Kinderpack VS Olives & Applesauce

By request, I am putting together a comparison of the Olives & Applesauce and the Kinderpack. Kinderpacks are a highly recommended carrier, but currently the demand is higher than the supply and that is leaving a lot of people looking for alternatives. The Olives & Applesauce may be the alternative some people are looking for. I have personally used and love BOTH brands. They are different and some carriers work better for some than for others. But both carriers are awesome and both have gotten a lot of use in my family.

Compared to some other carriers on the market, the Kinderpack and Olives & Applesauce have a lot in common. But as with any carrier, they offer unique features and design that make them different. These differences may not matter to you or they could make one work better for you than the other. The only way to know for sure if a carrier will work well for you is to try one. There will always be people that a carrier doesn't work as well for, but in general, most people who buy either of these carriers are happy with them.

The Carriers

For this review, I used a current model of Olives & Applesauce and a standard/standard sized Kinderpack.

=	Olives & Applesauce	Kinderpack (standard)
Price	$149.99	$179.00
Age	newborn-preschool	8mo-3 yrs ¹
Weight	8-50 lbs ²	20-40 lbs ¹
Seat	darts	3 panel contoured
Chest Clip style	removable	attached
Shoulder straps	straight	gradual curve
Adjustable side buckle	yes	yes
Sleeping hood	yes	yes
Leg Padding	yes	yes
Made	Dominican Republic (now also being made in the US)	USA
Special features	Infant insert	Perfect fit adjusters on shoulder straps

¹ Kindercarry has sized carriers and offers their different sizes for different ages. For this reason, the standard is not designed for little babies. See their website for more information on their sizing.

² new weight limit just announced by Olives & Applesauce

How They Measure Up

I took measurements of both the Olives & Applesauce and standard/standard Kinderpack I own to compare the two. Also, the Kinderpack used is a Koolnit carrier and Koolnit may have more flex than a full panel affecting the measurements slightly. There can always be a little difference in the measurements from carrier to carrier, so these are the measurements that I got and not the specs provided by the companies. My measurement skills may not be entirely accurate :)

Side by side
Olives & Applesauce on the left
Kinderpack (standard/standard) on right

O&A has built in infant insert that can be left flat against body if you do not want to use 

Body: 

	Olives & Applesauce	Kinderpack (standard)
Height	16"	16"
Width at base	16"	13"
Width at seat	17.5"	18"
Width at top	14.5"	16"

Shoulder Straps:

	Olives & Applesauce	Kinderpack (standard)
Shoulder padding	19"	20"
Shoulder webbing	22"	12"
Total from body to buckle	41"	32"
Side buckle webbing	7"	12"

Waist belt:

	Olives & Applesauce	Kinderpack (standard)
Waist padding	20"	23"
Waist webbing	18"	16"
Total from buckle to buckle	62"	59"

click for larger view

Side by Side

side by side action photos coming soon!

NEW Moby GO!

Moby has recently released a new carrier called the Moby GO!  This is a soft structured carrier (aka SSC or buckle carrier) and is specifically designed for older babies that may not be as comfortable to wear in a Moby Wrap anymore.  I think this is awesome because many people use Moby wraps and some of them have no idea the world of options available to continue to comfortably wear as their child grows.  The Moby GO is likely to reach a wider audience and keep more babies being worn for longer, which I think is an AWESOME thing for everyone!!!

Another thing I think it awesome about Moby's new SSC is the price!  At $79.95, the Moby GO is more affordable than many other carriers on the market making it more appealing to the newer or more casual babywearer.  I believe there are people who are just not able or willing to spend $100+ on a baby carrier, and the Moby GO is more likely get those people that are not convinced babywearing is worth the investment to give it a chance.  And more people babywearing is always a good thing!

Moby GO Closeup

The Moby GO has some great features at an amazing price. 

The Moby GO is a soft structured carrier designed to keep you on the go as your baby grows.  Wide straps that distribute your child's weight and a high body makes this a perfect carrier for older babies and toddlers from 15 - 45 lbs.

• 100% cotton body with should straps that are 97% cotton 3% spandex for added comfort
• Wide shoulder straps with cross-shoulder design
• Ergonomic seat design with a 14.5" seat and a 18" tall body
• Padded leg openings for added comfort
• Removable hoodie-style sleeping hood with storage pocket
• Unique dual foam waist belt that adjusts from 26" to 54"
• Designed to be used for front carrying only

First Impression

I tried the carrier the other day with my two year old and there are a couple of key things that make the Moby GO stand out to me.

