Mei Tai v Pikkolo v Babyhawk v Ergo etc

DD is now in a hip harness and we are looking at getting an Asian style carrier to help keep her in the right position and ease of getting around (she is a bit fiddly to freehold in the harness).
I have friends with Ergos who love them but looking around there are other Asian style carriers to choose from as noted in the title. Without trying them all (I don't have access to the other types) I was wondering what you think are the pros/cons of these carriers including durability (wear and tear and for carrying toddlers etc), price etc from your experience.
We have a baby bjorn too but I've heard they are not great for babies' spines?

DD is between 5-6 kg (I think!), is quite long and loves to look about (ie hates being too close in towards my chest such as in the Close Carrier). I've been told to consider getting the infant insert with the Ergo but I'm wondering whether DD is beyond that with her size and harness?

Hey Dusty :)

I've never used the infant insert with the ergo, I had other carriers for the kids when they were that little, and I think the ergo is just better suited for older babies and toddlers (in my opinion of course!) Having said that, I got rid of my ergo's (yes I had more than one) because they had quite a short back on them, and having long kids, it always felt they were going to flop out.. LOL

I haven't tried a pikkolo, but when I was doing my research on whether to get a mei tai or a pikkolo - i went with a babyhawk Oh Snap instead, and then got rid of that for a mei tai.

Totally depends if you can be bothered doing up ties, or if you think you would be better off with a full buckle carrier (SSC) like the ergo. I am still on the look out for a comfy SSC, all the ones I have tried haven't been very comfy for me. I have a half buckle at the moment (So its a buckle around the waist like a SSC, but ties on the top like a mei tai) and that is super comfy, so I use that a lot.

I also have a full mei tai (kleinsmekker) which DH usually uses because he finds that more comfy for him, however he can't tie it himself, so I have to tie it for him.

I have a close carrier as well that i will use for the new baby.

That probably hasn't helped at all has it.. LOL

I love close carrier for newborn, I still use now for DS2 at 9 months old and 9kg.

Ergo I love from 4 months, I hated using newborn insert so I think I only used it 2 or 3 times. I still use ergo heaps DS1 regularly goes in it on my back at age of 2 and 1/4 and 13 kgs.

Not sure if that helped or not.