I always thought that a framed backpack was what one used when you needed carriers for hiking with your baby. My husband and I love to hike, so when my son was born, I duly purchased a big framed backpack carrier for our outdoor adventures. It worked great when we were doing major hikes and was essential for our weeklong backpacking trip when my son was 1.
But.
It was so. darn. big! The frame backpack was practically as big as I was, and it put my son up really high and away from my body. While that has some advantages, it also made me feel off-balance and vaguely tippy. I *definitely* needed to get the thing off me as soon as we stopped moving because it was not fun to stand around in.
I discovered the Ergobaby carrier soon after that big backpacking trip, and I felt like I’d found the holy grail of baby carriers for hiking. It’s possible I never picked up the big frame pack again!
Here’s why.
The Soft Baby Carrier is the best baby carrier for hiking
Soft Carriers are cuddlier and more natural feeling
Frame backpacks hold your child up and away from your body. Soft carriers for hiking are like carrying baby in your arms (or giving a piggyback ride). I really loved having my baby hug me the whole time we were out – it felt more natural to me, and more bonding as well.
Soft carriers have a lower center of gravity
For me as a shorter (5’4″) woman, frame carriers feel very top-heavy, with baby’s weight high up above my head. In a soft carrier for hiking, baby’s weight is centered on my back. This made me feel a lot more balanced.
Soft carriers can be used with small babies
Once my daughter was born, soft carriers made it possible to get out hiking before she was sitting up (which is a requirement of most frame backpacks, and certainly of the one we had). These days there is a huge range of adjustable soft carriers so that you can start hiking anytime, even with very small ones.
Soft carriers can be used in a wider variety of situations
I love having a carrier that can do double and even triple duty. I only ever wanted to use framed packs for hiking. Soft carriers worked anytime I needed to hold my baby. I used soft carriers for hiking, yes, but I also used them for grocery shopping, travel, running errands, housekeeping, laundry, and just getting things done.
Soft carriers are more compact
Soft carriers are a fraction of the size of framed backpacks. This makes them ever so much more convenient for taking lots of places. They aren’t as likely to be in other people’s way, and they are easier to stash when you are not using them! Our framed backpack took up half our trunk (this was before the minivan). This was definitely a pain when we had a lot of luggage and needed the space. With a soft carrier, could just roll it up a soft carrier and stash it in the diaper bag when I wasn’t using it.
Soft carriers are less expensive
Even low-end framed backpacks start at about $170 and most of them are in the $250-$300 range. That’s near twice the price of even the higher-end soft carriers (Tula, Beco, Ergobaby etc). Combined with the versatility of the soft carrier, I think this makes them a great value.
Soft carriers for hiking have a huge range of fit and feel
Most people who hike with a soft carrier use a buckle carrier. This is a great choice and there are lots of these available to fit every body type. You can also comfortably hike with moven wraps, meh dai and onbuhimo carriers. You can have lots of buckles, or no buckles, structure or not, and on and on.
Don’t get me wrong, framed backpacks definitely have some benefits! Any serious hiker (especially multi-day hiker) will want to have one available. But for everyday hiking and day tripping, I think soft carriers are the way to go!
For more information on choosing a soft carrier for hiking, read this article. Or just shop my favorite hiking carriers.
Related Articles：
Baby Hiking Carriers – our favorites for taking day hikes with infants on up to toddlers and beyond!
The Sling Lady’s Survival Guide To Hiking With Your Baby
Baby Carriers For Hiking: Framed Backpacks Vs. Soft Carriers – Pros And Cons
