phil&teds parade Review
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phil&teds Parade Review
Updated: January 11, 2021
phil&teds offers a number of baby related products, including two baby backpack carriers, the Parade and the Escape. The Parade has been on the market for a few years now, and is a great option to carry your child around town, while traveling, or on short day hikes.
Our phil&teds Parade review found one of smallest and lightest weight child carry backpacks on the market! Coming in just above 4 lbs. and selling for around $140, this backpack is definitely worth consideration. However, if you are looking for something with a bit more storage for full days on the trail, something like the Osprey Poco Plus might be a better option.
phil&teds Parade Scoring Summary
phil&teds Parade Pros and Cons
Very Lightweight
Entire backpack is just over 4 lbs.
Well Built
High quality material and construction were used. Very durable product.
Compact for Travel
Backpack folds flat and is a great choice for travel
Sunshade Not Included
Sunshade is available, but sold separately
No Foot Stirrups
Would be nice for longer outings
40 lb. Child Weight Limit
Lower than most other baby backpack carriers
phil&teds Parade Adult Comfort: 4/10
Our phil&teds Parade review revealed a very interesting product. The Parade is really a blend of a hiking backpack carrier and a bare bones hands free child carrier. You likely wont be going on long day hikes with this pack, but then again, it is definitely comfortable enough for a few hours around town, or a walk on a neighborhood trail.
Why do we call it a blend? Whereas most baby hiking carriers have full suspension systems that allow for a nearly perfect fit and distribution of weight, the Parade is pretty bare bones, and closer to a high end school backpack. Don’t get us wrong, there are real pros to this approach, one of which being the overall backpack size, which is very compact and easy to manage compared to others that are much more bulky.
When it comes to adult comfort, the Parade has well padded shoulder and waist straps. Very comfortable actually, for a while. If you only planned to wear this backpack for a short period of time, it might be perfect for you. If you are looking for a backpack that you can wear for a 5-10 mile hike with your child, backpacks from Osprey, Kelty, or Deuter might be better options.
The rear back panel on the Parade is also well padded, and utilizes some perforated mesh that allows for good airflow to help keep you cool. Overall, adult comfort on the Parade is…just fine.
phil&teds Parade Fit Adjustability: 5/10
Compared to many other child carrier backpacks, such as the Osprey Poco Plus, Thule Sapling, or Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite, the phil&teds Parade is much less adjustable.
The Parade does offer fully adjustable shoulder straps and hip belt straps. The adjustments are smooth and quick. However, one should not expect a truly proper backpack fit given the limited adjustments. This pack does not have torso adjustments or waist belt extenders. This will make it difficult to get a perfect fit if you have a body type anything outside of a standard medium to large. To learn a bit more about how to properly fit a backpack, check out this helpful article from REI.
From our phil&teds Parade review, we found that the pack fits folks 5′-2” to 6′-3″ fairly well. Anything above or below will have a hard time finding a proper fit.
phil&teds Parade Child Comfort: 6/10
The Parade gets middle of the road child comfort ratings from The Kid Packer.
The child cockpit area is fairly well padded, but certainly is not as plush as something like the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro. It does have a plush drool pad that your child can rest their head on when they get tired.
The child seat itself is fairly well designed. It is fully adjustable and moves up and down easily as your child grows. When your child is younger and small, you can move the seat all the way up to ensure they have a good view.
One knock when it comes to child comfort is the lack of foot stirrups. Despite being a bare bones child carrier backpack, foot stirrups would have been a nice addition. This backpack really isn’t meant for all day outings, so just keep that in mind. Also, the overall weight limited is 40 lbs., about 20% lower than most competitors. If you plan to use this backpack for short outings, your little one will have no problem being comfortable, with our without the foot stirrups.
phil&teds Parade Child Safety: 7/10
Our phil&teds Parade safety review yielded a 7/10 score.
Starting with an aluminum frame, this backpack is very sturdy. The straps and other buckles feel very secure. The kickstand pops out and securely locks into place when you have the pack on the ground.
The child harness straps are padded and fit well, helping keep your child from squirming around too much in the backpack.
We do wish a sunshade would have been included for sun protection, but it is sold separately at the phil&teds website.
phil&teds Parade Sun Protection: 4/10
We consider it a real bummer that the phil&teds Parade sunshade is not included with the backpack.
In our mind, a sunshade is really critical with a child carrier backpack. Toddlers and babies have very sensitive skin, and are prone to burning easily. For this reason, we recommend using a sunshade whenever possible.
The good news, as mentioned above, is that the sunshade is sold separately from the phil&teds website for about $30. However, for this added price, you could consider other backpacks that have more features, and offer a sunshade included like the LuvdBaby Premium.
Also, we believe the design of the phil&teds Parade sunshade could be improved a bit. Installation is easy. Pegs fit in two back holes and the front is easily strapped on. However, the shade feels a bit flimsy, and has big gaps on the sides that allow your child to be exposed when the sun is low in the sky.
