I remember my first time hiking with my baby when she was around 4 months old. It was difficult to manage a traditional baby carrier on my front while slinging the diaper bag on my back. It was also bulky with two straps on each shoulder, all while trying to find an accessible place for my water bottle.
The Hatcher Pack Adventure Diaper Bag has all the features of an adventure backpack paired with a baby carrier that, unlike many child hiking carriers that are only sized for bigger children, is made for newborns and toddlers alike.
I tested the Hatcher Pack on a 2-week adventure through Italy and Switzerland. it fulfilled my need for a convenient diaper bag and a way to carry my baby through public transit, hours of walking, and beyond.
In short: The Hatcher Pack combines two essential parenting items: a diaper bag and a baby carrier in a single backpack. It’s designed for parents adventuring with small children. While it may have issues fitting larger caregivers, at the end of the day it is one of my favorite products to use when adventuring with my baby due to its high level of support, comfort, and handy features.
If you’re shopping for baby carriers, check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Baby Carriers to compare with the Hatcher Pack Adventure Baby Carrier.
Hatcher Pack Adventure Diaper Bag
Specs
- Fit Unisex
- Size One size fits most
- Color options Koala Gray
- Weight 2.64 lbs. (1.2 kg)
- Sizing range 7- to 35-lb. child
- Volume 2,440.95 cu. in. (40 L)
- Price $200
Pros
- Combines two baby items into one
- Comfortable enough for all-day wear
- Made for a wide range of child sizes
- Baby can be nursed while in the carrier
Cons
- May not fit larger caregivers
- Top straps a little difficult to clip when adventuring with baby alone
Hatcher Pack Adventure Diaper Bag Review
What Makes the Hatcher Pack Different From Other Hiking Child Carriers?
Adventuring and traveling with a baby requires a lot of gear. From diapers and wipes to bottles and extra clothes, carrying all of it as well as your baby can be cumbersome and exhausting. Many child hiking carriers are made for babies who have full head and neck control. That leaves parents of younger children to have to improvise until their children get older.
As mentioned, that was already creating issues for me and my 4-month-old when I tried hiking with her.
Apparently, though, I wasn’t the only one with this issue. As parents themselves, and entrepreneurs, the Thatchers designed their own solution: the Hatcher Pack. This pack combines an adventure backpack with a baby carrier for children as small as 7 pounds, wrapping all of a parent’s needs into one convenient item.
The Backpack
The Hatcher Pack has all the features of a traditional hiking or day pack as well as a baby-wearing attachment. When used as a backpack alone, there is a chest and waist clip that is adjustable for comfort and wide and deep water bottle pockets on each side. Those were also convenient for storing the baby carrier attachment when not in use.
Additionally, there is a sleeve specifically for a hydration bladder as well as quick-grab storage pouches on the shoulder straps for smaller items like phones, wallets, and snacks.
Inside is a large, cavernous space with a laptop sleeve and zipper pouch. I stored large, puffy items like diapers and wipes in the open space and stashed smaller things like a rattle and infant Tylenol in the zipper pouch.
At times, I wished there were a few more dividers in the open space for organization. But the additional pouches in the brain and on the outside of the pack helped with prioritizing frequently needed items like a burp cloth and nursing cover.
Wearing the Baby
The backpack’s waist belt clips into the seat of the baby carrier and allows the baby to face in or out. Smaller babies without head control can face in and use the adjustable neck support. Even though my child has full head control, I found the neck support helpful when she was facing inward and sleeping so that her head did not flop backward while she napped.
I spent the better part of 2 weeks with my baby strapped to me in this pack. The structure of the pack was always snug and supportive while evenly distributing my baby’s weight. Even when hiking up and down hills, I never felt extremely forward heavy and was able to carry her without back pain.
One of my favorite features of the Hatcher Pack is the ability to nurse my baby on the go. Small children eat frequently and stopping your hike or adventure every time a baby needs to eat makes for a long day and a short hike.
With the Hatcher Pack, I was able to face the baby inward and loosen the shoulder straps to lower her to chest level and nurse. The outer support straps were secure enough to hold the baby in place while I continued to walk, enabling my family and me to continue on our adventure.
Critique: Caregiver Sizing
According to Hatcher Packs, this item is “one size fits most,” but I did not find that to be the case. The waist buckle and front child security clip are attached to the same strap. So, to reach around the baby, the waist section needs to be very tight. I, a 5’4”, 185-pound female, found it to fit well and maybe a bit snug if I was wearing it over my puffy coat.
On the other hand, my husband, a 5’6”, 215-pound male, said that it was so tight when he was wearing the baby he couldn’t fully exhale, making the entire experience uncomfortable. My baby is currently 9 months old and as she grows and needs more room in the front straps, I can imagine it may feel tight on my smaller frame as well.
Hatcher Pack Adventure Diaper Bag: Conclusion
Overall, I really loved the Hatcher Pack. It is made for a wide range of baby sizes so it can be used over multiple years. And it works as a standalone backpack as well. The pack is cheaper than many traditional hiking backpacks and is comfortable enough for all-day wear.
It also solves the problem of having to carry multiple items when out with my baby. Other baby carriers just haven’t been as functionally useful or as thoughtfully laid out.
I would recommend the Hatcher Pack to any folks looking for a convenient way to adventure with young children.
