best Inexpensive baby carrier backpacks
Thekidpacker.com may receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.
What are the best inexpensive baby carrier backpacks?
Updated: October 12, 2021
Affordable Baby Carriers
If you are looking for the best inexpensive baby backpack carrier look no further! There are many reasons why you may decide not to purchase an expensive baby carrier backpack. Those reasons may include financial restraints, light use, a one child household where longevity isn’t necessary or, even just a preference. Regardless of how much you spend on a baby carrier backpack, it will be one of the most versatile baby items you purchase!
We define an inexpensive baby carrier backpack as costing less than $200.
In this article, we break down the 4 best affordable baby carrier backpacks which are:
1. ClevrPlus Urban Explorer – Full Review (~$160)
2. Luvdbaby Premium – Full Review (~$180)
3. Phil and Ted’s Parade – Full Review (~$140)
4. Chicco SmartSupport – Full Review (~$130)
Honorable Mention:
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT – Full Review (~$220)
Best Inexpensive Baby Carrier Backpacks
Quick Links:
ClevrPlus Urban Explorer
LuvdBaby Premium
Phil and Ted’s Parade
Chicco SmartSupport
1. ClevrPlus Urban Explorer
ClevrPlus Urban Explorer Pros and Cons
Awesome Value
At ~$160, this child carrier backpack is the best value you can find
Removable Day Pack
Comes with a removable day pack for extra storage
Great Extra Features
Foot stirrups, built in sunshade, hydration bladder pocket
Lower Quality Material
Clasps and buckles are more difficult to adjust than high end backpacks
No Side Panels on Sunshade
Exposes child when sun is low on the horizon
No Hipbelt Extensions
Limits the range of waist sizes this pack can accommodate
Coming in at $160, the ClevrPlus Urban Explorer is half the price of the high end models top brands like Osprey, Kelty, Deuter and Thule offer.
So, at $160, what do you get? Well, you get many of the features of a top rated baby backpack carrier! The storage on this baby carrier backpack is great, and even has a detachable day pack. A sunshade is included, along with foot stirrups, zippered hip belt pockets, rear lower storage, and fully adjustable torso and shoulder straps.
Now, the downsides to this pack. After a few hours wearing this child carrier backpack, you will notice that it is not the most comfortable especially compared to a higher end carrier. There is also a difference in the quality of the materials on the ClevrPlus versus a high end pack. The buckles, straps, adjustment mechanisms are all there and work great but, you can feel that the quality is less. For someone purchasing this or any pack on this list, this may not matter. For light use this affordable baby carrier backpack gets the job done!
For a full review of the Urban Explorer, check out this article from The Kid Packer.
2. Luvdbaby Premium
LuvdBaby Premium Baby Backpack Carrier Pros and Cons
Very Affordable
At around $180, it's a great value
Plenty of Storage
Plenty of zippered pockets for a full day of gear
Sunshade Built In
Provides a comfortable and safe ride, and also includes a rain cover!
40 lb. Max Weight
Lower max weight limit than other backpacks
Limited Rain Coverage
Rain cover only protects the upper torso
No Hipbelt Extensions
Limits the range of waist sizes this pack can accommodate
The LuvdBaby Premium is a solid choice when it comes to an affordable baby carrier backpack. This pack includes many of the features on high end baby carriers but, with less plush padding.
Costing roughly $180 you get a well thought out baby carrier backpack for much less than big name brands. This pack provides great storage, adjustability and the sunshade and rain cover are included! We also love the zippered hipbelt pockets. Such a simple design element but, makes a big difference while wearing. A unique feature on this child carrier is an insulated zipper pocket for carrying bottles or anything else that needs to be kept cold. Such a functional feature for a family on the go!
The downsides to this baby carrier backpack are in line with many of the more affordable options including lower quality materials and adjustment features. A few other downsides to the LuvdBaby Premium are that the rain cover only protects your passenger’s upper body and the sunshade design does not provide much sun protection on the sides.
Overall, the LuvdBaby Premium stacks up well against any baby carrier backpack on the market especially considering the value. If you are interested in learning more about the LuvdBaby Premium Carrier, take a look at our full review!
3. Phil and Ted's Parade
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
Less Padding
The Phil and Ted’s Parade Child Carrier is a unique take on the baby backpack carrier. The Parade is designed more like a regular backpack without the sophisticated adjustment systems provided by other child carriers in this category. This design allows the Parade to be a more compact child carrier and much lighter weight at around 4 pounds (3-4 pounds lighter than many other backpack carriers).
While, this design has some benefits, it also has some drawbacks. The biggest drawback is comfort. The back panel design on the Parade does not provide ventilation for the adult wearer and does not include an extra plush child chock pit. The Parade also does not include child foot stirrups or sunshade (shade purchased separately for $30).
