Osprey Poco Plus vs.
kelty journey perfectFIT Elite
Osprey Poco Plus or Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite?
Updated: December 5, 2020
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Comparison Summary
Which child carrier backpack is better, the Osprey Poco Plus or Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite?
Kelty offers three models of child carrier backpacks, with the Journey PerfectFIT Elite being their top end model. It comes with all the bells and whistles and gets top marks for child safety and child comfort.
Osprey has two child carrier backpack models on the market with the Osprey Poco Plus being their premium product, and is the top rated child carrier backpack to date at The Kid Packer.
So what are the biggest differences between the Osprey Poco Plus vs. Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite?
It really comes down to fit adjustability, sunshade, and nap effectiveness. The Osprey Poco Plus gets higher marks on all three.
If you want to read our comprehensive review on either backpack, have a look at the links below.
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Review
Osprey Poco Plus Review
Comparison Summary
Which child carrier backpack is better, the Osprey Poco Plus or Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite?
Kelty offers three models of child carrier backpacks, with the Journey PerfectFIT Elite being their top end model. It comes with all the bells and whistles and gets top marks for child safety and child comfort.
Osprey has two child carrier backpack models on the market with the Osprey Poco Plus being their premium product, and is the top rated child carrier backpack to date at The Kid Packer.
So what are the biggest differences between the Osprey Poco Plus vs. Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite?
It really comes down to fit adjustability, sunshade, and nap effectiveness. The Osprey Poco Plus gets higher marks on all three.
If you want to read our comprehensive review on either backpack, have a look at the links below.
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Review
Osprey Poco Plus Review
Kelty PerfectFIT Elite
Osprey Poco Plus vs. Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Key Differences
Osprey Poco Plus
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite
- Both packs have sunshades built in, but the Osprey Poco Plus has the top sunshade design on the market
- The higher quality sunshade on the Osprey also leads to better nap effectiveness
- Child seat design on the Kelty Elite is wider and provides a more comfortable ride for the child
- The Poco Plus has an expandable hip belt, ensuring the pack can fit a wider variety of body types and waist sizes
- Osprey has a rain cover for separate purchase. This is a must in poor weather
- The Osprey Poco Plus typically sells for ~$20-$30 more than the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite
Osprey Poco Plus vs. Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Feature Comparison
Osprey Poco Plus vs. Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite Feature Comparison
Osprey Poco Plus
Kelty PerfectFIT Elite
Osprey Poco Plus vs. Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite: Comfort
Overall Comfort Winner: Tie
When determining which backpack to buy, Osprey Poco Plus or Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite, the differences in overall comfort should be top of mind.
The Osprey Poco Plus scores slightly higher in comfort, primarily due to the extra fit adjustability provided by the “Fit-On-The-Fly” hipbelt.
Adult Comfort Winner: Tie
Both the Osprey Poco Plus and the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite are very comfortable child carrier backpacks. Having designed backpacks for many years, Kelty and Osprey both utilized their experience to design and build child carrier backpacks that both safely hold your child, and are comfortable to wear.
The biggest comfort differences between the two comes down to the back panel. The Kelty Elite utilizes a premium perforated padded mesh and lumbar that extends all the way up to the shoulders. This ensures the weight of the pack securely and comfortably rests in a natural position.
Osprey took a different approach. Instead of utilizing padding, they utilized a fully tensioned mesh screen panel. This provides good support, and allows for continual ventilation to keep you cool.
Both designs are great. It really comes down to personal preference. We like the Osprey mesh panel as it provides a bit more ventilation.
Fit Adjustability Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite utilizes the PerfectFIT suspension system. By pulling down on two straps near your hips, you effectively slide the apparatus holstering the shoulder straps downward, ensuring a perfect fit every time, regardless of body height
The Osprey Poco Plus utilizes a slightly different suspension system. Reaching through the mesh back panel, you loosen the clasp, and then slide the torso adjustment up or down to fit as desired. The Poco Plus can fit S, M, L or XL frames.
The feature that gives the Poco Plus the edge is the adjustable “Fit-On-The-Fly” hipbelt. Osprey built in hipbelt extenders that allows the padded portion of the belt to fully wrap around your waistline, regardless of body type. This feature helps ensure the pack fits Small to Extra Large waistlines.
Child Comfort Winner: Tie
The Osprey Poco Plus and the Kelty PerfectFIT Elite both have fully padded child cockpits and removeable drool pads. Both have adjustable foot stirrups to help ensure the child finds a natural sitting position during long periods in the pack.
The Kelty Elite utilizes a wider child seat with flaps of soft fabric that drape down the sides of the pack under the child’s legs. This helps keep the child’s legs from rubbing and also provides a better position for sitting over long periods.
Despite the better child seat, we call it a tie overall due to the higher quality Osprey Poco Plus sunshade. More on that later.
Osprey Poco Plus
Kelty PerfectFIT Elite
Osprey Poco Plus vs. Kelty Journey Elite: Safety
Overall Safety Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
Better safety features, Osprey Poco Plus or Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite?