The price - As I said earlier, the Moby GO is very affordable.  At $79.95, it competes with many more expensive carriers on the market.

Designed for older babies and toddlers in mind - The Moby GO is designed to be used from 15-45 lbs.  Though the Moby Wrap can be used with a larger baby, most people prefer to stop using it with older babies because it is just not as supportive as other carriers available.  The Moby GO is the perfect option for people that have been using a Moby Wrap and want something more convenient and supportive for their older, more active baby.  That being said, the body of the carrier is TALL and may not fit all babies at 15 lbs.  At 18" tall, it was even tall on my petite 2 year old.

Shoulder straps -  The shoulder straps on the Moby GO have a unique shape to them.  The straps are wide and curved, which makes them surprisingly comfortable.  They are not padded, but the width of them makes the additional padding unnecessary.  The width and slight curve of them distribute the weight more like a wrap and also allows them to sit further out on your shoulder while being crossed in the back, not riding up on your neck like some carriers can do.  Another thing is that the strap fabric has 3% spandex in them, giving them just enough one way stretch to allow the fabric to conform to your body.  The fabric portion on the shoulder straps is MUCH longer than on most SSC.  This means that the straps can only be crossed and prevents the carrier from being able to be worn "backpack" style for a back carry, which is why this is only considered a front carry baby carrier.

The sleeping hood -  The sleeping hood on the Moby GO is cool!  It is a hoodie style hood, not a flat hood like you see on many carriers.  I don't personally use sleeping hoods often, so I don't have any opinion on functionality, but I thought I would mention that it was different.  It is easily rolled up and stored in a front pocket, which I love.  And I really love that the hood can be removed completely!  Some people LOVE sleeping hoods, so I think they are important to have on a carrier.  But I like the fact that people that don't use them ever can just take it off all together.

Storage pocket - I love pockets on carrier and wish more had them.  99% of the time I am carrying my entire house with my in my diaper bag, so it doesn't matter, but it's nice to have the option of throwing a credit card and a camera in my front pocket and traveling light when I am able to.

Waist belt - The waist belt had a few unique things I wanted to mention.  First, there is what I would call a utility strap across the waist belt that you could clip things to, like your phone or keys, though its wide enough that you may have to buy something specific if you want to strap your keys to it.  The second thing that is unique about the waist belt is that there is a flap of fabric that extends underneath the webbing that gives some added comfort and keeps the webbing from touching as much of your body.  I thought the waist belt felt really comfortable and I liked the additional fabric.

Buckle safety - There are safety loops for the shoulder strap buckles.  This is great if you are one of those few lucky people out there that have a toddler that likes to unbuckle carriers.  Most don't do this, so it's not generally an issue.  But if they do, this would stop the shoulder strap from coming completely undone.

Now that I have pointed out some of the unique or cool features about the Moby GO, I'll list my personal opinions of the pros and cons of this carrier.

Pros

• Price: $79.95 is super affordable for a carrier of this quality
• Designed for older babies when they have outgrown other carriers.  18" body make this ideal for toddlers and will easily fit through the babywearing years.
• Uniquely designed shoulder straps are extra wide and comfortable.  I also loved that they didn't have the added bulk of the padding.  It really felt nice across my back.
• Fabric feels soft right out of the box.
• Removable sleeping hood with storage pocket.
• Utility strap on waist belt to hook phone or keys.
• Safety strap for shoulder straps to keep the carrier from coming off if your toddler figures out how to unbuckle the carrier!

Cons

• Designed for older babies and can not be used with infants or petite/younger babies.  18" body is a very tall carrier that will only fit once a baby is a certain size.  Some babies will not be big enough at 15 lbs.
• Can only be used to do front carries.  The way the straps are designed does not allow them to be worn "backpack" style, so the straps can only be worn crossed.  This would not be a con for me personally since I usually wear even my toddler on my front, but some people only like wearing their bigger babies and toddlers on their back and find it uncomfortable to do a front carrier with a larger, older baby.
• May be too big for really petite wearers.  The carrier itself is wide and taller than many carriers since it is designed for older babies.  The added fabric on the waist may also make it harder for someone really petite to get the waist comfortable.  But the waist is supposed to adjust to 25" and since the carrier should be worn lower than your natural waist, even people with tiny waists may still be able to wear it comfortably.
• Some people may not like the safety strap for the shoulder buckles since it adds an extra step in buckling.  But it's not really a con since it keeps babies safe! :)
• These carries are made in Thailand which could be an issue for people that prefer to by US made products.  Part of having a carrier of this quality available at this low of a price is that it has to be manufactured outside the US.  US made carriers can not be made with this many features and be anywhere near this price point.  Action Baby Carriers are an amazing brand that is also super affordable, but their low cost is only possible due to their super simple design and lack of extras.  This same carrier would cost much, much more if it was made in the USA.

