The Ultimate Baby & Toddler Carrier for Families on the Move

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Discover Family Fun with Osprey Poco: A Comprehensive Review of the Ultimate Child Carrier Backpack for Outdoor Adventures

Happy New Year! One of our family intentions for the New Year is to spend more time outside (thanks to the 1,000 Hours Outside movement for inspiration). With 3 kids 5 years old and under, having comfortable baby carriers is an absolute non-negotiable. We've tried multiple wraps and carriers, and I'm confident that the Osprey Poco is the best of the best (and I'll share why). This post does contain affiliate links which means we earn a small commission if you decide to purchase using one of our links. It's at no charge to you, and we promise we are providing our honest reviews without compensation or free product from the brands. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

A Carrier for Every Occasion

As a mom of 3, I am no stranger to baby-wearing. Some days, it's the only way I can get anything done! My beloved Moby wrap and LilléBaby carriers are amazing for getting things done at home, but as an outdoorsy family, we have always needed something that worked for longer hikes. Plus, it had to cater to both me (at 5'2") and my husband (just under 6 ft tall). 

We tried the MiniMeis carrier for a trip out to Arizona. The carrier safely positions your little one on your shoulders and its packability is unrivaled (folds up to the size of a laptop!), but we were left wanting more when it came to comfort and versatility. The carrier rubbed and irritated my husband's broad shoulders, and the position our son was in meant he couldn't fall asleep while he was riding in the carrier. This seems like a silly thing to complain about, but when you're going on a 6 hour hike, those on-the-go naps are absolutely essential.

After extensive research, we purchased the Osprey Poco more than 2 years ago and haven't looked back!

Comfort Redefined

Say goodbye to sore shoulders and back pain. The Osprey Poco features a fully adjustable torso and hipbelt, ensuring a comfortable fit for parents of all shapes and sizes. Small for me and Large for my husband, we don't need to have a separate option for each of us and it's easy to change mid-hike! (We're talking less than 3 minutes to change over sizing, which means we can swap as often as we need to on all of our adventures.)

The Anti-Gravity suspension system provides a seamless and ventilated experience, making even the toughest hikes feel like a walk in the park. My sweaty back thanks me every time. 😂

It's Safe

The Osprey Poco comes equipped with a built-in sunshade to shield your child from harsh UV rays, and it's easily collapsible when not in use. Stored in a zipper compartment on the back of the carrier, you simply unzip and pop into place to protect from the elements on sunny (and sprinkling!) days.

The adjustable, padded 5-point harness ensures a secure and snug fit, allowing your child to enjoy the ride in style and safety. Even our escape artist son wasn't able to outsmart the harness system, which means I can use the walks in nature to decompress rather than add to my list of anxiety-ridden worries.

Storage for Essentials and Treasures

With multiple pockets and compartments, this backpack is a storage wizard. Easily stash diapers, snacks, toys, and even your own essentials, without sacrificing space or accessibility.

There are multiple compartments for water bottles, pacifiers, and all of the treasures your kiddos will absolutely insist on hanging on to (are you even a parent if your kid's pockets aren't always filled with rocks, acorns and leaves?!).

It 👏 has 👏 a 👏 Kickstand! 👏

The Osprey Poco features a kickstand which is amazing for easy loading and unloading. Another bonus of this feature? When your kiddo falls asleep mid-hike and you want to stop to enjoy the scenery or a snack, you can take it off and set them down and they are none the wiser. It's such a little feature that brings me so very much joy.

Durable and Built to Last

Crafted with high-quality materials, the Osprey Poco is ready for the long haul. From durable fabrics to reinforced seams, this backpack is built to withstand the rigors of outdoor exploration.

The addition of a removable and washable drool pad guarantees that your Osprey Poco stays fresh and ready for the next adventure.

Suitable for Everyday Use

Okay, hear me out here, but I actually use this carrier every single night when I'm making dinner. Does it seem a little intense to be wearing inside on a daily basis? Maybe for some, but it's the only carrier I've found that truly supports my back when I'm baby wearing for longer periods of time. Every parent can relate to the witching hour, when the kids are tired from a long day, the dog is barking, everyone is "starving," and you're trying to get some semblance of a healthy-ish meal on the table. My littlest guy (9 months old at the time I'm writing this) loves to hang out in here while I cook. That means that I'm not worried about him knocking the dog water bowl over for the 7th time that day, and I can cook and sing and dance while he's happy as a little clam.

Minimal Downsides

Every product you buy is going to have a handful of cons, but the downsides to the Osprey Poco are minimal for our family.

The price point means that this carrier is definitely an investment, however, we can attest that it is built to last for years (even with daily use) and will withstand multiple children if that's in the plan for your family. Given how our carrier looks now, I'd say you can easily buy a used carrier and still have an amazing product.

The only other complaint would be that it's big. You're not going to get this packed into a suitcase or neatly stowed away in the car.

For us, the pros far outweigh the cons, and we will continue to recommend the Osprey Poco to anyone and everyone that asks for advice on the carrier that may best suit their family.

😎 Disclaimer: forget those fancy parenting books and baby whisperers. We're self-proclaimed experts in the "School of Hard Knocks" and proud graduates of "Mommy University." Our qualifications? Well, we've survived more tantrums than you can count, and we can fold a fitted sheet in under three minutes (sometimes). This blog shares our opinion, experiences and tips that have worked for us; not everyone's experiences will be the same (obvi).