Excellent value for money rucksack carrier with very comfortable shoulder and hip straps and floor-standing for easy loading and unloading, on the downside the pockets are a squeeze
The Jolly Comfort IV back carrier is aimed at mums and dads who do a lot of mountain walking, and has a suspension system that’s designed to help you cut down on sweating.
Vaude is a 30-year-old German company with 40% of sales from exports worldwide, so it's popular in other countries too. In the UK, Vaude is available in over 150 retail outlets and most online outdoor stores stock the brand too. The company claims its success lies in the fact that most of its employees are enthusiastic about mountain sports, and that their experience means products are thoroughly tested.
What we love
The Jolly Comfort has a 'Tergoform' suspension system which means the frame of the carrier is held away from your body – cutting down on sweating. Carrying Jack (8 months and 20lbs plus!) up a mountain in Wales recently was extremely comfortable for both him and me – he even had a snooze! The padded hip belt keeps the weight on your hips, which is especially important for women as it minimises weight on your shoulders, allowing you to carry greater weight more easily. All the straps are padded and adjustable – which means baby can be carried by people of different heights with ease.
The Jolly Comfort comes with an attachable rain cover/sun shade – I found the rain cover worked well although struggled a bit with the sun protector. There are padded handles on the front and back (which double as a baby head protector) which are essential when lifting baby and bag onto your back. Although a bit complicated at first, it is perfectly possible to do this on your own with practise.
One of the best features is the folding 'third leg' which provides a larger under seat storage compartment and allows you to stand the carrier on it's own when you take it off your back. The Jolly Comfort is free-standing, which makes loading and unloading easier than some other models. In addition because your baby sits in a fabric 'seat' inside the carrier it's comfortable enough for sleeping on the move. It is also good value for money when compared with other carriers on the market.
What to watch out for
The fabric will fade over time and I found the sun shade was difficult to get into position to fully shade Jack from the sun. Also, the mesh side pockets aren't quite big enough for your stuff and your baby's unless you can really travel light so works best when there's two grownups on the mountain to share the load.
Who is the Vaude Jolly Comfort IV best for?
Best for mums and dads who are in to regular countryside walking – it's not really suitable for nipping to the shops as it's a bit too bulky for supermarket aisles!
Excellent value for money rucksack carrier with very comfortable shoulder and hip straps and floor-standing for easy loading and unloading. On the downside, the pockets are a tight squeeze.
