Sherpani Rumba Backcountry baby backpack

I only looked at top-end child carriers because I wanted one suitable for long hikes (from 1 hour to multiple days), for all weather conditions (rain, wind, sun), and for durability. I took my 6 month old son and tested the Sherpani Rumba (made in Colorado) along with the Deuter Kid Comfort III (made in Germany) and the Macpac Vamoose (made in New Zealand). I did not bother with the Kelty line because their sun cover only provides shade for the top and back of the child's head, but not the sides. We currently live in Australia and we want complete sun coverage against the intense sun here. The Deuter and Macpac models have a major obstacle for fitting people's torso. Like most of the low-end brands and models, their frame is made entirely of aluminum TUBING which cannot be molded to the curve of the adult's back. The Sherpani model is made like most internal-frame backpacks by using FLAT aluminum BARS which may be easily bent to match the contour of the adult's back. This was my main problem with the Deuter. I was unable to make the pack hug my back, so it felt like the pack was falling away from me and I had to counter-balance the weight by leaning forward with bad posture. The Macpac actually fit well even without the adjustability of pliable flat aluminum frame bars; however, my problem with the Macpac was that the pads on either side of the child came up too high, so that they dug in under the arms of my son. I imagine he might have outgrown this problem with time, but I was unwilling to wait. Regarding compression for storage or traveling, the Macpac compresses down the most of the three models, but it also has the smallest stand and therefore the least stability when placed on the ground for loading and unloading the child. It is also a little cumbersome to re-construct after being fully compressed. The Deuter model was the bulkiest of the three models after it was compressed. The Rumba falls somewhere in the middle. The Rhumba does need a better rain cover like the full protection provided by Deuter; however, using the Topper included with the Rumba along with a small poncho we were able to keep our son dry and warm during hikes of 50degreeF with wind chills and rain putting the temps more around 40degreeF. The adjustability of the Rumba was superior to the other two models. The Rumba has two little tabs which can either be pulled or flipped to increase or decrease the torso length of the pack. This enables my wife and I to share the pack easily. Despite their claims, the Deuter could never be adjusted while the pack is on the adult. Bonus - The Rumba was the least expensive of the three top-end models we tested. It will also last longer as it can hold up to 70lbs. I'll quite carrying our son soon before he ever reaches that weight. During a 9 day trip in New Zealand my son spent a total of 15 hours in the Rumba and seemed to love every minute. He was either extremely excited, occupied with looking around at the scenery, or snoozing comfortably. The red color offered by Sherpani is also very nice as I like to keep my outdoor equipment colored brightly for the unexpected safety/signalling needs.