The Best Child Carrier Options for Hiking with Babies and Small Children
By: Kaitlin Christmas
November 2023
**This article contains commissionable links that help support Colorado Hiking Moms.
When most people think of hiking with a baby, they usually picture a framed, structured hiking carrier.
These child carriers are definitely a favorite for hiking moms everywhere, but there are quite a few options on the market which can leave new moms questioning which route to take. The truth about deciding which hiking carrier to choose is that it is a very personal decision. There are so many factors that go into selecting the best hiking carrier for you, that our number one recommendation will always be to try a few in person. We’re going to dive into each popular brand of hiking kid carriers to help you weigh your options!
While framed carriers are very popular for hiking with babies, they usually cannot be used until a handful of milestones have been met:
- Sitting fully independently
- 6 months+
- Minimum weight requirements set by manufacturer
That does NOT mean you have to sit idly while you wait for your baby to meet the milestones of a framed hiking carrier - there are quite a few options for hiking with newborns as well.
From 0 to ~6 months:
Getting back out on the trails after your baby is born is so exciting, and honestly such an underrated time to hike with young children. They are going to end up asleep half the time, they’re so content just being close to you and they receive so much sensory input from being outdoors. Finding your preferred way to carry your baby while hiking can be a long process for some - for others, they just wear the same carriers they wear to be hands free at home or while running errands.
The most common carrier types for hiking with an infant are:
- Stretchy Wraps (best for 0-3 months)
- Popular Brands: Moby, Solly, Boba, Baby K’Tan
- Soft Structured/Buckle Carriers
- Popular Brands: Ergobaby, Tula, Lillebaby, Kinderpack
And another perk of starting out with these baby carriers is that many of them can be used well into toddlerhood!
For ~6 months up to ~4 years:
Once your baby reaches the minimum requirements to be carried in a framed, structured hiking carrier, it’s time to start thinking about preferences.
Will you be hiking with your baby without a partner to help you carry additional gear? If so, storage might take priority for you. Are you needing something compact and lightweight? Something that is comfortable for both you and a partner? Something that fits a smaller, more petite frame? Is price your biggest driving factor?
These are the questions that you should start with when heading into your search for the best hiking carrier for your family. Personal preferences should always take priority over your friend’s recommendations, because they might have different needs or wants in a carrier than you do.
Once you have your preferences nailed down, it’s time to dive into research! These are some of the popular hiking carriers that you might see out on the trails or hear other hiking parents recommend:
Retails at $300
-21L Capacity
-5lbs 1 oz Empty Pack Weight
-Non-Zippered Hip Pockets
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15-21 inches
-48lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-3 Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Osprey Poco LT Child Carrier at REI
Retails at $350
-20L Capacity
-7lbs 11.2 oz Empty Pack Weight
-Non-Zipper Hip Belt Pocket
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15-21 inches
-48lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-6 Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Osprey Poco Child Carrier at REI
Retails at $395
-26L Capacity
-7lbs 14.4 oz Empty Pack Weight
-Zippered Hip Pockets
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15-22 inches
-48lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-10 Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier at REI
Retails at $280
-12L Capacity
-5lbs 14 oz Empty Pack Weight
-Zippered Hip Pocket
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15-20 inches
-48lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-2 Non-Zippered Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Deuter Kid Comfort Active Child Carrier at REI
Retails at $320
-14L Capacity
-7lbs 2 oz Empty Pack Weight
-2 Zippered Hip Pockets
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15-20 inches
-48lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-2 Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier at REI
Retails at $385
-14L Capacity w/ Detachable Pack
-8lbs 5 oz Empty Pack Weight
-2 Zippered Hip Pockets
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15-20 inches
-48lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-4 Non-Zippered Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Deuter Kid Comfort Pro Child Carrier at REI
Retails at $270
-17L Capacity
-6lbs 6 oz Empty Pack Weight
-Non-Zippered Hip Pocket
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15.5-21 inches
-50lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-3 Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Child Carrier at REI
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Signature
Retails at $320
-26L Capacity
-6lbs 6 oz Empty Pack Weight
-Zippered Hip Pocket
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15.5-21 inches
-48.5lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-6 Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Signature Child Carrier at REI
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite
Retails at $350
-26L Capacity
-7lbs 4 oz Empty Pack Weight
-2 Zippered Hip Pockets
-Adjustable Torso Length: 15.5-21 inches
-50lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-9 Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Child Carrier at REI
Retails at $380
-22L Capacity
-7lbs Empty Pack Weight
-Zippered Hip Pocket
-Adjustable Torso Length
-48lbs Max Weight (child+gear+weight)
-3 Pockets + Main Compartment
Shop Thule Sapling Child Carrier at REI
Our final analysis:
Most Storage Capacity: Osprey Poco Plus, Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Signature and Elite models
If you’re looking for something to bring on overnight trips to the backcountry or plan to hike frequently without a partner to carry most of your gear, you might want to check into these models above!
Highest Max Weight: Kelty PerfectFIT and PerfectFIT Elite models
If you have a kiddo on the higher percentiles for weight and want to make sure you can use your carrier as long as possible, these child carrier models from Kelty have a max weight of 50 lbs, as opposed to 48 lbs on the other options covered here.
Lightest Empty Pack: Osprey Poco LT
Again, if you have a kiddo in the higher percentiles, opting for a lighter child carrier can help increase the longevity of use as well as just take a few pounds off your efforts, which is always nice!
Least Expensive: Kelty Journey PerfectFIT
Overall - our recommendation for the best child carrier for hiking is whichever meets your needs the best! Compare and contrast the different features of each pack and figure out what will work best for your family. One of the good things about purchasing from REI is that if it does not work out or it does not fit properly, you can return within the first 365 days of purchase for a full refund or exchange if you are a member!
For 12 months up to ~5 years:
Once your toddler gets a taste of hiking on their own, they might be hard to corral back into a back carrier. The Trail Magik Kid Carrier is the perfect lightweight, packable solution for when you are helping your littles increase their endurance while hiking on their own and they want a lot of ups and downs. The Trail Magik attaches to the front of your hiking pack, using the load lifting straps and carabiners, and is so convenient to bring it and pull out when you need it!
Toddlers typically need frequent breaks or tap out after a certain distance, so the Trail Magik Kid Carrier is the perfect solution for adventurous families to go further, together.
Many moms in the Colorado Hiking Moms community use and love Trail Magik! It is most common to start frequently using around 2 to 2.5 years old - when tots want that independence, but might still need a trail nap or longer break while you still clock miles.