Best child carrier backpacks for travel and hiking: 5 options compared

Last updated: September 2026

We got our first backpack carrier when R was 7 months old, after realising our beloved Ergobaby front carrier just wasn’t going to cut it for longer walks as our son got bigger.

We’ve used our LittleLife Cross Country S4 on countless trips and walks with R over the last 18 months and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. I’ve also borrowed a friend’s MiniMeis, and another friend uses the Osprey Poco. They are all designed to solve roughly the same problem, but in completely different ways.

The MiniMeis is tiny by comparison and much easier to travel with, but puts your child high up on your shoulders which may not be the most comfortable. The LittleLife sits somewhere in the middle, while the more technical hiking carriers from Osprey, Deuter and Thule add more padding, storage and support, but also considerably more bulk.

So rather than simply picking the most expensive carrier as the ‘best’, I’ve compared five of the most popular child carrier backpacks by how you might actually use them.

Best child carrier backpacks: our top picks

• Best all-rounder: LittleLife Cross Country S4 – a good balance between weight, storage, price and comfort, and the carrier we’ve used ourselves.
• Best for travel: MiniMeis – far smaller and lighter than a traditional framed backpack, making it particularly interesting if luggage space is your priority.
• Best for serious hiking: Osprey Poco Premium – more substantial, with hiking-focused back support, ventilation and storage for longer days on the trails.
• Best lightweight hiking carrier: Deuter Kid Comfort Active – a more technical hiking carrier without quite as much weight as some premium options.
• Best for child comfort: Thule Sapling – a premium option with a supportive child seat and plenty of storage.

Quick comparison

Carrier	Weight	Storage	Max load	Best for
LittleLife Cross Country S4	2.5kg	20L	20kg	All-round travel + walking
MiniMeis	1.6kg	Minimal	18kg	Flying & compact travel
Osprey Poco Premium	3.78kg	36L	22kg total	Longer hikes
Deuter Kid Comfort Active	2.68kg	12L	22kg recommended	Lightweight hiking
Thule Sapling	3.8kg	22L	22kg total	Child comfort / hiking

Do you actually need a backpack carrier?

If you’re mainly taking city breaks with smooth pavements, probably not. Our travel pram still wins hands down when we can use it.

But we’ve found a carrier comes into its own on trips where a pram starts dictating where you can and can’t go. Think mountain paths, coastal walks, lots of steps, cobbled old towns and viewpoints where you don’t fancy hauling a buggy up the final climb.

It’s also a different proposition from a normal soft baby carrier. We used our Ergobaby Omni 360 extensively when R was smaller (and still occasionally now when travelling), but once you’re carrying a heavier baby or toddler for longer walks, a framed carrier can give you more structure, storage and support.

The downside? They can be enormous. And that’s particularly important if you’re buying one for holidays rather than walks from home. A fantastic hiking carrier isn’t necessarily a fantastic travel carrier if it takes up half your hire car boot or becomes another huge item to get through the airport.

What we looked for

• Comfort for the person carrying it: once you add the carrier, a toddler, water and everything else you inevitably end up carrying, weight and good hip support matter.
• Comfort for your child: seat design, harness, leg position and head support all matter if you’re hoping they’ll stay in it for more than half an hour.
• Weight and travel size: can you realistically take it on a flight, and how much room does it take up in a hire car?
• Storage: enough space for nappies, snacks, water and layers can mean you don’t need a second day bag.
• Weather protection: check whether a sunshade and rain cover are included or cost extra.
• How easy it is to share: quick back-length adjustment matters if two adults are swapping carrying duties.

LittleLife Cross Country S4

Best for: the LittleLife sweet spot for travel and hiking

We have the LittleLife Cross Country S4, so this is the carrier I’ve got the most experience with. At 2.5kg, it isn’t the lightest LittleLife, but you get 20 litres of storage and a more substantial, padded set-up than the entry-level models.

We’ve had ours since R was 7 months old, when we first used it on a trip to Boston. He’s now 21 months and we’re taking it to California next month, so it’s earned its keep. We use it everywhere: at home, on weekends away, and on both short trips and long-haul travel.

R slept in it a fair bit when he was younger, though it’s been a while since we’ve been out during a nap window with it. The foot stirrups get a lot of use, and the large base pocket, big enough to fit both the rain cover and sun cover plus snacks or a lunchbox and change of clothes, is one of the features we like most.