For the backpack with the best sunshade, have a look at the Osprey Poco Plus or the Osprey Poco.
Sunshade Available
But sold separately
Easy Installation
Quick and easy set up
Limited Side Coverage
Leaves your child exposed during certain parts of the day
Flimsy Design
Could use some design improvements to make it more substantial
phil&teds Parade Nap Effectiveness: 6/10
Our favorite thing about child carrier backpacks? Naptime.
It provides restorative time your child needs and a few moments of quiet for you as well. When it comes to nap time in the Parade, your child should have no problem.
When your child is tired, they will most likely lean forward and rest their head on the drool pad. A nice soft place to take a nap. They can also lean to the side, but the lower side panels make this a bit difficult.
The downside to napping in the Parade is the lack of foot stirrups. Stirrups help children find comfortable, natural positions to sit, and without them they don’t usually nap as long.
Great Drool Pad
Provides a good spot to rest their head
Sunshade Available but Sold Separately
Keeps your child cool while napping
Limited Side Panels on Sunshade
Exposes your child to more sun and limits where they can rest their head during nap time
No Foot Stirups
Would allow for a natural, comfortable sitting position and longer naps
phil&teds Parade Gear Storage: 6/10
For a day around down or short walks on the trail, the phil&teds Parade has all the gear storage you need.
The bottom compartment unzips providing a spot you can stash changing gear, extra layers, snacks and bottles.
Also included is a detachable toddler backpack. Although this is more of a novelty, it does provide a spot to store a few more items, like lunch or toys. The detachable pack is clearly sized for a child so they can wear their own backpack, just like you! Our one nitpick around the day pack is that it “flops” around behind you. We wish there was a better way to secure it. Most of time, we imagine you will just leave the day pack at home.
The phil&teds Parade gear storage option does not offer hip belt pockets, which would be very useful. But the Parade does have upper side panel pockets, perfect for toys or a phone with a white noise app. This is our go to to help out with nap time.
For comparison, check out a a pack like the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite, which is loaded with storage. You can go for a full day hike, or even an international trip with all the storage it offers. But, the Kelty model was designed to do just that, and would be overly bulky around town, where the phil&teds Parade excels.
phil&teds Parade Extra Features: 5/10
One of the best “extra features” on the phil&teds Parade is the ability to fold flat. This is really handy when you travel, as you can easily carry it on a plane. It’s also a nice feature when it comes to storage, so it isn’t taking up all of your closet space.
Another thoughtful feature are the toy tethers on both sides of the backpack. Although a really small thing, it really minimizes lots of frustration when your child continually drops their pacifier or toy they are playing with.
Some things that are missing in this category are the sunshade being included, water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets, or even an upper rear zipper pocket. There is plenty of room for one, so why not add it!?
phil&teds Parade Durability: 9/10
Our phil&teds Parade review left us feeling really good about the durability of this baby carrier backpack. Starting with the aluminum frame, you will find this is a very sturdy product.
The pack itself is built with quality 300 and 600 denier materials that are both waterproof and washable. Also, the backpack comes with a one year warranty, to give you peace of mind. One of the very best things about this backpack is its durability.
phil&teds Parade Value: 5/10
Overall, we struggle a bit with the value proposition of the phil&teds Parade. If you plan to only use it around town or for short walks, we can get on board. In fact, it might be the best pack for you. You probably won’t need a sunshade or extra storage. However, if you do plan to use this backpack for more hiking or outdoor activities, we would recommend purchasing the sunshade, sold separately. With this extra cost, you might want to consider other backpacks in the $170 range that come with more features and provide a bit more bang for your buck. Have a look at similar economical baby backpack carriers such as the CleverPlus Urban Explorer and LuvdBaby Premium.
phil&teds Parade Summary
After our phil&teds Parade review, we give this child carrier backpack an overall score of 57/100, towards the lower end of our child carrier backpack rankings.
However, If you are looking for something to hold your child while you shop, walk around the neighborhood, or go for a short stroll at the park, the phil&teds Parade really is a great option. It is lightweight, has a slim profile, and comes at a reasonable price point (~$140). If you are looking for a child carrier backpack for longer day hikes or days out exploring a new city while traveling, this is likely not the backpack for you.
If you are looking for the most versatile, and our highest rated backpack, have a look at the Osprey Poco Plus. If you are looking for a more economical option, the Luvdbaby Premium, ClevrPlus Urban Explorer, or Chicco SmartSupport would all be great options to look into.
About The Kid Packer
Here at The Kid Packer, we want to help you live your best life. A great baby backpack child carrier can help you do just that. After having used a child carrier backpack for over 1,500 miles of adventuring and exploring, we have a passion for them and know what makes a great pack that both you and your child will love. We hope our comprehensive research allows you to confidently find the right backpack for your needs!
