The Best Kid Carriers of 2024: Tested

There isn't a single child carrier to rule them all, but the Deuter Kid Comfort comes close. Not only did our big testers rave about it, but our littlest judges gave this chariot two thumbs up too. So to what does this pack owe its best-in-test comfort? An arched profile transitions up to 70% of the load to the wearer's hips, making uneven terrain easier on adults with wriggling toddlers. "Our son is like a bobblehead, always moving side to side in the pack to catch a glimpse of everything, but the low center of gravity on this pack meant I never felt off-balance," our Hawaii-based tester said after a steep hike up Oahu's Koko Crater Trail. The ultrapadded hipbelt felt cushy against hip bones, unanimously pleasing all of our testers.

The plush, removable head pillow had an impressive effect on energetic toddlers: Once their heads hit the soft fleece, it was lights out. "Our 2-year-old fell asleep on every single hike," said our Hawaii tester after two weeks of testing. And getting disinclined toddlers into the Kid Comfort was as easy as opening a door, thanks to the side-entry panel that eliminates the need for loading from above. Plus, a height-adjustable child seat ensures kids will get sweet trail views at every stage.

There isn't enough storage for overnight gear, but our testers deemed it enough to suit most day trips. Two elastic side pockets are easily accessible and great for things like your kiddo's water bottle, and a large stash pocket and zippered bottom compartment on the back can hold diapers and dirties, wipes, extra layers and a down-filled picnic blanket. Two zippered hipbelt pockets fit a trail bar each. It has an included sunshade. Buy here.

Kids and gear weigh a lot, but the newly redesigned Poco Plus handles the load with ease. Osprey ditched its antigravity suspension used in previous models in favor of a fully suspended mesh back panel that is completely separate from the hipbelt. (It was a continuous system before.) This means the tensioned back panel fits comfortably and breathes well, while the hipbelt supports heavy loads. "Carting a kid up the mountain is never easy—especially when she throws her weight from side to side—but this pack seemed to minimize the jostling and keep me centered," said our California-based tester after five nights in the Ansel Adams Wilderness with her 8-month-old. (This redesign also fixes the rubbing hipbelt that some testers disliked in the previous model.)

With 26 liters of gear storage (tied for the most in our test with the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite), the Poco Plus can easily fit bonus gear on long hauls. Two large zippered compartments on the back can swallow an ultralight sleeping bag, sleeping pad, trail snacks and a few extra layers, while a stretchy stash pocket handles diapers and wipes. Two zippered hipbelt pockets hold lip balm and a snack, but are too small for most smartphones.

Every tester in our crew praised one particular feature: the included sunshade. It tucks away in a petite pocket but easily deploys with small tabs to protect your babe from sunrays or light precip. Stiff mesh paneling on its sides allows for a breeze to pass through and makes the side of the pack strong enough to prop up a snoozing baby's head. Buy here.

You won't find a lighter child carrier on this list. Osprey slashed ounces from its well-loved Poco series by using a shorter frame and less overall padding in the hipbelt. End result: A featherweight that's perfect for adventure travelers or urban families moving quickly through tight spaces (well, as fast as one can move with a child). Even though the Poco LT is shorter, the carrier still boasts 6 inches of adjustability in the torso, fitting a variety of body types. (Note: The adjustability didn't do quite as much for testers taller than 6 feet.) But the real magic is thanks to the foldable frame that allows the Poco LT to collapse flat for storage or travel. A zippered panel seals in the hipbelt and shoulder straps, yet easily stashes away in a hidden pocket when not in use.

Features are minimal on the Poco LT, but the carrier still offers two stretchy mesh pockets on the hipbelt, each large enough to store a phone or snacks. The remaining gear capacity is split between two large rear pockets: a medium-size zippered compartment on top and a larger zippered storage compartment on bottom. "I easily fit extra layers, diapers, wipes, a travel changing pad, snacks and water," reports one tester after a day trip to New York City's Central Park. The built-in sunshade easily deploys from its designated zippered compartment.

Like the Poco Plus, the Poco LT uses Osprey's new harness that clips behind your child, preventing any Houdini-esque escape moves. Thanks to the shorter frame, the child headrest is minimal (if nonexistent), but the padded face rest is plenty cushy for child snoozes on the go. Added bonus: It's one of the less expensive carriers on this list. Buy here.

If we were in the business of reviewing testers instead of the gear they test, we would most certainly give this one high marks: Our 5-foot-2-inch mama loaded the Elite up to its 50-pound capacity with overnight gear and her 3-year-old, then strapped her infant to her front for good measure. The trio trekked nearly 8 miles on the Pennsylvania Gulch Trail in the Rockies with nary a sprained ankle. We're not surprised since the PerfectFIT Elite easily pulls double duty. The child carrier has just as much gear storage as the Osprey Poco Plus for overnight trips, but it weighs nearly the same as the Deuter Kid Comfort, making it a top choice for day hikes, too.

Our tester was able to fit a rain jacket, a puffy, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, a medical kit and a dozen snacks in two of the Elite's large back compartments. (Her partner carried the rest of their gear in a regular overnight pack.) As anyone who's tried knows: Backpacking with toddlers can be foul. Thankfully, Kelty took that into account and created the only pack in our test with a zippered "dirty" compartment that seals away stench and mess. Our testers used it like a hamper for soiled clothes or simply to partition dirty diapers away from everything else. The pack has two additional zippered hipbelt pockets, two side mesh pockets and one zippered organizer pocket to hold small items like car keys and lip balm.

The Elite's adjustable back frame fit our 5-foot-2-inch mom fine, as well as her 6-foot husband. "I could even cinch it tightly around my hips, and that never happens," she raved after the family's trip to Colorado's Silver Dollar Lake. Caveat: The pack's center of gravity was a bit high, which was especially noticeable when the toddler zoomies took effect. Other features include a hydration sleeve (but it only fits a bladder horizontally, which posed a problem for testers with vertical reservoirs) and a sunshade. Bummer: The kid harness doesn't allow for side access, causing exhausted parents everwhere problems with coaxing fussy toddlers in. Buy here.

Kelty cut the junk in this sleek-and-minimalistic child carrier, giving it perhaps the best bang for your buck in our test. Well under 7 pounds, the Signature was the second-lightest pack (after the Osprey Poco LT), but it includes a handful of storage pockets for parents hauling more gear. A large zippered pocket on top and a zippered compartment on the bottom easily swallowed extra layers, water and food, and the hipbelt pockets stashed lip balm, keys and a few gels. The included sunshade neatly stows away inside its own pocket. Trade-off: The center of gravity sits higher in the Signature, so smaller testers with heavier children struggled with upper-back discomfort on trail. Buy here.