Hiking packs – tested & boy mom approved
Are the mountains calling? Don’t let a baby or toddler keep you from fresh air, just pack them with you!
Like we always say – start them young!
There are LOTS of options for bringing your infant and toddler outside with you. But, navigating the world of carriers can be confusing. We have a few favorites that are well built and worth the investment. Not every pack is going to fit your body, your lifestyle, or your phase of life. But, you can narrow it down by answering the following questions:
- What developmental stage is your baby? Ex: good head control, walking, toddler
- What do you need to bring with you? Ex: 2L of water, diaper changing supplies, sunscreen
- Climate and weather patterns? Ex: desert trail, snow pack, potential rain
- Body/Build? Ex: wide hips, slender shoulders, petite build
There is something out there for you! For infants or babies who aren’t sitting up yet, consider a front carrier. I recommend this mostly because they are close to you, basically on your chest where they can hear your heartbeat and see you. As soon as I was ready to have my hands free, I used this carrier Lille Complete All Season. It can be adjusted to almost any body and felt comfortable on my hips. Once it’s on the right setting for your body, it takes seconds to throw on and go. . When babies are super young, it’s nice having them within kissing distance, all while having your hands free. I started by walking around the house, then to the mailbox, then to the neighbors, then walking at the park, before upgrading to hills and mountain. Starting slow and building confidence was key for me post partum(pp). It also converts to wear baby on your back when they’re ready. My toddler still asks to be carried in this when he’s feeling under the weather. Stay gentle with yourself, but also, never underestimate the power of natural light and fresh air! It can truly be magical in changing your perspective.
When you’re ready, go check out those local trails!
We use a stroller around the neighborhood and while jogging. But, when I’m on the trails or at a park for extended periods I throw on my pack. There’s so much more freedom when can just worry about where to put your own two feet instead of navigating trails with wheels. Honestly, I despise folding most strollers and packing it into my car. There’s so many steps with taking out all the items and heaving it into the trunk. I prefer a pack because they are generally very light weight and so versatile.
At about 5 months pp I was ready to take a hike with my youngest, but it took me about 7 months with my second before feeling confident enough with my youngest in a backpack style carrier (pic below).
My current fav is the Osprey Poco Plus. Why? It does it all. Not only does it hold your baby/toddler snug as a bug with adjustable neck support and stirrups, but it gives them an awesome view of the trails and has some amazing storage. I previously used the Osprey Poco AG (the lime green one in the pictures). I love the built in sun shade! But, they discontinued that color and have some amazing jewel tone available NOW! I had the chance to upgrade to the plus and I actually like the fit better. There is more structure in the waistband which offers more support on my hips and distributes the weight off my shoulders. If you make big babies or have a toddler who is built solid like my boys – I’d recommend the upgrade!
But, you really can’t go wrong with an Osprey pack. Seriously, I can fit a LOT in the bottom zip pocket – including a 2L water bladder. My husband still uses our older version and it has held up great! The zippers works great, even when we stuff it full of baby supplies. The quality of our first bag was what convinced us we would by this brand again.
Both my partner and I are tall with strong shoulders, so these packs work great for us! Check the specs on your specific bag, but I can see us using our until our kids are 4+ years old! But, the Osprey website has a few lighter carriers available, too. So if you have a smaller frame, take that into consideration! Here’s a picture of me and my partner with both the Lille and Osprey carriers on a hike! Yes, that’s chocolate all over my baby’s face, because snacks are essential! For some of our favorite trail recipes, check out this post.
Happy hiking!
