How Does this Artipoppe Dupe Compare to the Original? Our Carrier Review

Baby carriers are an essential part of the first year of life—sometimes the only way to save a nap, eat a meal, do laundry, or have both hands free. They make life super convenient, especially if you're taking care of more than one kid at a time. Several baby carriers have recently gained cult followings: The Artipoppe Zeigeist Carrier and the Wildbird Aerial Carrier. Both are beloved for their comfort and ease of use, but one is significantly more expensive than the other. Here's how the two stack up against each other.

Is Artipoppe Carrier worth it?

This is my second kid, so I knew that a structured carrier would be my best friend as my daughter would have to nap on the fly. However, I wasn't sure I was prepared to spend a car payment on one, although everyone I spoke to told me that the Artipoppe Zeitgeist was worth the price tag.

I got the Artipoppe Zeitgeist Carrier in a chic natural colour from the Jane Goodall collection and fell in love with it. It's a linen cotton blend and can hold up to 45 pounds. It's super comfortable, stylish, and, most importantly, easy to put on. I have struggled with baby wrap carriers and ring slings in the past, especially in the newborn stage, but the Artipoppe Zeitgeist was a breeze to figure out and use. You can use it in four carry positions: front carry facing in, front carry facing out and on your back.

How does the Wildbird carrier compare?

The Wildbird Aerial Carrier looks very similar to the Artipoppe Zeitgeist. It has an adjustable padded wide strap that goes across your hips, an adjustable front and two adjustable padded straps that crisscross in the back. It's usable for babies 7 to 45 pounds.

Part of what inspired me to get the Wildbird Aerial Carrier was that the price tag of the Artipoppe had me worried about spit-up and washing the carrier. At over $400, I felt like I should be extremely careful with it. The Wildbird Aerial Carrier is less than half the price but has all the same functionality. Plus, I like that the styles and colours of the Wildbird Aerial are more in line with my taste.

I got my 11-pound newborn in the Wildbird Aerial Carrier, and I was shocked to find out that it's very close to the Artipoppe Zeitgeist Carrier in fit and comfort. I might even like the Wildbird better because the hip band is padded, while the hip band on the Artipoppe is not. The only thing that the Artipoppe Zeitgeist Carrier can do that the Wildbird Aerial Carrier cannot is let the baby face outward once they can hold their heads up on their own.

Our Wildbird Carrier Review

Pros

• Comfortable to wear
• Easy to adjust
• Comes in a wide variety of colors and styles
• Less than half the price of the other carrier
• Easy to use
• Can hold up to 45 pounds
• Can carry facing inwards or on the back
• Machine washable

Cons

• Cannot be used to carry baby front-facing

Final Verdict

I love both the Artipoppe Zeitgeist Carrier and the Wildbird Aerial Carrier for different reasons. Both stand out for comfort and breathability. The Artipoppe is a status symbol, and I love that I can turn my baby outwards to see once she can hold her head up on her own.

However, I don't love that I have to treat it super preciously—I'm always worried she's going to spit up on it.  I'm sleep-deprived and looking for items that are easy to take care of, so washing the Artipoppe Zeitgeist and potentially ruining it worries me. They retain their value, so I'm constantly stressing about reselling it in perfect condition, causing me to use it less than the Wildbird Aerial.

The Wildbird Aerial Carrier is just as functional and comes in colours and patterns that are more my speed. It's comfortable and adjustable and I don't have to treat it as preciously. My only complaint is that I can't face my daughter outwards once she is ready. However, it is extremely easy to use and worth the much more palatable price tag. I'll be keeping both!