What we love
Unlike some cheaper or more basic back carriers, the Littlelife Voyager S2 has an anatomically designed seat that's comfy for your baby. Apparently the framed back system is adopted from mountaineering rucksacks, meaning it won't break your back even when fully loaded up.
The Littlelife Voyager S2 Back Carrier comes with a handy zip-off day sack (good enough to use alone), a changing mat and a sun/shower canopy. The main storage area is nice and big, with plenty of space for wipes, nappies, packed lunch, flask and anything else you'd need to pack for daytrips. This model also features an effective insulating bottle pocket, an anchor point for your foot (to stop the carrier toppling over on the ground) and a soft 'face cushion' featuring cute animal pictures so your child has something interesting to look at. Littlelife really has thought of everything.
My 18-month-old adores being in the Voyager, and has done since around 6 months of age. It's been invaluable in countless ways, allowing us to visit tourist attractions usually off-limits to buggies. It's taken us on picturesque coastal walks, and been handy in town as well as country. It's great for crowded street markets and local parks. It's also a fun way to entertain our son old when he's bored of the buggy (an increasingly common phenomenon unfortunately). It's like a fairground ride up there on daddy's shoulders!
The Littlelife Voyager S2 Back Carrier is pretty comfy to wear thanks to padded straps, a waistband and plenty of adjustability. It did take us a few attempts to get the perfect position so you might have to experiment a little.
While on the pricy side, this back carrier can be used for children from 6 months up to roughly 3 years (or 20kg in weight), so it has a decent life span.
What to watch out for
The Littlelife Voyager S2 Back Carrier is well designed, but does feel quite large, and isn't the most compact or, at 2.9kg, the lightest carrier out there. It doesn't collapse or fold down when not in use, which makes it bulky to store or take with you when you travel. If you only intend to use your carrier for short walks, there's there no doubt there are smaller, lighter, cheaper carriers available. However, you'll probably compromise on other factors, like storage space or a less comfy seat.
There's also no doubt that it's easier to let a male partner or relative take charge of carrying, which I usually do. As a woman of 5ft 3in I do find it on the big side, but my husband who is 5ft 10in doesn't find it problematic at all, though even he gets tired after a few hours of heaving a 25lb toddler around!
At the best part of £200, the Littlelife Voyager S2 Back Carrier is a fairly pricy investment so ask yourself if you will really use it, and if your back is up to it.
The carrier comes with an attached mirror so you can see your child. While this is a neat idea, ours got scratched instantly so you can't see much.
Who is the Littlelife Voyager S2 Back Carrier best for?
Active parents after a sturdy, comfy carrier ideal for longer days out.
The Voyager S2 is an incredibly well designed piece of kit from baby carrier expert Littlelife. It might not be the cheapest carrier out there, but you're paying for top quality, and of course your freedom to head outdoors. The seat is very comfortable for little ones, and the carrier is fairly straightforward to adjust. However, it does feel a little bulky so you might not want to invest in it for shorter outings, or if you’re on the small side.