Although Kelty has designed an awesome pack that gets a 10/10 Child Safety score, Osprey Poco Plus comes out slightly ahead in this category due to the top notch sunshade and associated sun safety it provides for your child.
Child Safety Winner: Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite
Both of these packs get high marks for child safety, but the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite gets the win.
The slight edge to Kelty here is primarily due to the child restraint system. Instead of a typical five point harness with a waist belt, Kelty utilizes an extra wide waistbelt, that is more like a waist restraint. Instead of just securing the child in place, it wraps around their upper torso and secures them firmly. The Kelty torso wrap helps minimize your child’s squirming and provides extra peace of mind that they are locked securely in place.
Sun Protection Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
Although we are appreciative that both packs have built in sunshades, the Osprey Poco Plus is the clear winner.
Overall, the two sunshades have a fairly similar design except that the Osprey model has side mesh panels whereas the Kelty Elite does not. The side mesh panels provide more comprehensive sun protection for your child, keeps them cooler, and provides a better opportunity for napping.
We believe a sunshade is one of the most critical components of a child carrier backpack, and Osprey has the best designed and executed sunshade on the market.
Osprey Poco Plus
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite
Nap Effectiveness Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
We like the wrap around, removable drool pad utilized by Kelty. It provides a great spot for your child to rest their head when they are ready for a nap.
However, the real game changer is the Osprey Poco Plus sunshade. The side mesh panels provide a nice spot for your child to rest their head for nap time. We found that without the side mesh panels, the child’s head can wobble around, keeping them from taking a long, restful nap.
Everyone is looking forward to the eventual nap in the child carrier backpack (parents and child!), and Osprey has everything needed to ensure your child gets that long recuperative nap they need.
Osprey Poco Plus
Kelty PerfectFIT Elite
Osprey Poco Plus vs. Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite: Other
Overall Other Winner: Tie
Kelty Journey Elite provides a slightly better value, coming in $20-$30 lower than the Osprey Poco Plus. However, the Osprey Poco Plus scores points for having a raincover that is available for purchase separately.
Gear Storage Winner: Tie
When contemplating between Osprey Poco Plus or Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite, storage won’t be the deciding factor. Both packs are fully loaded with storage options and compartments.
Both packs have zippered hipbelt pockets, upper and lower rear zippered compartments, and side mesh stuff pockets. The Osprey Poco Plus has a large rear mesh stuff pocket, while the Kelty Elite has an extra rear zippered storage space. In our minds, storage is a wash between the two.
Neither of the two packs, however, has a removable day pack. The Thule Sapling Elite and the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro both include this feature.
Osprey Poco Plus
Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite
Extra Features Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
Both packs offer a hydration bladder storage area. Although this isn’t critical, it is a nice extra feature and eliminates the need for a bulky full sized water bottle. A 1.5 L hydration bladder is ideal.
The Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite has a unique feature on the hipbelt. One of the zippered pockets unzips from both the bottom and the top, effectively turning the pocket into a cup holder. Although we like this feature, it is more of a novelty as the water bottle knocks against your leg when you walk.
Although not included with the pack itself, the Osprey Poco Plus offers a separate rain cover for purchase. This wraps around and securely clips on to the pack in just a few seconds time. This is a must have when inclement weather rolls in. We have also used this extra product many times to keep our child warm when it was cold or windy out.
Kelty doesn’t offer at rain cover at this time, but we hope they work on this feature at some point in the future. Osprey does offer a raincover, and it works exceptionally well, providing nearly full child coverage and protection from the elements.
Durability Winner: Tie
Longevity and durability won’t be a problem with either pack. Both are exceptionally sturdy and built to last. Both the Osprey and Kelty utilize high quality materials. Clasps and buckles operate smoothly and adjust easily, and the packs themselves are tough and rip resistant.
Also, both packs should have great resale potential due to the high quality construction.
Value Winner: Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite
Although the Osprey gets slightly higher marks on many categories, the Kelty comes out as a better value, typically selling for ~$20-$30 less than the Osprey Poco Plus. With the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite, you get a top rated child carrier pack for a very reasonable price.
Overall Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
Kelty PerfectFIT Elite
Despite being a better value, the Osprey Poco Plus comes out as the better overall pack. In large part to the quality of the sunshade and nap effectiveness, we would pick the top end Osprey model over the top end Kelty model.
Both packs offer all the bells and whistles you would expect with a premium product, and with 26 L of gear storage, both packs are great for full days on the trail, or a full day exploring a new city while traveling.
At The Kid Packer, we love both of these child carrier backpacks, but being our top rated overall pack, we would vote for the Osprey Poco Plus.
If you are looking for backpacks with similar premium features, check out Thule Sapling Elite or Deuter Kid Comfort Pro.
Lastly, if you are looking for a solid choice with features, but more economical overall, think about the CleverPlus Urban Explorer.
Osprey Poco Plus
Kelty Journey Elite
Thule Sapling Elite
Osprey Poco
Deuter Kid Comfort Pro
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! To learn more, check out our About Us page!