Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Child Backpack Service Overview

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The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite is Kelty’s premium providing in its youngster service lineup. We discovered the Elite offers wonderful consolation, sturdiness, and considerate options for each caregivers and little adventurers. Whereas not drastically totally different from the PerfectFIT Signature, the Elite consists of the identical PerfectFIT adjustment system, making certain a custom-made match for varied physique varieties, excellent for households sharing carrying duties. 

The padded shoulder straps and hip belt present wonderful weight distribution, even throughout prolonged hikes, whereas the built-in sunshade and spacious zippered storage compartments make it a sensible alternative for all-day outings. With the Elite model, you obtain a big, lined decrease pocket for straightforward cleansing and a sleeve suitable with a 3-liter hydration bladder.

For folks searching for a reliable, feature-rich service thoughtfully designed for households, the Journey PerfectFIT Elite offers excellent worth. Discover our information to the prime child backpack carriers for additional comparisons.

And for more information, take a look at a few of our different fashionable gear guides:

How We Examined

We examined the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite over a number of months, taking it on hikes by means of the Colorado foothills, navigating snowy trails, and utilizing it for on a regular basis errands. Our analysis included each a 7-month-old and a 3-year-old to evaluate its consolation, sturdiness, and performance throughout varied terrains and actions.

Consolation

The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite excels within the consolation division for each caregivers and youngsters. The standout characteristic of the PerfectFIT adjustment system is its skill to offer a straightforward and exact match for varied physique varieties. When you’re like us, always switching the torso size between caregivers, you would possibly typically accept a “shut sufficient” match that isn’t all the time splendid. 

With this method, you’ll be able to rapidly obtain a safe and balanced match, even for prolonged hikes, making it excellent for households who share carrying duties. One among our testers, who usually struggles with pack changes, appreciated how intuitive and fast it was to dial within the excellent match.

For caregivers, the padded shoulder straps and extensive hip belt excel at distributing weight evenly, lowering pressure on longer outings. Throughout our hikes by means of the Colorado foothills, the pack maintained consolation even when loaded near its most capability. The air flow on the again panel carried out properly in cooler climate, although it might really feel considerably heat on sizzling days in comparison with extra breathable packs.

Youngsters additionally profit from the considerate design. The cockpit is well-padded, and the plush chin guard serves as a comfortable pillow for nap time. Adjustable foot stirrups preserve little legs comfy and assist keep correct posture, even on bumpy trails.

Options

A big benefit of the Kelty PerfectFIT line is how feature-rich these carriers are, and the Elite model elevates issues additional. As all the time, the standout characteristic is the PerfectFIT torso adjustment system, which makes attaining the best match fast and straightforward—splendid for households who typically share carrying duties.

The built-in sunshade with mesh sidewalls is one other win, offering wonderful solar safety whereas giving children a spot to relaxation their heads for a nap. That mentioned, we nonetheless want it provided a bit extra headroom for taller riders. Moreover, the massive, adjustable stirrups are a considerate addition, permitting children to relaxation their toes comfortably and serving to to stop leg fatigue on longer hikes.

The Elite model distinguishes itself with helpful upgrades, comparable to a lined backside pocket that’s tremendous simple to scrub—splendid for snacks or messy objects—and a devoted hydration bladder sleeve for staying hydrated on the go. The extra handles are one other standout characteristic, making it simpler to elevate the pack on and off with out tipping your youngster. These considerate touches make the Elite really feel like a premium, family-friendly service designed with practicality in thoughts.

Sturdiness

The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite is a dependable and well-built youngster service that feels able to endure years of journey. From the second we picked it up, the sturdy development impressed confidence, which is what you need in something involving your children.

The body consists of sturdy aluminum, providing a stable and secure base with out pointless weight. The thick cloth feels sturdy sufficient to resist heavy use, even on rugged trails.

The stitching all through the pack is exact and bolstered in high-stress areas such because the hip belt and shoulder straps. Even after our testing on uneven trails with frequent loading and unloading, the pack exhibited no indicators of fraying or weak factors. 

