That said, I found the large back pocket tricky to reach when I had the carrier on my back, so I needed my husband’s help here. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. As well as the main storage compartment at the bottom of the carrier, there are two little hipbelt pockets, useful for stashing small items, like a hat or headlamp, and having them accessible on the go. Your child sits in the carrier and faces forwards against the wearers back, looking out over their shoulders.

A smaller zipped pocket can be found on the back of the seating area, and two small zipped pockets on the waist belt (one contains the viewing mirror) are ideal for storing snacks and small toys. Littlelife is a brand that has earned a reputation over 25 years for top quality baby and toddler back carrier equipment. I think a baby a little older than my bundle of joy would feel happier riding around in adventurous style and I look forward to him growing into it. As for the child seat, my daughter was comfortable and relaxed in the carrier the entire ride but found it more comfortable to hold onto the shoulder stabiliser straps than to leave her arms dangling.

In this post we cover the key features to look for when purchasing waterproof dungarees or trousers for your children. You unfortunately won’t find a kickstand to stabilise the carrier - something you’ll generally see on a lot of other backpack carriers. We already had two children when we purchased the carrier, so we couldn’t just give all the luggage to the non child-carrying adult! The carrier doesn't have a stand (they are not always that stable anyway), but there's a big foothold that is the perfect position at the bottom of the carrier for you to stick your boot and keep it stable while you get your little one in and out.

There are also 2 hipbelt pockets which zip closed, and just about fit my phone (but I don’t think all phones would fit). The carrier feels similar in weight to a good quality travel ruck-sac and is similarly structured to distribute weight well across the wearer’s body so it feels comfortable to carry even with a baby or toddler inside. The LittleLife Cross Country S4 boasts a more playful aesthetic than many other backpack carriers, particularly when it comes to its bright orange accents and washable drool pad that features different animals for your small passenger to look at.However, in bulky winter gear, it can still be a bit of pain to locate and attach the buckles, especially the one down at the front of the seat. As a contrast, the alternative way of stabilising a carrier on the ground is a flip out metal bar (Deuter carriers use these). While it didn’t affect UV protection, I would have preferred an integrated sunshade to make life easier.

It sits midway in terms of weight, so isn’t the lightest option in the LittleLife catalogue, but alongside the Freedom S4 and Voyager S5, it allows for a greater adult fit (from 5’2” to 6’4”) and comes with more accessories, including the stirrups, sun shade and rear view mirror.As the full carrier doesn't sit directly on your back, there is plenty of airflow, making it comfortable on warm days. We also really wanted a carrier with storage space so that we could go on longer walks and take extra layers and a picnic lunch. It doesn’t feel as robust and isn’t as comfortable, while some of its components and materials feel a little cheap. My initial impression of the Cross Country was that it’s not as comfortable as some of the heavier options out there. It’s bulkier than a soft-structured baby carrier or other LittleLife carrier backpacks like the Ranger S2 and the Traveller S4, but is very useful for active days out with a baby or toddler.

The framed back carrier gives the impression of a safe and comfortable piece of equipment for both parent and child. Aside from a raincover, it seems to have everything you’d need for taking the little one out and about, boasting 20 liters of storage in its spacious main compartment, front zippered pocket, its two side pockets and its hipbelt pockets. The large base compartment has plenty of room for nappies and spare clothing, whilst the top pocket is perfect for drinks, snacks, wipes and other essentials.

We have a regular front-carrying sling for everyday use but for longer walks a more supportive and robust option really starts to make sense.