Best baby carrier backpacks for hiking, travel and everyday use in 2024

Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Phil & Teds Parade review

After weeks of walking across both town and country, our parent tester, Toby, gave this baby carrier backpack the highest score out of all the products he tested, rating it particularly well for day-to-day use and value for money. As such, we think the Phil & Teds Parade is the best baby carrier backpack to buy right now.

With an innovative, compact design, the Phil & Teds Parade is a robust and comfortable baby carrier backpack that folds flat enough to be used as an aircraft carry-on, making it an ideal choice for travel. It’s a neat, classic-looking model that is as well suited to urban environments as it is to off-road, countryside jaunts.

Suitable from six months up to 18kg, the Phil & Teds Parade has a sturdy internal aluminium frame which is lined with washable, waterproof fabrics. The harness can be adjusted to suit parents of all heights and, with padded shoulder and hipbelts and a ventilated mesh back panel, it's even comfortable for longer walks and hikes.

Thanks to the handy anchor stand, it's simple to secure your child into the cockpit by placing the backpack carrier on the floor before lifting them up onto your back. The seat is comfortably padded and adjustable to adapt to your child as they grow and, with a five-point safety harness, you can be confident they’re secure at all times.

We love the detachable backpack for kids and the handy storage pockets to house your water bottles and keys. It’s worth noting, however, that there’s no rain or sun hood included with this model. If you are after a baby carrier for longer treks come rain or shine, the Osprey Poco Plus (see below) would make a good alternative, offering all the extras that you might need for your journey.

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Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full LittleLife Ranger S2 review

Weighing in at just 1.7kg, the LittleLife Ranger S2 with a tubular aluminum frame is the lightest British Standard Approved back carrier on the market.

Despite the feather-light design, it's surprisingly sturdy, with chest and waist straps that ensure it feels perfectly secure for both parent and child. The ideal progression from a front carrier, the Ranger is a great alternative for short to mid-length journeys if you want to leave your pushchair at home.

The LittleLife Ranger S2 is a steal for what is a no-frills but functional piece of kit and our parent tester, Laura, gave it a nine out of 10 for value for money. Whilst you won’t find an included sun canopy, kickstand or the storage boasted by the more expensive LittleLife Adventurer S2 (see below), it does have a fully adjustable back system which can adapt to the user (ideal for swapping between parents). There’s also a comfortable face pad to support your child if they nod off during your adventures.

If you’re heading out on a longer day out, the lack of storage in the Ranger may be an issue. We recommend purchasing a sun canopy as well as the six-litre accessory pouch which can hook onto the base of the carrier and provide plenty of extra space to stash your drinks, snacks and baby-changing essentials.

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Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full LittleLife Cross Country S4 review

If you’re looking for a baby carrier backpack with lots of storage at a very reasonable price, the LittleLife Cross Country S4 fits the bill. An update on the Cross Country S3, this latest version features foot stirrups for extra comfort as well as updated fabrics with mesh on the back panel and straps for optimal airflow. Just like the LittleLife Ranger S2, it's very lightweight (at 2.5kg), and is suitable from six months up to three years (or 20kg).

With a fully adjustable back system ranging from XS to XL to suit wearers of different heights (up to 6'4"), the LittleLife Cross Country S4 has a padded hipbelt and chest strap that spreads the weight equally across your shoulders, making it comfortable to carry, even with an older child. Due to the lightweight frame, however, it may be less comfortable during longer hikes than the more robust Osprey models (see below).

We love the generous 20kg of storage with pockets at the base, sides and hipbelt to ensure you have everything you need close to hand while out and about, as well as the soft face pad for nap time should your child nod off during your walk. You unfortunately can't fully collapse the Cross Country S4 down for easy storage and it doesn't have an integrated kickstand, but it does come with an anchor point at the base for extra stability when placing your child inside.

Unlike the cheaper LittleLife Ranger S2, this backpack carrier comes with a sunshade, toy loops and rear view mirror for keeping an eye on your tot while on the move. We wish there was a rain cover included in the price though, but this can be bought as an optional extra.

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A hit with Mumsnetters and parents the world over, Osprey has designed some of the best baby carrier backpacks around. Updated in 2020 to increase the hip belt padding as well as the cockpit harness that now buckles behind your child’s shoulders, the Osprey Poco Plus has all the features needed for longer treks and offers the smoothest of rides on all terrain.

Similar to the Osprey Poco in terms of cockpit and back panel, the Poco Plus wins in a few areas. It holds 26 litres of storage (versus the Poco’s 20 litres) and features zipped hipbelt pockets (versus the Poco’s mesh ones). While the price tag is a bit steeper than other popular baby carrier backpacks, like the affordable Phil & Teds Parade, you certainly get what you pay for with the Poco Plus.

The Osprey Poco Plus carrier comes with an SPF 50 sun shade, an integrated and removable rain cover, a mirror, day pack and removable washable drool pad. There’s plenty of storage for your essentials too, including stretchy mesh side pockets, the aforementioned zipped hipbelt pockets and a large zipped storage compartment under the seat.

The Osprey Poco Plus provides a very high level of comfort for both you and your child, with a mesh back system ventilation and a Fit-on-the-Fly adjustable hipbelt to create a custom fit for different hip sizes and torso lengths. The safety harness, seat and foot stirrups are fully adjustable too, adapting to fit your child comfortably as they grow. The main thing that lets it down is its weight, at almost double the LittleLife Ranger S2 and LittleLife Adventurer S2.