Worth knowing: the Cross Country S4 doesn’t come with a rain cover as standard, so it’s worth picking one up separately if you’re likely to need it.

Having seen a friend’s more basic LittleLife alongside ours, I’d personally pay the extra for one of the more padded models if you’re planning longer walks with a toddler. The difference isn’t just a few extra pockets. Ours feels noticeably more substantial and supportive, which matters much more once you’re carrying a toddler rather than a small baby.

Which LittleLife child carrier is best?

If you’ve already decided you want a LittleLife, there are quite a few versions and at first glance they can look fairly similar. The biggest differences are weight, storage, padding and support, and how easy they are to travel with.

LittleLife carrier	Weight	Storage	Max load	Sunshade	Best for
Ranger	1.7kg	Minimal	20kg	No	Short walks / budget
Adventurer	1.9kg	12L	20kg	Optional	Lightweight all-rounder
Cross Country S4	2.5kg	20L	20kg	Included	Travel + longer walks
Freedom S4	2.7kg	21L	20kg	Included	Longer hikes
Voyager S5	2.9kg	28L	20kg	Included	Hiking + max storage

I’d choose the Ranger if you mainly want something light for shorter walks and don’t need lots of padding or storage. It’s what my friend Gem has and it works perfectly fine for morning dog walks but perhaps isn’t the most comfy for several hours in one go.

I’d choose the Adventurer if weight matters but you still want useful storage and a proper stand. My nephews have been perfectly happy in their Adventurer S2 over the years!

I’d choose the Cross Country S4 if you want one carrier that can handle holidays and proper walks. It isn’t the lightest, but the extra padding, 20 litres of storage and included accessories make it much more substantial than the entry-level models. We love how comfortable it is for us and our son.

I’d choose the Freedom S4 or Voyager S5 if hiking is the main reason you’re buying one. They’re heavier, but you start getting more hiking-focused features and storage.

For most families reading this because they want a carrier for travelling with a toddler, the Cross Country S4 is the one I’d look at first. The question after that is whether you actually need the extra hiking-focused features of the Freedom S4 or Voyager S5, or whether the S4 already covers what you’re likely to use it for.

MiniMeis

Best for: flights, city breaks and travelling light

The MiniMeis is a quirky carrier, and that’s why I’ve included it. Rather than sitting your child behind you in a traditional framed backpack, it positions them above your shoulders and packs down much smaller than the other carriers in this guide, weighing just 1.6kg with a maximum load of 18kg.

We borrowed a friend’s MiniMeis to try with R, and it became uncomfortable for both of us after a fairly short space of time. It’s a very different style of seat to the LittleLife, and it’s not one I’d choose for a longer trip. The one we tried was an older model, so it may not reflect improvements MiniMeis have made since, but for me a carrier is really about comfort, both for the child and for whoever’s wearing it, and this one didn’t deliver on either front for us.

MiniMeis vs LittleLife: which would I take travelling?

For a trip with proper walks, I’d take the LittleLife without hesitation. It’s simply more comfortable for both of us over any length of time. I wouldn’t take the MiniMeis travelling at all after our experience with it, though I’d be curious to try a newer model before ruling it out completely for very short, occasional use.

Osprey Poco

Best for: longer walks and proper hiking

If the MiniMeis sits at the travel end of this comparison, the Osprey Poco range is much closer to a proper hiking backpack with a child seat built into it. Osprey’s current line-up has two carriers worth knowing about here: the Poco Premium, their most fully-featured option with 36 litres of storage, a machine-washable cockpit and both a raincover and sunshade included as standard, and the Poco LT, a much lighter, more travel-friendly version built for shorter trips and easier packing.

My friend Emma has the Osprey Poco and loves it. Looking at it alongside our LittleLife, the shape is noticeably different: the Poco sits squarer, while the LittleLife is longer and taller, though overall the two feel fairly similar in how substantial they are.

The trade-off for travel is its size and weight, particularly with the Premium. If your idea of using a carrier is occasionally getting through a cobbled old town or walking up to a viewpoint, the Poco LT is the more sensible starting point; you may be buying much more carrier than you need with the Premium.

