Are you wondering what the best baby carrier for hiking is to getting on the trail with your family? With so many options, is can be difficult to decide which hiking backpack or front pack to get for your travels. In this article, frequent travelers share the best carriers and the features they love.
Having a baby doesn’t mean you have to give up hiking in the outdoors. With these comfortable and easy-to-use wraps, carriers and backpacks, you can bring kids of all ages on the trail with you.
Starting with the youngest age, here are some of the best hiking carriers available to parents.
Carriers for Babies- Newborns to 1-year-old
K’tan Wrap
For small babies, there are many carrier options. I preferred the option of a wrap to keep baby close to me and more comfortable. I tried several kinds with cumbersome tying and thick fabric. When I found the K’tan I fell in love. You can put the k’tan on and insert the baby all while holding the baby. You don’t need help from another person. No need to put the baby down to cry while you fold or tie the fabric. Just slide over your head and slip the baby in and then adjust. The K’tan works for a brand new baby all the way to when they are forward facing larger babies. Buy the size that will fit your body and small or large babies will fit in. Be sure to learn all the different options for ways to carry the baby. In the K’tan Wrap you can nurse on-the-go (or while making dinner!) I nursed while holding a baby alligator on a swamp tour.
Beyond being the best baby carrier for hiking, its perfect for traveling the world for a variety of hikes. Traveling with a wrap is easy and convenient! Did you know that you can wear the baby in a wrap through TSA security? If you have a carrier or backpack you have to take it off to have it inspected. But if you have a wrap, you just slip the baby inside and your hands are free to move your luggage around, hold hand with other kids and take your shoes on and off.
While on the plane, you have to take the baby out of the wrap for take off and landing, but the rest of the time you can baby wear. I especially appreciated the K’tan when I needed to take a bathroom break and was flying solo. Baby stayed safely in the wrap while I did my business and washed my hands.
The K’tan wrap takes up very little space in your luggage, but is perfect for carrying babies of all sizes. Whether you are hiking in the mountains or washing the dishes, you will love wearing your baby with a K’tan.
While you can get the K’tan wrap for $50 for the normal material, for only $20 you can get the Baby K’tan Active Oasis, which is made of material with HeiQ V-block to wick away moisture and sweat and keep parent and baby cool and hygienic. It also blocks 90% of UVB rays. So whether you are hiking in the mountains of Glacier NP or strolling the beaches of Hawaii, you can bring your baby along for memories that will last a lifetime.
Onya Baby Carrier
We tried a few different carriers with our first two kids and we were not satisfied until we found the Onya Baby carrier. The carrier offers multiple positions: front, back, and hip carry for children from 7lbs to 45lbs. You can use the carrier with a little one as young as 3 months, right up to three years.
The thick padded straps keep it comfortable for the entire wear, and the hip belt does a great job of transferring the weight. This baby carrier has been worn for hours and hours and has never given me a sore back. Onya Baby is also a breathable lightweight fabric, making for a sweatless ride. The carrier has multiple storage pockets and even a rain hood for the baby. Also, the straps stay set to how you adjusted them really well, so if you want to adjust them further while wearing baby, you may need some help.
A great feature for travel is that the Onya can attach to (most) chairs, making it like a high chair for your little one to stay safe.
We tried a few different carriers with our first two kids and we were not satisfied until we found the Onya Baby carrier. The carrier offers multiple positions: front, back, and hip carry for children from 7lbs to 45lbs. You can use the carrier with a little one as young as 3 months, right up to three years.
The thick padded straps keep it comfortable for the entire wear, and the hip belt does a great job of transferring the weight. This carrier has been worn for hours and hours and has never given me a sore back. Onya Baby is also a breathable lightweight fabric, making for a sweatless ride. The carrier has multiple storage pockets and even a rain hood for the baby. Also, the straps stay set to how you adjusted them really well, so if you want to adjust them further while wearing baby, you may need some help.
A great feature for travel is that the Onya can attach to (most) chairs, making it like a high chair for your little one to stay safe.
The Onya Baby Carrier has been a must-have for all of our family adventures. The carrier has been especially wonderful on our family-friendly hikes near Vancouver !
Contributed by Debbie Fettback from WorldAdventurists.com
Chicco Infant Carrier
The Chicco ultrasoft infant carrier is a great go to option for carrying your infants around.
What we love about the product:
1. Being 2-in-1, it lets the baby face in towards mom or dad and allows older babies to face outwards to explore the surroundings.
2. It has a soft mini vented breathable lining that cushions the baby well.
3. The mesh side panels encompass the baby well and keep him/ her enveloped thereby delivering a comfortable ride.
4. The Chicco Infant Carrier comes with a pocket at the front of the carrier that can hold small items such as a napkin or a toy.
