As outdoorsy mamas (or at least moms that spend a lot of time outside), we get asked a lot about gear recommendations. The Run Wild My Child team that brings you the articles on this website is made up of 30+ writers, all parents on a mission to spend time outside with our kids and help inspire and encourage other parents to do the same. Between us and all our kids, we’ve tried and tested a TON of gear, equipment, clothing, shoes, etc. and we love sharing our recommendations with you. Today, Lea Reynolds, New Mexico nurse, Army vet, and mom of two (including a newborn), is here sharing all the details on the best baby carriers for hiking and outdoor adventures. Each recommended product has been thoroughly tested and tried by Lea and her family. She’s sharing the best baby carrier for newborns, long hikes and hiking with toddlers.
Best baby carriers for hiking and outdoor adventures
Are you a parent new to adventuring and want to know what carrier best suits your baby or child?
Are you an experienced adventure parent that wants to upgrade or make changes to your current setup?
This article is for you! I’m so excited to chat with you today about the best baby carriers for hiking and adventuring. My husband and I have tried and tested many child carriers over the years. As military veterans and experienced adventurers, we’ve made it a priority to take our children on every exploration we set out on from the beginning. We now have two little ones that we adventure with, so we’ve got experience from newborn through toddler.
Choosing the best baby carrier for you
A good baby carrier can make adventuring with two littles not only possible, but fun! But there are a ton of options out there and it’s not always easy to know what you want or need. Plus, it’s hard to know what will last more than a few months (babies grow quickly) and what to spend your money on that will hold up to outdoor adventures and be comfortable.
Today, I will talk about the pros and cons of three fo the best baby carriers for hiking and what ages they best suit. I’ll help you choose which baby carrier is the best for you, depending on what type of outdoor adventures you’ll be going on and the size/age of your child(ren).
Each of the hiking baby carriers discussed below will help you be more comfortable and confident adventuring outside with kids. A good carrier can make all the difference and inspire you to get out there and have fun on the trail. That’s what adventuring with your kids should be right? So let’s get started!
The Osprey Poco Plus
The Osprey Poco Plus is probably the best hiking child carrier on the market. This carrier allows infants from the time they can hold their heads up to about 46 lbs. We have used this carrier with our son since he was an infant and now it’s used to carry our baby girl who is 6 months old. This carrier has a fully framed and padded cockpit area, which surrounds the adjustable seat for safety. It has a lightweight metal frame that allows for transitioning on and off the back easily and safely. Easy-to-use buckles and straps for adjustments. It’s made with soft flexible and breathable materials, with ventilated side panels for comfort when it’s hot.
Osprey Poco Plus pros:
The Osprey Poco Plus is very versatile and allows for maximum comfort for both the adult and child. It’s fully adjustable to my body frame (I am 5’3 and 130 lbs) and to my husband’s (5’9 and 170 lbs). There are footrests on either side of the carrier, so that your child can have their feet resting instead of dangling like soft-shell carriers.
The storage on this carrier is phenomenal! There are two mesh pockets on either side where I put snacks and toys for my baby. There is a large compartment with a zipper at the bottom that I store my DSLR camera, diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes for baby girl. This completely eliminates the need to carry an additional backpack. It has a mesh back lining to keep you cool on those hot summer days and even has a hydration pack compartment.
It’s also easy to put on by yourself, which means I can hike solo with my child without needing someone to help me get the carrier on and off. It has a sunshade (stored when not in use) that has come in handy many times while we were hiking desert trails and fly-fishing up and down rivers. It also adjusts as your child gets bigger. The adjustable seat accommodates infants to toddlers.
I cannot rave enough about how much I love this carrier! It makes adventuring with babies so much fun! It’s a must for any parents with infants to toddlers. This carrier has taken us on some pretty epic adventures. We’ve hiked some steep trails, visited National Parks, fished some raving rivers and most importantly, we exposed our babies to the beauty of the world and all it has to offer. This carrier is perfect for pretty much any adventure!
Osprey Poco Plus cons:
This carrier can be heavy for those that are not used to hiking with a load. If you are not used to carrying a lot of weight on your back, you will want to practice and get used to the frame of this carrier. My husband and I have hiked with a lot of weight on our back in the Army so we are used to it, but if you are just starting out, it’s good to start with short hikes and adventures and build up to it.
Although the maximum weight limit says 46 lbs (or 4 years old) it’s very heavy when carrying a toddler. The weight of the actual carrier itself is roughly 7 lbs. And then add a toddler’s weight to that (especially if you have a large toddler, like mine) and it can get really heavy. (Although, I should also mention that carrying a toddler in anything is hard. Once kids can walk, they really enjoy hiking on their own and don’t want to be restrained.) We do have a carrier for him that allows him to rest on long hikes (see below).
Another con to this type of baby carrier is that you have to wait until your infant can hold their head up before you can/should use this product. This carrier is definitely not meant for newborns or the littlest of hikers. You’ll need to use an alternative method of carrying your little baby (see below).
Finally, the Osprey Poco plus is a bit pricy and may not be an affordable option for everyone. This carrier retails for $340. If you’re going to be doing a lot of hiking with your kid(s) over the years (and will use this for multiple kids), then the price is definitely worth it. It will last a long time and can be resold for quite a bit of what you paid for it. We purchased our older version on Facebook MarketPlace for a fraction of the current retail cost. When buying used, make sure to check all straps, buckles, handles, etc. for holes, rips, wear, tears, stains, damage, etc. You’d be surprised what awesome gear you can find used.