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Carrying older babies and toddlers can be challenging, but thanks to its robust aluminium frame and moveable VariFlex ECL hip fins, the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro offers excellent weight distribution that can help to prevent aches across your shoulders and back. Despite its compact design, the comfortable mesh back panel provides excellent ventilation and airflow on warmer days.

Whilst it doesn’t have quite as much storage as the Osprey Poco Plus, the Kid Comfort Pro doesn’t disappoint, including two elasticated side pockets and a large stretchy front pouch. It also comes with a generously sized 18-litre day backpack, which can be hooked to the chest strap for convenient front access to your drinks and sun lotion.

We love the mirror for peeking at your little passenger as well as the soft head cushion that supports your child if they fall asleep. The height-adjustable foot loops also ensure maximum comfort for your toddler as they grow.

Unlike some of the cheaper LittleLife carriers and the original Deuter Kid Comfort, which our parent tester also rated highly, the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro comes with a permanently installed, easy-to-raise sunhood, protecting your child from the sun as you travel. If you are travelling more locally and are less concerned about a day pack and integrated sunshade, the slightly cheaper Deuter Kid Comfort makes a great alternative.

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With many of the quality and comfort benefits you’d expect from the Osprey brand but in a more compact design, the Osprey Poco LT measures significantly smaller than the original Poco at 37 x 34 x 61cm and is over a kilogram lighter too, making it a lightweight option for everyday urban environments as well as rural walks and treks in the countryside.

Whilst the rain cover is sold separately, it comes with a generously sized sunshade, ensuring your child has a high level of sun protection without reducing their visibility, although you’ll find a larger sunshade on the Osprey Poco Plus.

Fully adjustable for comfort and balance, the Poco LT has a surprising amount of storage. The internal key clip ensures your valuables stay safe, whilst the large lower zipped compartment and hipbelt pockets ensure easy access to everything from loose change and sunscreen to nappies and baby wipes.

Built with travel and convenience in mind, the harness and hipbelts can be stashed away in the main pack of the carrier when not in use, taking up less space in the boot of your car and small enough to take as a carry on when travelling abroad. The integrated kickstand is also really helpful, allowing you to pop your child down for a snack or to admire the view without any risk of toppling.

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Whilst it doesn’t come cheap, the Thule Sapling Carrier Backpack has one huge benefit that sets it apart from its competitors. Unlike many of the framed back carriers which are spot clean/hand wash only, the Thule has a mesh seat that is fully removable and can be popped in the washing machine. The drool pad is removable too, so even if you’re transporting a dribbly teether, you can have it clean and fresh in no time and ready for your next family outing.

The modern design of the Thule is well suited to an urban environment and, for convenience, your child can be loaded from the top or side depending on your preference. Whilst the use of Velcro to adjust the torso settings on the back panel doesn't feel as robust as the Fit-on-the-Fly system on Osprey carriers, it can easily be tailored to multiple parents and has an SPF sun hood to protect your child from the midday sun.

While the Thule has one of the most generous storage compartments we’ve seen, the substantial 22-litre capacity can also be supplemented with a sling pack and rain cover (each sold separately).

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Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Ergobaby All Position 360 review (previous model)

If you’re looking for a baby carrier backpack without the bulk and rigidity of an aluminium frame, the Ergobaby Omni 360 is a versatile choice. Adjustable to carry babies from newborn to toddlerhood, it offers a variety of carrying options to help you leave the pushchair at home and keep both hands free during days out.

From birth, babies will love the comfort and security of being inward-facing against your chest. As they grow, you can shift the Ergobaby to be outward-facing as well as use it as a hip carrier or back carrier from the age of six months.

While less suited to long hikes and off-road experiences than other baby carrier backpacks on this list due to the frameless, less supportive design, this ergonomic carrier is nevertheless praised by Mumsnet users for its breathable and lightweight mesh fabrics, comfortable lumbar support and flexibility - a great all-rounder for more everyday use.

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With a minimalist and lightweight design, the Deuter Kid Comfort Active is well suited to parents with a smaller frame or those who may struggle with the weight and bulk of a larger carrier.

With a real focus on comfort, the Comfort Active not only has an effective ventilated back system for parents but includes mesh inserts within the child’s seat too, helping to prevent your child from sweating or overheating on warmer days. The seat height and footrest height are fully adjustable, ensuring a comfortable and ergonomic seating position at all times.

With many of the innovative features you’d expect from the Deuter brand, the Comfort Active can be folded down flat for travel and includes the safety kickstand and chin pad seen on the Kid Comfort Pro. Unlike the Pro, this model doesn’t have a sunroof or detachable day pack, so offers slightly less capacity in terms of storage. The storage compartments on the Active also don’t have zips, so you may want to keep your valuables closer to hand.

The largest and heaviest of the LittleLife baby carrier backpacks, the Voyager S5 is still an excellent choice for families who want to spend significant time in the great outdoors. With a fully adjustable mesh back system and pivoting hipbelt, it’s also ideal for taller users as it can be adjusted for parents up to 6 foot 4 inches in height.

Suitable from six months to around three years of age, this long-lasting baby carrier offers an ergonomic-shaped seating area including a mouldable neck support and soft face pad - ideal for longer journeys where your child may want to nap on the go.

It doesn’t come cheap, but unlike some of the more affodable LittleLife models, including the LittleLife Ranger S2 and Adventurer S2, the Voyager includes a rearview mirror, sun shade and foot stirrups - additions that we feel are worth the extra should you be using it regularly. It also offers significant storage (more than any other baby carrier backpack on our list, in fact), with a capacity of up to 28 litres including a zip-off day sack for nappy change supplies or snacks and an insulating pocket for reusable water bottles.