Thule Sapling Child Carrier - Black

Great product. Good value for money, very good quality. We brought this carrier for hiking with an 8 month old baby and couldn’t be happier. Baby seemed to like it and was comfortable on it, also slept in without any problems. The pads allowed him to rest his head well.The waist straps are very good and give a lot of support, taking a big pressure from your shoulders. The only reason I don’t give 5starts is because we felt that the shoulder strap was a bit hard and didn’t fit on my husband’s shoulder at 100% .We also got the optional rain cover and it was perfect not only for the rainy days, but also a good protection against wind and cold weather.The carrier itself has enough pockets for a day hiking, but we got the extra bag, which is good for organising things ... MoreGreat product. Good value for money, very good quality. We brought this carrier for hiking with an 8 month old baby and couldn’t be happier. Baby seemed to like it and was comfortable on it, also slept in without any problems. The pads allowed him to rest his head well.The waist straps are very good and give a lot of support, taking a big pressure from your shoulders. The only reason I don’t give 5starts is because we felt that the shoulder strap was a bit hard and didn’t fit on my husband’s shoulder at 100% .We also got the optional rain cover and it was perfect not only for the rainy days, but also a good protection against wind and cold weather.The carrier itself has enough pockets for a day hiking, but we got the extra bag, which is good for organising things and separating food from baby cloths and nappies.

A must for families on the go!

The Thule Sapling was the perfect pack for us to carry our little one on hikes, vacation, through the airport, anywhere when we needed to be hands free but bring her along! We tried a few other backpacks and I think this was the most comfortable for her and us! The storage in the back was great for trips and the sunshade protected her on hot days. Highly recommend!

Broke on our first hike

I was really excited to try out our new Thule Sapling baby carrier. We did a test run at the shop and it seemed very comfortable. Unfortunately the carrier broke on our first outing! Baby's seat is "secured" by a plastic clip that allows you to adjust the height of the seat. This is a major design flaw as this tiny clip takes the full weight of the baby and is clearly not strong enough. The seat clip broke and our son dropped to the bottom of the carrier. He is 12kg so is nowhere near the upper weight limit for the carrier (20kg). The quality is not at all what I expected from a brand like Thule and it's not a cheap carrier. We've returned this and I would advise parents not to waste their money on this product.

Comfortable and Functional

We bought the Sapling last month, and we are loving it! It is comfortable and super adjustable, so my partner and I can both take turns hiking with our little one. The spacious compartment allows us to bring all our hiking essentials, and it is easily accessed by the side zippers, while the carrier is being worn. We also purchased the rain cover, which has been great too! We have used it a few times, mostly on windy days without rain, and it does a great job at keeping baby protected from the elements.

Exposed frame makes for uncomfortable ride

My husband was taken with the color. Because he is the one carrying the baby and not me, and because we have bought other products made by thule and been pleased with them, I agreed. even though it was never mentioned in the top three best baby backpack lists that I spent So much time filtering through. Our toddler was being a madman at the store so we bought this backpack, which was the most expensive one by about $75, and waited until we got home to try it out. We put the baby in it for a walk to the park a few blocks away. Pretty immediately he started saying “ow” and rubbing his head and we realized that with just about every step he would hit his head on the exposed metal frame behind him. I just can’t imagine how this was a good design choice. We knew there ... MoreMy husband was taken with the color. Because he is the one carrying the baby and not me, and because we have bought other products made by thule and been pleased with them, I agreed. even though it was never mentioned in the top three best baby backpack lists that I spent So much time filtering through. Our toddler was being a madman at the store so we bought this backpack, which was the most expensive one by about $75, and waited until we got home to try it out. We put the baby in it for a walk to the park a few blocks away. Pretty immediately he started saying “ow” and rubbing his head and we realized that with just about every step he would hit his head on the exposed metal frame behind him. I just can’t imagine how this was a good design choice. We knew there was no way we could make this work on our strenuous hike we had planned at rainier. So my husband had to run back to the store and switch it out for an Osprey poco plus which we have been very pleased with. The Thule looked cool, but that’s about the best thing I can say. The rest of the features were just ok. you have to attach the sunshade yourself, there are no foot rest, storage Seemed a bit of an afterthought. I would’ve expected much much more out of a product that cost so much ($430) and has such a reputable brand name behind it. I just can’t get over that stupid design.

Great child carrier!

Very excited about the Thule Sapling – it’s the perfect ride for our 30lb toddler. It has great support for both child and parent, with numerous points of adjustments that can be tailored to taller (and shorter) carriers. The weight is well distributed, making it easy to maintain balance while wearing the pack. It’s also well ventilated and comfortable for everyone to wear even on longer outings, and I really like the kickstand on the back that turns it into an impromptu seat when it’s time for a snack or sitting around the fire. The gear compartment is nicely sized (22L) with easy access even while in use, and there are handy front pouches at the waist for smaller items (keys, phone, snacks). Highly recommend!

