A backpack baby carrier is one of the best gifts you can give a child or even a mother with a toddler. It allows one to carry the baby hands-free while doing their shopping, hiking, attending household chores or taking a walk.
A carrier also keeps the baby in close contact with your body, which makes them feel content. The best thing about backpack baby carriers is that they come in various designs for different activities and babies. They offer comfort to both mother and child, and are incredibly easy to use. In this post, we review the top 10 backpack baby carriers available on the market.
Table of Contents
Comparison Table of the Best Backpack Baby Carriers
| Image | Product Name | Feature | Feature | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 | Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 | Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 | $$ | ||
| phil&teds Escape Baby Carrier, Charcoal/Charcoal | Phil&Teds Escape Baby Carrier, Charcoal/Charcoal | Phil&Teds Escape Baby Carrier, Charcoal/Charcoal | $$ | ||
| Deuter Kid Comfort 3 – Child Carrier Backpack for Hiking | Deuter Kid Comfort 3 – Child Carrier Backpack For Hiking | Deuter Kid Comfort 3 – Child Carrier Backpack For Hiking | $$$ | ||
| Osprey POCO AG Plus Child Carrier | Osprey Poco Ag Plus Child Carrier | Osprey Poco Ag Plus Child Carrier | $$ | ||
| Kelty Journey 2.0 Kid Carrier | Kelty Journey 2.0 Kid Carrier | Kelty Journey 2.0 Kid Carrier | $$ | ||
| Chicco Smart Support Backpack, Graphite | Chicco Smart Support Backpack, Graphite | Chicco Smart Support Backpack, Graphite | – | ||
 | Babi Bambino Best New Style Baby Ergonomic Carrier Sling Soft Hip Seat Hood and Headphone Port Best Black | Babi Bambino Best New Style Baby Ergonomic Carrier Sling Soft Hip Seat Hood And Headphone Port Best Black | Babi Bambino Best New Style Baby Ergonomic Carrier Sling Soft Hip Seat Hood And Headphone Port Best Black | $ | |
| Infantino Fusion Flexible Position Baby Carrier, Grey | Infantino Fusion Flexible Position Baby Carrier, Grey | Infantino Fusion Flexible Position Baby Carrier, Grey | $ | ||
| phil&teds Parade Lightweight Backpack Carrier, Orange/Grey | Phil&Teds Parade Lightweight Backpack Carrier, Orange/Grey | Phil&Teds Parade Lightweight Backpack Carrier, Orange/Grey | $ | ||
| Kelty Mijo Child Carrier | Kelty Mijo Child Carrier | Kelty Mijo Child Carrier | – |
If you are interested in looking at something for jogging with a baby we have a few jogging strollers that might by worth your time.
Reviews of the Best Backpack Baby Carrier
1. Kelty Pathfinder 3.0
While it is similar to the old Kelty Pathfinder FC 3.0, the new Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 comes with several improvements including improved torso adjuster, hydration pack storage, new child safety harness and a water bottle holder on the waist.
The addition of a hydration storage compartment was a long time coming and the child safety harness is a huge bonus. Additionally, Kelty took time fixing the little issues that came with the old FC such as the torso adjuster that used to slip. The new torso adjuster has no slide problems and is sturdy.
This backpack baby carrier is constructed using polyester materials and has an aluminum frame for added durability. It also comes with everything that one would need outside the house including a diaper changing pad, zip-off pack, hydration-ready compartment as well as storage under the seat. It uses a five-point harness to help keep your bay safe and comfortable. Also featured is the patented auto-deploy kickstand that’s ever so common in Kelty backpacks.
The fact that it comes with a sunshade means that you don’t have to purchase one separately. This sunshade can be detached and stored when not in use, which some would view as a disadvantage since sunshades in other baby carriers simply roll up and stores in their own pocket. All in all, the Kelty Pathfinder 3.0 is an investment that will prove worth your while.Read Amazon reviews
2. Phils and Teds Escape
The Phil and Teds Escape is a well-made baby carrier with thought-out extras and plenty of storage space. It features a removable detachable backpack, thus allowing you to share the load with someone else. The carrier is best suited for babies that are 6 months old and weighs about 20 pounds. While it can accommodate more weight, it will quickly prove uncomfortable on long hikes or walks.
Its ability to open on both sides makes it super easy to load and unload your baby. In addition, this carrier has tons of storage both internally and externally. The main compartment is incredibly huge. A small zippered pocket near the child’s feet, removable day pack, two side pouches for water bottles as well as a base pocket at the bottom provide extra storage. The soft shoulder cradle ensures your baby’s comfort when he’s asleep while the contoured shoulder straps do the same for the wearer.
