We spent a good chunk of a Utah desert trip lugging Oren around in the Osprey Poco Soft on our backs. He did great. It got hot, though. That’s just the trade-off with any soft carrier, since your kid is pressed right up against you. Still, it was comfy enough for both of us, and it weighed next to nothing. For $160, that’s a pretty great deal.
Take me back to the child carrier full guide
Best budget child carrier for hiking
Osprey Poco Soft
The soft carrier that actually gets hiking. A supportive hip belt, a pocket for the essentials, and it weighs next to nothing. Just don't count on it to carry your water.
Weight: 1.68 lb · Load range: 7 to 33 lb · Carry positions: 3 (back carry for about 12 to 36 months) · Tested with: a friend’s 10 lb baby up to Oren, age 2, about 29 lb
Good for: tighter budgets, lighter kids, shorter hikes, and families who want one carrier from the newborn days on.
Skip if: your kid is pushing past 33 lb, you need to carry water on the carrier itself, or you want a real shade over your kid’s head.
Can you really hike with a soft carrier?
With this one, yes. Osprey calls it the first authentic, outdoor performance soft carrier, and it’s the one we’d actually take up a trail. Plenty of soft carriers can handle a walk. This one is built for more than that.
Is the Osprey Poco Soft worth it?
If budget matters, yes. At $160, it’s $120 less than the cheapest framed carrier we tested, and it still handles real trails. You give up storage, a proper sunshade and the ability to carry bigger kids, but for lighter kids and shorter outings, it’s a great buy.
How comfortable is it to carry?
The hip belt is the star here. Osprey calls it a patented, extra-wide padded hip belt with 3D mesh, and it’s really supportive. Most soft carriers dump everything on your shoulders. This one doesn’t.
How comfortable is it for the kid?
Comfy enough for a soft carrier. The seat is breathable 3D mesh, and there’s a padded headrest that folds away when you don’t need it. It still gets warm, though, since your kid is right up against you.
What carry positions does it have?
Three. Osprey lists a face-in front carry from newborn to about 36 months, a face-out front carry for babies with good head and body control up to about 16 months, and a back carry for about 12 to 36 months.
What doesn’t work
No place for water. It’s not hydration compatible, and there’s nowhere to stash a water bottle.
The sunshade is more of a hood than a shade. It sits right on top of your kid’s head instead of floating above them like the shades on framed carriers. Oren tolerated it when he was snoozing, but awake? Forget it. In the Utah sun, that made it tough to keep him covered. Plan on a sun hat and sunscreen.
It gets hot. That’s every soft carrier, but it’s worth knowing before a summer hike.
Care instructions
Care couldn’t be easier. Osprey says the whole carrier is machine washable, including the removable drool pads on the straps. Our tip: toss it in a mesh laundry bag first so the buckles and straps don’t snag on anything in the washer.
Packability
Better than anything else we tested. At 1.68 lb, it weighs next to nothing and packs down flat.
Sizing guide
- For your kid: Osprey lists a load range of 7 to 33 lb. Back carry is for about 12 to 36 months.
- Outgrowing it: past about 33 lb, a soft carrier gets uncomfortable fast without a frame to carry the load. That’s not a knock on the Poco Soft. It’s just how soft carriers work.
Who it’s for
Families on a tighter budget, parents of younger or lighter kids, and anyone who wants a carrier that packs down flat and barely weighs a thing.
Pro tip
No place to carry water? When you’re front carrying a younger kid, you can still throw a small hydration pack on your back. It’s a little bit of a juggling act, but it makes longer hikes with little ones totally doable.
How the Osprey Poco Soft compares
| Osprey Poco Soft | Osprey Poco SLT | Deuter Kid Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.2/5.0 | 4.0/5.0 | 4.8/5.0 |
| Price | $160 | $280 | $330 |
| Type | Soft | Framed | Framed |
| Carrier weight | 1.68 lb | 4.72 lb | about 7.1 lb |
| Upper limit | 33 lb load range | 48.5 lb load range | about 48.5 lb (22 kg) kid plus about 4.4 lb (2 kg) gear |
| Sunshade | Included (hood style) | $35 extra | 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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