Are you looking for the best toddler carrier for hiking and traveling? You are in the right place. Hiking is our passion and having two kids gave us the opportunity to dive into the topic and check the well-known and some not that famous brands to choose the best hiking equipment for our toddlers. In the following article you will find a lot of pros and cons, so so don’t have to spend tons of time researching your hiking gear for kids. Toddler carriers are lifesavers. We use them all the time, whether we hike in Finnish Lapland, or being on a road trip in Norway or NZ and just do short hikes. They are totally worth it.
We compare the famous and less known brands’ products to give you an overview. We evaluated the products based on their weight, carrying capacity, weight limits, and their price too, so you select the best budget hiking baby carrier for your needs. Read our reviews below.
This post contains affiliate links.
Best Toddler Carriers for Hiking and Traveling in 2020
| BABY CARRIER BACKPACK | BACKPACK WEIGHT | GEAR CAPACITY | MAX WEIGHT | PRICE/RATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey Poco AG Plus Child Carrier | 7.6 lbs (3.5 kg) | 26 l | 48.5 lbs(22 kg) | $$$ |
| Osprey Poco AG Premium | 8.3 lbs (3.77 kg) | 11 l daypack | 48.5 lbs(22 kg) | $$$ |
| Deuter Kid Comfort 3 | 7.6 lbs (3.5 kg) | 18 l | 48.5 lbs(22 kg) | $$$ |
| Deuter Kid Comfort Air | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) | 14 l | 48.5 lbs(22 kg) | $$$ |
| Thule Sapling Child Carrier | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) | no data | 48 lbs (21.7 kg) | $$$ |
| Thule Sapling Elite Child Carrier | 7.9 lbs (3.2 kg) | no data | 48 lbs (21.7 kg) | $$$ |
| Phil & Teds Parade Lightweight Backpack Carrier | 4.4 lbs (2 kg) | no data | 39.7 lbs (18 kg) | $ |
| Phil & Teds Escape | 6.6 lbs (3 kg) | no data | 39.7 lbs (18 kg) | $$ |
| Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier | 2.16 lbs (1 kg) | – | 45 lbs (20.4 kg) | $$ |
| BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One Outdoors | 3 lbs (1.4 kg) | – | Min. 8 lbs/21 in (3.5 kg/53 cm). Max. 33 lbs/39 in (15 kg/100 cm). | $$ |
| Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 | 7.6 lbs (3.5 kg) | 21 l | 50 lbs (22.6 kg) | $$$ |
Osprey Poco AG Plus Child Carrier
Check the latest price!
The AG stands for Anti-Gravity, and it is a popular suspension system from Osprey. Poco AG Plus is one of the best-ventilated child carriers. It has a light internal aluminum frame, and the back and waist straps are highly adjustable, and both parents can easily use the backpack with adjustments.
We also like the numerous and large (26 liters) zippable pockets that allow you to store all the necessary baby equipment and some hiking gear. You can get it in 3 different colors (ivy green, blue, black).
The only downside of the backpack that it doesn’t support that well the head of a sleeping child. Otherwise, this Osprey baby carrier is among our top choices.
Osprey Poco AG Premium Backpack Carrier for Kids
Check the latest price!
The Osprey Poco AG Premium has a much smaller day pack (11 l), and t comes with a heavier backpack weight. Probably the best feature is more for adults than kids: the zippable and scratch-free pocket for storing sunglasses and phones.
Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Hiking Carrier
Check the latest price!
Deuter’s fully adjustable Kid Comfort 3 Toddler Carrier is our second favorite. Dads and moms can use it too, although it takes a bit of adjustment of the stripes. It is comfortable for parents and kids alike.
It has a capacity of 18 liters, which makes it spacious. The carrier has one color, and you can purchase rain cover separately to it. Considering these, it is instead a pricy framed baby carrier.
Deuter Kid Comfort Air Toddler Carrier Backpack
Check the latest price!
It has all the advantages from the other popular Deuter child carriers, and besides, it is lighter and has better air circulation. The lower weight partially due to the smaller storage pockets (only 14 l). For shorter hikes, it can be ideal, especially if you don’t need to carry too much gear with you.
Thule Sapling Carrier
Check the latest price!
It has big hip belt pockets and comfortable seating for the baby and comes with a deployable sunshade at the basic price. It is still a rather pricey option.
Thule Sapling Elite Child Carrier
Check the latest price!
The Elite child carrier even weighs less than the earlier model, and the bigger, removable backpack is also handy to store diapers or other gear. The hydration sleeves can take up to 3 liters of water, which is a perfect amount for a whole day hike. And our absolute favorite: the viewing mirror to monitor your child while hiking on the trail. That’s an absolute winning accessory.
Phil & Teds Parade Lightweight Backpack Carrier
Check the latest price!
Spacious, comfortable, and light. Do I need to say more? You can easily fold the Phil and Teds Parade Carrier, and the small size allows you to travel or fly with it more comfortably. It is lighter ( 4 lbs 2 kg ) the most of the other carrier backpacks, which are another plus. Although it gives a lot of space even for a bigger child, a younger one might not fit that well into it as there will still be a lot of space for him to kg move around.
Phil & Teds Escape Child Carrier Backpack
Check the latest price!
This Phil & Teds Escape backpack model is more cumbersome and costs more than the earlier mentioned model, but with the extra weight, additional features and bigger storage space come. It is fully padded, the sun and rain cover easily applicable. It is also foldable to small size, includes a detachable daypack.
Kelty Pathfinder 3.0
Check the latest price!
I was delighted when browsing among the Kelty baby carriers. They are all recommended for toddlers who can hold up their head (as all should be!) and over 16 lbs. The Pathfinder 3.0 includes a sunshade, numerous pockets, a zip-off day backpack, hip belt pockets, and a water bottle holder. The child seat height is also adjustable. We consider this one of the best toddler carrier backpacks.
Baby carriers for city and short walks
OMNI 360 ergo baby carrier for toddlers
Check the latest price!
The OMNI 360 baby carrier is more suitable for city trips and shorter walks than for hiking. It can be used up to about two years. It has a small detachable pouch to store the most essential items and a privacy hood that can hide you while you are breastfeeding.
Cons: no air cooling system, not enough storage place for hiking
BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One Outdoors
The Baby Carrier One was designed for outdoors, has several pockets and loops for a cell phone, a water bottle, but still lacks storage space for longer trips.
Check the latest price!
All you need to know about backpack carriers
How old baby can I carry in a backpack carrier? A.k.a. hiking with infants
The current WHO (check it) recommendation that in backpack barriers (front or back), you carry only kids who are older than six months and can sit unassisted. For carrying a newborn, it is recommended to use a baby wrap. Even though it is not the most suitable for hiking, it is just a few months you need to skip/wait.
Front or back?
According to Hungarian doctors (what type of doctor is that)? Kids heavier than 6-7 kg should be carried on your back to easy the heavyweight and keep a healthy standing position.
Should I use a forward-facing baby carrier?
It is not recommended to carry a kid facing out at any age – although most manufacturers advertise their product as it was suitable for infants from age zero. Please consult your doc if you have any doubts.
Don’t use kangaroo baby carriers
Toddlers (like adults) need to sit comfortably. A kangaroo carrier that does not support the baby’s thighs is not ergonomically friendly and suitable to carry a small child. Look for carriers that support well, especially under age 1.
Is the child carrier suitable for dads?
Yes! Most carriers are flexible and adjustable for both genders. There are no typical men’s baby carriers, but almost everything that is not pink will fit perfectly to fathers too.
Pin it for later!
very nice post & useful information all parents,thanks
Thank you!