For the worth, you anticipate your funding to carry up properly, and the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite feels constructed to final and may simply deal with the calls for of standard out of doors use, making it an important alternative for households in search of a reliable service.

Storage & Group

The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite actually excels in storage and group. It’s crammed with options that simplify staying organized on the path with out feeling over-engineered.

The massive, zippered backside pocket is a standout—it’s lined for straightforward cleansing, which is a lifesaver after snacks inevitably get smooshed or whenever you’re packing damp jackets. Above that, there are three higher zippered pockets with stretchy mesh sleeves inside, excellent for protecting sunscreen, first-aid kits, or different small necessities simply accessible.

One factor we beloved about this model is the 2 mesh facet pockets. They’re nice for water bottles or something you need to seize rapidly with out digging by means of the primary compartments. Plus, there’s a devoted zippered sleeve for a hydration bladder, so that you don’t must sacrifice cupboard space to remain hydrated.

The hip belt pockets additionally deserve a shoutout. One is your commonplace stash spot for snacks or keys, however the different unzips to create a small water bottle holder. It’s not big, but it surely’s excellent for fast entry whenever you don’t need to cease.

Weight

The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite is just not the lightest youngster service out there, but it surely balances weight and options successfully. Weighing simply over 7 kilos, it’s heavier than stripped-down minimalist choices, however the added weight comes with noticeable advantages.

The pack seems to weigh greater than it really does, attributable to its sturdy development and feature-rich design. Kelty has efficiently managed to maintain the burden cheap with out sacrificing consolation or performance. Throughout our testing, even when the pack was absolutely loaded with gear and a wiggly toddler, it felt balanced and didn’t pressure our shoulders or hips.

That mentioned, if you happen to’re tackling lengthy, steep hikes or actually worth ultralight gear, you would possibly discover the added weight in comparison with less complicated fashions. Nevertheless, for day hikes, household outings, or average adventures, the trade-off feels worthwhile, particularly given the consolation, storage, and sturdiness that the Elite gives.

Ought to You Purchase the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite?

The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite is a superb alternative for households searching for a premium, feature-packed, and sturdy youngster service for normal use. With its PerfectFIT torso adjustment system, built-in sunshade, and ample storage, this pack is right for folks in search of versatility and luxury on day hikes and longer out of doors adventures. It’s significantly well-suited for caregivers who share carrying duties, because of the simply adjustable match that accommodates a wide range of physique varieties.

Whereas it’s not the lightest pack in the marketplace, the considerate design makes the additional weight manageable, and the sturdy development ensures it could actually stand up to years of outings with little ones in tow. The lined backside pocket for straightforward cleanup and devoted hydration bladder sleeve are standout options that show how a lot thought went into this design.

Nevertheless, if you happen to’re searching for a brilliant light-weight service or primarily tackling quick, simple outings, an easier mannequin is likely to be extra sensible. For these in search of a premium, user-friendly service for frequent adventures, the Elite is certainly price contemplating. Take a look at our information to one of the best child backpack carriers for extra choices.

What Different Child Backpack Carriers Ought to You Think about?

When you’re exploring choices past the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite, there are a number of nice youngster carriers to think about. Take a look at our information to the finest child backpack carriers for extra much more choices.

Osprey Poco Premium Overview: For folks who prioritize storage and luxury, this pack offers 36 liters of carrying capability and options an anti-gravity suspension system. It’s barely heavier than the Kelty, however the added room makes it a stable alternative for all-day adventures.

Deuter Child Consolation Professional Overview: This premium service excels in consolation and air flow. That includes an built-in sunshade, hydration bladder compatibility, and considerate storage, it’s splendid for folks in search of top-tier sturdiness and options for frequent, longer hikes.

Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Overview: When you just like the design of the Elite however don’t want as many bells and whistles, the Signature gives the same degree of consolation and performance at a lighter weight. Whereas it sacrifices just a few premium options, such because the lined backside pocket and hydration sleeve, it stays a superb alternative for informal hikers or shorter outings.