Beco Gemini Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Beco Gemini | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Baby Carrier | Easy to Use Wrap | Great Wrap on a Budget | ||
Price | $80 List $69.99 at Amazon | $90 List $69.99 at Amazon | $95 List | $60 List $59.95 at Amazon | $45 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Harder to use and not as cozy for little ones | Comfy sling to wear and sit in with an easy to use design | Comfy for baby and parents but the fabric could be softer | Budget-friendly wrap style that is easy to use and comfy enough | Economical and comfortable but you need to hold baby when you put it on |
Rating Categories | Beco Gemini | Nalakai Ring Sling | Maya Wrap ComfortFi... | Baby K'tan Original | Boba Wrap |
Child Comfort (25%) | |||||
Parent Comfort (35%) | |||||
Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
Ease Of Cleaning (10%) | |||||
Specs | Beco Gemini | Nalakai Ring Sling | Maya Wrap ComfortFi... | Baby K'tan Original | Boba Wrap |
Min/Max Weight | 7 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 7 - 35 lbs |
Carry Positions | Facing In (Newborn - 35 lbs) Facing Out (4 mo. - 35 lbs) Hip Carry (4 mo. - 35 lbs) Back Carry (4 mo. - 35 lbs) |
Facing In (8 - 35 lbs) Hip Carry (8 - 35 lbs *BGL recommends Head/Neck/Torso Control) |
Facing In (0 - 3 mo) Facing Out (3 - 6 mo) Hip Carry (6 mo - 35 lbs) |
Kangaroo Position (8 - 35 lbs) Hug Position (8 - 35 lbs) Adventure Position (8 - 35 lbs) Explore Position (8 - 35 lbs) Hip Position (8 - 35 lbs) |
Facing In (Newborn - 35 lbs) |
Weight | 1.21 lbs | 0.9 lbs | Sm: 0.92 Lg: 1.16 lbs |
Sm: 0.89 Lg: 1.04 lbs |
1.41 lbs |
Packable Size | Medium | Small | Small | Small | Small (5.5 yards in length) |
Fabric | 100% Cotton | 58% Bamboo 42% Linen |
Cotton, Polyester | 100% Cotton | 95% Cotton 5% Spandex |
Hood | No | No | No | No | No |
Storage Options | Pocket on waist belt | Pocket on the tail | Zippered pocket on the tail | Pouch on the belt. | Storage Pouch |
Other Features & Notable | None | None | Available in two different lengths, standard and long | Azo Dye-free | None |
Included Accessories | None | None | None | None | Storage Sack |
Care Instructions | Machine wash cold, hang dry | Machine wash cold, hang dry | Machine wash cold, hang dry | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Beco was started in 2005 by Gabby Caperon. Gabby built a base of admirers thanks to her carrier designs that modern parents feel are functional and stylish. Beco makes a few different soft structured carriers.
Performance Comparison
Baby's Comfort
Compared to other contenders, the Beco isn't the most comfortable option, partly because it's limited in how much you can adjust it to increase comfort. Adjusting the parent's shoulder straps impacts the space in the child's seat and the headrest position, making it harder to customize the seat to fit comfortably, especially for larger children. Our older test passengers verbally said being in the Gemini hurt, which is easy to believe, given how tight it feels in the carrier.
The convertible seat has two widths, narrow and wide, and which setting you use is based on the carry position and somewhat on your baby's size. Adjustments need to happen before you put your baby in the carry, so if you get it wrong, you'll likely need to start over.
Parent's Comfort
The Beco is comfortable enough compared to the competition. Its parent comfort score is just above the average, with nicely padded shoulder straps and waist belt. However, the shoulder strap padding stops short of being useful for larger wears (most dads), so you still end up with a simple strap supporting baby's weight in some positions. Some testers also feel it has a more restrictive feel than other soft structured carriers, and the feeling increased as the size of the passengers did.
Ease of Use
The Beco is more challenging to use than the similar competition. The Beco is relatively intuitive, but you will probably need the manual for the seat width adjustment. The manual is okay but has a lot of pictures that interestingly take away from understanding how to use it. Putting it on is okay, but there are easier soft structured carriers to put on, adjust and put a baby into, like the BabyBjorn One.
The Beco has a waistband pocket with Velcro closure. Although it isn't a very big pocket, it will hold smaller items, such as a pacifier or keys. The buckles have a safety feature mechanism (above right) that will take some practice and may require two hands. They aren't necessarily hard to use, but there is a learning curve.
Ease of Cleaning
The Beco isn't the easiest to clean. While it's machine washable on cold, you'll need to hang it to dry. This drying method could take more time than you have before your next adventure, leaving you without a carrier.
Should You Consider the Beco Gemini?
The Beco Gemini may be less complex, with fewer adjustments to fiddle with, but it's not the most comfortable carrier for a child. Those who prefer a more simplistic soft structure carrier may like the Beco Gemini; however, other baby carriers in the lineup offer better performance and for less money.
What Other Baby Carriers Should You Consider?
We suggest checking out the BabyBjorn One, another soft structure carrier. Or, consider the Nalakai Ring Sling, a sling-style carrier that's even more straightforward than the Gemini and, therefore, much easier to use. It's also more comfortable for the parent and child and less costly.
Manufacturer Video
Front Carry Position
Back Carry Position