8 Best Hiking Baby Carriers In 2021

The Osprey Poco Plus hiking child carrier combines smart design and exceptional build quality to bring you the most convenient way to carry your child. The deluxe adjustable cockpit allows your kid to enjoy the environment or rest in comfort, while the high-quality harness makes sure that you can fine-tune the fit and wear the carrier for many hours.

Construction and Capacity

Made from strong aluminum alloy and 210D ripstop nylon, Osprey Poco Plus offers impressive carrying capacity while keeping the weight very low. At under 8 pounds, this top rated baby carrier for hiking is one of the lightest available. At the same time, it has an impressive weight capacity of 49 pounds and 8 ounces.

Comfort and Adjustability

The Poco Plus Carrier is a great choice for a growing child and features a highly-adjustable seat, safety leg loops, and a set of stirrups that you can easily remove. On top of this, the carrier is comfy for the parent too – it offers a breathable AirSpeed back panel and edgeless harness that gently hugs your body.

Additional Features

To make your hiking experience as good as possible, the Osprey Poco Plus carrier comes with many great features. For example, it has a built-in shade for sunny weather, a large storage compartment, several pockets, and a collapsible foot bar for easier packing. All things considered, it’s the best baby carrier for hiking trips that are slightly more demanding.

Thanks to its VariQuick adjustable harness and padded AirComfort back, the Deuter Kid Comfort carrier is probably the most comfortable hiking backpack baby carrier on the market. The child seat is well-designed too – it’s height-adjustable and features a 5-point harness so both you and your little one can enjoy your time outdoors.

Construction and Capacity

The combination of materials used to make the Deuter Kid Comfort carrier provides stability, security, and comfort. The frame is made from aluminum and holds 48.5 pounds, while the ripstop nylon fabric feels great to the touch and withstands trials of outdoor use. As proof of quality, the carrier has undergone JPMA testing and greatly exceeds the federal safety requirements.

Comfort and Adjustability

The VariQuick harness we’ve mentioned offers unique fit adjustments and easily adapts to the height of the person wearing it. As for the seat, it can be easily raised or lowered as the child grows. Furthermore, it also has a highly-adjustable safety system that keeps the child secure when riding.

Additional Features

One of the things that we like most about this backpack is its highly-functional storage. It features a large zippered pocket on the back for stashing clothing and snacks, as well as elastic mesh pockets on the sides for conveniently carrying water bottles.

If you want a reliable backpack baby carrier but aren’t a huge fan of the expensive brands, the Luvdbaby Premium carrier is the one for you. Don’t let the lower price fool you though – it’s strong, easily adjustable, and comfortable for both the parent and the child. Because of this, we feel that the Luvdbaby carrier will give you the most for your money.

Construction and Capacity

With a weight capacity of 40 pounds, the Luvdbaby carrier is an excellent choice for toddlers and slightly older children. Both the aluminum frame and the 600D polyester fabric perform great under the load and ensure that your child is safe when riding. 

Comfort and Adjustability

The cocoon-like design of the child seat gives your little one snug and cozy fit from every side so they can even sleep in the carrier. On top of this, the seat is generously padded and has an ergonomic design. As for the harness, it features sturdy waist and chest straps that distribute the weight evenly and make carrying easier.

Additional Features

When talking about the features, we need to mention the removable sun visor that protects your little one on sunny days. Other great additions include a self-supporting kickstand, an insulated pocket for food and drinks, and a baby changing mat that you’ll get as a gift with the purchase.

The detail that sets the Kelty Journey carrier apart from the others is its increased weight capacity. Capable of withstanding loads of up to 50 pounds, it’s an excellent model for carrying larger kids. In addition to the raw strength, the design is very functional too – it’s easy to switch between parents, transfers all the weight to the hips, and features multiple pockets for gear storage.

Construction and Capacity

As you would expect from any high-quality toddler carrier for hiking, the frame of the Kelty Journey is made from strong aluminum alloy. The weight of the carrier itself is only 8.3 pounds but, as we’ve pointed out, it has a 50-pound weight capacity. The fabric is a combination of high-denier polyester and mesh that provides both the strength and breathability required.

Comfort and Adjustability

Since carrying a harness all day can become heavy, Kelty Journey comes with an easily adjustable PerfectFit suspension system so it can be transferred between parents almost instantly. The seat is also highly adjustable and offers excellent support so your child can ride comfortably on day hikes.

