Price:
$319
Our Rating:
Like the Macpac Possum, the Poco Plus has an easy-adjust harness to cater to the different back lengths of parents. There is also a mesh back panel which creates some space between the aluminium frame through which air can travel. Combined with the rigid frame, the carrier doesn’t so much contour to your back like the Possum does, but sit straight on it, with the weight being aimed directly at the hips. I found it very comfortable and a rock-solid fit that didn’t result in the carrier swinging or swaying as I walked.
The hipbelt uses a firm non-bulky foam. The belt itself can be extended 7.5cm on each side with what Osprey calls a ‘Fit-on-the-fly’ – the padding inlay slides out of the belt. It’s an excellent feature for those who are carrying extra girth.
I particularly liked the Poco Plus’s external stand which can be opened or shut while wearing the carrier. This makes loading and unloading baby super easy and convenient – open the stand before dropping the carrier to the ground. Because the stand is external, storage and access to your gear in the lower compartment is not compromised – the stand just doesn’t close as much when the compartment is filled.
A built-in sun shade is accessed from the top rear pocket. It slides up and folds over the baby’s head to be buckled in near the shoulder straps. The baby harness is simple to use – it comes from in front of the baby to clip into buckles near their shoulders. The stitched chest strap doesn’t need a buckle, making it even simpler to secure the baby.
The baby seat has less padding than the Possum and when first used I didn’t adjust the seat height correctly, resulting in a friction sore appearing on my daughter’s hip. Once the seat was adjusted, this problem didn’t repeat.
The carrier has a 23-litre capacity and a maximum load of 22kg. It is substantially smaller than the Possum, but because access is not hindered by the main compartment, there is probably more useful, usable space for those who want to use it frequently and on shorter outings.
The Poco Plus has some useful features like a phone pocket (too small for modern smartphones) on the shoulder strap and a hydration sleeve behind the back panel.
I found the Poco Plus to be the most comfortable carrier, but after using this and the Possum on a daily basis for two months, it was the easy-attach built-in sunshade and external stand that really won me over.