The sunshade is removable and comes down on the sides to provide optimum protection from the sun. Also included is a changing pad that comes in a neat pouch and keeps everything contained. This is perfect for diapers when walking in the park or hiking the hiking the hills.
On the downside, the front of the carrier could use a softer or bigger pillow. In addition, the Velcro adjustments aren’t the best for wearers with a short torso.Read Amazon reviews
3. Deuter Kid Comfort III Carrier
This backpack baby carrier does a great job of distributing your toddler’s weight so that you don’t feel like you are carrying a child at all. This allows you to enjoy long walks in the park. It is an ideal carrier for kids that hold their head up and weigh a maximum of 48.5 pounds. The carrier features a large bottom zippered cargo space as well as meshed side pockets, which is more than enough space for holding diapers, baby wipes, bug spray and snacks.
The Varifit adjustable shoulder harness is a nice addition as it allows both mum and dad to easily adjust the carrier. Other features that help boost your baby’s comfort include adjustable shoulder and head pads, Veriflex padded hip belt, as well as air-contact back system.
As for the safety of your child, this bag provides plenty of it whether you are loading, unloading or carrying him. This made possible with a Kickstand that holds secure, adjustable 5-point safety harness, breathable seat cushions as well as a height adjustable seat. The height adjustable seat also plays a significant role in ensuring your child’s comfort, whether smaller or larger.
The Deuter Kid Comfort III Carrier also has an integrated sunshade, which features a detachable washable drip pillow as well as a head pad. Your toddler will have no trouble enjoying your walks together or falling asleep.Read Amazon reviews
4. Osprey Packs Poco AG Plus Carrier
Being a combination of both fabric and nylon, it’s easy to see why the Osprey Packs Poco AG Plus Carrier is one of the strongest on the market. It is built to withstand heavy tension without losing its shape and form. The best thing is that it is incredibly lightweight. You will appreciate the tension mesh back panel as it makes carrying your little one easier. The shoulder harness is adjustable, thus assuring the wearer of a perfect fit and maximum comfort. With an adjustable length ranging from 6 inches to 15 inches, you can rest assured that the harness offers ample room for your belly and shoulders.
Putting on the Osprey Packs Poco AG Plus is hassle free. All you have to do is clip the hook onto the loop enclosures and you are good to go. Getting it off is just as simple as undoing the loop enclosures and hook. This carrier is laden with lots of compartments for keeping all the baby essentials, built-in sunshades, hydration sleeve, changing pad and even a detachable daypack that comes in handy when you need to lighten the load. The pack comes with a Lifetime Warranty. If that’s not a sure mark of quality, I don’t know what is.Read Amazon reviews
5. Kelty Journey 2.0
The best thing about Kelty backpack bay carriers is that they come equipped with auto-deploy kickstands that you won’t find on other models. The Kelty Journey 2.0 is no exception and the kickstand provides plenty of stability and convenience. Also featured is a huge hydration pack storage compartment that anyone going a long distance will appreciate. The downside of this is that carrying several water bottles weighs you down.
The Kelty Journey 2.0 comes with a newly designed child safety harness. The easy access leg loops are a nice addition and so are the ingenious shoulder buckles. This is unlike other models whose harnesses are similar to the ones you find on a car seat, which can prove a pain when buckling down. This new harness prevents you from having to dig for buckles or straps.
The new water bottle holder is something moms would prefer to call a sippy cup holder. It is so convenient and is easy for you as well as your little one to reach. The design of the Kelty 2.0 is the best we’ve seen. It features a V-Bar structure that keeps the carrier from collapsing. This in turn prevents the baby from getting squished when you fall. The bag offers a total of 1300 cubic inches of storage space, which is more than the 1200 cubic inches offered by the Deuter Kid Comfort III.Read Amazon reviews
6. Chicco Smart Support Backpack
Despite looking rather intimidating, the Chicco Smart Support Backpack is incredibly easy to use and jam packed with useful features. You simply setup your toddler in the baby seat then trap him in place with the shoulder straps and lap belt. The best thing is that as your child grows, you don’t have to purchase a new carrier since the harness is adjustable. There is also enough room for your little one to move their hands and point out stuff that excites them as well as put their head forward to nap.
The support bar that extends in front of the baby is padded for optimum comfort. The carrier also features a kickstand that allows it to stand alone, thus making loading and unloading easier and safer. The Smart Support Backpack has a sturdy waist belt and sternum strap, both of which help with even distribution of weight. This is particularly important when your walk is bound to take hours and don’t want to tire easily. The only issue with this is that the sternum strap is sewn in place and as such, those with an exceptionally short or long torso will find this carrier quite uncomfortable.
