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Keep you and your little one comfortable and safe, no matter where your adventures take you.

There’s a lot that goes into a hiking gear setup, but one of the most important pieces of gear is your pack. The purpose of a hiking pack is to distribute weight and carry it evenly, but when the kid comes along, you also have to keep them safe and comfortable. We love a good jogging stroller, but for off-road outings, baby carriers are undeniably more convenient pieces of equipment. This piece of gear has the tricky job of striking a balance between being a comfortable hiking pack and being a safe way to bring your child along. That's why we've rounded up the best baby carriers for hiking that will keep your little one safely contained without adding uncomfortable weight or limiting your range of motion.

Most full-size carriers have a weight limit of around 48 pounds, and it’s important not to exceed this recommendation for structural stability and child safety reasons. Baby-specific carriers will weigh less and have a lower weight limit, though many models with a higher weight limit are highly adjustable and can cinch down or expand to fit babies and toddlers of different heights and weights.

Many baby carriers for hiking come with special features, like pop-up sun shades to keep your little one protected from the sun, stirrups for them to kick their feet around, and one or more options for loading them in—usually from the top or side. This will impact the comfort of your child, but it’s important to not overlook your own comfort, as well. Look at the weight distribution for the hip belt, load lifters to stay balanced, and how well the padding and straps fit your own body so everyone has a great day on the hiking trail.

We evaluated a range of offerings from trusted brands in the outdoor industry, and chatted with hikers on the trails, ranging from steeper sections with tricky terrain to the most relaxed in-town spots where the kids can get out and run around. These hiking carriers include options for babies, toddlers, and a few with a higher weight limit for older kiddos, and we only chose trusted, vetted models and brands to ensure the safest and most comfortable outing for your family.

For more kid-friendly outdoor gear, check out our top picks for kids' running shoes, jogging strollers, and gifts for new moms who run.

With a 20-liter gear capacity, 48-pound weight limit, and Osprey’s impeccable suspension system, this pack is as handy as they come. The Poco has a highly adjustable seat with kid-friendly stirrups for their feet, and front-facing arm loops that quickly and securely buckle them into the pack. This pack has Osprey’s AirSpeed mesh back panel, which provides just enough tension for support without stiffness, and offers plenty of airflow for ventilation. The built-in shade pops up easily for sun protection, and we appreciate the hydration sleeve that can fit reservoirs up to 1.5 liters. Even with all these features, the pack weighs under eight pounds—quite a feat when you consider its impressive functionality.

Deuter’s background in packs with a higher weight limit inform the smart design of this comfortable pack, which rides nicely even with larger toddlers on board. The interior is lined with mesh for airflow for both users, and the adjustable seat is safe and secure. This pack positions your child up high, which helps with weight distribution and balance.

We love the removable materials that make for easy washing in the areas most likely to get messy, and it comes with a removable daypack for quick-grab items and base camping once you get to your destination.

This is one of the only packs that has an entirely removable (read: washable) seat, which makes it easier to keep this carrier clean than many comparable models. This pack is incredibly versatile for use in town and on trails, and with 22 liters of storage space, it’s sleek and well-designed for a multitude of uses.

Since Thule gear didn’t originate in the hiking and backpacking space, this pack might feel less impressive in terms of weight distribution, but it is well constructed and designed, and perfectly good for moderate hikes.

This is one of the more adjustable packs on the market, making it a comfortable option for parents or caregivers of all sizes, as well as a versatile choice for toting babies and toddlers of varying heights and weights. This carrier is easy to adjust with a simple strap system, and the child seat is wide and supportive.

This pack has 26 liters of storage, rather an incredible feat of design and engineering, which puts it at the top of our list for days when you need to bring the kid and lots of gear.

This pack is a great option for parents or caregivers who want to take it easy on the trail and still have a light, portable, comfortable carrier for town days.

You can use this carrier as a front pack, on your hip, and on your back, and it’s safe for kids from the newborn stage through toddlerhood, thanks to a folding seat that expands as your child grows. The zippered front can be opened to reveal a mesh airflow panel, and the carrier folds down compactly for easy transportation.

