Hiking

Hiking With Kids

Dad hiking through pine forest with a toddler on his back in the Osprey Poco Soft child carrier

Osprey Poco Soft Review

A soft carrier that can actually handle a trail, for $160 and under 2 lb. The hip belt is really supportive. The catch: there's nowhere to carry water, and the sunshade is really just a hood.

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Ben Dawson

Oct 18, 2026

3–5 minutes
Adult walking in San Ignacio, Baja California Sur, with a baby in the Osprey Poco SLT child carrier

Osprey Poco SLT Review

It folds down smaller than any framed carrier we've tested, which is why it rides along on every Baja road trip. The catch: the sunshade costs extra, and nothing's within reach while it's on your back.

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Ben Dawson

Oct 18, 2026

4–5 minutes
Dad standing in front of Redfish Lake Creek Falls wearing the Osprey Poco Premium child carrier

Osprey Poco Premium Review

It holds more than anything else we tested, and our kids nap under its mesh-sided sunshade like it's their job. It's our family's daily driver. The catch: it's the heaviest carrier in the guide, and you feel it.

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Ben Dawson

Oct 18, 2026

4–6 minutes
Dad hiking a sunny winter trail with a bundled toddler in the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite child carrier

Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Review

A pocket for everything, even the muddy diaper, and a torso you can adjust while you're wearing it. It's the most feature-packed carrier we tested. The catch: buckling in a wiggly kid takes patience.

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Ben Dawson

Oct 18, 2026

4–6 minutes
Dad buckling a smiling toddler into the Deuter Kid Comfort child carrier on a pine-covered hillside

Deuter Kid Comfort Review

Our two-year-old climbs into this one by himself, and it vents better than anything else we tested. It's our pick for most families. Just know the sunshade has no mesh sides and no pocket of its own.

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Ben Dawson

Oct 18, 2026

5–7 minutes
Dad buckling a smiling toddler into the Deuter Kid Comfort child carrier on a pine-covered hillside

Best Hiking Baby Carriers 2026: Backpack Carriers for Babies and Toddlers

We tested five child carrier backpacks with our own kids, from Baja to Canada. The Deuter Kid Comfort is the one we would tell most families to buy, with picks for nappers, organizers, budgets and travel.

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Ben Dawson

Oct 23, 2026

8–12 minutes
Full-length back view of the Eddie Bauer Toddler Rain Jacket in size 2T on a 2-year-old

Eddie Bauer Toddler Rain Jacket Review

The jacket that lives in the bottom of our backpack. It's ultralight, rolls into a ball, and the highlighter hood makes him easy to spot. The catch: a basic hood with no adjustment.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

4–6 minutes
Toddler in yellow REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket running on wooden boardwalk at Yellowstone National Park

Best Rain Jackets for Toddlers 2026

We tested ten toddler rain jackets in real rain: West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone, Colorado's Front Range, and park days in the drizzle. Here are the best rain jackets for toddlers.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

6–9 minutes
Toddler in yellow REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket walking on wooden boardwalk at West Thumb Geyser Basin Yellowstone

REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket — Toddler Review

We took the REI Rainier to Yellowstone in a downpour and Oren (2) stayed dry. Soft chin guard, a hood that stays put, true-to-size fit. It's a shell, so layer up.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

5–7 minutes
Low angle full length front view of toddler in Columbia Hikebound II Rain Jacket showing overall fit and zipper

Columbia Hikebound II Rain Jacket — Toddler Review

The comfiest toddler rain jacket we tested. The Hikebound II feels like cloth, not plastic, and it's still waterproof. The catch: mesh pockets that open straight to the inside.

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Roxy Dawson

Nov 5, 2026

3–5 minutes