Child Carrier Review
Before having a baby, we loved hiking and adventuring, and we always knew that when our family grew we wanted to make sure that our adventures continued and our little people developed and fostered for a love of the great outdoors as well.
When our adventures first started, we started off with a soft carrier, the Ergobaby Omni 360. We found that this was perfect for those shorter adventures, while baby was still little, facing inwards, preferred to be close and in contact with our bodies.
Sunset hike at four months old along a coastal trail near Yeppoon, Central Queensland.
When our little one got older, and had good strong neck and head control, as well as having clearance with his chin above the carrier he was able to face outwards. He certainly enjoyed this and simply loved being able to see the whole world go by.
Hiking in the Bunya Mountains at 9 months old.
The Ergobaby Omni 360 was definitely a fantastic place to start off with, and got us adventuring again sooner, though it wasn’t our answer for adventuring well into the future, despite the weight allowances and the time we still had to be able to use the carrier.
We found that with the Ergobaby Omni 360, and this would be similar to other soft carriers where the child is carried from the front, it limited us to less technical paths, due to poor ground visibility.
We knew that this soft baby carrier wouldn’t be our last carrier, and that we would be looking for a more technical and long lasting carrier. We did a lot of research, and borrowed friends carriers where we were able to try out before we bought. Here’s the reasons why we ended up with the Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier.
Reasons why we chose and love the Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier:
1. Adjustable Fit
2. Built-in sun protection
3. Lots of storage and zippers
4. Comfortable, safe and adjustable child cockpit
5. Comfortable and breathable for wearer
Adjustable Fit:
The thing that we absolutely LOVE about the Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier is that it has an adjustable fit. As my husband and I are varying heights, the fact that the child carrier is completely adjustable means that we can both modify and alter the straps for our own personal fit. The fact that there is an adjustable torso length is an absolute game changer for sharing our precious load when we are out on hikes.
So how has this worked on the trail? We have been using our carrier for almost three years, hiking domestically and internationally on short day hikes, over night hikes, flat valley hikes, and hikes up into the snow in the New Zealand Alps. We have easily shared the load on these hikes by simply putting the carrier on the ground (it is very sturdy and stable on the ground with child still inside!), and with minimal disruption to our child, adjusted the straps to fit the other parent. Within seconds, the carrier is adjusted, and we are on the move again.
Built-in Sun Protection:
As we are Queenslanders and Australians, skin care and protection is always front of mind when we are outside and adventuring. For us, ensuring sun protection for our carrier was very important, as we want to be able to go out for longer adventures, and not be dictated to by the higher UV exposure that comes later in the day, and also in alpine territory.
We found that sun protection is a feature for most Child Carriers, but often came as an additional purchase, with an additional price tag of around $100. When we realised that the Osprey Poco Plus came with built-in sun protection at no additional cost, and was also built-in in such a streamline way, it quickly became one of the huge advantages for us in our decision.
So how have we used the built-in sun protection out on the trail? As mentioned above, the sun protection is built-in seamlessly to the carrier, within seconds it can be unzipped, pulled out and over your Childs head, and tucked into its mount points at the front of the pack. We have put the sun protection up when it has been a sunny, cloudy and also a windy day. The built-in sun protection also provides a frame for the rain cover, which is an additional purchase of only $30 (at the time of purchase).
Please note that we also ensure that sunscreen is applied, hats are worn and sun smart clothing selected in addition to the in-built sun protection.
Lots of Storage and Zippers:
Anyone who has ever spent time with a baby would realise they come with a few accessories (nappies, wipes, spare changes of clothes), and an adventure baby is no different! The thing we love about the Osprey Poco Plus is the copious amount of space for all of the things.
If you are going for a short walk, or a longer hike, the Osprey Poco Plus boasts 26 L of storage, and has you covered for any adventure. We found this incredibly appealing as we didn’t want to lose out on another packs worth of storage, so it was a neat compromise - child carrier plus storage.
With the Osprey Poco Plus we have managed long day hikes as well as overnight hikes. We were able to carry a three man hiking tent, cooking equipment, dinner, breakfast and snacks, clothing for three, bedding for three with a hiking backpack and our Poco Plus. We have found this child carrier to enable us to continue that outdoor lifestyle we had pre-children, with of course a few tweaks.
Aside from the large storage compartment, there are lots of other storage nooks around the pack. There’s small zipped pockets accessible on your hip buckles, lots of places to put water bottles, and easy to reach snacks or jumpers as well as mesh pockets that are great for stashing maps or GoPros.
Comfortable, safe and adjustable child cockpit
With a double halo child harness, adjustable and removable stirrups, and a comfortable seat we know our little one is safe and feels safe while we are out adventuring.
Our little one has always enjoyed being up in the best seat in the house when we are going on an adventure, he can see all around with little blocked visibility. When seated in the carrier, there’s still a bit of space around him, so he doesn’t feel too cramped, and when his feet are in the stirrups he feels engaged and connected.
Often you will find your precious cargo will fall asleep when they are in their child carrier, with the natural walking rocking motion being quiet soothing, especially for younger children. And we have noticed how he looks very comfortable when he is asleep in the carrier, with his cheek naturally falling into the headrest in front of him. He more often than not will sleep for his whole naptime. You can also put the carrier down on an even patch of ground while they are asleep, and the child carrier will stay put while they sleep. This is great if you want to have a little break during nap time of stop somewhere for a spot of uninterrupted lunch.
As your little one grows you can keep them comfortable and happy in the carrier by adjusting the straps. You can adjust where they sit on their bottom, and drop it down lower as they grow longer and taller, ensuring they stay in the appropriate position in the carrier, and not towering too high out of it. The double halo straps also adjust as well as the stirrups.
Comfortable and breathable for wearer
Over the last three years we have used the Osprey Poco Plus in both hot and cold conditions and have found ourselves comfortable and confident with the temperature in both climates. The child carrier is comfortable and breathable for both the carrier and those being carried, meaning our little one doesn’t overheat and we don’t get uncomfortable and sweaty due to ample airflow for all.
So knowing what we know now, having tried and tested the Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier for almost three years, would we buy it again given our own experiences? The simple answer is yes. We have loved this Child Carrier, we haven’t ever found ourselves wishing for any different features, and have found it comfortable and practical. Most importantly the Osprey Poco Plus has kept us out adventuring, and that’s the whole point after all.