Thule Sapling Child Carrier Backpack Review
- Elena
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
When I was shopping around for a child carrier backpack, it was daunting having to choose between different manufacturers and models, so for a while I didn't know which one to pick. However, then I came across Thule Sapling, which quickly became my child carrier backpack of choice. Read this Thule Sapling child carrier review to discover the reasons why I think it's the best one on the market currently.
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Let's start with the obvious: the thing that makes Thule Sapling stand out amongst all the other child carriers is the way the seat is shaped. It is wider and there is significantly more support in the hip area; in fact, the seat extends to just underneath the child's knees, making it the only ergonomic backpack carrier seat out there (Thule call it ErgoRide). Whilst I obviously cannot try out the seat myself, it does seem to me to be a much more comfortable option compared to a traditional narrow seat with the optional stirrups for the feet. Another benefit of Thule's innovative approach is that the seat can be taken off and washed.
The safety harness is attached at the back and also secured in the middle, so the child is well fastened. You can open both sides of the seat to make getting the child in easier, which is helpful; without opening the sides, I do find it a bit tricky to get the feet through the openings when I am alone. With two adults present, there is no need to open the sides, one can hold the child and the other one can help direct the feet where they need to go.
Be mindful of the fact that the old model of Thule's child carrier is also called Sapling; however, that one has a traditional narrow seat. The two models looks very different visually, so it's easy to tell them apart.
The Thule website currently lists the weight of the Sapling child carrier at 3.8 kilos, but my luggage scale weighed it at 3.2 kilos, so not sure if anything has been changed since I got the backpack. Either way, it's not the lightest child carrier, but it is sturdy and comfortable to wear. One thing I would say though, once you get your child in it, it does take some getting used to carrying all that weight on your back (or at least that's how it was for me). So I would recommend starting small before you take the Thule child carrier on holiday or a proper hike, especially if you are not used to lugging heavy items on your back. Perhaps walk short distances around the neighbourhood a few times. Once my body got used to the weight, it was not a problem to wear on longer hikes. Speaking of weight, the Sapling can carry up to 22 kilos, with the child weight limited to 18 kilos.
I also started to get my daughter used to the backpack by just getting her in the seat for a short time at home long before we were ready for hikes. She wasn't all that thrilled at first, but now she loves watching the world go by from the seat of our Thule child carrier. So if your baby cries when you first get it into the backpack, don't despair straight away, he or she might still grow to love it!
The Thule Sapling child carrier comes with a sunshade, which can be folded and stored away in the gear compartment, as seen in the photos below; if you want a rain cover, that has to be purchased separately. Another optional accessory is a sling pack that can be attached to the Thule Sapling if you want more storage than the available 22L. Whilst the idea of more storage is nice, I felt like I was carrying enough weight around as it was, so I didn't feel like I was missing a sling pack. The ideal situation for me is hiking as a couple, with one person carrying the Thule with the child and the other a normal rucksack where everything else goes.
The shoulder straps and back length of Thule Sapling can be adjusted, but I did find the process of adjusting the back length with a little bit fiddly. My husband and I just use the same back setting to make it easier to switch and only adjust the straps. So far, that has worked well for us.
What else? The kickstand is easy to open and close, and when set on the ground, the Thule child carrier is stable. The drool pad can be taken off and washed. If there was one thing I could change about the carrier, I would have made the drool pad a bit thicker.
Final thoughts: I am really glad I bought the Thule Sapling child carrier backpack. It has been with us on several hikes and has made it possible for us to go and explore places that would not be possible to reach with a stroller: we've hiked stairs, narrow forest paths, steep slopes, explored castle ruins, and it was all easily manageable with the Thule. So if you're looking for a child carrier backpack, Thule is certainly one I can recommend. You can check out the prices here:
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