Osprey Poco SLT Baby Backpack Carrier Review

Bottom line

The Osprey Poco SLT fills a unique niche in the world of child carriers, offering a lightweight, streamlined design perfect for families who prioritize portability. This ultralight carrier is the most compact option we tested, making it ideal for travel, tight storage spaces, and quick outings. Despite its minimalist design, the Poco SLT doesn’t compromise on comfort, featuring Osprey’s signature padded shoulder straps and a well-ventilated back panel.

That said, the SLT is best suited for shorter trips or casual hikes. Its pared-down construction means reduced storage capacity and fewer comfort-focused extras, making it less ideal for extended adventures or carrying heavier loads. However, if portability and simplicity are what you’re after, this carrier is a fantastic choice. For more comparisons, check out our guide to the best baby backpack carriers. The Poco SLT is proof that sometimes less really is more.

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How We Tested

We tested the Osprey Poco SLT across diverse landscapes, from the snowy Colorado Mountains to the desert peaks of Baja California Sur and the shores of the Sea of Cortez. This carrier accompanied us on rugged trails and casual outings, providing a well-rounded perspective on its performance in various terrains and conditions.

Comfort

The Osprey Poco SLT delivers impressive comfort for both parents and little passengers, even with its ultralight and streamlined design. The Airscape suspension system provides adequate, but not excellent, padding and ventilation along the back panel, shoulder straps, and hip belt, ensuring a balanced and ergonomic fit. While not as plush as other packs in Osprey’s Poco lineup, we found it to be more than sufficient for hikes lasting a couple of hours, and the lightweight build and smaller size make it feel less cumbersome overall which ultimately limited our analyst’s fatigue. 

The Velcro-adjustable back panel allows wearers of varying heights to achieve a custom fit. During testing, both shorter and taller analysts found it easy to fine-tune the torso length, making it ideal for families sharing carrying duties. 

For kids, the cockpit is cozy and secure, featuring the same Double Halo harness system Osprey is known for. The headrest and seat padding provide adequate support for younger children; however, the absence of stirrups makes it less ideal for longer hikes.

Features

This pack may be the lightest in the Poco lineup, but it doesn’t skimp on thoughtful features that make it versatile and user-friendly. Its foldable frame is a standout feature, allowing the pack to collapse almost flat for easy storage and travel—a huge win for families juggling gear on road trips or flights. This feature proved invaluable on our road trip from Colorado to Baja and back, where space was at a premium. 

While the SLT sacrifices a few bells and whistles found in bulkier models, it retains essential functionality. The Velcro-adjustable back panel provides a customizable fit for caregivers of varying heights, making hand-offs between parents easy. The pack also includes load-lifting straps and a well-designed hip belt, that we found to be stable and comfortable. 

For storage, the Poco SLT has two spacious zippered compartments that can hold essentials like diapers, snacks, and extra layers. A hydration sleeve behind the back panel adds convenience for longer outings; however, side water bottle pockets and hip belt pockets are notably absent.

One downside is that the sunshade is sold separately, which feels like a missed opportunity in an otherwise well-rounded pack. Additionally, this pack does not include foot stirrups, which can impact child comfort on longer outings. Still, the SLT’s streamlined design and lightweight build make it an excellent choice for families seeking a practical, travel-friendly carrier without unnecessary bulk.

Durability

The Osprey Poco SLT impresses with its durability despite its lightweight design. Built with tough yet lightweight 210-denier nylon and treated with a PFAS-free DWR coating, this pack resists abrasions and wear from regular use. During testing, the pack performed well through hikes in rugged terrain, frequent loading and unloading from cars, and being tossed around during camping trips. We frequently took this pack bushwhacking from our camp in Mexico, and it held up surprisingly well against the sharp and ever-present jumping cholla, ocotillo, and saguaro cacti.

The stainless steel frame feels sturdy and reliable, providing a solid foundation even when fully loaded. The zippers and buckles are robust and smooth, showing no signs of weakness after extended use. While the lighter weight might lead some to question its durability, the SLT has proven capable of handling daily adventures without issue.

Even with regular use, this pack appeared nearly new, aside from minor dirt marks—there were no tears, fraying, or noticeable wear on stress points.

Storage & Organization

While the Osprey Poco SLT may lack sufficient storage, it takes a thoughtful approach by balancing functionality with its lightweight and compact design. Although it doesn’t offer the massive storage capacity of its bulkier siblings, it still provides ample space to pack essentials for a few hours on the trail or around town.

The pack features two main compartments: a larger lower pocket that is ideal for storing diapers, snacks, or an extra layer, and a smaller upper pocket that is excellent for quick-access items like sunscreen, a phone, or car keys. Altogether, these compartments offer a generous 22 liters of storage. The inclusion of a hydration sleeve behind the back panel adds a nice touch, enabling you to stay hydrated without consuming valuable storage space.

That said, the SLT’s minimalistic design omits side water bottle pockets and hip belt pockets. While we missed these features for added convenience, the streamlined build prioritizes portability and packability, making it a great choice for families who value simplicity and travel-friendliness.

Weight

The Osprey Poco SLT stands out as the lightest framed option we tested, weighing just under 5 pounds. This ultralight design makes a noticeable difference, especially on longer hikes or when packing for travel. Although it lacks the heavy-duty suspension system found in the burlier Poco models, the lightweight frame and minimalist build make it significantly easier to carry, even when loaded with a child and gear.

This reduced weight is particularly beneficial for parents who value packability and ease of transport. During our testing, the Poco SLT’s lighter frame proved advantageous on tight city streets and long road trips where space was limited. That said, the lightweight design does come with some trade-offs, such as less padding and fewer features compared to heavier models.

Should You Buy the Osprey Poco SLT?

The Osprey Poco SLT is an excellent choice for parents looking for a lightweight, compact, and travel-friendly child carrier. Its streamlined design and weight of less than 5 pounds make it ideal for families who value portability and simplicity without compromising functionality. Whether you’re embarking on short hikes, navigating busy city streets, going on a road trip, or simply heading to the grocery store, the Poco SLT strikes a balance between practicality and comfort.

Although it doesn’t boast the storage capacity or advanced features of heavier models, such as integrated sunshades or foot stirrups, it provides ample space for essentials and emphasizes ease of transport. 

For families seeking an ultralight carrier that is easy to pack and maneuver, the Poco SLT offers excellent value. For longer adventures or transporting larger kids, a more robust model may be more suitable.

What Other Baby Backpack Carriers Should You Consider?

If you’re considering the Osprey Poco SLT, there are several other excellent child carriers worth exploring in our guide to the best baby backpack carriers. Each offers unique features catering to different needs and preferences.

ClevrPlus Cross Country Review: For budget-conscious families, the ClevrPlus Cross Country offers decent comfort and essential features such as an integrated sunshade and foot stirrups. Although it is less durable and better suited for shorter outings, it remains a reliable entry-level option for casual use.

Ergobaby 360 Cool Air Mesh Review: If you’re looking for a compact, frameless carrier, the Ergobaby 360 Cool Air is an excellent choice. It is lightweight and breathable, making it ideal for urban outings or shorter hikes. Its ergonomic design ensures comfort for both the parent and the baby; however, it lacks the storage and support of framed carriers.

Deuter Kid Comfort Review: For parents seeking a more feature-packed carrier, the Deuter Kid Comfort offers excellent padding, an adjustable fit, and a built-in sunshade. While it is heavier than the SLT, the increased comfort and storage capacity make it an excellent choice for extended hikes and larger children.