Ergo Baby 360
The next carrier we will talk about is a soft-shell baby carrier called the Ergo Baby 360. There are several similar baby carriers out there, but we love this one. It is so comfortable and can sit baby in 4 different positions; facing parent, facing out, hip carry, back carry. We have used this one for each of our children when they were infants. It has taken us on some amazing adventures and I will continue to use it until its time comes to an end. This carrier is best suitable for hikes with newborn-toddlers, walks around the neighborhood, walks on the beach, and comes in handy when you have other children.
Ergo Baby 360 pros:
The Ergo Baby 360 is very comfortable to wear and fully adjustable for different body frames. It’s really light-weight and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. It can carry your baby in 4 different positions as they grow and depending on what’s comfortable for you both. It has a sun-shade cover to keep baby’s head out of the sunshine and comes with a pillow that allows newborns to be carried safely. We took our baby girl on her first hike when she was just 1-week old and if it hadn’t been for this carrier, we would have had to carry her or would have resorted to a paved trail that was stroller accessible.
1 week-old baby in Ergo Baby 360
Ergo Baby 360 cons:
The orginal version of this carrier is best suitable for colder weather. It can get a little toasty for baby in the summer (and we live in New Mexico, where it can get really hot). Ergo Baby does make a cool mesh version of this same carrier, which says that it keeps you and your baby cooler on hotter days.
It’s rated for up to 45 lbs but it’s definitely not as comfortable once they hit that weight, even on your back. We transition to our Osprey Poco Plus once they outgrow this one. This carrier is also a little hard to put on and load the baby by yourself.
Tropical forest hike in Hawaii with our Ergo Baby 360.
Trail Magik Toddler Carrier
As our kids get older, we needed something to help us carry our toddler. The last carrier we use is relatively new to the market. It’s made by a family-owned company called Trail Magik. It’s a soft-shell carrier that is durable and specifically made with toddlers in mind. It retails for $95. During transit it’s folded to the size of a small water bottle & weighs just ounces. When needed, The Trail Magik Carrier can attach to the front of your backpacking backpack so you won’t miss a beat while your little hitchhikers get their rest on. It allows your toddler to rest comfortably, while not displacing your hiking backpack.
Trail Magik Toddler Carrier pros:
This toddler carrier is very lightweight, foldable, and durable. Helps toddler rest on longer hikes, once they need a break. It also allows you to carry two children at once (if you’re feeling like Super Mom!).
We were skeptical of the claims of being able to carry your todder comfortably at first because we all know how heavy toddlers can be. The thought of attaching our 35 lb toddler to the front while carrying 45 lbs + on our back, seemed absurd, but we needed something specially made for toddlers. We purchased this carrier recently and tried it out on our strenuous 4-mile hike in Taos, New Mexico. With an elevation gain of 1,030ft. , we knew our toddler would not last the entire hike on his own so we knew we needed something to help him along the way. Our son made it to 3.5 miles before needing help and boy were we ecstatic to have this carrier.
My husband attached him to his pack and we made it the alpine lake. We enjoyed our alpine lake hike so much, we failed to capture photos of us hiking to the top with our son in this carrier. Here is a photograph of it from another hike.
Steep, rocky climb with baby and toddler.
Trail Magik Toddler Carrier cons:
Unfortunately, the Trail Magik baby carrier is not great for prolonged use or really long hikes. You have to have weight on your back to counter the front weight this means wearing a carrier on your back or a hiking backpack with some good amount of weight in it. The weight of your toddler can cause shoulder discomfort if used for too many miles in one hike.
Find the baby carrier that works for you
There is an abundance of baby and child carriers on the market. It is important to find the one(s) that best suit you and your family. Different carriers are made for different activities and the age/size of your children. Finding the most comfortable carrier is sometimes a lesson learned through trial and error. If possible, I highly recommend trying on and testing any carrier before purchasing. You can always try out a brand at the store and then buy it second-hand elsewhere. This gives you the option to ask questions about the product and get to know all the features before purchasing.
My family and I love to hike, fish, and explore some pretty epic places. The carriers listed above have made it not only possible with our children, but fun! There is nothing better than the look on your child’s face when they reach the top of a steep and long hike, or reel in a fish and they are able to witness it right on your back. The right baby carrier allows you to continue doing the adventurous things you love while your children come along. I stand wholeheartedly in these carriers and know that they will continue to take us on epic adventures.
Happy adventuring!
More resources about hiking with kids
If you’re interested in more great content about hiking with kids, be sure to check out the following posts:
- Best Hiking Shoes for Kids
- 10 Hiking Essentials for Families
- Making DIY Hiking Sticks with Kids
- Trail-Test & Kid-Approved Hiking Snacks
- Ultimate List of Outdoor Gear for Kids
Do you use a baby carrier for hiking?
Which brand do you recommend?
About the author
Lea is a dedicated wife, adventurous mother, Registered Nurse, and Army veteran. She is from New Mexico and strives each and every day to get outside with her wild toddler and newborn baby girl. She and her husband Brandon both served 8 years in the Army and it was during that time their love for the outdoors and seeing the world was born. When they had their son, that passion only intensified. They love to fly fish, overland in their Jeep, hike, surf, and capture these moments on camera. Lea is a professional photographer on the side and you can always catch her with her camera in her hand. Their goal is to influence more families in their rural state of New Mexico to explore the beauty of the SW while educating them on photography tips, medical tips like First Aid, outdoor safety and gear, etc.
You can find Lea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @wildstokefam
Website: Wild Stoke Fam
RWMC posts: Lea Reynolds
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