Overall, we like the unique design of the Phil and Ted’s Parade and feel it is a good option for a less expensive baby carrier backpack. We would not recommend this pack for extended hikes as the comfort level would be low after a few hours but, this affordable baby backpack carrier is perfect for short trips! Another great benefit to it’s compact design is that this pack compresses down very small which makes it perfect to stow on a plane or pack in the car easily.
For $140 you get a small profile, lightweight child carrier with great storage! If you are interested in the Phil and Ted’s Parade, take a look at our full review!
4. Chicco SmartSupport
Chicco SmartSupport Backpack Carrier Pros and Cons
Lightweight
Adjustable Child Seat
Child seat moves up and down to adjust as your child grows
Sunshade Built In
Provides a comfortable and safe ride
No Gear Storage
No gear storage on this pack which really limits versatility
No Foot Stirrups
Would be nice for longer outings
No Hipbelt Extensions
Limits the range of waist sizes this pack can accommodate
Most families with small children are familiar with the Chicco brand but, many don’t know that they have a child carrier backpack. In our minds this child carrier backpack is designed for shorter outings and generally light use.
The most obvious difference between this design and others on the market is that the Chicco SmartSupport Child Carrier does not provide any storage options. This allows the pack to be exceptionally light weight but, does not allow for long outings. Another major difference is the lack of padding on the entire pack. There is no padding on the adult hipbelt which contributes to this pack’s lower comfort ratings.
Is there a place for this child carrier among other inexpensive options? Absolutely. As mentioned above, this is an exceptionally lightweight pack that includes a sun shade. This would be perfect for quick outings especially if you have a partner to help carry gear. If you are looking for a simple bare bones carrier at a reasonable price, the Chicco Smart Support is a great option to look into. We do not recommend this child carrier backpack for most hiking activities since it has very limited padding and would not be comfortable for extended time on rough terrain.
If you are interested in the Chicco Smart Support as an affordable backpack carrier and want to learn more, take a look at our full review!
Honorable Mention:
Kelty Journey PerfectFit
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Child Carrier Pros and Cons
Well Built
Quality construction and materials
Child Seat and Harness
Well designed features
Unique PerfectFIT Suspension System
Allows for quick fit adjustments
Slim Design
No Rain Cover Available
Limited Gear Storage
Sunshade Not Included
Sunshade design is also not great
No Place for Hydration Bladder
Also no room for adult water bottles
The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Child Carrier is Kelty’s most basic model child carrier in a series of 3 models. Kelty is a high end outdoor gear brand and makes excellent products. We decided to include the Journey PerfectFIT in our affordable baby carrier backpacks as a slightly higher price alternative.
As with all Kelty products, the Journey PerfectFIT Child Carrier is made with high quality materials including adjustment mechanisms, buckles, straps and the main body fabric. The Journey PerfectFIT includes a quick fit adjustment suspension system and includes padding in all the right places.
So, what are some of the downsides to this pack? The Journey PerfectFIT base model does not include a sunshade (purchased separately) and includes very limited storage. This child carrier would be well suited for long days on the trail as long as you have a partner carrying extra gear.
At around $220 you get a high quality, well fitting baby carrier backpack with limited storage space. This pack is $20 above the $200 threshold for inexpensive baby carrier backpacks but, we wanted to show what you get for just over budget to compare.
If you are interested in the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT, take a look at our full review!
Top Inexpensive Baby Carrier Backpacks - Comparison
The comparison table below breaks down The Kid Packer scoring system to evaluate the key components of a baby backpack child carrier: Comfort (Adult Comfort, Child Comfort, Fit Adjustability), Safety (Child Safety, Sun Protection, Nap Effectiveness) and Other (Gear Storage, Extra Features, Durability, Cost).
Best Inexpensive Baby Carrier Backpacks - Summary
So, can you purchase a low cost baby carrier backpack without sacrificing functionality? Absolutely! Owning a backpack carrier will change the way you travel, shop and explore the outdoors with your child.
We go into detail on the three tiers of baby carrier backpacks in our article ‘What is a Baby Carrier Backpack‘. The carriers in this article are in the first and second tiers. What these packs are generally missing is the finesse and quality materials used by high end manufacturers. If you don’t plan for full day hikes, don’t need a baby backpack carrier to last multiple children and don’t want to break the bank. One of these carriers will be perfect for your family.
We would argue that while the price tag in comparison to more expensive packs may seem ‘cheap’ these, packs are well made and will serve your family well!
If you do plan to use a baby carrier backpack for extended hikes for many years, we do recommend a more high end model. Our highest rated baby carrier backpack is the Osprey Poco Plus and is in our opinion, the best overall baby backpack. Take a look at our review to see how this carrier backpack differs from those listed above.
Find our overall top 5 best baby backpack carriers here:
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!
