Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Good, better, best: Outdoor baby carriers you’ll want to go hiking with

Dawn Miller
By

Hiking is a fun, family-friendly activity that gets everyone outside and exploring nature. When you have babies and toddlers, planning for a hike takes on a whole new look. Thankfully, there are baby carriers to make bringing little ones along on a hike possible, but what are the best baby carriers for hiking?

Baby carriers come in different types: Wraps, ring slings, soft-structured carriers, and child-carrier backpacks. If you’re just doing a casual walk around a paved path at a park, wraps and ring slings are fine, but structured carriers and child-carrier backpacks are better for a hiking trail. Both provide sturdy support for you and your little guy or gal and are designed for differing ages.

Related Videos

Soft-structured carriers are lightweight and can be worn on the hip, in front or back. This style is great for babies and toddlers. A child-carrier backpack lets you carry both your kiddo along with supplies. When deciding on any baby carrier, it’s important to consider your child’s comfort and yours, especially if you plan on taking extended hikes. Think about the areas where you’ll be hiking. Warm and humid hikes call for a carrier with a breathable fabric. If the hike is super sunny, consider a carrier with a built-in sunshade.

Related

If there are many hikes on the calendar, take a look at these three outdoor baby carriers.

Good: Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Signature Series Child Carrier

This lightweight baby carrier is adjustable to fit moms or dads and is a great fit for the hiking trail. The minimum weight is 16 pounds, and the pack can accommodate a child up to 40 pounds. A five-point harness keeps your kiddo cozy and secure even on rough terrain. It features a built-in sunshade along with a zippered pouch for storage and zipped belt pockets for necessary items like water and smartphones. The kids will appreciate the adjustable foot stirrups and roomy seat. The carrier also sports more than one grab handle that makes putting the pack on and off easier.

Why we like it: 

  • Adjustable to fit moms or dads
  • Features a built-in sunshade and adjustable foot stirrups for your child’s comfort
  • Features ample storage space

Better: Deuter Kid Comfort Pro Child Carrier and Backpack

If you plan on going on long hikes, the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro is a better option. When empty, the backpack weighs a little over 8 pounds and is ideal for toddlers from 1 to 3 years of age. Features include a removable day pack for storage, padded, adjustable hip fins, a five-point safety harness, and a breathable mesh lining. The child-carrier backpack is unisex and a comfortable fit for both men and women. The Vari Slide adjustment system lets the wearer fit the pack’s rear length to his or her desired length. Color-coded buckles make getting your little one situated a snap. The design also includes an adjustable seat and footrests for your child, as well as an integrated sunshade.

Why we like it: 

  • Lightweight for longer hikes
  • Includes a removable day pack for storage
  • Adjustable for moms and dads; can also adjust the pack’s rear length

Best: Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier

The best option for families who really enjoy hiking short or long distances in the great outdoors is the Osprey Poco Plus. This child-carrier backpack offers a lot of the same perks as the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro, but if you require storage for longer hikes, this fits the bill. The minimum weight for this child-carrier backpack is 16 pounds. Its maximum (including child and gear) is 48.5 pounds. The baby carrier features plentiful storage as well as an integrated sunshade and removable drool pad that’s washable. Stirrups can be adjusted and removed. Its design sports a double-halo harness with front-facing arm loops. The double-halo harness makes securing and removing your child easier. The fit-on-the-fly hip belt allows the wearer to adjust the fit to his or her body type.

Why we like it: 

  • Features ample storage space
  • Features an integrated sunshade, adjustable/removable stirrups, and a removable drool pad
  • Adjustable to fit the wearer’s body type

Your family can enjoy long or short hikes with any one of these outdoor baby carriers. Each is safe and cozy for your child. If you plan on long hikes and need added storage for water, food, and all-weather extras, the Osprey Poco Plus is your best option. For walks in the park or shorter hikes, the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT is a great choice. Deuter’s Kid Comfort Pro is comfortable for the rider and wearer, making it a quality choice if you don’t need added storage.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Day care birthday party ideas: Celebrate your toddler’s big day in style
What to do if you want to plan a birthday party at your toddler's day care
Little girls having cupcakes to celebrate a birthday at day care

Birthdays are such a special event and when it's your child's birthday, they want to celebrate everywhere. School-aged kids love to share birthday treats with their classmates and with their sports teams. Toddlers aren't any different. Birthdays are a source of excitement for toddlers. Toddlers want to share that excitement with everyone, especially their day care friends. It's not out of the question to have a birthday party at a day care center and there are certainly plenty of fun day care birthday party ideas.

Before planning a day care birthday party though your first stop in the planning process is the day care center director. Most day care facilities have specific policies regarding marking birthday celebrations, and it is important to know what your day care center's is before planning something. Once you know the rules, you can plan accordingly. It's vital to abide by the day care center’s birthday policy; doing so helps to keep the day special for your child and will avoid any future issues with the day care staff.

Read more
The best third birthday party ideas for a fun — and stress-free — celebration
Birthday cake with a number 3 candle on it

Your toddler is turning three, and that is definitely something to celebrate. They will soon be a preschooler, and you are finally turning the page of those terrible twos. Kids love birthday parties, especially when all the gifts have their names on them. Of course, you want to throw a party your child and their friends will totally enjoy it without making you crazy.

It is possible, and we have some fun birthday party ideas for your three-year-old daughter or son to make the birthday boy or girl’s special day amazing while keeping your stress level to a minimum. The key to having a successful birthday party for three-year-olds is to keep it simple.
How to throw a stress-free third birthday party
When it comes to birthday party ideas for soon-to-be 3-year-olds, it's best not to keep the theme and the activities too complicated. Here's how to throw a three-year-old birthday party that is low on stress and high on fun.
Short and sweet
Unlike tween and teens, three-year-olds have an extremely limited attention span. When hosting a party for the toddler and soon-to-be-three set, keep it short. Ninety minutes is ideal. The time frame allows for activities, food, and cake.

Read more
What is Juneteenth? How to talk to kids about this important holiday
Juneteenth sign in red, black, and green

If you're not familiar with Juneteenth, the holiday is short for June 19 and commemorates the day when slavery finally came to an end in the United States. The holiday originated in Texas and is considered to be the most enduring African American celebration. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day.

The first Juneteenth was celebrated in 1866, a year after troops entered Galveston, Texas. Federal troops finally arrived in Texas in 1865 to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation that had freed slaves more than two years earlier.

Read more