I'm a Mom and Outdoor Enthusiast. This Baby Carrier Gets My (and My Daughter's) Vote.

If you only hike occasionally, it might not make sense to invest in a premium hiking carrier. We like this pick from Chicco for its reasonable cost—about half the price of the other carriers on this list—as well as for its lightweight design.

HOW IT PERFORMED: My daughter looked comfortable and happy inside the carrier, though I noticed it was not as comfortable or supportive for my back as other carriers. I found it fairly easy to secure my daughter inside the interior cockpit, which features a five-point harness similar to those you'd find on a stroller or high chair. You can adjust the height at which the baby or toddler sits inside, but there are no foot stirrups. The carrier's height also can't be easily tailored to two different parents.

I appreciate that the carrier comes with an integrated sunshade, although I which it had more coverage. The materials and overall construction feel cheaper than others and the carrier itself doesn't come with a built-in backpack or many storage pockets, aside from two tiny side pockets, which feels like a missed opportunity. If you were planning on setting out for a longer hike, you would need to find an alternate way to hold snacks, water, diapers, wipes, etc., as they wouldn't fit inside the Chicco.

One other feature to note: The carrier only supports up to 40 lbs. of weight, which is a bit less than others on this list.

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When it comes to making sure both you and your child are comfortable, it’s hard to find a better carrier than this one from Osprey. It comes with everything you can think of, including foot rests for your little one, robust interior padding, a supportive hip belt, a safety mirror, and more.

HOW IT PERFORMED: I put it to the test on a trail in Vermont and loved how safe and secure it felt as well as how much room my daughter had. She didn’t appear squeezed in and was comfortable for the duration of the hike. And when I needed a break, I liked that I was able to pass the carrier to my much taller husband and make the necessary adjustments—just note that adjusting the carrier does take a few minutes.

When the sun is strong, you can slide out the sunshade from the back of the carrier and attach it. While it’s not as quick to install as Kelty's sunshade, it offers excellent coverage as well as UPF50 protection. The baby carrier was also by far the most breathable carrier I’ve tested, thanks to the mesh back.

Another perk: This Osprey carrier comes with tons of storage pockets and built-in backpack storage. It’s a great choice for avid hikers who plan on tackling longer trails and want to ensure that they can fit everything they need without sacrificing comfort. Just keep in mind that the carrier itself is the heaviest on this list, so if you fill up all the compartments, you can expect a very heavy load.

For anyone tight on trunk space or who wants to keep camping gear to a minimum, this is the slimmest, most compact baby carrier for hiking that I tested. Despite its small footprint and super lightweight design, what’s great about it is that it doesn’t sacrifice comfort. The interior cockpit, albeit less roomy, is similarly constructed to the Osprey Premium so your little one will still feel like a king or queen.

Just keep in mind that this less expensive carrier doesn’t come with the footrests, built-in sunshade (you can purchase one separately), or abundant pockets you’ll find on the Osprey Poco Premium.

HOW IT PERFORMED: When testing it out on trails, I found the carrier easy to adjust, and I appreciated the supportive hip belt. As someone who is 5’3” and considered petite, I found this to be one of the better-suited carriers for my smaller frame. While others left me feeling a bit off balance due to their sheer size and weight, this one felt closer to wearing a standard backpack.

I liked that it features a small integrated backpack for accessories and baby essentials, though I could have done with more storage pockets. While it won’t be my go-to for longer adventures, I’ll continue to use it for occasional hikes when I don’t want to lug around a bulky carrier but do want my daughter to be more comfortable than she would be inside a soft-sided carrier.

The Thule Sapling makes it easy to quickly place and secure your baby inside the carrier, either from the top or the side, thanks to a side panel. Unlike other carriers, it doesn’t feature foot stirrups but has an “ErgoRide” child seat system that is meant to distribute their weight and support their legs on longer journeys. Though I couldn’t really ask my one-year-old whether she was comfy inside, she checked out for a nap a minute into our hike, so it’s safe to say that she enjoyed the seat.

HOW IT PERFORMED: I’ll admit that the Thule is pricey for what it is, so you’ll have to keep that in mind when making your purchase. While it’s adjustable, supportive, and comfy for the child, I wish that the sunshade were easier to attach and store. It retained a somewhat crooked shape when opened up, and I wasn’t 100% sure where to store it so I could see it easily getting lost or misplaced. I also found the exposed back frame unattractive and I don’t like how you have to pay for the backpack storage separately.

Despite these minor design flaws, online reviewers appreciated that the Thule distributes the baby’s weight closer to your core compared to some Osprey carriers. I did notice this and appreciated that the carrier didn’t jut out quite as far to make me feel off balance. Though I did find it super easy to adjust, I got the impression that its long, narrow footprint is better suited for tall people. I also would have liked to have more storage compartments for longer hikes, and a more compact fold when not in use.