The Osprey Poco is a popular child carrier backpack made by Osprey Packs, Inc. It allows parents to carry their children on their backs during hiking or other outdoor activities. The Poco’s suspension system and adjustability make it comfortable for both parent and child. However, some parents wonder if the Poco can be collapsed or folded down when not in use for easier storage and transport. In this article, we will examine the design and features of the Osprey Poco to determine if it can be collapsed.
Osprey Poco Design and Features
The Osprey Poco child carrier has an internal aluminum frame that provides structure, support and durability. The frame consists of two vertical aluminum staves that run the length of the backpack down to the hipbelt. These two staves connect to a horizontal crossbar at the top of the pack across the wearer’s upper back.
The Poco also utilizes Osprey’s AntiGravity suspension system. This features a mesh backpanel that contours to the wearer’s body, providing ventilation and support. The mesh is tensioned between the two vertical aluminium staves. At the bottom of the backpanel is the adjustable harness which connects to the hipbelt with ErgoPull straps.
For the child passenger, the Poco has a cockpit featuring a removable child seat with a 5-point safety harness. The child is protected from the elements by the deployable sunshade hood. There is also a removeable “stowable” child safety mirror allowing the child to see their parent’s face.
Storage wise, the Poco has a large lower compartment for gear accessible via a zippered panel accessed from the top-loading main compartment. There is also space for reservoirs in the hydration sleeve located behind the child seat. Hipbelt pockets provide additional storage.
The Poco utilizes Osprey’s StraightJacket compression system consisting of three compression straps on each side of the pack. This allows the load to be tightened down for a more stable carry.
The Poco comes in three sizes, XS/S, M/L and XL/XXL designed to fit different adult torso lengths. The harness is highly adjustable to dial in the perfect customized fit.
Can the Frame Be Collapsed?
The Osprey Poco gets its structure and suspension from the internal aluminum frame. Unfortunately, this frame is fixed and cannot be collapsed or folded down.
The two vertical aluminum staves are permanently fastened to the hipbelt and backpanel. There is no hinge or folding mechanism built into the frame. Even if you could somehow disconnect the vertical staves from the hipbelt, the horizontial crossbar maintains the width of the frame at the top.
Some manufacturers like Deuter offer child carriers with folding aluminum frames. However, Osprey chose a fixed frame for the Poco most likely prioritizing carry comfort over packability.
So the short answer is no, the Poco’s internal frame cannot be collapsed or folded to make the pack smaller for storage and transport when not in use. The aluminum frame maintains its shape permanently.
Can the Pack Fabric Be Folded?
While the Poco’s internal frame remains fixed, the pack fabric itself can be partially folded and compressed when not loaded.
The pack material itself consisting of durable but flexible nylon and mesh can be folded up fairly compactly widthwise. You can fold the sides of the pack in by grabbing the StraightJacket compression straps and collapsing them inward. This will cut down on the overall width.
You can then use the compression straps to tighten everything down into a narrower package. The pack will still maintain some depth but will be much easier to store by collapsing in the sides.
The child cockpit portion of the pack can also fold down flush with the backpanel to further reduce the pack size somewhat when fully unloaded. Just stuff the cockpit area into the main compartment as much as possible.
While it may not fold down as small as a true collapsible daypack, by utilizing the compression system, you can reduce the overall dimensions of an empty Poco to make it easier to tuck away in storage. It just won’t fold completely flat or have a reduced length.
Other Tips for Storage and Transport
Since the Poco itself does not collapse or fold down much itself, here are some other tips for easier storage and transport when not in use:
– Stuff the empty pack with clothing or other soft items to help it hold its shape if checking on a flight or stacking in the car.
– Use a large duffel bag, plastic storage bin or cardboard box to contain the pack if you need to check it for travel. This will protect the components from damage.
– Remove the deployable sunshade and safety mirror and store separately in their own pockets. This prevents potential breakage.
– Cinch down all compression straps to minimize dimensions and prevent loose items from flopping around.
– If you need it to take up even less space, you can remove the backpanel padding which attaches via velcro. This lets you further compress the pack.
– Consider a collapsible daypack you can then stuff the Poco into for a tidy package. Bonus is the daypack can be used on outings while on your trip.
While the Osprey Poco itself does not fold up or collapse much, you can utilize some packing tricks and accessories to minimize its storage footprint. Proper restraint and containment will allow you to easily transport the Poco. Just don’t expect it fold up into a tiny package!
Carry Comfort vs. Packability
The Poco child carrier is focused primarily on carry comfort over packability. This comes down to Osprey’s design priorities for this type of specialized pack.
Child carrier packs need to provide a very stable, comfortable and safe carrying platform for both adult and child. This requires an aluminum frame sufficient to properly transfer weight to the hips and support the child cockpit. And Osprey’s AntiGravity suspension contributes to carry comfort.
While a folding frame may compact smaller, it requires tradeoffs in stability, weight distribution and ventilation. For a child carrier, comfort and safety take precedence over packability. Parents will haul children short distances from home to trail unlike a backpacking pack requiring easy transport.
If you’re looking for an ultralight, collapsible child carrier, the Poco is not it. But what you sacrifice in packability, you gain in stability, comfort and safety for long hauls with your young passenger. This allows for full-day hiking and camping adventures not possible with more minimalist kid carries.
For most families, the Poco hits the sweet spot between comfort and convenience when you consider how it will primarily be used. Yes, it’s bulky for storage but you can make some adjustments to minimize its footprint when not loaded up with a kid for the trail.
Conclusion
The Osprey Poco child carrier is designed with an internal aluminum frame that provides structure, support and suspension but does not allow the pack to be folded up or collapsed significantly. The frame’s fixed shape ensures optimal comfort and safety when carrying children but does limit the pack’s ability to compress for storage when not in use.
While the pack itself does not fold up much, you can utilize compression straps, accessory bags and smart packing techniques to reduce its dimensions as much as possible. This allows for easier storage and transport without sacrificing on-trail carrying performance.
When choosing the Poco, you gain incredible child hauling capability but lose out on true collapsibility. Focus on dialing in the fit, loading it properly and using accessories to minimize its footprint for storage in between adventures. With some creativity, you can find places to stash your Poco when you’re done letting it take your toddlers to the great outdoors.