Osprey Poco plus vs.
Thule sapling Elite
Osprey Poco Plus or Thule Sapling Elite?
Updated: December 9, 2020
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Comparison Summary
Which child carrier backpack is better, the Osprey Poco Plus or the Thule Sapling Elite?
These are the two best baby backpack carriers on the market, and rank #1 and #2 overall here at The Kid Packer.
Both are exceptionally versatile packs that will last for years. Overall, we like the Osprey Poco Plus a bit better, primarily due to the sun shade design. However, the Thule Sapling Elite has some great features that the Osprey does not have, which makes it a close call between the two.
Have a look to see which pack has the features that will work best for your needs.
For full reviews of each pack, take a look here:
Comparison Summary
Which child carrier backpack is better, the Osprey Poco Plus or the Thule Sapling Elite?
These are the two best baby backpack carriers on the market, and rank #1 and #2 overall here at The Kid Packer.
Both are exceptionally versatile packs that will last for years. Overall, we like the Osprey Poco Plus a bit better, primarily due to the sun shade design. However, the Thule Sapling Elite has some great features that the Osprey does not have, which makes it a close call between the two.
Have a look to see which pack has the features that will work best for your needs.
For full reviews of each pack, take a look here:
Thule Sapling Elite
Osprey Poco Plus or Thule Sapling Elite? - Key Differences
Osprey Poco Plus
Thule Sapling Elite
- The Thule Sapling Elite has a removeable small backpack included, great for leaving behind on short shopping trips, or provides extra storage for long day trips
- The Osprey Poco Plus has a better designed, fully integrated sunshade that provides better sun protection and a better nap effectiveness
- Good mesh pockets on the Osprey fit full size Nalgene bottles – no good spot on the Thule for full size water bottles
- The child compression straps on the Thule are adjustable while the pack is on, another nice feature
- The Thule Sapling Elite typically sells for a higher price than the Osprey Poco Plus
- Removable child foot stirrups on the Sapling Elite are a nice extra feature
Osprey Poco or Thule Sapling? - Feature Comparison
Osprey Poco Plus or Thule Sapling Elite? - Rating Comparison
Thule Sapling Elite
Osprey Poco Plus or Thule Sapling Elite? - Comfort
Overall Comfort Winner: Tie
When determining which backpack to buy, Osprey Poco Plus or Thule Sapling Elite, the differences in overall comfort should be top of mind.
In this case, this category is a wash. The Thule Sapling Elite excels in adjustability and the Osprey Poco Plus excels with their sunshade design. Both packs are equally comfortable for the adult wearer.
Adult Comfort Winner: Tie
Both packs are very similar here. The adjustable nature of the Osprey and Thule help ensure the pack fits comfortably for short or long outlings. Both packs have well padded, mesh hip and shoulder straps.
Both packs are built with a tension mesh back panel to help ensure you stay cool while hauling your child around all day.
Fit Adjustability Winner: Thule Sapling Elite
These are the two most adjustable packs on the market right now. Both offer highly adjustable hipbelts, that accommodate a wide variety of waist sizes. Both packs have hipbelt extenders to ensure the padding of the hipbelt wraps around the waist to ensure a proper fit that transfers the weight to the hips.
Both packs offer sliding adjustable torso modules allowing them to fit short to very tall body types. The Thule gets the slight edge as it fits petite frames a little better than the Osprey.
Child Comfort Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
The Osprey Poco Plus just edges the Thule Sapling Elite in child comfort, primarily due to the sunshade. The Osprey provides more sun coverage, and also has side mesh panels that allows the child to use the sunshade as a place to rest their head while napping.
We like the nature of the padding a little better on the Thule, and the mesh back panel in the Thule child seat is another great feature, the high quality sunshade on the Osprey outweighs the other features of the Thule.
Thule Sapling Elite
Osprey Poco Plus or Thule Sapling Elite? - Safety
Overall Safety Winner: Osprey Poco
Better safety features, Osprey Poco Plus or Thule Sapling Elite?
Although Thule has designed an awesome pack that gets a 10/10 Child Safety score, Osprey Poco 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: Thule Sapling Elite
No issues with either of these packs, but the Thule wins here by a slight margin. The main difference between the two is the thigh straps on the Thule.
When the child is in the pack, there are clip in straps that run along the outside of the child’s thigh to help ensure that the child stays in place, even if they start to squirm, which they will. They always squirm. The extra thigh straps provide nice peace of mind for the adult carrying the pack.
