A good carrier is essential for hiking with children. We’ve tested and reviewed the best hiking carriers for toddlers to ensure safety and comfort for both parents and littles.
If you’re dreaming about hitting the trails with your toddler, the first piece of gear you’ll need is a solid hiking carrier.
There are tons of options available, and comparing different models can get overwhelming. I’ve spent countless hours doing research, so I get it!
We’ve personally tested more hiking carriers than most families need (we own four!) and learned firsthand which ones are truly worth the investment.
We’re sharing the best hiking carriers for toddlers with reviews based on our own real-life experience. With our help, you’ll be able to confidently choose the one that best suits your family’s needs.
Our personal experience
Ben and I were avid hikers before having kids, and we knew it was a hobby we didn’t want to give up as we grew our family. We set goals and challenged ourselves to include our daughters from an early age.
We began hiking with our first child when she was just 2 weeks old. (Actually, it was winter, so technically we were snowshoeing!)
Since then, we’ve logged 1,000+ miles as a family, hiking all over the world: USA, Norway, the Canadian Rockies, Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Japan, and Thailand—so far!
We personally own all 4 carriers on this list and we actually do use all of them. However, most people will probably only need to own one hiking carrier (or more if you have multiple littles).
We’re happy to share our expertise about what has worked for us, but that doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. We encourage you to read through each description to get an idea of what will work best for your family’s needs.
Our top hiking carrier picks
- Best overall: Osprey Poco Premium
- Best for hiking on trips: Osprey Poco LT
- Best for short hikes when you’re packing light: Ergo 360
- Best for backpacking: Trail Magik
Toddler Hiking Carrier Guide
Use the links below to jump to the section you want, or keep scrolling to ensure you don’t miss any important info.
- Best hiking carriers for toddlers
- Compare hiking carriers
- Packing for hiking with kids
- Family travel & hiking resources
→ Psst! Don’t go hiking with a toddler without reading these essential tips.
Best hiking carriers for toddlers
These are the carriers we personally own and use. Be sure to read the pros and cons for each to determine which best suits your family’s needs.
Osprey Poco Premium
Our favorite for: overall comfort & day hikes close to home
This is kind of the OG when it comes to child hiking carriers. The most robust on this list, it has a lot of great features, including a sun shade, plenty of space for packing other hiking essentials, and a water bladder pocket.
It is very comfortable for both parent and child*, but it is kind of bulky and doesn’t compress super well for travel or compact storage.
*Pro Tip: Make sure you adjust it to your toddler’s size and use the hip belt to take the weight off your shoulders. Practice at home before bringing it on your first hike.
Important info
- Age & weight requirements:
- 16-40 lbs
- No less than 6 months
- Child must be able to sit up and have neck control
- Price: $420
- View Osprey Poco Premium carriers
Pros
- Comfiest option for both parent and child
- Lots of pockets for storage
- Plush features such as a mirror, stirrups, and sunshade
- “Cockpit” is removable and machine washable
Cons
- Bulky
- Cannot be compressed at all
- Not ideal if you have limited storage space or are packing for a trip
Osprey Poco LT
Our favorite for: trips where we’ll be doing longer (2+ hours) or more technical hikes
This is the lighter, sleeker version of the Poco Premium, and probably our most-used hiking carrier these days.
While it’s not quite as robust as the Premium (and slightly less comfy/padded), it has most of the same features and has the ability to compress down mostly flat. This is huge for us as we often bring it in our campervan or along on trips where we have to fly to our destination.
Our experience: Our daughter naps in her carrier, but it doesn’t support her neck so we sometimes use an inflatable neck pillow. This has worked well and feels comfortable for us, but it is important to note that the pillow is not designed for children or intended for use with hiking carriers.
Important info
- Age & weight requirements:
- 16-40 lbs
- No less than 6 months
- Child must be able to sit up and have neck control
- Price: $300
- View Osprey Poco LT carriers
Pros
- More compact & lightweight than the Poco Premium
- Able to compress & take up way less space
Cons
- Not quite as comfy as the Poco Premium for either adult or child
- One con for us is that the model we’ve had for years doesn’t have stirrups, and our daughter tends to get uncomfortable without them on hikes longer than 2 hours; fortunately, the newer version of the Poco LT does have stirrups
Ergo 360
Our favorite for: shorter hikes and everyday use
We used this a lot on shorter hikes up until our daughter was around 2 years old. Technically, she can still fit in it, but we find it works best for smaller children and we use it for Senya now.
It is really versatile and can be worn on the front or back. Plus, it’s much lighter than some of the more rigid hiking carriers, making it a great option for travel.
Important info
- Age & weight requirements:
- 12-45 lbs
- Price: $160-$220
- View Ergo 360 carriers
Pros
- Comfortable for parent and child
- Wider weight range; can use with smaller babies & larger
- Can face inward*, so you can start carrying from a younger age
- *must use the Ergobaby Infant Insert (sold separately) for inward-facing
- *infants must be at least 7 lbs
- Can carry in multiple positions (front, back, hip)
- Not as structured & more compact than Osprey carriers
Cons
- Not intended for major hikes
- No hydration sleeve
Trail Magik
Our favorite for: backpacking
This is a great option for longer hikes (or backpacking trips) with toddlers who will walk part of the way. It is incredibly small and light, but it must be paired with a hiking backpack, so this isn’t a good choice for a short hike since you likely won’t need an entire pack of supplies.