My Experience

I was excited to try the Moby GO out, so I used it the other day to put my 2 year old down for her nap while we visited with friends.  The first thing I noticed was the fit.  The carrier was TALL!  My two year old was definitely big enough, but I am not sure at what age she would have fit in this carrier.  18" is far taller than many standard baby carriers, but is not unusual for a toddler carrier.  That is why the carrier is recommended to be used from 15-45 lbs, but it may not fit all babies right at 15 lbs.  My chunky babies hit 15 lbs very early and they would have be far too short to use this carrier at that weight.

While adjusting the carrier, it was immediately obvious to me that I loved how the straps fit.  I had been concerned about the fact that there was no padding in the shoulder straps, but it actually felt really nice.  The straps fit smoothly crossed across my back and lay nicely across each other where they crossed because there was no padding making them bulky.  The width of them felt really nice on my shoulders and they felt almost like they were hugging my shoulders.  It wasn't until later that I learned there was a small amount of spandex in the strap fabric, but I think that added to the fit of the straps and is likely the reason they hugged my shoulders the way they did.

I only got to wear my daughter for about 25 minutes and am hoping I have the opportunity to wear her longer at some point soon and give the carrier a real test.  But for the time I wore her, it was really comfortable.  I am used to wearing my toddler on my front so I can nurse her when I am putting her to sleep, so for me that was not an issue.  I promise to update this as soon as I have more info, but overall I was really impressed.  Moby has come out with a really great carrier that is well made out of quality materials and kept it super affordable even though they could have easily charged much more for this product if they had wanted to.

Remember...

Your opinion is the only opinion that matters!  I should add this to the end of all my reviews!

I just wanted to add that even though I like this carrier, and I think it is a great addition to the market, it's not going to be the ideal carrier for everyone.  My friend who exclusively back carries can even try this carrier to see if she likes it.  So I tried to be as thorough as I could to give you as much information as I can to help you decide if this carrier could work for you.  But like I have said many times before, everybody and ever body is different.  What works for one may not work at all for another.  The only way to know for sure if a carrier will work is to try it.  But if you know you have a super petite baby or like doing back carries, this should be enough information to rule the Moby GO out in your mind.  But if you like wearing your toddler on your front like I do (yes, even some seasoned babywearers just prefer it), then you might be as impressed with this carrier as I am :)

Introducing the Boba 2G Classic

Come meet the newest carrier brought to you by Nap, Inc., the Boba 2G Classic!


These carriers are identical in style to the sleek look of the Boba 2G Organic. If you are not already familiar with the Boba 2G carrier, these carriers are specifically designed with older babies and toddlers in mind. Made to be used from 1 to 4 years (15-45 lbs / 7-20 kg), the Boba 2G comes with removable foot straps that support babies and toddlers’ knees at a natural 90-degree angle. These backpack style carriers are super easy to use for either a front or back carry. The shoulder straps and waist belt have comfortable foam padding that is not too thick or too stiff. They also have a removable hood that you can use to support your little one's head when they fall asleep.

So what are the differences between the Boba Classic and the Boba Organic? First, the Boba Classic is made out of quality cotton fabric, but not organic cotton like the Boba Organic. Second, like the Ergo, the Boba Classic is made in China, where as the Boba Organic is made right here in the USA in Boulder, Colorado. The last difference is the price. The Boba Classic costs $100 compared to $118 for the Boba Organic.

Whether you decide to go with the Boba Classic and the Organic, you are still getting a great carrier for older babies and toddlers at an extremely great value!

Why People LOVE Action Baby Carriers

Action Baby Carriers are a soft structured carrier (SSC), meaning it uses buckles to fasten instead of needing to be tied. These carriers are really great and a favorite among my babywearing friends.

The reason these are so popular is that they are great carriers at an amazing value. Most SSC cost well over $100. At $89, these are very affordable carriers for people on a budget, but with all the comfort of a more expensive carrier!



These carriers have a very simple, clean look and come in a nice selection of solid and pattern prints. They are light weight compared to some bulkier SSC and the fabrics are breathable making them a good option for hotter summer weather. The waist belt and shoulder straps are padded for comfort. Usable for infants to 40 lbs, many people use these comfortably with their toddlers.

