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 of 2025
Our Verdict
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. 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.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Nalakai Ring Sling | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Sling Style Baby Carrier | Budget-friendly Baby Carrier Wrap |  Affordable Structured Carrier | ||
| Price | $90 List $69.99 at Amazon | $60 List $59.95 at Amazon | $45 List Check Price at Amazon | $70 List $64.99 at Amazon | $50 List $49.99 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 | Budget-friendly wrap style that is easy to use and comfy enough | Budget-friendly wrap that is comfortable but harder to use | This carrier offers solid value for the price, though it's a bit basic compared to pricier alternatives | This carrier has a convenient design, but its notable shortcomings can impact overall comfort |
| Rating Categories | Nalakai Ring Sling | Baby K'tan Original | Boba Wrap | Momcozy Baby Carrier | Boppy Comfyfit Hybr... |
| Parent Comfort (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
| Child Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Ease Of Cleaning (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Nalakai Ring Sling | Baby K'tan Original | Boba Wrap | Momcozy Baby Carrier | Boppy Comfyfit Hybr... |
| Min/Max Weight | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 7 - 35 lbs | 7 - 44 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs |
| Carry Positions | Facing In (8 - 35 lbs) Hip Carry (8 - 35 lbs *BGL recommends Head/Neck/Torso Control) |
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) | Front Facing In | Newborn Front Facing In (legs in frog position) Baby Front Facing In (legs out, 0 - 6 mths) Baby Front Facing Out (6 mths+) |
| Fabric | 58% Bamboo 42% Linen |
100% Cotton | 95% Cotton 5% Spandex |
100% Cotton | Outer fabric: 88% Polyester/12% Spandex Inner material: 100% Polyester Spacer Mesh |
| Hood | No | No | No | No | No |
| Storage Options | Pocket on the tail | Pouch on the belt | Storage pouch | None | Stash n' Go Pouch that's separate from carrier. |
| Other Features & Notable | None | Azo Dye-free | None | Adjustable waist belt: 54 inches maximum length | |
| Care Instructions | Machine wash cold, hang dry | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Normal process. Do not bleach. Tumble drying possible, drying at lower temperature. | Machine wash with mild detergent, delicate/gentle cold. Tumble dry delicate/gentle, low. |
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 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. This makes it a good choice for various body types and a potential contender where the size of mom and dad vary significantly and require different-sized carriers.
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 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). Once your little one is in the seat, further adjustments can happen. 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 heavier or over-sized items.
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.
Care should be taken using slings with newborns and smaller infants as use and placement should avoid the potential for positional asphyxiation. Reading manufacturer warnings and discussing use with your pediatrician are important steps to take before using any carrier.
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?
If you're looking for an easy, comfy way to carry your little one, the Nalakai is a solid choice. It's simple to use and works well for activities like grocery shopping, running errands, or even around the house. Plus, it's breastfeeding-friendly. You can toss it in your diaper bag or stash it under the stroller, and it's ready for whenever you need to switch into babywearing mode.
What Other Baby Carriers Should You Consider?
Some parents prefer the extra support of a soft structured carrier for longer outings, and if that's you, we recommend the BabyBjorn One or the Tula Free-to-Grow. These award-winning carriers are comfortable for parents and little ones, and they're designed to grow with your baby, from newborn to toddler. Or, consider the Momcozy Baby Carrier, which is at a more affordable price point compared to the One and Free-to-Grow. If you're more into wraps, the Baby K'tan Original is a good option, as it offers a cozy fit that's perfect for the newborn stage.
Manufacturer Video
—Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
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