Important info
- Age & weight requirements:
- Up to 43 lbs
- No less than 12 months
- Child must be able to hold their head up
- Price: $140
- View Trail Magik carriers
Pros
- Takes up very little space & adds almost no weight
- Perfect for backpacking
- Easy to have on hand “just in case”
Cons
- Can only be used in combination with a backpack that has a waist strap
- You feel the child’s weight more than with a more robust carrier
- Meant to give the child a break from walking, whereas the most robust carriers can be used to carry them full-time
Bonus: notable mention
While we haven’t personally used this carrier, we think it’s worth mentioning as a potential alternative to Osprey.
Deuter Kid Comfort
Deuter is a reputable brand that makes high-quality outdoor gear (we love our Deuter backpacks!) and their Kid Comfort carriers have great reviews.
We personally prefer Osprey, but Deuter could be a good alternative.
Important info
- Age & weight requirements:
- Just under 40 lbs max (up to 18 kg)
- Child must be able to hold their head up
- Price: around $300
- View Deuter Kid Comfort carriers
Similar to Osprey, Deuter has a few models with slightly different features:
- Kid Comfort: original design with removable canopy
- Kid Comfort Pro: slightly more robust with a bigger head pillow, integrated sunshade, and removable day pack
- Kid Comfort Active: more compact and lightweight, though not collapsible like the Osprey Poco LT
- Kid Comfort Active SL: the Kid Comfort Active carrier designed to better fit women
Compare hiking carriers for toddlers
Use the table below to quickly compare specs for our top 4 recommended hiking carriers.
| Osprey Poco Premium | Osprey Poco LT | Ergo 360 | Trail Magik | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 6+ months | 6+ months | can be used from birth with Infant Insert | 12+ months |
| Weight | 16-40 lbs | 16-40 lbs | 12-45 lbs (7 lbs with Infant Insert) | Up to 43 lbs |
| Comfort | Excellent | Great | Good | Fair |
| Collapsible | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Use independently | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Storage | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Sunshade | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Stirrups | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Hydration sleeve | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Price | $420 | $300 | $160 | $140 |
More items to pack for hiking with a toddler
Packing for hiking with a toddler is a balancing act between being prepared for any situation and avoiding overpacking. Here are a few essentials to remember:
- Food (snacks for shorter hikes + meals for backpacking)
- Plenty of water (& a sterilization method if it’s a long hike)
- Layers
- Shoes with good grip (they don’t necessarily have to be hiking shoes)
- Sun protection (regardless of the season or the weather!)
- First Aid Kit
- Navigation (like a GPS watch or AllTrails Pro version)
- SOS device (for any trail where you’ll be out of cell signal)
- Headlamp (even if you don’t plan on being out after dark)
Important: The above list is NOT exhaustive. You can find our complete checklist (plus lots of tips & packing hacks!) in our packing guide for hiking with kids:
Want more advice for traveling as a family?
We have lots of resources on traveling with children, from newborns to toddlers. Check out our Family Travel Guide for all the answers to your most burning questions, or read some of our favorite articles below!
Hiking with Kids
- Essential Tips for Hiking With a Toddler: If you’re a fan of hiking, this guide will help you feel prepared to bring your little one out on the trail!
- What to Pack for Hiking With a Toddler: Follow our packing checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your hike (without overpacking!)
- Teach Your Kid How to Go Potty in the Woods Like a Pro: Yup, we even have a guide for that. Be prepared for the inevitable “I need to go” moment.
Family Travel
- Practical Family Travel Tips: The ultimate guide to traveling with a baby or a toddler
- Flying with a Baby: Tried-and-true tips to prepare you for the flight
- Hotel or Airbnb with a Baby: Read this before you book any accommodations!
- Travel Snacks for Toddlers & Babies: Easy + healthy snacks to avoid a hangry child (or parent)
- Best Travel Toys for Toddlers & Babies: Tested + parent-approved toys that will keep your little one entertained (and won’t take up too much luggage space)
- Surviving Toddler Jet Lag: Our step-by-step process for adjusting time zones
- Encouraging Family Travel Tips: Heartfelt advice to boost your confidence!
- Flying With a Car Seat: How-to guide + tips for bringing a car seat on a plane, whether you decide to check it or carry-on
→ Psst! If you’re living or traveling in the western US and into outdoor adventures, be sure to check out our sister site, Go Wander Wild. It’s packed with trail guides, hot springs, camping, winter activities and more!
Join our Adventure Baby Challenge!
Are you a new or expecting parent dreaming of traveling with your little one(s), but don’t know where to start? This is for YOU:
Our 2-week Adventure Baby Challenge walks you through the exact steps we took to build up our confidence to travel the world with our kids. Click on the image below and we’ll send you our FREE calendar, plus details & encouragement for each daily challenge!
Save this guide on Pinterest so you don’t lose it!
We want to hear from you!
We hope these hiking carrier reviews are helpful! Have you tried any of these hiking carriers for toddlers? What questions or concerns do you still have?
Note: Please be respectful with your comments. Remember, we are sharing tips that have personally worked for us. This doesn’t mean they will work for everyone.