Deuter Kid Comfort Active

Best for: a lighter technical hiking carrier

The Deuter Kid Comfort range comes up repeatedly when you start looking at hiking carriers, but the Kid Comfort Active makes particular sense in a travel-focused comparison because it keeps the carrier weight down at 2.68kg, with 12 litres of storage, while retaining a hiking-oriented design.

I’d see this as the option for someone who thinks the LittleLife isn’t technical enough for the walks they’re planning, but doesn’t necessarily want one of the heaviest premium carriers. Check which accessories are included before buying, as items such as sunshades can vary by model.

Thule Sapling

Best for: child comfort

At the premium end is the Thule Sapling. Its child seat design and generous 22-litre storage make it interesting for families planning longer days out, while the removable washable elements are the sort of feature you appreciate once a toddler has eaten lunch in the carrier.

The downside for a travel-focused buyer is bulk, at 3.8kg. I’d struggle to justify a carrier of this size for occasional holiday use alone. It makes much more sense if family hiking is something you do regularly.

MiniMeis vs backpack child carrier: which type is better?

Choose a MiniMeis-style carrier if you’re flying and luggage space is at a premium, you’ll mostly use it for shorter periods, you want something for sightseeing and occasional walks, and you don’t need the carrier to double as your day bag.

Choose a traditional backpack carrier if you’re going on longer walks, regularly carrying an older or heavier toddler, want more hiking-focused support, need storage for nappies and snacks, or expect your child to spend a decent chunk of the day in it.

Backpack carrier vs baby carrier: when should you switch?

There’s no magic age where you need to move from a soft structured carrier to a framed backpack. A normal baby carrier is much easier to pack, works well through airports and keeps a younger baby close to you.

A framed backpack starts making more sense when you’re walking for longer, carrying a bigger baby or toddler and want more structure, or need storage and weather protection built into the carrier.

Framed child carriers aren’t designed for newborns. Your child needs to meet the developmental requirements for the particular carrier, so always follow the manufacturer’s current guidance rather than relying on age alone.

Can you take a child carrier backpack on a plane?

Usually you can travel with one, but don’t assume a framed carrier will count as normal cabin luggage. Most traditional backpack carriers are far larger than a compact travel pram when packed.

Before flying, check your airline’s current baggage policy and decide whether you’ll check the carrier, protect it in a transit bag or use a more compact option. This is one of the strongest arguments for MiniMeis if your carrier is primarily for holidays.

Can toddlers sleep in a backpack carrier?

They can, and toddlers have an impressive ability to fall asleep at precisely the moment you weren’t expecting them to.

R slept in ours a fair bit as a younger baby, though these days he’s more likely to stay awake and take in the view rather than nap while we’re out.

If naps are likely, pay attention to head and chin support and how your child sits when asleep. Take regular breaks and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe use.

What age can babies go in a backpack carrier?

This isn’t something I’d decide purely by the number on the box. Manufacturers generally require babies to have sufficient independent sitting ability and head control before using a framed child carrier, but the exact guidance varies. Always follow the instructions for your specific model.

Which child carrier backpack would we choose?

For most travelling families, I don’t think you necessarily need the biggest or most technical carrier.

For us, the LittleLife Cross Country S4 hits a useful middle ground between a proper backpack carrier and something we’re still prepared to travel with. We started using it at seven months, on a trip to Boston, and 21 months later it’s still coming with us, this time to California. It has enough storage to be useful on a day out and feels more substantial than the entry-level LittleLife models.

But I can absolutely see the argument for the MiniMeis if flying is the priority. If you only need a carrier for the occasional steps, viewpoint or cobbled route and you’re otherwise using a travel pram, packing something substantially smaller is very appealing.

If I were buying specifically for longer and more technical hikes, I’d move towards the Osprey Poco Premium or Deuter Kid Comfort range instead. That’s where the extra hiking-focused support starts earning its additional weight.

And that, ultimately, is why I don’t think there’s one ‘best’ child carrier backpack. The best one is the one that solves the bit of travelling with your toddler that you actually find difficult.

More family travel gear we’ve tested

• Best travel prams for flying
• Best travel car seats for babies and toddlers
• Best kids suitcases and toddler luggage
• Our complete baby holiday packing list

Allie, Jack & R x

This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

FAQs