How to choose the right child carrier for Hong Kong family hikes
When it comes to hiking with your children, safety comes first, then comfort. The latest child carriers offer plenty of both. Parents offer their tips on what to buy and the factors to consider
Before I had my daughter, I ran almost every day on Hong Kong’s trails. During pregnancy I hardly let up either, trail running until the evening before my water bag broke. When she finally arrived in June 2014, I knew my life had changed forever, but I also knew I wanted to keep active in the mountains.
Initially I’d bundle her into the stroller and push her along paved mountain roads that had little or no traffic. From home in Happy Valley, there are routes up to Victoria Peak and Mount Parker, and around the Tai Tam and Aberdeen Country Parks. These were fun, but I missed dirt trails.
In August last year I bought a child-carrying backpack designed specifically for outdoor activities and it has allowed me to return to my old stomping grounds – and enjoy them with my daughter.
Perched on my back in the Deuter Kid Comfort III pack, she’s been – among many other places – up Needle Hill and around Shing Mun Reservoir; done loops of Peng Chau, Cheung Chau and Lamma Islands; scaled Hong Kong’s second highest summit Lantau Peak; and makes regular trips up Jardine’s Lookout and Violet Hill – and sometimes on to Stanley.
I’m pretty sure she loves our hikes together. She eagerly climbs into the seat, and she naps for an hour or two while in the carrier during every walk.
