Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier: Your Family’s Gateway to Adventure

Remember those days before kids, when a spontaneous hike or a long stroll through a bustling market was just, well, spontaneous? Then came the little bundles of joy, and suddenly, “spontaneous” felt like a word reserved for pre-dawn coffee runs. But what if I told you that with the right gear, you can reclaim those adventures, and even share them with your tiny explorers? The Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier is precisely that game-changer for active families.

For nearly four years now, this incredible piece of hiking gear has been my trusty companion, seen me through countless trails, city escapades, and even a backpacking trip or two. It’s been through rain, shine, mud, and even the occasional toddler tantrum (mostly from my side, I confess). And through it all, the Osprey Poco Plus has not only held up but has consistently proven itself to be an exceptional baby carrier backpack for getting out and about with little ones.

Baby Hiking Backpack: Understanding Framed Carriers

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of why the Osprey Poco Plus is so fantastic, let’s clear up some common confusion. You’ve probably seen different kinds of baby carriers.

There are the soft structured carriers, like wraps or buckle carriers, where your baby is snuggled close to your body. These are often great for newborns and everyday tasks, offering a feeling of closeness and intimacy.

But when it comes to hiking with kids or longer excursions, a framed child carrier is where it’s truly at.

Think of a framed child carrier like a comfortable, portable chair for your child that you wear on your back. It has a sturdy external frame that creates a secure “cockpit” or seat for your little one.

This design keeps your child slightly away from your body, allowing for better airflow (no more sweaty backs for either of you!) and a much higher vantage point for your curious passenger.

Imagine their delight as they see the world from your perspective – peering over your shoulder at a breathtaking vista or pointing out every dog they spot on a city street.

The key benefit of a framed hiking carrier is how it distributes weight. Unlike soft carriers that can put a lot of strain on your shoulders and back, a well-fitted framed carrier cleverly shifts most of the weight onto your hips and legs. This is a game-changer for comfort, especially on longer journeys. Believe me, your back will thank you!

Now, a quick but important note: framed carriers are designed for babies who have excellent head and neck control and can sit up unassisted. This usually happens around six months old, but always check with your pediatrician if you’re unsure. Safety first, always!

Osprey Child Carrier Review: An In-Depth Look at the Poco Plus

When you first get your hands on the Osprey Poco Plus, you immediately notice the quality. It feels robust, well-made, and ready for adventure. But it’s the thoughtful features that truly set it apart and contribute to its status as a top-tier Osprey child carrier.

Child Carrier Backpack for Hiking: Poco Plus Features Demystified

This child carrier backpack for hiking doesn’t just hold your child; it offers a comprehensive system for comfortable and convenient outdoor pursuits.

Room for Everything (and then some!)

One of the first things I fell in love with about the Poco Plus is its generous storage capacity. With a whopping 26 liters of space, it’s like a mini-backpack for all your family’s essentials. This means you can easily stash diapers, wipes, a changing pad, extra clothes (because blowouts happen!), water bottles, snacks (so many snacks!), and even a few trail toys.

I remember one particularly ambitious hike where we planned a picnic by a lake. With the Poco Plus, I was able to pack not just our usual hiking essentials, but also a small towel, swimwear, and a compact beach blanket. It was fantastic to have everything in one place, leaving my hands free to navigate the trail and, more importantly, hold my son’s hand when he wanted to walk a bit.

The storage isn’t just ample; it’s incredibly well-organized. You’ll find:

• Two zippered hipbelt pockets: Perfect for quick-grab items like your phone, keys, lip balm, or a handful of trail mix.
• A hydration sleeve: Essential for staying hydrated on the go, allowing you to use a water bladder.
• Multiple storage pockets, both zippered and mesh: Seriously, there’s a pocket for everything! From a small zippered stash pocket at the neck for tiny treasures to large mesh pockets ideal for water bottles or extra layers.

Sun-Kissed Adventures, Without the Burn

Living in a sunny climate (or even just venturing out on a bright day), sun protection for your little one is paramount. The Osprey Poco Plus boasts a brilliantly designed built-in sunshade. It’s not some flimsy afterthought; this thing is genius. It easily deploys from a zippered pocket behind your child’s head, sliding out smoothly and hooking onto sleeves near your shoulders.

