The 7 Best Baby Carriers for Hiking

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One of the many gifts my since departed father was able to instill in me was an appreciation of nature. As a kid, he taught me the difference between clay and shale, what color different animals eyes glow at night, and how to catch fish. I didn’t grow up into any kind of outdoorsman. I’ve never hunted anything, I go fishing a handful of times a year, and my sweet pit bull, shepherd mix Nina’s penchant for getting into dogfights has earned us an exile from the hiking trails near my home for years now. But as my four year old son gets old enough to more fully appreciate the world around him, I’ve become determined to venture off into the woods with him, and try my best to pass on my father’s love of nature. And that, of course, means lugging my toddler daughter along with us on my back, a gift for their mom, who gets some time to get her nails done.

Baby carriers for hiking come in many iterations and price points, but they all seem to able do the job of keeping your littles comfortable and their legs fresh. It’s also kind of nice to be able to walk through nature with my daughter’s head so close to mine. I can provide a running narration of everything we see as we pass it. I’d like to think that I am subconsciously embedding an affinity for the natural world in her psyche—something that will serve her well in the future as there’s no better place to find meditative calm. But even if I’m not, it’s great exercise for me. Trust me, carrying a squirmy 22 pounds around on your back for a few miles will have those quads screaming, gents. Now, onto the best baby carriers for hiking and which one is best for you.

Poco AG

This Osprey scores points for being comfortable, durable, and packed with useful features. It comes with a sunshade, a bunch of easily accessible, zippered pockets, an easy-to-wash drool pad, and a cozy, comfy little compartment (complete with stirrups) for your tyke to ride in. The harness is ergonomic for dad, and if mom wants to help bear the load (always welcome, ladies!), it’s also easily adjustable. A seven-year warranty does wonders for peace of mind, particularly when you’re shelling out $350 for the thing.

PerfectFIT Elite

The Kelty scores high in comfort for both me and the baby thanks to plenty of cushioning—there’s not going to be any chafing here, and I’m not sure which one of us appreciates that more. This carrier also comes with a built-in sunshade, which is important to provide sun protection for my daughter. Storage capacity is nearly seven gallons too so you can cram a whole bunch of snacks, waters, and layers into the thing. It’s price tag may be eye-watering, but you certainly get what you pay for.

SmartSupport Aluminum Frame

If, like me, you are not a diehard outdoorsman, and instead are just beginning your sojourn into the splendor of the natural world, the Chicco SmartSupport Backpack might be a good choice for you. It comes with adjustable shoulder and waist straps to fit all kinds of dad bods, and also has an adjustable interior setup that can grow with your kid from infancy to about three years old. This backpack probably isn’t durable enough to suit everyday hikers, but at $130 it’s a great place to get started.

Backpack Baby Carrier

Another good choice if you’re keeping an eye on expenditures but still want to introduce the young’uns to the great outdoors is this selection from Luvdbaby. This backpack has lots of the same features as more expensive models, like a built-in sunshade, kickstand, and extra storage pockets, at a fraction of the price. It’s also easily adjustable for hikers of different heights. The overall quality of the build is the tradeoff, and daily use might wear this one out, but generally speaking you get a whole lot of bang for your buck with the backpack.

Poco Plus

The Osprey Poco Plus has as much storage space as just about anything else you’ll find on the market, coming in at 6.9 gallons. It also has an overall load capacity of 48.5 pounds in case your toddler is the kind that looks like a small adult in diapers. The backpack comes with an adjustable hip belt for dad’s comfort (good for lower-back support) and also has removable stirrups that keep junior’s legs from falling asleep while on trail. At $395 the hefty price tag may be too much for some, but on the other hand this thing is an absolute unit.

Kid Comfort Pro

The most important thing you need to know about the Deuter Kids’ Comfort Pro is that it comes with something called “Vari Flex Pivoting Articulated 3d Hip Fins.” Got that? It’s fins your hips—they’re there for your comfort. This backpack is overflowing with fancy features that will appeal to the man with a garage full of things he bought but never used. There’s a rearview mirror, a removable day pack, and sunshade that integrates into the backpack (as opposed to needing to be removed when not in use). You pay for all of this stuff, of course. But for a certain type of guy, it’s probably worth it.

360 Baby Carrier

The Omni Breeze is a little bit different than the other packs here. That’s because A. It’s frameless, and B. You carry your tot in the front. The latter helps with lumbar support, while the former makes the Omni Breeze easy to pack in a car or large suitcase. The design also keeps the wearer cool and comfortable because it’s largely made from mesh fabric. This pack can accommodate kids age 0 to 4 years old, and it’s durable enough to hang with you and a (possibly) growing family. My only critique—being dead honest here—I think it looks a little goofy.

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