Sun Protection Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
Both packs come with sunshade included, which is great. We have a hard time considering a child carrier backpack that doesn’t come with a sunshade included, it is that important.
The Osprey Poco Plus wins here by a fairly wide margin. The Poco Plus has a built in sunshade (permanently attached to the pack but in a zippered pocket) that pulls out as needed. What makes the Osprey shade so much better? It has great mesh side panels on both sides of the child. This provides better sun protection throughout the day, and also provides a critical spot for the child to rest their head when sleepy.
The mesh panels effectively act like a mesh hammock for your child’s head, which helps stabilize it during nap time. Trust us, everyone wants a good nap time.
Osprey Poco
Thule Sapling
Nap Effectiveness Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
The main difference here is the sunshade. As mentioned above, the design of the Poco Plus really gives it an edge during nap time.
In our mind, nap time is one of the most important aspects of owning a child carrier backpack. It provides great quality rest for your child, and provides you a bit of quiet time while out and about. It’s a win – win for everyone, as long as the pack is set up for good naps.
Thule Sapling Elite
Osprey Poco Plus or Thule Sapling Elite? - Other
Overall Other Winner: Thule Sapling Elite
The Thule Sapling Elite baby backpack child carrier provides overall better extra features but, the Osprey Poco Plus comes at a lower price point.
Gear Storage Winner: Thule Sapling Elite
When contemplating the Osprey Poco Plus vs. Thule Sapling Elite, one the main considerations is if you need the removable small backpack that the Thule offers. We really like the flexibility of the smaller removable backpack and found that we utilized this feature frequently.
The removable pack is a great feature as you can either leave it behind for trips around the city, or load it up when going on a longer day hike. We really like this extra flexibility as it allows you shrink the size of your pack if you plan to be in a crowd. Or if you plan to load it up with extra gear, you could have your partner carry it to distribute weight. Either way, it just provides appreciated extra flexibility.
The other difference in storage is the lower side mesh pockets on the Osprey. They fit full size adult Nalgene water bottles, which is nice. The Thule doesn’t have a great spot of adult water bottles, but both packs do have spots for hydration bladders. Osprey offers a great hydration bladder here.
Osprey Poco
Thule Sapling
Extra Features Winner: Thule Sapling Elite
The Thule Sapling Elite has the removable small backpack. This extra flexibility is really a nice feature.
The Sapling Elite also has removable child foot stirrups. Although keeping the stirrups on full time is not a particular nuisance, it is nice to be able to quickly remove them if not needed. After the child turn 18 months or older, you will want them on full time. We wouldn’t pay extra for removable stirrups, but it is a nice feature.
Other features we like about the Thule Sapling Elite is the side entry option, where your child can walk into the pack on their own, and the simple foot stomp removal options. It is a simple piece of material that you step on to keep the pack on the ground while you lift your child out. A very underrated feature!
Both packs have a rain cover that is sold separately. This isn’t a must have, but close to it.
Durability Winner: Tie
Both packs are made with similar material and are built to hold up for years of adventures. You can rest easy after spending so much money on a child carrier backpack knowing that either pack will hold up.
The Thule Sapling Elite comes with a limited lifetime warranty and the Osprey Poco Plus comes with a 7 year warranty.
Value Winner: Tie
These are both awesome packs. You can’t go wrong with either. Both are also on the higher end of the cost spectrum, with the Thule Sapling Elite costing $75-$100 more on average. However, for that extra cost, you do get some pretty nice extra features, causing these two to end up a tie in the value ranking.
Overall Winner: Osprey Poco Plus
Thule Sapling Elite
As The Kid Packer’s overall top rated child carrier backpack, the Osprey Poco Plus comes out ahead of the Thule Sapling Elite. Although the Thule Sapling Elite is an exceptional pack with great features such as a removable day pack, child side entry and removable foot stirrups, the better designed sunshade and nap effectiveness of the Osprey Poco Plus push it to the top.
Either way, you cant go wrong with either pack. They are both great products that will last and bring countless memories to you and your child.
If you are looking for a more economical option with a bit less adult fit adjustability, have a look at the Osprey Poco. Lastly, if you are looking for a solid choice with features, but more economical overall, think about the CleverPlus Urban Explorer. For a full list of the top baby backpack carriers on the market, have a look here!
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!