What truly impressed me about this sunshade is the added mesh panels on the sides. Not only do they provide excellent ventilation, keeping your child cool, but they also offer extra protection against harmful UV rays. I’ve seen other carriers where the sunshade is minimal, leaving your child exposed.

With the Poco Plus, you can have peace of mind knowing your little adventurer is well-protected. It even provides UPF 50 sun protection! However, remember that children’s skin is delicate, so always apply a kid-appropriate face and body sunscreen for any exposed skin.

Comfortable Baby Carrier for Hiking: Prioritizing Parent and Child Comfort

A child carrier is only as good as its comfort level – for both the wearer and the passenger. The Osprey Poco Plus excels here, truly living up to its reputation as a comfortable baby carrier for hiking.

For the adults, the adjustable features are a dream:

• Padded, adjustable hipbelt and shoulder straps: These are crucial for distributing weight evenly and preventing pressure points. The hipbelt range on the Poco series is 26″ to 48″, but the Poco Plus has “Fit-On-The-Fly” extender wings that provide a few extra inches on each side, allowing it to fit hips up to about 54 inches.
• Adjustable torso length: This is a big one! My partner is 6′ tall, and I’m 5’4″. Being able to quickly adjust the torso length (it takes less than a minute!) means we can easily swap who’s carrying our son without discomfort. This range, from 15 to 21 inches, ensures a good fit for a wide variety of body types.
• Excellent ventilation: The breathable mesh back panel and large side vents keep you cool and comfortable, even on warm days. No more arriving at your destination with a soaking wet back!

For your little one, the Poco Plus provides a luxurious ride:

• Structured cockpit with a supportive seat: This is where the Poco Plus truly shines in terms of safety. The fully framed and padded cockpit, combined with the 5-point safety harness, makes your child feel incredibly secure. It’s almost like a car seat for the trails!
• Adjustable child seat height: As your child grows, you can easily adjust the child seat height, ensuring they’re always comfortable and properly supported.
• Removable and washable drool pad: Because let’s face it, little ones drool. A lot. Being able to remove and wash this pad is a lifesaver for keeping the carrier fresh.
• Ventilated side panels: These ensure airflow around your child, preventing them from overheating. Even in mid-summer, no child that rode in our carrier ever complained about being hot.

One of the most impressive updates in the Poco Plus is the reworked design of the child cockpit and harness. On older models, the harness buckled in the front. The new design has shifted the buckle to the child’s back, making it much easier for parents to load and unload their little ones. Plus, it makes for a more comfortable ride for the child.

Outdoor Baby Gear: Why the Poco Plus Excels Beyond the Trail

While the Osprey Poco Plus is an incredible hiking carrier, I’ve found it to be incredibly versatile as a piece of outdoor baby gear for city walks, farmers’ markets, festivals, and even international travel. It offers a higher vantage point for your child than a stroller, and it’s much easier to maneuver in crowded areas.

Built Like a Tank: Long-Term Durability

When you invest in a child carrier, you want it to last. The Osprey Poco Plus is, quite frankly, darn-near indestructible. After years of heavy use, through all kinds of weather and terrain, I haven’t had a single stitch come loose, a buckle crack, or a zipper snag. It still looks almost new.

This quality-built design means it’s built to last through many kids and many families. This is a big deal when you consider the price tag; you’re getting a piece of hiking gear that will stand the test of time.

The Mighty Kickstand: Stability When You Need It

One of the handiest features, especially when you’re a solo parent trying to load a squirming toddler, is the integrated kickstand. This lightweight aluminum frame provides a stable platform, allowing you to set the child carrier down securely. An audible click lets you know it’s locked in place. The sidearms also rotate and lock to create that sturdy rectangular cockpit. And once your child is loaded, two robust grab handles make it easy to lift the carrier onto your back.

This stability isn’t just for loading; it’s invaluable when you’re taking a break on the trail, grabbing something from your bag, or just need to set the carrier down safely. It’s a key reason why it’s so versatile for trips to the farmers market, strolling city streets, and vacations.

Toddler Backpack Carrier: Growing with Your Little Explorer

The Osprey Poco Plus shines as a toddler backpack carrier because of its adaptability. It’s designed to grow with your child, accommodating them from about six months old (when they can sit unassisted) all the way through their toddler years, up to approximately four years old or a combined weight of 48 pounds (child + gear + carrier). This eliminates the need to buy multiple carriers as your child grows, offering fantastic long-term value.

