Child Carrier Guide / Gear allowance
Gear weight allowed in a hiking child carrier, by child weight
Hiking child carriers have a maximum load as well as a child weight limit. Osprey counts the child, the gear and the carrier in one 22 kg total. Deuter limits gear to 4 kg. This table lists the gear weight allowed at four child weights.
Gear allowed by model and child weight
| Carrier | Rule | Child 10 kg | Child 13 kg | Child 16 kg | Child 18 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osprey Poco | 22 kg minus the 3.49 kg carrier minus the child | 8.51 kg | 5.51 kg | 2.51 kg | 0.51 kg |
| Osprey Poco Premium | 22 kg minus the 3.79 kg carrier minus the child | 8.21 kg | 5.21 kg | 2.21 kg | 0.21 kg |
| Osprey Poco LT | 22 kg minus the 2.52 kg carrier minus the child | 9.48 kg | 6.48 kg | 3.48 kg | 1.48 kg |
| Deuter Kid Comfort | 4 kg gear limit while the child is 18 kg or less | 4 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg |
| Deuter Kid Comfort Active | 4 kg gear limit while the child is 18 kg or less | 4 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg |
| Deuter Kid Comfort Active SL | 4 kg gear limit while the child is 18 kg or less | 4 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg |
| Deuter Kid Comfort Pro | 4 kg gear limit while the child is 18 kg or less | 4 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg |
Sources: Osprey: Poco and Poco Premium owner's manual (PDF at Aventure Nordique), Osprey: Poco LT owner's manual (PDF at Aventure Nordique), Deuter: child carrier advice page. Osprey's manuals state "child, gear and pack weight combined". Deuter's advice page states "18 kg for the child + 4 kg for the cargo".
Carriers with no gear allowance listed
Thule and LittleLife each list one maximum load and do not state what it includes. No gear allowance is calculated for the Thule Sapling, LittleLife Voyager S5, LittleLife Cross Country S4 or LittleLife Ranger S2.
The manufacturer's current manual sets the limits for each carrier. A pediatrician answers questions about whether a child is ready to ride in one.
Gear allowance calculator
One litre of water weighs 1 kg. With an 18 kg child, the Osprey Poco Premium allows 0.21 kg of gear.