This lightweight version of the Poco still has excellent balance and weight distribution, but weighs just over five pounds. Osprey’s AirScape suspension has elevated mesh for airflow without added weight, and it sits comfortably against your back to prevent pulling on your shoulders. The top and side loads are easy to maneuver even with the wiggliest kid, and the suspended child seat was built for comfort over extended miles on the trail.

This is the slightly less plush model in Deuter’s lineup of child carriers, but it is still handily designed, has stellar comfort for the hiker and the child, and is packed with features. We love the wide, simple side entry option that allows for quick loading and unloading, as well as the stable aluminum bars for placing the pack on the ground.

The five-point harness is stable and easy to adjust, and the cargo space has 14 liters of capacity. This is a highly affordable pack for what you get, and a great option for moderate hikes.

This child carrier is one of the simpler options in Kelty’s lineup, but it has a plush, padded seat, making it a comfortable ride for your little one.

This is a stellar entry-level pack for parents who want a good do-it-all option, and while it doesn’t have some of the features of other child carriers (no sun shade, limited storage) it gets the job done in a safe, secure way with simple, straightforward design. The shoulder straps and waistband are well padded, as is the child cockpit, making this one of the more cushy options out there.

The child harness also has a five-point latching system with child stirrups, reducing the likelihood you'll be kicked in the head on the trail. This pack does have a recommended minimum weight of 16 pounds though, so it’s not a good option for the littlest babies.

This is our best budget pick, with a lightweight-yet-sturdy build that weighs just 5.5 pounds. It’s no designer pack, but the shoulder straps and hip belt are ergonomic and well padded, and it comes with a sun canopy and plenty of exterior pockets for gear.

The drool pad is removable for easy washing, and the seat is adjustable, though recommended for babies nine months or older. This pack sits nicely against your back, and the metal stands are stable and built with durable hardware.

This pack is among the more compact and collapsible hiking-specific packs, with a streamlined design and collapsible frame. The straps and hip belt are highly adjustable, and the storage compartment under the baby carrier offers a surprising amount of space.

This pack collapses down to fit under a car seat, and has zippered hip belt pockets for small items. The sun canopy is quick to deploy, and for such a simple pack, the weight distribution between shoulders, sternum, and hip belt is effective.

When you don’t want to lug around a full backpack-style child carrier—or you want to keep a spare handy in the car—this breathable model is a great option.

This packs down small for travel, and while it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles of dedicated hiking carriers, using this versatile pack in its rear-carry position will get you where you need to go. It won’t be as comfortable over long distances since there’s no internal frame, and without suspended mesh, you’ll get sweatier, but for easy packing, it’s tough to beat.

This isn’t the fanciest or most rugged carrier on the market, but the smart adjustability is easy to set and secure, making this a great budget-friendly pick for families who want a carrier that will work for infants and toddlers alike. The “infant insert” safely secures babies in the seat, and once they get bigger, the seat itself has multiple height settings for comfort and weight distribution.

This model doesn’t have stellar storage, but its straps and lumbar pad are well padded and reasonably ergonomic, and it collapses down nearly flat for easy storage.

This unique design is a good option for children between two and four years old who want more independence (or maybe a piggy-back ride) and a parent or caregiver who needs support and an ergonomic carry system.

This is a lightweight-yet-comfortable solution with a grip bar so your kiddo doesn’t pull your hair, a standing bar (with an optional hip belt for support) and a safety harness that keeps your child safely attached to you while helping support their weight and keep it evenly distributed.

Many backpacking packs have women-specific models, so it makes sense that the same would be true of child carriers. This pack has narrower S-shaped shoulder straps to accommodate narrower shoulders and women’s anatomy, and the hip belt is designed to sit comfortably on people with wider hips.

This pack has a midrange 14-liter capacity for gear storage, and breathable mesh on the side panels of the child carrier. Kiddos can sit up high in the adjustable seat for better views and more even weight distribution, and the side access makes loading and unloading a cinch.

Most fully foldable carriers don’t offer a ton of internal structure, but this smartly designed pack combines a compact design with solid support. This streamlined carrier has ample lumbar support, a well-cushioned hip belt and shoulder straps, and an internal aluminum frame that still folds down for a compact option that doesn't sacrifice comfort or decent weight distribution.

What you do lose in its compact design is extra gear capacity, but for short hikes where you can stash snacks and small items in the hip belt pockets, it does the trick.