What Could Be Improved? (Because Nothing’s Perfect!)

While the Osprey Poco Plus is undeniably fantastic, no piece of gear is without its quirks.

The Stirrups:

This is my biggest pet peeve. While the stirrups are adjustable length-wise, the foot hole is one-size-fits-all, and it simply doesn’t accommodate larger kid boots or even some bulkier hiking shoes. Getting a three-year-old’s rain boots in and out can be a real struggle, often resulting in a lost shoe when they’re finally pulled out.

The Neck Handle:

For shorter individuals (like me, at 5’4″), the large grab handle at the back of the neck can be a bit irritating. Because the pack tips slightly forward, you might feel it rubbing on the back of your neck, especially on long uphill climbs. Thankfully, you can tuck it away under the drool pad, but you’ll need to remember to redeploy it before taking the pack off.

Osprey Poco Plus Backpack: Key Differences from Other Models

You might have heard of the standard Osprey Poco carrier and wondered how it compares to the Osprey Poco Plus backpack. The main distinction boils down to storage capacity and a few extra features that elevate the “Plus” model.

The standard Poco carrier offers 20 liters of storage, while the Osprey Poco Plus backpack boasts 26 liters. That extra 6 liters might not sound like a huge difference, but it’s enough space to stash a couple of extra puffy jackets, some rain gear, or, as I mentioned, a beach blanket and sand toys for a lakeside picnic!

The Poco Plus also steps up its organization game with larger zippered hipbelt pockets and additional lower mesh side pockets, as well as a larger lower zippered compartment. This means more dedicated spots for all your family’s necessities. Plus, the Poco Plus features that adjustable “Fit-On-The-Fly” hip belt, which extends the fit range significantly.

Is the extra storage capacity and hip belt feature worth the slightly higher price tag (typically around $30 more)? For many parents, especially those who plan longer excursions or want to avoid carrying a separate backpack, that added space is a lifesaver. It means less juggling and more enjoying your time on the trail.

Adjustable Child Carrier: Perfect Fit for Every Adventure

The Osprey Poco Plus truly shines as an adjustable child carrier, ensuring that both parents of different heights and growing children can experience maximum comfort. The ability to quickly and easily adjust the torso length, hipbelt, and child’s seat height means this carrier can be perfectly dialed in for anyone, making it a highly shareable and versatile piece of outdoor baby gear.

Best Baby Carrier for Hiking: Our Top Recommendation and Alternatives

Let’s talk money. The Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier retails for around $320. Yes, it’s one of the more expensive hiking carriers on the market. But here’s why I firmly believe it’s an investment worth making for active families, securing its place as arguably the best baby carrier for hiking:

• Unmatched Safety and Comfort: The robust, structured cockpit and adjustable features for both parent and child provide a level of safety and comfort that is hard to beat. When you’re out on uneven terrain, knowing your child is secure and cozy is priceless.
• Exceptional Durability: This carrier is built to last. It will easily see you through multiple children, meaning you won’t need to replace it down the line. Its longevity truly contributes to its value.
• Versatility Beyond the Trail: While it’s an incredible hiking carrier, I’ve found it to be incredibly versatile for city walks, farmers’ markets, festivals, and even international travel. It offers a higher vantage point for your child than a stroller, and it’s much easier to maneuver in crowded areas.
• Resale Value: Because of its popularity and durability, the Osprey Poco Plus holds its value remarkably well on secondhand marketplaces. If you decide to sell it once your children have outgrown it, you’re likely to recoup a good portion of your initial investment. You can learn more about buying and selling on used gear markets in our guide to All About Used Gear.

Think of it this way: if you’re an avid hiker, the “cost per use” of this carrier will quickly make it feel like a steal. It unlocks so many outdoor possibilities that might otherwise feel daunting with little ones in tow.

Sustainability and Warranty: Confidence in Your Purchase

Osprey has also made commendable strides in sustainability. They have been a Bluesign system partner for several years, working with suppliers to ensure materials and chemicals used in manufacturing are free from harmful substances. The main fabric of the Poco Plus—a strong and flexible ripstop nylon—is Bluesign approved, meaning it meets strict environmental and safety requirements. This commitment to ethical manufacturing adds another layer of confidence to your purchase.

