In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Phil and Teds Parade Review

Limited adjustments means a poor fit for parents and babies
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Phil and Teds Parade Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $140 List
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Manufacturer:   Phil & Teds
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Nov 20, 2017
29
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 10
  • Parent Comfort - 30% 1.0
  • Storage - 20% 4.0
  • Child Comfort - 25% 2.0
  • Ease of Use - 25% 5.0

Our Verdict

Compared to others in our lineup of baby backpack carriers, the Phil and Teds Parade is an inexpensive baby-carrying pack with a smaller frame and reduced padding that creates a compact pack intended for city life. This backpack is one of the least comfortable options to wear. Testers complained about the unsupportive waist strap, thinly padded shoulder straps, stationary torso length, and the legs poking them in the behind while walking. Little ones were almost as uncomfortable despite a wide padded seat bottom. The harness is poorly padded, the cockpit is too large for a secure fit, and it has no headrest and no place for a napping baby to rest. The Parade's price is attractive, and its smaller design might intrigue city dwellers who are getting around with their baby in tow, but we think the disappointing fit and questionable comfort will have you wishing you'd spent more, even if your outings are short and few.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Budget-friendly
REASONS TO AVOID
No torso adjustment
No canopy
Thin padding

Compare to Similar Products

 
phil and teds parade
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Baby Backpack
Best Value Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Best Value Award
Best for the Tightest of Budgets
 
Price $140 List
$139.99 at Amazon
$350 List
Check Price at Amazon
$280 List
$212.32 at Amazon
$200 List
$169.90 at Amazon
$135 List
$104.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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84
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41
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Uncomfortable pack with larger cockpit leaves parents and kids wanting moreEasy to use, comfortable pack with a canopy, hydration pocket, and ample storageDespite a lack of storage, this comfortable pack is good for those on a budget or narrower buildsLower quality backpack with a budget-friendly price and decent storagePoor fitting pack with disappointing features and functionality
Rating Categories Phil and Teds Parade Kelty Journey Perfe... Deuter Kid Comfort... LuvdBaby Premium Clevr Cross Country
Parent Comfort (30%)
1
8.0
9.0
6.0
5.0
Storage (20%)
4.0
10.0
6.0
7.0
3.0
Child Comfort (25%)
2.0
9.0
9.0
5.0
4.0
Ease of Use (25%)
5.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
4.0
Specs Phil and Teds Parade Kelty Journey Perfe... Deuter Kid Comfort... LuvdBaby Premium Clevr Cross Country
Usage Ranges //Min/Max:// 16 lbs - 40 lbs Min-Max: 16 lbs - 40 lbs Min-Max: When child can sit upright independently - 48 lbs Min-Max: 16 lbs - 40 lbs Min-Max: 16 lbs - 33 lbs
Max Pack Load 40 lbs 48.5 lbs 48 lbs N/A 40 lbs
Weight 4.6 lbs 7.4 lbs 6 lbs 6.4 lbs 5.3 lbs
BGL Folded/Flat Dimensions 14" W x 7.5" H x 24" L 16" W x 10" H x 31" L 16.5" W x 10" H x 31" L 14.7" W x 9.5" H x 28.5" L 15" W x 11" H x 30" L
Frame Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Fabric 300d and 600d Fabric Body: Poly 420D Small Back Stafford
Interior: 75D Poly x 140D Nylon Blend
210 denier polyamide fabric. Tear and abrasion resistant, watertight to 1500 mm Waterproof 600D & 300D Ripstop Polyester 600d Oxford Cloth
Stirrups No Yes, adjustable Yes Yes No
Canopy No Yes No Yes Yes
Hydration Bladder Compatible No Yes No Yes No
Included Accessories Journey Sunshade Changing Pad, Rain Cover
Care Instructions Spot Clean Spot Clean Hand Wash Spot Clean Spot Clean, No Detergent

Our Analysis and Test Results

International company Phil and Teds is a creator and marketer of award-winning juvenile gear. The company has been creating gear for 20+ years under brand names like Mountain Buggy and Mokopuna. Phil and Teds have been honored with three Red Dot awards and offer various products, including backpack carriers, strollers, travel gear, car seats, and more.

