. But if the shoulder straps and hip straps are adjusted properly for your size, the strain on your back is minimal. I have been able to wear our daughter on trips lasting up to 10 days in a row without any back pain.
The carrier works for both me (an average size man) and my wife (who is on the petite side).
We’ve found with some other child carriers that the parent straps did not adjust small enough for a petite woman, which is one of the things we like most about the Deuter Kid Comfort 3.
Both Dad and Mom loved it. The adjustable straps make it easy to get the perfect fit.
Getting the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 on is a breeze. It has two grab handles (one on the front and one on the back) which helps to lift the carrier without assistance.
Although the AirContact pad is intended to reduce perspiration when wearing the child carrier, we still tend to sweat a bit when wearing it for an extended amount of time.
Traveling with the Deuter child carrier
We travel a lot as a family. In fact, we have a goal to hit all seven continents by the time our daughter is 10. But every parent who has ever done it will tell you that traveling with a toddler is hard. It’s trying. And it’s exhausting.
Toddlers are emotional, irrational little creatures. And when you travel, you are often dealing with jet lag and unfamiliar situations that only exacerbate the situation.
While I’m not going to tell you the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 made traveling with a toddler a breeze, I will say it made it better.
Using the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 when out and about
We have been able to use our Deuter Kid Comfort 3 as a child seat in restaurants that didn’t have high chairs. They will inevitably sit lower than table height, but it works in a pinch.
The Deuter child carrier has a kickstand on the back that allows it to safely stay propped upright. (Not all places overseas have the same conveniences or safety devices that you may be used to.)
Our daughter has also taken many naps in the child carrier. This has alleviated the need to return to the hotel for nap time and helped us deal with toddler jet lag.
Perhaps one of the greatest things about the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 is the reactions we get from others when they see it. We’ve received so many compliments on it over the years.
People stop us everywhere we go to ask about it or to simply tell us they love it.
Using the child carrier in the airport
We have always found toddler or babywearing at the airport to make the process of going through security and navigating an airport easier.
Unlike soft-bodied carriers, the Deuter does have to be removed (and sent through the x-ray machine) when going through TSA or a security checkpoint. But it still makes air travel with a toddler easier.
For one, it keeps your little one from running amuck, as little ones tend to do. We’ve found it has helped minimize complaining from our tiny traveler when we have to stand in security lines or walk long distances to the gate.
Looking for a soft-bodied baby carrier? Check out our review of the Ergobaby Omni 360.
Almost every flight we’ve taken, they have consider our Deuter Kid Comfort 3 a carry-on bag.
When flying on some of the smaller regional airplanes, we’ve been asked to gate-check it for fear it wouldn’t fit in the overhead compartment. But only once (in Mexico City) have we been required to check it through to our destination as a piece of luggage.
Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Review – Our honest opinion
We’ve made many priceless memories in this child carrier. My daughter has happily spent countless hours in the Deuter Kid Comfort 3.
It has become an invaluable travel accessory to us. It has kept our daughter safe and contained while exploring busy cities and kept her content on long hikes that would be too exhausting or challenging for a toddler.
I’m actually going to be sad when we no longer need to use it. For us, it’s made our life and our travels easier and more enjoyable during those often trying toddler years.
Is the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Worth the Cost?
The Deuter Kid Comfort III is on the pricier side, which is always a factor when making a purchase. For us, the investment was well worth it.
We’ve not only used our child carrier when traveling and hiking in national parks like Yellowstone, we have used it around our own neighborhood and community, as well. We’ve definitely gotten our money’s worth out of it.
In determining whether the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 is worth the cost, you should first consider how often you would likely use it. Are you considering it just for one hike? If so, it may not be worth it.
But if hiking or traveling is a part of your lifestyle, you’ll get years of use and priceless memories out of the Deuter Kid Comfort 3, making it well worth the initial investment. Furthermore, child carriers tend to retain value very well.
So after your child outgrows it, it can easily be resold for a fair price.
READY TO BUY? CLICK HERE TO FIND THE BEST PRICE ON THE DEUTER KID COMFORT.
Overall, if you are looking for a child carrier or hiking backpack carrier for kids, the Deuter Kid Comfort III is a high-quality option that we would certainly recommend.
It has all the features we were looking for, and some we didn’t know we needed. It’s worthy investment if you plan to hike or travel with toddlers.
Have a question or comment about the Deuter Kid Comfort III? We’d love to hear from you. Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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This review of the Deuter Kid Comfort child carrier was first published in March 2019 and was updated in November 2021 for accuracy and current product comparison information.
9 comments on “An Honest Review of the Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Child Carrier”
Does this carrier fit in most overhead compartments on air planes?
Yes, it does. As with rolling luggage/carry-ons, we have been asked to gate check it at times. But since it collapses somewhat flat, we have never had trouble fitting it in the overhead.
Have you ever got back pain wearing this with your child?
Even once?
Any tips for how to minimize this please?
Yes. I have gotten back pain while wearing it. But it was mainly because it was not adjusted correctly for my frame. The trick to preventing back pain with this carrier is to make sure it is adjusted correctly and that the shoulder harness sits between your shoulder blades. When we first got it, it was fitted for my husband, and I just tightened the hip belt and straps to fit me. But if two people of different sizes are using the carrier, the shoulder harness needs to be adjusted for each person or it will be uncomfortable.
Hello and thank you for the great review !! I got that as used carrier and I have never used one before, can you make a video on how to use and adjust the carrier ? That will be very useful for newbie 🙂 thank you so much !!
Hello! I’m planning to buy a carrier from a consignment shop and was wondering how do you clean the carrier? Can you take down some parts and wash in the dryer?
Thank you so much!
The pillow can come off and be washed, but the rest of the carrier does not come apart to wash. It is made of a durable polyester material, so it wipes down really well and easily with a cloth and soapy water and air dries quickly.
Hi Damon and Melissa,
Was curious to know which flight companies you have had the carrier in the carry on? I thought it might be considered as bulky luggage it is not the case? And did you do multiday hikes where you also carried more than a day back?
Thanks!
love the review. Have been considering the kid comfort 3 (im very used to deuter backpacks) vs the little lives cross country s4 which is significantly cheaper but has good ratings as well. The little lives is about 2.5kg which is lighter then the deuter at 3.5kg. Little lives does not have the kick stand. We are planning to do a 10 day hike to Annapurna base camp and thought the lighter weight may be more important especially when hiking at high altitudes. Wondering how you felt doing your 10 day hike with the deuter which is slightly heavier. Beyond this 1 hike we also do travel a lot and would like to use this on our trips, which leads me to believe that having the kickstand is useful especially after seeing your review above 🙂