Additional Features

To make riding in the seat more comfortable for your little one, the Journey carrier comes with several webbing grab handles on top. It also features zippered pockets in the waist belt for small valuables, as well as an integrated sunshade and a hydration sleeve for installing a bladder when the weather is hot.

The ClevrPlus Deluxe baby carrier is one of the most versatile models around – not only does it provide security and comfort to your child, but it also comes with an abundance of organized storage so you can easily pack everything you need for the day. As a bonus, the package also includes a rain and sun canopy so your little one will get reliable weather protection too.

Construction and Capacity

An interesting thing about the frame of the ClevrPlus Deluxe carrier is that it can be folded to make transportation easier. On top of this, it weighs only 5.5 pounds so bringing it won’t be an issue. On the other hand, the frame combines with the 600D Oxford fabric to provide a 33-pound weight capacity.

Comfort and Adjustability

Owing to its highly-adjustable seat, the ClevrPlus Deluxe carrier easily fits any child between 9 months and 4 years of age. The safety belts and stirrups can also be adjusted so your child is secure when riding. As for parent comfort, the harness comes with highly adjustable shoulder straps, strong chest and waist belts, and generous lumbar padding for improved support.

Additional Features

As we’ve mentioned, the ClevrPlus Deluxe includes a rain and sun canopy so your child won’t be exposed to the weather. It also comes with several zippered pockets and a large storage space under the carrier for bulkier items. Last but not least, you’ll also get a small removable daypack that your kid can carry on their own when walking.

The Piggyback Rider Scout offers something truly unique and different. Instead of having a padded seat like a classic baby carrier backpack, the Scout is designed for climbing on and standing. Not only is this a lot more convenient, but it also increases the weight range of children that can use it.

Construction and Capacity

The open frame of the Piggyback Rider is made from aluminum and high-quality webbing, and can withstand children weighing up to 50 pounds. To keep your child safe when riding, the Scout also features a harness that goes on your child's shoulders and keeps them securely connected to the main frame.

Comfort and Adjustability

While the comfort of this type of carrier could be debatable, many parents say that the functionality makes up for it. Even though the child can’t rest or sleep while riding, they can easily climb on and off. If we had to point out a downside, it’s that the main harness doesn’t include a hip belt (you can get it separately).

Additional Features

In terms of extra features, the simplistic design of the Piggyback Rider doesn’t have a lot to offer. However, it does come with a small rear pocket, shoulder handles that your child can grab, and a whistle that you can use in emergency situations.

In terms of child security and protection, ClevrPlus Cross Country is one of the best hiking kid carriers on the market. It features an adjustable child cockpit, a safety belt, and adjustable foot stirrups to keep legs secure. On top of this, the design also includes a washable drool pad so your kid can rest their head and sleep comfortably.

Construction and Capacity

Just like the previous ClevrPlus model we’ve featured, the Cross Country hiking backpack for baby features a lightweight aluminum frame that can handle loads of up to 33 pounds. The fabric of choice is polyester which provides good structural strength without compromising comfort for you or your child.

Comfort and Adjustability

Both the seat and the child harness of the ClevrPlus Cross Country baby carrier are adjustable in multiple directions which allows you to find the perfect position when going on long rides. We really like that the waist band expands up to 60 inches which allows even larger people to put the carrier on their backs.

Additional Features

For sun and rain protection, the carrier comes with a built-in sunshade and a rain cover. Other great features include large storage compartments, convenient mesh pockets, and thick lumbar padding for higher carrying comfort.

At only 4.4 pounds, the phil&teds Parade carrier is one of the lightest baby carriers on the market. Despite keeping the weight low, the aluminum frame on these baby carriers is exceptionally strong and withstands up to 40 pounds of load. Combine this with an adjustable ErgoFit harness and AirTech ventilation, and you get excellent baby carriers for both short and long trips.

Construction and Capacity

Like we’ve mentioned, the carrying capacity of the Parade harness is 40 pounds. Considering the reliability and low weight, it’s among the best baby backpack carriers for toddlers and small kids. The seat is made from polyester that feels soft and keeps your little one secure while riding.

Comfort and Adjustability

With the phil&teds Parade carrier, both you and your kid will enjoy top-level comfort on longer hikes. The seat is padded and easy to adjust, while the adjustable ErgoFit harness and molded AirTech air grooves on the back panel make all-day carrying possible.

Additional Features

An interesting feature that you’ll get on the phil&teds Parade carrier is a detachable small backpack that your child can carry on their own. It also includes a small zippered pocket for keys and money, as well as an aluminum kickstand that keeps the carrier upright when getting the child in and out.