Furthermore, the Poco Plus hiking carrier comes with Osprey’s 7-Year All Mighty Guarantee. This means Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge during the first seven years from the date of manufacture. If a functional repair isn’t possible, they will happily replace it. This warranty speaks volumes about the brand’s confidence in their product’s durability.

Hiking Child Carrier Backpack: Setup and Adjustment Guide

Once you have your Osprey Poco Plus, here’s a quick, step-by-step guide to setting it up and ensuring a comfortable fit for both you and your child:

1. Deploy the Kickstand: First things first, ensure the kickstand is fully extended and locked into place. You’ll hear a satisfying “click.” This provides a stable base for loading.
2. Open the Cockpit: Rotate the side arms of the cockpit until they lock into their rectangular shape.
3. Adjust Adult Fit (Before Your Child Gets In!):
   • Torso Length: Reach into the cut-out in the mesh back panel to find the lever. Lift it and slide the shoulder harness up or down until it matches your torso length (measured from the bump at the base of your neck to your hip bone).
   • Hipbelt: Loosen the hipbelt straps. Put the pack on your back, ensuring the padded part of the hipbelt sits snugly over your hip bones. Tighten the main hipbelt straps, and then use the “Fit-On-The-Fly” extender wings if needed for additional comfort and fit.
   • Shoulder Straps & Load Lifters: Tighten your shoulder straps so the weight feels evenly distributed. Then, pull the load lifter straps (the smaller straps above your shoulders) forward to cinch the top of the carrier closer to your body. This helps immensely with stability and prevents the pack from swaying backward.
   • Sternum Strap: Adjust the chest strap (sternum strap) up or down on the shoulder harness to a comfortable position across your chest. Buckle it for added stability.
4. Load Your Child:
   • Place your child in the cockpit.
   • Fasten the 5-point safety harness at their back. The straps are stretchy, making it easier to get them in.
   • Adjust the child seat height by lifting the marked red handle and pushing the seat down (or sliding it up) to the desired length. Ensure your child’s legs are at a comfortable angle.
   • Adjust the stirrup length for their feet.
5. Final Checks: Double-check all buckles and adjustments. Make sure your child is happy and secure.

Where to Find Your Own Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier

While the Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier has been discontinued and updated to the Osprey Poco Premium, you might still find it available at some retailers with limited supply. It’s a popular item, so keep an eye out at trusted outdoor gear stores. You can also compare prices online at places like Amazon. Remember to look for deals and compare shipping options!

Other Top Baby Carrier for Hiking Options to Consider

When deciding between the Osprey Poco Plus and other child carriers, consider what features are most important to you. These packs are comfortable and can withstand many years of use.

Deuter Kid Comfort: Weighing 7 lbs 2 oz with 14 L storage, the Deuter Kid Comfort is a well-constructed, comfortable, and full-featured hiking carrier that closely rivals the Osprey Poco Plus. While the Osprey pack felt more secure for babies, the Deuter often edges out the Poco in maneuverability as kids grow because it pivots better at the hips, making it feel more agile.

Note: As of May 8, 2025, Deuter has recalled the Kid Comfort. Please check the Consumer Protection Agency for more information.

Kelty Journey PerfectFIT: At 6 lbs 6 oz with 17 L storage, the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT offers everything you need in a reliable child carrier for $270. It’s a good option if you don’t plan to hike often or for long days, though it has less ventilation and adjustability than the Poco Plus and isn’t hydration pack compatible.

Thule Sapling: Weighing 7 lbs 8 oz, the Thule Sapling costs more than the Poco Plus at $380 and has less storage. While it’s feature-loaded with adjustments and a built-in sunshade, we prefer the ventilation and sturdier cockpit design of the Osprey Poco Plus.

The Final Word: Embrace the Adventure!

The Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier isn’t just a piece of gear; it’s an enabler of family adventures. It allows you to continue exploring the world, to share the beauty of nature with your children, and to create unforgettable memories together. From the serene quiet of a forest trail to the bustling energy of a city market, your little one will be right there with you, enjoying a shared point of view.

Yes, it’s an investment, but given its supreme comfort, diverse features, structured child cockpit, and incredible durability, it’s an investment that pays dividends in shared experiences and lifelong memories. So, strap on that Poco Plus, pack those snacks, and get ready to rediscover the joy of adventure, with your favorite tiny human by your side!