This past summer in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, we took the boat shuttle across Redfish Lake and hiked up to the Lily Pond and Redfish Lake Creek Falls. Oren rode in the Osprey Poco Premium and snoozed the entire time. He was so cozy he slept right through the waterfall. That’s pretty typical for this carrier. It’s been our family’s daily driver for a while now, mostly because it holds so much, and partly because our kids just sleep so well in it.
Take me back to the child carrier full guide
Best for long days and nappers
Osprey Poco Premium
The nap machine. Tons of storage, and a sunshade with mesh sides our kids almost always fall asleep under. The catch: fiddly plastic toggles on that sunshade, and it's a lot of carrier to fit in the trunk.
Weight: 8.34 lb · Load range: 23.7 to 48.5 lb · Volume: 36 L · Torso adjustment: 6 in · Tested with: Oren, age 2, about 29 lb, plus short rides with Cypress at about 39 lb
Good for: long days, families who carry a lot, and kids who nap on the trail.
Skip if: you don’t want to carry the heaviest carrier in the guide, you won’t actually use all that storage, or $450 is a stretch. And if small, fiddly clips are tough on your hands, whether from arthritis or anything else that affects grip, those plastic sunshade toggles will test your patience.
Is the Osprey Poco Premium worth it?
For the right family, absolutely. The Deuter Kid Comfort is our pick for most people. But if we’re being honest, the Poco Premium is the one our family reaches for most, because it holds so much. The catch is that you have to be willing to carry all of it. At 8.34 lb before you put anything in it, this is the heaviest carrier we tested.
Why do kids nap so well in it?
The sunshade has mesh sidewalls, and our kids almost always fall asleep leaning against them. On the Deuter, a sleepy head ends up on the chin pad instead. It came in second for child comfort, right behind the Deuter, and naps are a big reason why.
How much does it hold?
More than anything else we tested, and it’s useful storage, not just a big empty bag. Osprey lists 36 liters, with a large main pocket, a lower compartment, zippered hip belt pockets, side mesh pockets and a hydration sleeve. Use that sleeve instead of loading water bottles into the main compartment. With the way this pack carries its weight, keeping the water close to your back makes a real difference on longer days.
How easy is it to get a kid in and out?
Pretty easy. It came in second, behind the Deuter. Osprey’s Double Halo harness has front-facing arm loops that make buckling a kid in painless. The sunshade is a different story (more on that below).
How comfortable is it to carry?
Comfortable once you’ve dialed it in, but that takes some work. Honestly, this pack didn’t feel that comfortable to us at first. The torso adjusts easily, just not while you’re wearing it, so set it before you load up.
What comes with it?
A built-in UPF 50 sunshade, adjustable stirrups, a mirror, zippered hip pockets, a hydration sleeve, and a padded cockpit that comes out for washing. A rain cover and a changing pad are sold separately.
What doesn’t work
The sunshade toggles. It attaches to the front of the pack with little plastic toggles, and they’re really annoying, especially when your kid is ready to go.
The weight. It’s the heaviest carrier we tested, and you feel it.
The bulk. The frame folds down, but even folded, it’s a lot of carrier in the trunk.
Care instructions
Osprey says the padded cockpit comes out and goes in the washing machine, which is great news for anyone with a snacker. We’ve barely had to use it, though. The fabric isn’t as soft to the touch as some of the others, but it doesn’t hold onto dirt either. We’ve wiped ours down a couple of times, and that’s about it.
Packability
About as packable as the Kelty, which is to say not very. Osprey’s frame folds down for travel and storage, but this is still the biggest, heaviest carrier in the guide.
Sizing guide
- For you: Osprey lists 6 in of torso adjustment. Set it before you put it on.
- For your kid: Osprey lists a load range of 23.7 to 48.5 lb. Our older son, at about 39 lb, still fit for short rides.
Who it’s for
Families who head out for long days, carry a lot, and have a kid who likes to nap on the trail. If you’re willing to haul the weight, it’s the most capable carrier we tested.
Pro tip
Take the time to play with every adjustment point: hip belt, shoulder straps, torso length, all of it. This pack didn’t feel great to us at first. Once we got it dialed in, it was a completely different carrier.
How the Osprey Poco Premium compares
| Osprey Poco Premium | Deuter Kid Comfort | Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.5/5.0 | 4.8/5.0 | 4.5/5.0 |
| Price | $450 | $330 | $399.95 |
| Carrier weight | 8.34 lb | about 7.1 lb | 7 lb 4 oz |
| Volume | 36 L | 14 L | 26 L |
| Sunshade | Included, mesh sides | Included | Included, own pocket |
| Mirror | Yes | No | No |
Ben Dawson
I'm Ben Dawson: dad of two, former full-time van liver, and co-author of three Falcon Guides, including Hiking with Kids: Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks. I've worked in outdoor media for more than a decade, and I've been testing gear with Roxy since 2017 as a gear reviewer and analyst. These days most of my testing happens with a kid on my back or a tent full of them. I've carried and hiked with my kids more miles than I can count, from Canada to Mexico and plenty of places in between. My rule is pretty simple: if the kid is uncomfortable, or you are, nobody's having a good time out there. I tell you what works, what doesn't, and who it's actually for.
More posts by Ben
