Review: Deuter Kid Comfort Series Carrier

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The Deuter Kid Comfort series was actually the second backpack carrier we tried in our toddler-hiking days. To be honest, it’s a strong contender for “favorite” — Matt preferred this Deuter while Cristen preferred the Osprey Poco (read about that one here) — but we were equally happy to carry either.

There are five versions within the series.

Kid Comfort Venture. This is their most basic pack, scaled to only the must-have features and at a lower price point. It gets the job done well, no complaints. It has the same hip belt and shoulder strap system as the other backpacks, but not the extra storage pockets and space you might want for longer or solo-with-the-kid treks. The sunshade can be added as an accessory.

Kid Comfort Active. This pack is actually a little lighter than the Venture, which is interesting. They start applying some better tech to the back with ventilation and adjustment abilities, and there’s a bit more storage. It’s a great option for not much more money over the Venture. The sunshade can be added as an accessory.

Kid Comfort Active SL. This is the Active pack, but sized for women. Not having tried this one directly, I’m not sure how I feel about it. Normally I’m all about women-specific gear, because we’re just built a little differently — but unless I knew I’d be the main person carrying the pack, I’d opt for the Active version that adjusts to fit a variety of people comfortably. For much shorter torsos, though, this could be a great option.

Kid Comfort. This pack has all the features of the Active version, but starts to beef up the comfort and add more pockets and storage. The biggest difference is that your little passenger gets a much cushier ride with the squishy pad in front. That can make a real difference for your child: as we hiked with The Dude in a backpack, he’d almost always fall asleep, and having this pad gave him support and a comfortable position no matter what the trail was like under mom or dad’s feet. The sunshade comes standard.

Kid Comfort Pro. This is the big dog of the fleet. It’s slightly heavier, but it adds the most storage for longer hikes, including a detachable daypack. That might not seem like much, but if you’re base-camping and making short, toddler-friendly “feature” hikes, the daypack is a nice bonus when you don’t want to carry the whole rig. It’s the coziest ride for the kiddo with a taller back and headrest, and it has space for a water bladder. Of course, the sunshade comes standard.

Each of these has the standard aluminum kickstand, so you can reach back, pop it into position, and set the backpack down safely on the ground without it toppling or having to keep a hand on it.

Our experience with the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro was that it somehow felt more heavy-duty than the Osprey Poco Plus. Heavy-duty wasn’t essential for his youngest years in a carrier, but this was the pack we reached for when our son was bigger and heavier and we needed a really beefy hip belt and load system. It did the job — we were able to carry him (plus gear) up to the pack’s max load of 48.5 lbs / 22 kg.

As for warranty, Deuter warrants its products against defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product (this doesn’t cover damage from extreme use, improper care, or the natural breakdown of material over time). If a product is deemed defective, Deuter will repair or replace it, and for damage not covered under warranty, they offer repair services calculated at the time of evaluation. As with any warranty, there’s some gray area around what counts as “extreme” or “natural,” so I’ll let you decide on that — but we’re very glad they offer repair services. Check Deuter’s site for the current, exact terms.

Deuter has been around since 1898, proudly making adventure gear for all manner of pursuits. They’re also quite committed to the planet and have been a bluesign system partner since 2008.

Finally, when your child has outgrown the carriers, Deuter offers comfortable, adventure-ready backpacks for them to get excited about carrying all by themselves.

Review: Osprey Poco Series Kid Carrier Backpacks

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When it comes to longer-ranging kid carrier backpacks, it’s hard to beat the Osprey Poco family of packs. The Osprey Poco Plus was one of the main items on our “desired” list, and I’m going to tell you why. As soon as our son was big enough — and his neck muscles strong enough — to sit in this pack, we were adjusting and fitting it to him to head out on hikes.

First, let’s talk about our reasons for this pack, then we’ll get into features. I had a sling and a front baby carrier to begin. They were wonderful when The Dude was teeny tiny, but as he grew, so did my back discomfort. I was already toting more weight on my chest than usual (cough, cough…), and adding another front-focused carrier just added to posture strain and muscle aches. For short periods — say, going to a farmer’s market — these worked fine.

Once he was big enough for the Poco carrier, though, there was no looking back. We were never fans of strollers, for many reasons, and we wanted something multi-use, regardless of where we were or what we were doing (you’ll see that’s a theme with us). So while we used the Poco for hiking and backpacking, we also used it in place of a stroller when we traveled: on the beach, in shops, through historical sites, you name it. We can’t even count how many times people stopped — even pulling their cars over — to ask what the backpack was because they wanted to find one.

