hiking with babies: a guide to hiking carriers
there's no such thing as the 'best carrier' or a 'must have' carrier that works best for hiking. there's ones that are designed a little better or rated higher within the community, but there's no one size fits all.
in this guide you will find pros & cons to the different types of carriers available & recommendations from other hiking parents to give an insight into some of the different options you can get.
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soft structured carriers
a soft structured carrier is a soft padded carrier that you can wear on your front or on your back (if compatible). these carriers can usually be used from birth up to toddlerhood, but it is worth checking the age range before purchasing.
usual pros
- lightweight
- supports infants heads
- allows you to tend to them quicker (dummy, food, temperature etc)
- allows breastfeeding on the go
- can be worn front or back depending on child age & carrier
- can grow with baby from infant to toddlerhood
- keeps child warmer from wearers body heat
usual cons
- gives no protection from weather
- all weight on wearers shoulders
- no storage - need to carry an additional bag
- some models need a second pair of hands to help get on
- not all allow babies to be in optimal 'm' or 'frog' leg position
- can be expensive depending on brand
M OR FROG LEG POSITION
it is crucial that your baby's developing bones, joints & muscles are all supported during baby wearing. the 'm' or 'frog' position (where their knees are above their bum) supports healthy hip development. if your baby’s legs are straight or dangling & worn like this for a prolonged period of time, that can put your baby at risk for developing or worsening hip dysplasia.
after about 6 months of age your baby will have nearly doubled in size meaning their hips will be much stronger, so straight or dangling legs won't be as much of an issue anymore. however, this may cause discomfort for your baby & they may start refusing the carrier.
WHERE TO BUY
there is an abundance of soft structured carriers out there so it's best to do as much research before buying if you can. many places have local sling libraries where you can try on, learn about & rent soft carriers from.
another option is asking any parent friends or relatives for their advice & to potentially borrow theirs for a go to try before you buy. you can usually get good prices on second hand carriers through facebook market, vinted or ebay too.
soft carrier recommendations from other parents
tula free to grow coast
iona andean / @iona.adventuring
pros
- lovely close fit for baby to snuggle in.
- padded straps for comfort.
- can be used solo with practice to put on.
- option to use from newborn.
- small pocket on the hip belt which is ideal for car keys while out walking.
- can be worn on the front facing in to the parent or on the back.
- mesh panel for more breathability for baby.
- folds away small.
cons
- velcro fastening on the pocket isn’t as secure as a zip.
- baby can’t face forward while you’re wearing them on your front.
- no option for a built in rain cover etc like in a structured carrier.
- could be difficult to put on solo if you have mobility / flexibility issues.
- no storage space for bigger items / snacks if out for a long time so a separate bag is needed.
"i used the tula free to grow coast soft carrier from really early on with my little boy. i loved the closeness of the sling that came in the free baby box but needed something a little more supportive as my baby grew & i knew i wanted to be able to get out on longer walks again.
we visited a baby carrier specialist in aberdeen who gave us really valuable advice on safe baby wearing. we were able to try on different carriers until we found one that felt like a good fit for me, my husband & our baby. we were able to hire it so we could try before deciding to buy which was brilliant! in the end we picked one up second hand on fb marketplace for a bargain."
the ergobaby original
rhiann middleton / @cosy_ADVENTURES
pros
- lovely close fit for baby to snuggle in.
- padded straps for comfort.
- can be used solo with practice to put on.
- option to use from newborn.
- small pocket on the hip belt which is ideal for car keys while out walking.
- can be worn on the front facing in to the parent or on the back.
- mesh panel for more breathability for baby.
- folds away small.
cons
- velcro fastening on the pocket isn’t as secure as a zip.
- baby can’t face forward while you’re wearing them on your front.
- no option for a built in rain cover etc like in a structured carrier.
- could be difficult to put on solo if you have mobility / flexibility issues.
- no storage space for bigger items / snacks if out for a long time so a separate bag is needed.
"the ergobaby original is a soft carrier that can be used from birth to around 4 years. we bought it without doing any research on it prior. my husband, jay, found it in a baby shop on sale but turns out it was a great investment."
HARD STRUCTURED CARRIERS
designed with hiking in mind, these are usually the top choice on the trail with parents.
hard structured carriers are a heavy duty, durable backpack that your child can ride in. they cannot be used until your child can hold up & support their own head which is usually around 6 months.
usual pros
- built in storage
- better airflow between you & child
- weather protection - comes with rain & sun covers or additional extra
- built with hiking in mind
- weight distributed over shoulders & hips
- adjustable sizing for wearer
- adjustable seat & stirrups to grow with child
- padded drool pad can be napped on
usual cons
- heavier to wear
- bulky to store & transport
- harder to monitor & tend to child
- colder for child as away from wearers body heat
- can be expensive depending on brand
- balance can be thrown off with how high the carrier sits
- takes a little bit of time to get used to
WHERE TO BUY
most larger outdoor shops will carry a small selection of hard structured carriers in store, usually just littlelife & osprey though. this will give you an option to try on, see what features you like & dislike & give you a chance to walk around the shop to get a feel of it. there is always the option of buying online & returning if not a good fit.
try having a look on facebook marketplace for second hand carriers too. usually the child ages or weights out of the carrier before it's even got a bit of wear & tear, so you can get incredible condition carriers for a fraction of the price.