All in all, the Chicco Smart Support Backpack is comfortable, makes it easy to load and unload your baby, and allows foreven weight distribution. It even has a sunshade so that you can enjoy the outdoors with your loved one for longer periods of time. Our only complaint is that the waist belt could have more padding.Currently not available
7. Babi Bambino Ergonomic Baby Carrier
This is one of the most comfortable and gentles carriers you can invest in, especially since it does such a good job of calming down irritable and restless babies. It is constructed using breathable material to keep both mother and baby comfortable. In addition, it was specially designed to provide optimum comfort and freedom. The first thing you will notice after purchasing this carrier is that its features provide higher levels of safety.
The plush foam straps provide extra comfort this provides a unique advantage when you want to on long hikes with your little one. Having a carrier that’s outfitted with foam straps is an absolute necessity for moms who love the outdoors and want their kids to enjoy the same experiences. it makes it easy on your shoulders and torso, particularly when walking for hours on end.
This carrier is designed in such a manner that you have plenty of freedom to move your hands. You are therefore free to go about your chores and other tasks whether in the house or outdoors. Another remarkable merit of this backpack is the zipped removable weather cover that protects your little one from the elements.
The independent heap seat is something that most customers cite as a favorite feature and understandably so. This is a convenient feature that makes it easy for you to walk around with your child. It is designed in such a manner that the heaps benefit from maximum comfort, thus eliminating the usual fatigue and discomfort. This is particularly useful for those who want to engage in other activities or chores while still carrying their child on the back.Read Amazon reviews
8. Infantino Fusion
This backpack provides parents with plenty of unique features, making it a great option for newborns and toddlers alike. It comes with an adjustable seat that ensures a comfortable fit regardless of the body type while providing safe hip placement. This sets this carrier apart since not many models provide an adjustable seat and no two babies are like.
The seat provides a natural positioning that helps promote your baby’s health and happiness. The fact that it’s able to grow with the baby is a favorite feature for many moms. And who doesn’t like something that saves them in the long term? The design promotes storing capabilities since you can put it in the stroller or diaper bag. It is a good accessory for someone who wants something for carrying the baby around the house or quick trips.Read Amazon reviews
9. Phil and Teds Parade Lightweight Backpack Carrier
This is a great backpack baby carrier that ticks the appropriate boxes i.e. safety, comfort, design and affordability. It is specially designed for tall wearers and comes with adjustable shoulder and lumbar straps for a comfortable fit. It is sturdy enough and has plenty of room to accommodate a 6month to one year old baby safely. The backpack features three height adjustments that allow you to adjust to your baby’s height and comfort. There is plenty of room between the toddler’s body and pad where you can put a small pillow so that he can nap comfortably. A large headroom combined with the breathable material help facilitate air circulation, thus preventing excessive sweating.
The shoulder straps buckle separately to the child’s waist area for improved safety. This is achieved by securing the toddler in place when moving around. There are also small straps that your little one can hold onto. Contrary to what you’d expect, this backpack doesn’t fold even in areas with large crowds, thus ensuring even more safety for your child.
As for waterproofing, this backpack baby carrier comes with removable cover that holds up well in the rain. It even protects your baby from the hot sun. You may, however, have to find other ways of waterproofing the arms and legs. This carrier can accommodate a weight of 45 pounds to 60 pounds.Read Amazon reviews
10. Kelty Mijo Carrier
The Phil and Teds Parade is a lightweight backpack baby carrier with an internal aluminum frame that’s designed for older babies and children. It is suitable for babies that are old enough to sit on their own, about six months old, and offers a back carrying position. The carrier is available in three color combinations. In addition, it is constructed from waterproof synthetic fabrics. At just 2 kilograms, this is one of the lightest backpack carriers you’ll find on the market.
It comes with two harness, one for the baby and one for you. It is adjustable and the padding around the waist area allows for comfort, which is particularly when wearing it for long periods of time. The thickly padded shoulder and waist straps well as back also play a significant role when it comes to comfort. The sling style seat supports the baby in such a way that blood flow to the legs is encouraged. It also helps balance the heavier load.
There is sufficient storage in the Parade including the expanding pockets that accommodate small essentials like a water bottle, wallet and keys. The pack on the back can be used for fitting your toddler’s needs or detach it if you need to lighten the load. The only downside is that this backpack carrier doesn’t come with a head rest or sunshade. This is a great disappointment considering that it is designed for longer baby carrying.Read Amazon reviews
Conclusion
Whether you are going on a hiking trip or need to take care of your baby while doing household chores; having a strong and sturdy backpack baby carrier helps a great deal. Our selection of the 10 best choices caters to all needs ranging from budget and hiking to staying indoors and quick trips to the store.
Whatever you decide to purchase, it’s important to keep your child’s weight and age into consideration. Also keep in mind what you’ll be using it for. This will determine the kind of extra features you need i.e. detachable backpack, adjustable seat height, sunshade etc.