Evenflo Snugli Cross Country Backpack

It’s “fun in the sun” July at ABBAB so we’re going to tell you about two items that will help you enjoy your sunny days.

The first item is:  Banana Boat Kids Sunscreen Stick.  Its tear free, run free, mess free.  I love it.  It’s great for babies, toddlers and even the faces of big kids and adults.  Simple and easy – a must for your on-the-go bag!

The second gear item is the Evenflo Snugli Cross Country backpack.  The Snugli brand is mostly known for its newborn front pack, which tries to rival the ever-popular Baby Bjorn front pack.   I was never too keen on the Snugli front pack – I found it uncomfortable for my body type.  But before our vacation I saw the Cross Country pack at a consignment shop and we’ve been using it ever since.

The Evenflo Snugli Cross Country backpack is for babies and toddlers up to 40 pounds. They go right into their foot holes through the top of the pack and from there you can strap them in nice and securely.  It’s easy to adjust and fun to use – getting you and your baby out exploring the hillsides, beaches, or local Farmer’s markets.  It has a decent sized zip up compartment to pack some lighter items – a diaper, wipes, snack and sippy cup for instance, as well as a simple mesh pocket on the outside for an easy to reach item or two.  In addition, the waist belt fits securely so you can put the majority of your child’s weight on your hips, not your back.

I like the color of the pack itself – a golden brown with black accents.  The texture of the material is a nice bonus and gives it a “rugged” look (rather than the ambiguous purple-blue unisex colors I’m not as crazy about).  Overall it wears well and looks clean.  However, there are some drawbacks we have found.

The first is that the pack itself is best suited for persons 6’1 and under.  (My husband is a little over 6’3” and it’s not as comfortable on him. In fact he noted it seemed significantly “too small”).   Also, if your toddler is a bit on the tall side he will outgrow this pack before he actually reaches 40 pounds (our son barely snaps in it so after this summer it may be going back to the consignment shop).

Finally, the straps themselves aren’t that cozy.  They hit funny on the back and my shoulders grew sore in a relatively short time, compared to other packs I have worn carrying my older son.  We still used it to walk and hike around, but I wouldn’t want to use it more than on short day hikes – up to 5 miles max.

On the whole this pack is a fine on-the-go pack for babies and toddlers up to two.  It’s especially ideal if you are not in need of a pack with lots of add-ons – although you can get a sunscreen for this one.  But, if you want to hike a lot or your toddler is 2 and up, you’ll probably need something beefier.  Which means – I’m still on the quest for a good toddler backpack.