Performance Comparison



phil and teds parade - the parade has limited padding on the straps and an unsupportive...
The Parade has limited padding on the straps and an unsupportive waistband. The large cockpit results in parents leaning forward to get the baby closer to their body where it feels more comfortable to carry them.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Parent Comfort


The Parade offers the worst overall parent comfort results in the group. This option's shoulder strap, waist, and back padding are poor.


phil and teds parade - the strap and back padding on the parade is similar to a book...
The strap and back padding on the Parade is similar to a book backpack and isn't enough to comfortably support the weight of a growing child. The flat back also means it doesn't breathe well which could result in an excessively sweaty back on hotter days or longer hikes.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The inability to adjust the shoulder straps tight enough means little ones are hanging too far away from the wearer, making it feel off balance. This design puts excess pressure on the collar bones and the front of the shoulders.

phil and teds parade - some parade users made repeated unsuccessful efforts to adjust the...
Some Parade users made repeated unsuccessful efforts to adjust the pack and bring baby closer to their body.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The waist belt is just as disappointing and is the worst for support. The torso length of the Parade can't be adjusted at all, so if your torso is longer or shorter than the pack, you'll end up feeling parts digging into your back because there is little padding to protect you from the poor fit.

phil and teds parade - the front feet on the parade stick out of the pack fabric, and the...
The front feet on the Parade stick out of the pack fabric, and the lack of torso adjustability on this pack means these may be poking you in the rear end or back as you walk. Most of our testers reported this problem no matter what their overall height was.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Some testers feel that the frame of the pack or pack legs poked them in the behind or top of the rear end and the lack of adjustability meant this problem wasn't resolvable. Overall, testers reported they wouldn't want to wear this pack for long when toting baby around town.

phil and teds parade - the parade cockpit is large and leaves too much space for baby to...
The Parade cockpit is large and leaves too much space for baby to flop around inside it. Also, the back of the cockpit isn't tall enough to provide head support to even the littlest of riders.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Child Comfort


The Parade disappoints for child comfort with the lowest result in the group. This pack has a 5-point harness with shoulder straps with padding only around the chest buckle.


phil and teds parade - the 5-point harness on the parade only has padding on the front of...
The 5-point harness on the Parade only has padding on the front of the straps near the chest buckle.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The straps are easy to adjust by lifting the buckle and tightening the belt. The seat bottom is reasonably wide, well-padded, and can be moved by pulling on the front strap to raise it to a higher position.

phil and teds parade - the parade has a very wide cockpit which intuitively seems like it...
The Parade has a very wide cockpit which intuitively seems like it should be more comfortable, but the additional space only translates to a less secure feeling.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The cockpit where the baby sits is too big, even for our larger test baby, which resulted in little ones flopping around inside it, which is uncomfortable for them and the wearer.

phil and teds parade - the seat pad on the parade is wide and relatively stiff which...
The seat pad on the Parade is wide and relatively stiff which prevents it from folding in on itself. It is the nicest thing about the child area.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The seat bottom is wide with thick padding offering comfy support, but the lack of padding on the harness means it digs into the baby's body more than it needs to.

phil and teds parade - you adjust the height of the parade's seat bottom by using the strap...
You adjust the height of the Parade's seat bottom by using the strap adjustment on the inside of the backrest. The backrest itself has limited padding and little ones can feel the backpack frame through the padding.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The headrest also lacks sufficient padding; you can feel the frame bar underneath it. The face pad (where the baby rests while sleeping) has thin padding like the headrest. You can feel the bar, and it has no slant for better head placement. The drool cloth is not removable, and the baby's position in the cockpit means they can't rest on it anyway.

phil and teds parade - the parade doesn't provide stirrups which leave little legs to...
The Parade doesn't provide stirrups which leave little legs to dangle without the option of support.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This pack also has no stirrups leaving the baby's legs to dangle. While not all little ones use stirrups, it can be more comfortable for taller children if they are available.

phil and teds parade - the parade earned its top metric score for ease of use, but with a...
The Parade earned its top metric score for ease of use, but with a result of only 5 of 10 it isn't anything to brag about.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Parade earned a below-average result for ease of use. This pack has no canopy, but you can buy the Phil and Teds Escape canopy. There won't be dedicated storage for it, but it is nice to know it is an option.


