Top Rated Backpacks

Your child is ready for a carrier backpack when:

• They can sit upright without assistance
• They weigh at least 16 pounds (6 months old or so)
• Have full head and neck control
• Your pediatrician confirms they can ride in a carrier
• Your child plus the gear in the pack weighs 48 pounds or less

You can use a child carrier for:

• Hiking on light terrain

• Backpacking
• Traveling
• Around town
• Do not use a child carrier for high-speed activities

Child carrier tips

• Never leave children unattended in child carriers
• Do not use child carriers as a chair or place on elevated surfaces
• Check your child's neck and comfort periodically
• To avoid choking, don't let your child eat while riding in the carrier
• Clip a toy to the carrier for entertainment on the trail

Capacity

Trip duration is the biggest factor. General guidance:

• Weekend (1-3 nights): 30-50 liters
• Multiday (3-5 nights): 50-80 liters
• Extended (5+ nights): 70-plus liters

Features
Consider frame type, storage, padding and ventilation.

Fit
Sizing is based on torso length (not height) and hip circumference. Sizing can vary by brand and model, so check a pack's size chart.

Finding torso length and hip circumference

• Locate your C7 vertebra by tilting your head forward and feeling for the bony bump between your shoulder blades.
• Place your hands over your hip bones. Draw an imaginary line connecting your thumbs across your lower back.
• Stand up straight. Have a friend measure from your C7 vertebra to the imaginary line between your thumbs. This is your torso length.
• To find hip size, measure around the top of your hips, using the same imaginary line you found earlier.