Beluga Buckle V1 Review

Beluga Baby Buckle

Last Updated: August 9, 2025
I was making a spreadsheet of my baby carriers and when looking for the manufacture date, I noticed that, unlike what the website states, my Beluga Buckle was actually made in Turkey, not Canada. I have updated this post to reflect that.

There are still some V1s available, which are significantly cheaper than the V2s that show a price of $300 currently. I picked up a V1 from Rebelstork during an autumn sale. My niece raved about the Beluga Buckles, so I figured at such a great price, I had to grab one as well.

Cost: $180 + tax (Beluga Baby)

My cost: $115.13 (Rebelstork)

Date Ordered: September 3, 2024
Date Shipped: September 6, 2024
Date Received: September 12, 2024

Highlights:

  • Canadian Company
  • Recyclable Packaging
  • Fabric: Cotton & Linen

Manufactured in: *Turkey

Company Base: Vancouver, BC

Established in: 2015?

Overall Impression

I must first clarify that I am not a baby wearing expert and these are my personal opinions based on my experiences. Despite a year of research, I feel I’ve barely scratched the surface of wearing babies.

Type: Waterfall Buckle

Designs: The colours are very Vancouver: pleasant, but not bright, but at least not stuck in neutral. The only pattern currently is “coastal”, and it’s sold out. There were only two options on Rebelstork, so I picked black over grey.

Straps: There is only the H-strap option for carrying. This is not my favourite for front carrying as I don’t like how the weight is distributed that way. I also can’t seem to get it over my head if it’s already latched and my shoulders are very inflexible, so it is impossible for me to adjust, latch, or unlatch the buckle by myself while wearing my baby on the front. This is obviously not a problem during a back carry. All the straps pull nicely and stay cinched.
The shoulder straps are also curved, which I think is supposed to be more comfortable on the shoulders, but it removes any ability to use crossed straps in the back, as the curve then digs into the neck.

Waistband: The waistband itself is very flimsy, and I found it folded almost immediately. There is only a small strip of velcro in the middle to keep it the fabric in place and it somehow detached and flipped so that my baby ended up crooked.

The waistband collapses during wearing and the carrier fabric twists around
This small piece of velcro helps adjust the size to support the legs

Buckle: I assume the extra button on the buckle is for safety reasons, but I find it really inconvenient if you want to hold your baby and fully take off the carrier at the same time. I also didn’t expect this the first time I was using this carrier and had a full on panic attack trying to get unbuckled and deal with a screaming baby. It was not a good time, but my fault for not fully knowing the carrier. I also don’t like that the buckle only tightens one way, so the buckle doesn’t end up in the centre of your body. It also creates a very long tail if you have a small frame. On me, it goes to my knees, though there is a loop at the end to tuck in the extra material.

I need two hands to release this buckle

Modes: Carrying positions are limited. The Beluga Buckle V1 can only do two types of carry.

Price: This is one of the more expensive carriers on the market. Having something locally and ethically made with quality materials can merit the price point.

Fabric: The fabric is soft and thin. It is made of 55% organic cotton and 45% linen, making it a nice option for the summer. I imagine it only gets softer with more use.

Hood: The hood is completely detachable, but the V1 has nowhere to store it on the carrier, so you have to either have it hanging, bring it with you and store it somewhere else, or leave it somewhere. It also attaches on the inside, which I don’t think is a great design. Although it gives it a cleaner look on the outside, it means the snaps are on the side of your baby. They also only attach at one spot on the shoulders. I believe this has changed in the V2 with a zipped pouch in the carrier, and more spots to attach the hood, but I cannot verify.

Adjustability:

  • Waistband adjusts from one side
  • Waistband fabric is adjustable to support baby’s legs via velcro
  • Shoulder straps adjust two ways at the underarm
  • H-Clip has plenty of room to adjust up and down
  • Shoulder strap adjusts in front
  • One snap on each shoulder for hood attachment
  • Hood detaches and has two snap settings

Size Discrepancy: On the website it touts that carrier is suitable for babies 7-50lbs, but the tag inside the carrier says 15-50lbs. I don’t know which one is accurate.

The Goods:

  • Local company
  • Soft and pleasant fabric
  • Decent range of colours for V2
  • Comfortable

The Not-So-Goods:

  • Flimsy waistband
  • Not very adjustable
  • Few designs
  • Limited carry options

Good for people who:

  • Want to support a Canadian company
  • Like a sleek look and solid, muted colours
  • Care about the quality of the materials
  • Like the softness of cotton/linen blends
  • Are happy with minimal options (more isn’t always better!)
  • Have a medium to large budget

I personally wouldn’t purchase another Beluga Buckle for full price as I’m keen to see what else is out there, but it is a great option for many people.


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