Must have for any hikers with kids!

I love to hike and was always dreaming of taking my young niece Lilly on a hike with me. As soon as I saw this product I had to try it! It works perfectly and exceeded all my expectations.First off, the material is incredibly comfortable for both the person carrying and the child. It is lightweight, machine washable, well ventilated and even contains a drool pad for any droolers out there, like my Lilly, it’s a saving grace. She loved the ErgoRide seat and was singing (her way of showing how happy she is) and smiling for the entire hike.Secondly, this sapling is build very wisely. The sunshade is easy to deploy and provides ample sun protection. I also appreciated that I could easily access the backpack compartment (which had tons of snacks in it) while wearing ... MoreI love to hike and was always dreaming of taking my young niece Lilly on a hike with me. As soon as I saw this product I had to try it! It works perfectly and exceeded all my expectations.First off, the material is incredibly comfortable for both the person carrying and the child. It is lightweight, machine washable, well ventilated and even contains a drool pad for any droolers out there, like my Lilly, it’s a saving grace. She loved the ErgoRide seat and was singing (her way of showing how happy she is) and smiling for the entire hike.Secondly, this sapling is build very wisely. The sunshade is easy to deploy and provides ample sun protection. I also appreciated that I could easily access the backpack compartment (which had tons of snacks in it) while wearing the pack and was also easily able to drink via the drink tube exit port. These little details make this product ingenious.Thirdly and most importantly it’s comfortable for Mt back!! It took me a little time to find the perfect adjustment settings but when I did it felt very comfortable, which was surprising! Both the torso and hip straps adjust easily and quickly so you can effortlessly switch the sapling from parent to parent.For any hikers with young children out there, this product is a MUST! You’ll love it, your back will l thank you and your child will have the best memories from fantastic hikes. Ask my niece Lilly, she keeps pointing to the Thule Sapling begging me to take her on another hiking adventure.

Nice pack with good support

Pack feels pretty comfortable, even with a 27lb toddler in it. The support and structure of the pack seems to do a good job distributing weight. It is not the most intuitive set up process and the manual could give a little more guidance than it does. The green color is also pretty drab, and the other choices are similarly boring. But overall it seems good. Very secure with thoughtful features like locking clips so my kid cannot easily unclip herself.

Perfect Alternative to Stroller

The simple reason we purchased this was our child doesn't sit still for long in strollers. After a bit of refusal our child now happily rides on the Sapling. At thirty pounds it is not exactly "comfortable" but it is superior in comfort to our Ergo 360.The intention is to bring it on an international trip, however it just might be a bit too bulky. Either way it would be a great addition to any family outing that involves hiking and doesn't include lots of flying.

So worth it!

I had previously purchased a second hand pack which just did not fit me or my husband. So I bought several, took them all home and tried them on. And even took some to the shop to have them adjusted. The leading competitors pack did not fit, and I have a good size torso. Even at the smallest setting, I also did not like how the kid leans forward and moved about. With this pack, they are sitting and the weight is better distributed. My little guy loves it and I don't feel like I am carrying 20 pnds. I even carried a friends kid who was even heavier, he fell asleep and I had no issues carrying, adjusting or removing the pack while he was asleep. I also love I can access the back pouch while kid is in the carrier. And the simplicity of the buckels and straps. Some of ... MoreI had previously purchased a second hand pack which just did not fit me or my husband. So I bought several, took them all home and tried them on. And even took some to the shop to have them adjusted. The leading competitors pack did not fit, and I have a good size torso. Even at the smallest setting, I also did not like how the kid leans forward and moved about. With this pack, they are sitting and the weight is better distributed. My little guy loves it and I don't feel like I am carrying 20 pnds. I even carried a friends kid who was even heavier, he fell asleep and I had no issues carrying, adjusting or removing the pack while he was asleep. I also love I can access the back pouch while kid is in the carrier. And the simplicity of the buckels and straps. Some of the other competitiors it is very easy to get lost in all the adjustments, and with a kid you want it to be easy. You can also lock the buckles for when they figure out how to unclip them. A nice small touch. But after trying on so many other packs, This by far exceeds my expectations, and glad we bought it. The few things that could be need improving: the back bar, my little guy hits his head on the back sometimes, seems like a major design flaw, so my mom is going to sew something small that will still allow his head to sit comfortably but gives just enough cushion. Also the side hip pockets are by far better then any of the competitors, but still slightly small if you have a larger phone and the straps tightened up. So those could be increased a little, and would improve it that much more. The sun shade provides great coverage, but they could improve the clips a little and add one so that the sun shade could be left on but sitting open. As I live on the west coat and the weather changes rapidly. U also need it on for the rain cover. So being able to keep the rain cover on with the top open would improve it that much more. And a little mirror so you know when the little guy is asleep. But I am really glad we bought this, in terms of comfort, hands down the best for parent and little one.