REASONS TO BUY
Easy to use
Comfortable to wear
Cozy for baby
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Hang to dry
Nalakai Ring Sling Review
Easy to use, comfortable sling to wear and sit in
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Baby Carriers
The Skinny
The Nalakai Ring Sling is a straightforward baby carrier that works as it should without hiccups, complicated wrapping, or strap adjustments. This bamboo and linen fabric sling is simple in design. Most users can put a baby in the sling and make adjustments by themselves while toting baby around, and the soft fabric and width of the sling make for a comfortable fit for almost any body type. This sling has enough fabric to accommodate wearers of different sizes, making it an ideal design for dads and moms to share. The slight stretch to the material and softness is perfect for baby comfort, and the on-the-go adjustability means quick changes are possible to increase comfort for the wearer and the passenger. We love this sling and recommend it to family and friends looking for a simple top-ranked baby carrier for bonding or freedom of movement.
Editor's Note: We updated the Nalakai Ring Sling on October 18, 2022, to include additional sections with notes on product comparisons and recommendations on what we would buy.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Nalakai Ring Sling | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | | ||
| Price | $90 List $69.99 at Amazon | $95 List | $60 List $59.95 at Amazon | $45 List Check Price at Amazon | $45 List $44.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | 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 | Hard to use wrap that is comfortable but can get hot |
| Rating Categories | Nalakai Ring Sling | Maya Wrap ComfortFi... | Baby K'tan Original | Boba Wrap | Moby Wrap Classic |
| Child Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Parent Comfort (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
| Ease Of Cleaning (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Nalakai Ring Sling | Maya Wrap ComfortFi... | Baby K'tan Original | Boba Wrap | Moby Wrap Classic |
| Min/Max Weight | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 7 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs |
| Carry Positions | 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) | Kangaroo Position (< 8 lbs) Facing In (Newborn - 35 lbs) Hip Carry (5 mo - 35 lbs) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs | Sm: 0.92 Lg: 1.16 lbs |
Sm: 0.89 Lg: 1.04 lbs |
1.41 lbs | 1.3 lbs |
| Packable Size | Small | Small | Small | Small (5.5 yards in length) | Small (5.5 meters in length) |
| Fabric | 58% Bamboo 42% Linen |
Cotton, Polyester | 100% Cotton | 95% Cotton 5% Spandex |
100% Cotton |
| Hood | No | No | No | No | No |
| Storage Options | Pocket on the tail | Zippered pocket on the tail | Pouch on the belt. | Storage Pouch | None |
| Other Features & Notable | None | Available in two different lengths, standard and long | Azo Dye-free | None | None |
| Included Accessories | None | None | None | Storage Sack | Stuff Sack |
| Care Instructions | Machine wash cold, hang dry | Machine wash cold, hang dry | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Pura Vida means "pure life," and the natural lifestyle inspired the Pura Vida slings. Eventually, the family brand changed its name to Nalakai, a combination of the family's children, Nala and Kai. The simplicity of the ring sling is what makes slings better than other kinds of carriers in the mind of Nalakai, and the straightforward design and use help keep little ones close and comforted.
Performance Comparison
The Nalakai offers a comfortable fit for little ones with a simple design that supports and conforms to their body and movement with little restraint.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Baby's Comfort
The ring sling design makes it one of the comfiest for babies.
The sling's material is soft and somewhat stretchy to help offer support and conformability to the child. The large swath of fabric can move and adjust to the seat size of your baby and support them from the bottom to the top despite the lack of padding and structure.
Pulling the Nalakai extra fabric through the ring can bring your little one closer to your face for comfortable bonding and increased closeness.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
You can pull the extra fabric through the ring to bring your baby closer to your face increasing bonding and feelings of support for little ones. As your baby grows, the hip carry gives more freedom for little legs and helps support their bottom for comfortable side carrying. We also like that you can raise the fabric to support the child's upper back and head should they fall asleep.
The wide swath of fabric on the Nalakai makes it comfortable for the wearer, and adjustments for comfort are easy even with a child in the sling.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Parent's Comfort
This sling-style carrier has a wide strip of bamboo and linen fabric that wraps around your shoulder in a cross-body configuration that is very comfortable for the wearer.
The material is soft, conforms to your shape, and can be comfortable even without padding or structure. The ring design allows you to raise or lower little ones to change the weight distribution on your body for on-the-go comfort adjustments. Even when you pull the fabric tight, the snugness is comfortable, and the material is breathable.
Most users can place their child in the Nalakai sling without assistance.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Nalakai is one of the easiest options to use in the best baby carrier group, thanks to the sling's straightforward design.
The lack of straps, connectors, and adjustments makes this option one of the easiest to learn and adjust on the fly.
All you need to do is pull your head and one arm through the opening, widen the sling fabric (above left) and place the child's bottom on the fabric for support (above right). Further adjustments can happen once your little one is in the seat. Most users can execute this by themselves, which is a boon over styles that are more complicated to adjust or require a helper.
The Nalakai has a simple pocket on the pull end of the fabric to keep your baby's favorite things close at hand.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Nalakai has one small-sized storage pocket on the sling's tail. It's a thoughtful addition to the sling's design that's suitable for a favorite baby teether toy, pacifiers, burp cloth, or other small items you might need close at hand. While it will hold a smartphone or keys, the open-top design could result in dropping or losing heavy items.
The Nalakai is machine washable but must be hung to dry, impacting its overall ease of cleaning score.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The Nalakai is machine washable, but you must hang the fabric to dry.
While we wish the sling could go in the dryer, we appreciate the machine wash capability, the thinner fabric, and the lack of padding, which makes the line dry time shorter than much of the competition. Spit-up and accidental soiling are relatively easy to clean on the go and dry quickly compared to the competition.
Should You Buy the Nalakai Ring Sling?
The Nalakai is a quality sling that sets the bar high compared to the competition. It's infinitely adjustable, a bonus if you're sharing the carrier among different-sized wearers, accommodates newborns to toddlers, and is breastfeeding-friendly. Stash it in one of our favorite diaper bags or under your stroller, making it accessible when you're ready to shift into babywearing mode.
What Other Baby Carriers Should You Consider?
Many parents prefer soft structured carriers, and if you feel the same, we suggest looking into the BabyBjorn One. It offers a long lifespan, working for newborns to toddlers, and it's comfortable for most parents. However, if you're more of a wrap fan, we suggest the Baby K'tan Original. It's an affordable wrap-style carrier without the extra fabric, and it can offer a comfortable fit that's great during the newborn period.
Manufacturer Video
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Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
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