Let’s talk about the Poco features and pros.

It’s adjustable for everyone. Both of us could use the same carrier, adjusting the torso length, shoulder straps, and hip belt to fit (Cristen’s 5’6”, Matt is just under 6’). It’s also very adjustable for the kiddo riding along, with foot stirrups and shoulder straps for them, too. When he was very little, we’d tuck a small blanket or stuffed animal around him to fill the space and create a comfier ride. The seat and straps also adjust for your child as they grow, accommodating a range of ages and sizes. From six months to three years old, this was a necessity in our gear packing — we were all sad when it was outgrown.

It’s lightweight. There are three options in the Poco family: Poco LT (lightweight), Poco, and Poco Plus. I’d look at Osprey’s site to compare the three and see what fits your needs best. Each has a different price point and is geared toward different levels of use — the LT is lighter, but the suspension system for back support is a bit heavier-duty in the Poco and Poco Plus. One note: take their Trip Length (Volume) measure with a grain of salt… it’s a kid carrier. Storage in the pockets is great compared to other carriers, but lacking compared to a standard multi-day backpack. If you’re backpacking with a baby or toddler, one person will focus on carrying the child and some essentials while the other carries most everything else. That’s just the nature of it.

Great warranty. Osprey has always been known for their “All Mighty Guarantee” — one of the reasons we look strongly at Osprey when we need a backpack. Wouldn’t you rather repair something that’s served you well than add to a landfill? The guarantee is adjusted a bit for their child carriers (safety standards necessitate different guidelines), yet it’s still quite generous: Osprey will repair any damage or defect for any reason free of charge during the first seven years from the date of manufacture, and if they can’t perform a functional repair, they’ll replace it. Check Osprey’s site for the current, exact terms.

Longevity. Did you catch that seven-year guarantee? Seven years, on a product that’s typically heavily used and still has life in it. When our boy outgrew the Poco, we gave it to friends having their first child. The thing is tough, hiked hundreds of miles with us, and still had more to give.

Special features. Some of this depends on which Poco you choose (these would all be on the Plus version): built-in sunshade, removable/washable drool pad, mesh side pockets for easy kid access, dual grab handles, external hydration sleeve, zippered hip-belt pockets for mom and dad, ventilated back panel, a collapsible kickstand (push it out for a stable base when you set the pack down, push it in to stay compact on the move), and lots of storage pockets.

Comfort. Truly, this thing is comfortable. The way it sits on your hips — just like your larger backpacks — distributes the weight off your shoulders and onto your lower body, so your center of gravity feels good and you’re not tempted to lean forward. You can hike miles and miles in this pack and still feel good at the end of the day. We strongly recommend hiking with trekking poles, because you have a baby strapped to your back and stumbles can happen.

Extras. Osprey also makes a rainfly for this pack that allows ventilation and visibility for your little one, plus a carrying case if you want to protect it as a checked bag on a flight.

Now, our limited list of cons.

It could be considered bulky. Yes and no. Compared to other backpack carriers, it’s no different, and we think it’s less intrusive than a stroller. Of course it’s not as small as a sling or front carrier, but your back will thank you for sacrificing the space in your car for the Poco.

It’s pricier than other carrier backpacks you might find at box stores or online. But those carriers aren’t going to have the kind of engineering Osprey has put into the Poco series. As always, find what works in your budget — but if you plan on using this carrier most of the time, try to find a Poco that fits you. You might even get lucky on one of the pre-owned or discount sites we talked about in our “8 Places to Save Money on Outdoor Gear” post. The other backpack carrier we’ve had experience with is the Deuter Kid Comfort series — read that review to compare!

The Osprey Poco Plus was our first child carrier backpack, so it stays dear to our hearts. We often think fondly of the long hikes we used to do with The Dude strapped in, singing along and asking to touch the trees as we strolled. Like many parents, we’re happy to see our boy growing strong enough to join us on his own two feet — but we have great memories of pulling the Poco out for a new adventure. Hopefully you’ll have the same experience if you decide this carrier is right for you. And when your kiddo is big enough to hike independently, have them help carry, too — Osprey makes a wide range of kid-sized backpacks for them to begin adventuring alongside you.