I recently found out about a new hiking carrier called Trail Magik. Even though the design is really simple, it’s very different than other hiking carriers for kids – and solves the problem of backpacking with toddlers and little walkers.
Quick Specs:
- Age range: 1 year to 43lbs
- Carrier weight: 9.8oz
- Material: Cordura and nylon webbing
- Colors: Currently 6 options
- Buy Here – Use discount code MOMGOES for 10% off
What Is the Trail Magik Carrier?
The Trail Magik is a tummy-to-tummy child carrier made for hiking and backpacking. What makes it different than other hiking carriers is that it doesn’t have its own shoulder straps or hip belt. Instead, it attaches to your backpack.
How to Use
You can’t use the Trail Magik carrier by itself. Instead, you have to use it with a proper backpack. By “proper” backpack, I mean one which has a wide hip belt, padding on the should straps and lift-loader straps.
To wear, you first attach the bottom of the Trail Magik carrier onto your backpack straps using carabiners. Then you attach the top part of the carrier to your lift-loader straps. You then wriggle your child inside and can start hiking.
What’s Great about the Trail Magik
It’s Light and Compact
Because the Trail Magik uses your backpack’s straps, it doesn’t need its own shoulder straps or hip straps. This means the Trail Magik carrier is much lighter than standard hiking carriers. It only weighs 9.8oz. It also packs down really tiny.
By contrast, the mei tai carrier I used when hiking with my kid weighed 24oz and took up a huge amount of space in my pack. The backpack style carrier I used when my kid was older weighed 6lbs and was massive!
Also read: Soft vs. Framed Child Carriers
You Can Use Your Normal Backpack with It
If you use a front hiking carrier, it can be really annoying — or even painful – to wear a backpack. You end up with two sets of straps on your shoulders and two belts around your waist. So, the fact that you can wear your normal hiking backpack with the Trail Magik is a big plus.
This is me wearing a mei tai carrier with a backpack. Look how many straps I have on me! I didn’t even bother taking off the backpack during breaks because it would have been annoying to put back on.
Fast to Put On
Compared to other types of hiking carriers, it is really easy to put the Trail Magik on or take it off. This is wonderful if your child is like mine and wants to hike for 10 minutes, and then wants to be carried again, only to ask to get out again 5 minutes later.
With other types of carriers, this would be really annoying. Mei tai carriers need to be completely rewrapped each time. Backpack carriers need to be taken completely off and require some maneuvering to lift onto your back.
To get your child out of the Trail Magik, you just need to unsnap the top strap (if your kid is little, you might even be able to lift them out without unsnapping). Since it’s lightweight, you can leave the carrier on until your child wants to hop back in.
Just let the carrier hang while your kids run around. It’s quick to get them back inside.
Carry Two Kids At Once
I’ve seen parents tandem carrying their kids using two carriers. It never looks particularly comfortable. It would be easier with the Trail Magik because you can attach it to your backpack-type hiking carrier.
Can Use with Big Kids
The Trail Magik is one of the only hiking carriers for big kids. In addition to hiking, parents who have kids with disabilities would probably find it useful.
Price
Child hiking carriers can be incredibly expensive. While the Trial Magik carrier isn’t exactly cheap, it is a LOT cheaper than a backpack stype carrier. You’ll probably get more use out of it too because it’s easy to take with you on hikes.
*Remember that you’ll get 10% off Trail Magik if you buy here.
The Downsides
Not Very Versatile
You can only use the Trail Magik as a tummy-to-tummy front carrier. You can’t put your child so they are front-facing. Nor can you use it on your back.
You Must Use It with a Proper Hiking Backpack
This is actually the biggest drawback of the Trail Magik for my family. I wear my massive 55L backpack until we get to base camp. Then I use my older daughter’s 28L hiking pack for our day trips. Even though her pack does have lift loader straps, it isn’t sturdy enough to be used with the Trail Magik.
I doubt the Trail Magik would work with a lot of ultralight backpacks since they are made out of more delicate materials. You really need something with good structure to it.
Not the Most Comfortable Carrier
Compared to backpack-type carriers, the Trail Magik isn’t very comfortable to wear long distances. Plus, front-carrying can really put you off balance when on difficult terrain. The Trail Magik is better for giving your child a short break – not for carrying them the entire hike.
It would be more comfortable to carry a big kid like this in a backpack carrier
Difficult to Use with Big Kids
Even though you can use the Trail Magik with children up to 43lbs, it isn’t ideal for kids this big:
- It’s hard to carry this much weight in the front.
- Their feet end up dangling down your sides, which makes it difficult to use hiking poles.
- If your child is tall, their head may block your view.
To be fair, these downsides apply to all front hiking carriers. It’s simply easier to carry big kids on your back in a framed carrier.
Front carrying is definitely doable and better than carrying your kid in your arms. And the Trail Magik may be better than carrying a massive backpack carrier for your entire trip “just in case” your child gets tired. But be realistic about your ability to carry 40lbs on your front!
In the video below, you can see what it’s like to put a 4 ½ year old in the Trail Magik.That’s one hardcore mama! 😀
The Verdict?
The Trail Magik carrier is an awesome solution for backpacking with little kids who mostly walk on their own but still need to be carried sometimes. But, if you are going to be carrying your child for the entirety of a long hike, you probably need a backpack carrier or a hiking stroller.
Get the Trail Magik carrier here.
Use discount code MOMGOES for 10% off
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