5. The shoulder straps can be adjusted to accommodate as per requirements.
The carrier can carry a weight of up to 11.5 kgs/25 lbs. It can be cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap. This baby front pack is a great option!
Recommended by Jesal Desai from Tourist to Travellers
Tula
After almost a dozen countries around the world traveling with kids as well as living as an expat with children in Germany there is one thing I never leave home without when traveling with a baby through toddler-aged kid and that is my Tula. It was one of the first items I put on my baby registry and I’ve now collected a “Standard,” (15-45 pounds) “Summer” (Lightweight, mesh breathable side) and “Toddler” (25-60 pounds) version of the Tula because I love them so much.
I love these carriers because they are soft-sided and oh so comfy to wear. The reason why a soft-sided carrier is great for travel and hiking is that when not in use, you can just roll it up and clip it onto the outside of a bag, unlike bigger, bulkier carriers that take up space whether the child is in them or not. This is helpful in planes but also just went out and about as well. Bonus points for being able to toss in the washing machine, as well!
Another big win for the Tula is that both my husband and I can wear them comfortably because it is not a rigid frame. Due to the size of our heavy-duty, framed carrier, it doesn’t fit my torso ratio so my husband has to be the one to wear that. However, the Tula fits us both and we can each wear the kiddos for endless hours meaning we can quite literally share the load of carrying a kid.
I also love the Tula because you can both front and back wear it. This is great for when you’ve got a baby and you want to safely wear and even nurse in the front and on the go if you choose. When they can sit upright on their own, you can flip them to your back with the same carrier until they are a toddler! It is one of the best baby backpacks and baby front carrier!
The biggest con to a Tula though is that there are no pockets, compartments, or zip-away bags, unlike some of the bigger, sturdier hiking carriers. Therefore, if you are wearing your little one on your back, it is almost essential that you have a partner who is with you that is willing to carry a backpack with all the other “essentials” of hiking with a baby. The Tula is a fantastic carrier to take you from hiking to site seeing, to just walking around.
Recommended by LeAnna from WanderInGermany.com
Best Hiking Carrier for Toddlers
Deuter Kid Comfort III
The Deuter Kid Comfort is a hard-framed baby carrier that appears to be a heavy-duty piece of equipment but is actually very light. The frame weighs just over 7lbs and can handle up to a load up to 48 lbs.
Given how spacious the cockpit area is you could easily fit a 4-5 year old in there if you were physically up for carrying this.
When carrying a heavy load it is important to get the fit just right. You have the option to adjust the length of the carrier frame, the tightness of the shoulder straps, and an extra waist strap to ensure a snug but comfortable fit.
Your baby will be just as comfortable with the cushioned drool pad turning more into a pillow for my little guy once he settled in.
The main storage pocket is also very deep. I could fit my arm in there all the way up to the elbow. So while there is plenty of storage space you also need to be mindful of the accumulated weight as it can add up fast!
Recommended by James from katherinerosman.com
Favorite Hiking Carrier for Preschoolers
PiggyBack Rider
As kids get older the best hiking carriers get bulky and hard to pack. But the Piggyback Rider solves this problem
Once kids are about 3 or 4 years old, they want to hike, but then get tired and need a break. The perfect option for the off-again-on-again kid is the PiggyBack Rider. This slim contraption was designed by a dad to make carrying big kids on your back hands-free and easier for everyone.
The Piggyback rider has a hard steel bar that kids stand on. The bar is attached to straps you put on your shoulders like a backpack. This means it packs very tightly in luggage and fits in a carry-on without taking up any extra space.
There is a safety strap the child wears to attach them to the base.
Even our 7 and 9-year-old has gotten a hiking break by climbing onto the Piggyback Rider! This is the best option for toddlers and preschooler. Save space in your luggage with this amazing, compact travel hiking carrier. It might not be the best baby carrier for hiking, but its certainly the best toddler carrier!
Try out the Piggyback rider while hiking to the coolest Arches in Utah, Rocky Mountains of Colorado or the Glacial Lakes in Montana.
Best Hiking Carriers for Kids
Which ever option works best for your growing child, be sure to have something to get your child and yourself into the great outdoors. A hiking carrier is essential to sunshine and mountain air. Make it a priority to hike without hassle, even with the kids.
- If you are hiking with kids, you must check out all my tips for hiking with kids!
- Don’t forget how to get into National Parks for Free!
- If you love hiking try our favorite hike at Rocky Mountian National Park
- Hikes in Glacier National Park
- Top 10 Hikes with Kids in Arches National Park
Fly by the Seat of our Pants contains affiliate links. When you buy through the links it helps keep this website running, at no extra cost to you.
