Osprey Poco LT Child Carrier: Honest review

As parents who love outdoor adventures, finding the right gear to keep our little one safe and comfortable on adventures is important - not to mention it has to be comfortable and easy to use for us too! After checking out pretty much every child carrier available to us in the UK we landed on the Osprey Poco LT. We’ve been using it on a weekly basis on both long and short trips for over a year now but at an eye watering £300 is it worth it?

Build in sunshade out

Off to wild camp

Chilling while we set up camp

Overview

The Poco LT is one of 3 child carriers Osprey offer. Each of these carriers caters to different needs and preferences, so it's essential to consider factors like the length and intensity of your outdoor activities, storage requirements, and desired comfort features when choosing the right one for your family. The Poco LT specs:

Weight: 2.3KG

Volume: 21L

Load weight: 14kg - 22kg

Dimensions: 39H x 332W x 60D cm

Features:

• Built in UPF 50 sunshade

• Drool pad

• Lightweight folding frame

• Top and side grab handles

• Zippered front panel pocket

• Lower zippered compartment

• Elasticated hipbelt pockets

• External hydration sleeve

• Osprey AirScape suspension

• Adjustable fit for parent / child

• Stowaway harness and hipbelt

First off, let's talk comfort. The Poco LT is so lightweight compared to others on the market and is a dream for both the wearer and the kiddo. With its adjustable straps and hip belt, it ensures a custom fit that keeps the weight evenly distributed, making those long hikes feel like a walk in the park. Your little explorer sits in the padded cockpit, with a built-in harness to keep them secure. The adjustable seat ensures they're always in the perfect position for optimal safety and comfort. This was the only carrier that fitted both of us - I found most to be too bulky/heavy or long in the frame.

Now, let's talk storage. With multiple storage pockets and a hydration sleeve, the Poco LT makes it easy to stash snacks, toys, and essentials for the journey ahead. The 2 mesh pockets on the hipbelt are ideal for having your phone and keys accessible so you can snap a quick pic or check on your little one with a selfie. The backpack has two grab handles and stands flat on the ground making it stable for loading/offloading your little one or taking a break.

The integrated sunshade offers UPF 50+ sun protection, shielding your little one from UV rays. The sunshade is adjustable to accommodate different angles and can be easily stowed away when not in use. The Poco LT unlike it’s sister carriers does not come with a rain cover so this is an additional cost (around £30). The rain cover features a transparent window on the front, allowing your little one to see outside while staying sheltered. The cover fits over the sunshade and comes with elasticised edges that wrap around the carrier and a toggle and buckle to secure. The only downside we found with the rain cover that it does not cover the bottom compartment of the carrier.

But what really sets the Poco LT apart is its versatility. Whether we're hiking through the mountains, on a short countryside walk or even in town, this carrier is up for any adventure. And with its lightweight design that folds flat, it's easy to pack up and take on the go.

Osprey Poco rain cover

How much can the Osprey Poco LT hold?

The carrier’s capacity is 21l - we’ve found this to be plenty for day trips with enough space to carrier essentials for both adult and child. On longer trips when we go wild camping, Harri carries all the camping equipment and I carry Flo with all the baby and dog essentials in the Poco LT. To give you some perspective here’s how many nappies you can fit into the backpack - that is 100 size 4+ nappies!

Yes 100 nappies can fit in the 2 storage compartments!

What we love

• Lightweight

• Comes with built in sun shade

• 2 Simple compartments that can hold alot!

• 2 Hipbelt pocket, perfect for phone and keys to be accessible

• Slimline design that folds flat and has a zipped compartment for the straps to stop them from getting damaged if you are packing it on a flight.

What could be better

• The carrier doesn’t come with a rain cover so this is an additional purchase at around £30 depending on where you purchase it from

• Getting in and out with footwear on is sometimes a 2 person job. We often find Flo’s shoes get stuck when trying to lift her out so we have to take them off!

• It doesn’t have any holder for a drinks bottle on the outside.

• No foot stirrups

So it is worth the price tag?

In our opinion YES. The Osprey Poco LT Child Carrier has become an essential piece of gear for our outdoor adventures. It’s Lightweight, comfortable, safe, and versatile – it checks all the boxes for us. So if you're a parent who loves exploring the great outdoors with your little one then we recommend getting the Osprey Poco LT. Finally, we will let you into a little secret … if you purchase it from Go Outdoors using their price match scheme you can get a chunk of money off (we ended up getting around £100 off) they also have a good range of child carriers in stock so you can test out and compare before you buy!