Action Baby Carriers can be used for a front or back carry. The straps can be crossed or worn in a backpack position with the chest belt. They are also made with an attached sleeping hood. The hood is long enough to offer head support to a sleeping baby, but not long enough to completely cover a baby's head if you are looking for sun protection.

Here's what one mom had to say about her experience with the Action Baby Carrier:

I love my Action Baby Carrier. I used a stretch wrap when my daughter was little, but found that I needed something more industrial as she got bigger. I got the Action Baby Carrier to use for hiking and general traveling use, and I LOVE it. I can carry my 2 1/2 year old child for several hours without any back pain! My daughter weighs 28 lbs and is heavy to carry in my arms, but she goes right into her carrier without issue. And, she loves it too! She will ask to go into the carrier when she gets tired of walking. It's easy to strap on, even with a wiggly two year old! I don't know what I did without it!

-Beth

So if you are looking for a comfortable, quality baby carrier that will last you through toddlerhood, consider an Action Baby Carrier. The comfort and construction of this carrier makes it an amazing value for the price. You don't always need to spend a lot of money to get a great product, sometimes you can get more for less!

Please keep in mind though that no matter how great a carrier is, no matter how many people it works well for, there is no such thing as a carrier that works for everyone. Not everyone's body is shaped the same and although the Action Baby Carrier fits well on most people, like all carriers, it just doesn't work for some people. The shoulder straps on an Action Baby Carrier sit further out than some carriers, which works well for some and not for others. I have known really petite women that can wear the Action Baby Carrier just fine, but someone that has narrow or sloped shoulders may find that the straps sit too far out for them. The best way to find out is to try one! But don't be discouraged if it doesn't work for you, just keep looking until you find one that does!

Summery of specs:

• Simple to use sleeping hood


• Folds into a compact size that can easily fit into a diaper bag


• Breathable lightweight yet supportive material


• Versatility with front and back carry position


• Safety chest strap


• Baby carrier for infants to 40 pounds


• Adjustable hip belt from 28" to 51" with no extender belt


• Made in the U.S.A.

Oh Snap! Review

After trying it out for some time now, I am finally ready to weigh in on the Oh Snap!

I should start off by saying that I have mostly been using it with my 22 month old toddler. She's about 28 pounds and she definitely likes it. After using it a few times, it quickly became the carrier she brought to me when she wanted to be carried.

So there are things I love about the Oh Snap, and some things I don't love. Overall, I think it is a really great carrier. It's comfortable, very adjustable, and it's high and wide body makes it great for toddlers.

I love it for back carries. I find it super easy to put on and comfortable to wear. I am able to adjust it for a great fit so I don't get any sagging in the back. The chest strap is neat too, although I don't find I need. It hasn't felt like it would slip and the chest strap isn't even tight on me, so it's more of a safety feature for me than something I need to hold the carrier on my shoulders.

The Oh Snap is really great on larger people. A friend of mine is around a size 18-20 and she loves how the Oh Snap fits her. She has had problems with other soft structured carriers not having a wide enough waist belt to fit comfortably. With other carriers, she would have to let the the belt out as far as it would go and it would still be a tight fit. So she loves the fit of the Oh Snap and doesn't even have to loosen it fully when she uses it.

That being said, I have a very hard time believing it would fit on someone who is a size 0 like it says. I am between a size 8-10 and 5' 6.5" and I feel like the carrier is a bit overwhelming on me. The straps are super long and seem messy to me. I think anyone smaller than me would find the Oh Snap to be too bulky.

Also, it says it's designed to be used from 6 months to 45 lbs, but I wore it once with an average 8 month old baby and he could barely see over the body. I did get him seated in it higher with some adjusting which helped a little, but it seems like it would be a bit tall for many 6 month old babies.

So in summery, I think the Oh Snap is perfect for larger wearers with older babies. I don't think this is a great carrier for petite people or petite babies.

I hope this gives you some idea if it would be a great carrier for you or not. Please feel free to contact me with any questions!

I just wanted to add that since writing this review, I have spoken with several tiny mamas that love how the Oh Snap fits, including someone who is a size 0! (Yes, I hate her too!) I still think that the Oh Snap is going to be overwhelming to the average petite wearers, similarly to how petite people sometimes find the Ergo to be a bit bulky for them. But that being said, it seems like the adjust ability has helped some people who are very petite finally get a good fit on a SSC. So, if you're petite, it might be worth trying, but I think I'd recommend trying an AngelPack LX first!