We drive down to Baja every winter and camp on the beach, towing a camper the whole way. When space is that tight, every bit of gear has to earn its spot. The Osprey Poco SLT folds down smaller than any other framed carrier we’ve used, so it’s the one that makes the trip. Once we’re there, we use it to carry Oren from our campsite into San Ignacio for dinner, around the streets of Mulegé, and on hikes from our beach camp on Bahía Concepción.
Take me back to the child carrier full guide
Best for travel
Osprey Poco SLT
The one that travels. It folds down smaller than any framed carrier we've tested, so it's easy to toss in the trunk or bring on a trip. Just know you'll be taking it off to grab a snack.
Weight: 4.72 lb · Load range: 23.7 to 48.5 lb · Volume: 22 L · Torso adjustment: 6 in · Tested with: Oren, age 2, about 29 lb
Good for: road trips, travel, tight car space, shorter trail days, and everyday outings.
Skip if: you want all the accessories and extras built in, since the sunshade is sold separately and there’s nothing you can reach while it’s on your back. And skip it if you want a more substantial carrier that stays comfortable on longer hikes. One of the beefier frames in our guide will treat you better on big days.
Is the Osprey Poco SLT worth it?
If you travel a lot or you’re short on space, yes. Just know what you’re paying for. It’s $280, and you’ll want Osprey’s $35 sunshade, which puts it at $315 all in. That’s within $15 of the Deuter Kid Comfort, which comes with a sunshade. So buy the SLT for travel and packability, not to save money. That’s also why it made our list over Osprey’s Poco LT, which comes with a sunshade: the SLT folds smaller, and for how we travel, that’s the whole point.
Why is it so good for travel?
The frame folds flat. Osprey says it folds smaller than other outdoor child carriers, and that matches what we’ve seen. Even set up, at 23.6 by 13.8 by 16.9 in, it’s the smallest framed carrier we tested. At 4.72 lb, it’s also the lightest. It’s light enough that we never think twice about grabbing it.
How comfortable is it for the kid?
Comfortable enough for shorter outings. It has the same Double Halo harness as the Poco Premium, with front-facing arm loops that make buckling in easy, plus a fully framed, padded cockpit. It still came in last for child comfort in our testing, so we save it for shorter outings.
How comfortable is it to carry?
Fine for shorter days. It’s light and lean, and on bigger hikes you feel that. We kept the SLT to lighter loads. Osprey rates it all the way to 48.5 lb, but it felt most at home with kids around Oren’s size, and for heavier kids we’d reach for one of the beefier frames.
What comes with it?
Not much beyond the basics, which is the point. You get a zippered upper pocket with a key clip, a zippered lower storage compartment, a hydration sleeve, and top and side grab handles. The sunshade is sold separately. Once you add it, there’s a dedicated pocket to stash it in.
What doesn’t work
No sunshade in the box. You can add Osprey’s Poco LT Sunshade for $35, and you should.
No pockets you can reach. There are no hip belt pockets, so anything you need means taking it off.
Less comfortable on long days. It’s built light, and it carries like it.
Care instructions
Osprey’s instructions say hand wash the whole thing with warm water and a mild detergent.
Packability
Best of the framed carriers we tested. The frame folds flat for storage, and it barely takes up any room in a packed car.
Sizing guide
- For you: Osprey lists 6 in of torso adjustment.
- For your kid: Osprey lists a load range of 23.7 to 48.5 lb. We kept it to kids around 29 lb.
Who it’s for
Families who travel a lot, road trip with a full car, or mostly do short hikes and town walks. If packability is at the top of your list, this is the one.
Pro tip
Nothing on the SLT is reachable while it’s on your back, so wear a small hip pack. Snacks, phone, sunscreen, all within reach, and you won’t have to take the carrier off every time someone needs a cracker.
How the Osprey Poco SLT compares
| Osprey Poco SLT | Osprey Poco Soft | Deuter Kid Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.0/5.0 | 4.2/5.0 | 4.8/5.0 |
| Price | $280 ($315 with sunshade) | $160 | $330 |
| Type | Framed | Soft | Framed |
| Carrier weight | 4.72 lb | 1.68 lb | about 7.1 lb |
| Upper limit | 48.5 lb load range | 33 lb load range | about 48.5 lb (22 kg) kid plus about 4.4 lb (2 kg) gear |
| Sunshade | $35 extra | Included (hood style) | Included |
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.
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