Hellobee Boards

I love it! We both found Deuter backpacks on Craigslist to make it a bit more affordable. They hike a bit, but not tons. Not, of course, uphill, when I need them to. Its fun! Great workout.

@DillonLion: oh yeah, the hiking carrier is a must! it's like a backpacking pack but with your kid on it instead. we have a toddler carrier, but we'd all get way too hot. also it keeps her up so she can see, but if we're really out and about, she usually falls asleep. there is also a sunshade that you can pull up. i've worn her, although DH usually does it while i carry the backpack part. my sister, brother and dad have also worn the carrier with her in it!

We hike too! I take hiking very seriously. So we've been doing it since she was born. She is 3 1/2 now. We have an ergo that we use. We had a backpack carrier like the one described above, but we found last year that it was so hard to get her in and out! So we abandoned it to a friend.

We often walk from daycare to my work (just over a mile). We've been doing that for two summers now and I think that has helped her to walk further. She can do 3-4 miles in the course of a day now.

She doesn't carry a backpack at all now. We will probably get her a small one next year. We let her wear sneakers. We bring lots of fun snacks (CANDY!) and we often pick berries.

I try not to be a hard ass about it but I don't always succeed... I try to "lunge walk" when I'm waiting for her to catch up. Or do push ups while I wait. I hate standing around.

Yes! It's not the right time of year for us either, I'm dying to get back outside!
We can do about 3 miles with our 3.5 year old before he starts dragging. Snacks and drinks are a must to keep him happy. We have sturdy boots for him, less tripping for him that way- if he falls, he's usually done.
We use the Ergo for our 1.5 year old, our oldest doesn't want to be carried anymore. We also have a framed carrier (Evenflo from a consignment store) but haven't brought it out lately since we've only been hiking on vacations lately and it's a bit much to travel with.

We don't do intense hikes, but more like nature walks...Lo can do 1.5 miles now if he's in the right mood (he's 2.5). We take lots of breaks to throw rocks in the water, collect pine cones, etc.

We have an osprey hiking backpack carrier. Our little guy has been hiking with us in the backpack since he was about 9 months old (he's almost 2 now). We love it! We found one barely used on craiglist after trying different options at rei and buy buy baby. Osprey was our favorite for comfort and the ease of using the sunshade. I really think the sunshade is key not just for sun protection but it also helps keep branches and stuff from accidently hitting LO on some hikes and it he's tired he's more likely to fall asleep once we put the shade up.

Right now we can make it about 2.5 hours before he's tired of being in the carrier. We make sure to let him get out a few times to run and play or walk a bit. We also have snacks with us and a little stuffed skunk that stays in the backpack as his hiking buddy!