HARD carrier recommendations from other parents
osprey poco
nikki holmes / @nikkiholmes4
pros
- the seat in the carrier is soft, ventilated & easy to adjust. my little one has never complained while being chauffeured about.
- weighs 3.5kg so it’s a lightweight carrier & it’s so easy to adjust. for me, this is ideal considering all the extra weight i add to it. it took me a few attempts to adjust it to suit me properly & this is my biggest tip before getting started: make sure it’s fitted to your body correctly before using it. this will make a huge difference in your ability to carry your little one comfortably. don’t do what i did and guess the fit as it will likely hurt your back & knock your confidence!
- it comes with 25l of storage, a sunshade with a up to 50 rating, it has a rain cover included & it comes with space for your water bladder. there are small pockets at the front which i use for easy accessible snacks. it also has a kick stand so your little one can stay seated safely when you take the carrier off.
cons
- the price! the osprey carriers are more expensive than some brands. however, they often pop up on facebook marketplace & vinted if you like to shop second hand.
- the rain cover does the job, however, i have compared it to other similar carriers & i feel that it does not provide as much coverage. it doesn't cover the face or the back pocket. it’s also a bit of a faff putting it on.
"i have been using the osprey poco for 2.5 years now & it has been our most used piece of baby / toddler equipment. i know that baby carriers are a big expense & we were lucky enough to receive our poco as a gift from some of our friends. i started using the carrier when my baby was around 6/7 months as she was able to support her head & neck independently. we started with small walks to get her used to it before heading up into the hills.
i love this carrier & it has been the best gift i have received. it has allowed me to get out & do the things i love, while bringing my daughter along with me. it’s given me freedom & confidence as a new mam & brought me great joy showing my little girl all of the beautiful things nature has to offer. while a baby carrier isn’t essential to do this, it really has helped me venture out & continue with my personal love for hiking. i was afraid this wouldn’t be possible after having a baby but it totally is & in some ways is more fun."
DEUTER kid comfort active sl
pros
- lightweight - half the weight of many similar carriers & those couple of kilos can make all the difference!
- side loading - a real game changer particularly when dealing with uncooperative octopus toddlers. the side of the carrier opens up to allow a step in approach rather than a drop in, which makes life much easier, particularly for kids who are walking.
- it’s not just for those of us who are diminutive! my 6’ tall husband also uses this carrier & he’s fully converted. he also finds it to be the most comfortable one we own.
- comfortable to wear for long periods - lots of adjustment, for both adult and child, to tweak the fit & the mesh fabric provides great ventilation on warmer days.
cons
- limited carrying capacity - the sl has a 12l storage compartment with toggle drawstring closure so it’s not as well sealed as other carriers like the osprey pocco which uses a zip. this isn’t a big issue for us, as we generally go out as a family with the second adult carrying all kit, but if you regularly go out solo it might be trickier. you can comfortably fit a changing kit, snacks & a couple of spare clothing layers. there are additional side pockets & hip pocket which fits a phone quite neatly!
- lack of included accessories - this is reflected in the lower price point. sunshade, rain cover & larger head cushion are all available to purchase separately. there’s a low profile pocket at the back of the carrier to slot them into neatly when not in use.
- lack of belt padding. again, this doesn’t bother me much, as i prefer a lower profile waist belt. if you prefer something with more structure & cushioning, this may take a little getting used to.
"seriously, kid comfort active sl, where have you been all my life? i’ve tried countless framed carriers & while i tolerated a few, there was never one that prompted a resounding ‘yep, this is the carrier for me’.
i ordered the kid comfort active sl for my second kid, after noticing it was designed specifically with a women’s fit in mind, the ‘sl’ stands for ‘slimline'. one of the biggest issues i’ve encountered with other framed carriers is that they’re not well suited to adults with petite builds & / or shorter stature which invariably means the back panel of other carriers would be too long & shoulder straps too widely set. this caused discomfort when carrying for long periods & really impacted freedom of movement.
the slim fit of the active sl ensures that the back panel is the perfect length on its shortest setting, i’m 5’4 for reference, & sits comfortably on the hips. it’s easy to tighten up on the fly & waist adjustments while carrying are a breeze. i’ve carried my extremely sturdy toddler for seven hour stretches using this carrier without the shoulder or back strain that i’ve found unavoidable with our other models."
TRAIL MAGIC CARRIERS
should your little be too big for either of the carriers above mentioned, there is another option for them; the trail magik carrier.
this carrier was designed to help children over the age of 1 who still need carried or an extra rest on hikes without having the bulky straps of a soft structured carrier or the heavy load of a structured carrier. the carriers are designed for backpacking & day hike backpacks that have front upper loaders & a waist belt.
usual pros
- incredibly lightweight
- folds up to the size of a water bottle
- can be attached without taking your bag off
- multiple colour ways to suit
- easy to clip on & off to suit child's walking preferences
usual cons
- must be used with a backpack
- child can only face tummy to tummy with wearer
- can cause strain on your shoulders from the weight of your child pulling the front loaders down
WHERE TO BUY
currently can only be purchased directly from trail magik here.
shipping to the uk is pretty high, but honestly there's nothing like this carrier in the market & that alone makes it worth it.