The Parade waistband buckle is easy to operate, but the band itself...
The Parade waistband buckle is easy to operate, but the band itself isn't very substantial and it failed to provide support for the pack to help adults more comfortably carry little ones.

The limited adjustability on this backpack makes it fit like a cheap Walmart book bag, and the inability to adjust the torso means you may be frustrated during longer hikes that you can't get the pack appropriately fitted. The chest (above left) and waist buckles (above right) are easy to operate but hard to adjust. The straps and seat for the baby and cockpit alternatively are easy to use even with your baby in the pack.

phil and teds parade - the kickstand and front legs of the parade are not very wide when...
The kickstand and front legs of the Parade are not very wide when fully open. This means the base is narrow and could tilt or topple over if you aren't careful with it.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The kickstand/legs are easy to reach and use, but they don't pop out very far, so it creates a narrow base that could potentially tip over if the baby pushes up off the ground.

phil and teds parade - the parade has a carry handle on the back of the pack.
The Parade has a carry handle on the back of the pack.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Parade has a carry handle in the front of the pack, and the fabric can be spot cleaned only.

phil and teds parade - the parade doesn't offer much storage. it has a child's backpack you...
The parade doesn't offer much storage. It has a child's backpack you can detach, a larger pocket under the pack, and a medium sized easy access pocket on the waistband.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Storage


The Parade has one large and one small compartment on the pack's body and a pocket on the waistband. The pack will not accept a hydration bladder. The lack of storage features makes it one of the worst in the best baby backpack carrier review for storage.


phil and teds parade - larger mobile phones won't fit in the parade front pocket. anything...
Larger mobile phones won't fit in the Parade front pocket. Anything larger than an iPhone 5 will need to find a home elsewhere.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The waist strap pocket is too smaller for larger mobile phones and is probably more suitable for keys, granola bars, or Chapstick.

The Parade has a detachable child's backpack. Unfortunately, the...
The Parade has a detachable child's backpack. Unfortunately, the design of the upside down zippers means items may fall out when you open it.
Detaching the Parade child's pack requires sliding the loop through...
Detaching the Parade child's pack requires sliding the loop through the D ring with a slit in it. It isn't difficult to operate, but it isn't the best method either.

The Parade has a detachable child backpack (above left) that disconnects from the main pack with D loops that have a split where the strap slides through for detachment (above right). The bag's opening zips on the bottom and both sides, so anything inside can potentially fall out when you open it. The compartment is big enough to fit snacks, a water bottle, a couple of diapers, and wipes.

phil and teds parade - the larger pocket under the child pack on the parade has holes...
The larger pocket under the child pack on the PArade has holes designed in the bottom which could result in smaller items falling out. As a result, this pocket is best used for jackets, diapers, and water bottles to prevent the loss of belongings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The more substantial compartment sits under the child pack below the child's seat. This storage zips on three sides, and it has two holes in it where the front legs come out. This design means that smaller items can fall out through the holes, so you'll want to reserve the pocket for bigger things like jackets, diapers, baby wipes, or water bottles.

The Parade does not offer additional pockets or water bottle holders on the front or side of the pack, which is a disappointment since it also doesn't have space for a hydration bladder.

Should You Buy the Phil and Teds Parade?


A baby backpack can make the difference between a successful outing and one that frustrates both child and parent. Unfortunately, the Phil and Teds Parade leaves the parent and child wanting more for comfort. It's also one of the lowest-ranking baby backpacks in the group. Therefore, we suggest passing on this option, especially since there are better-performing backpacks in the lineup.

What Other Baby Backpacks Should You Consider?


If the cost of the Phil and Teds Parade is what attracts your attention, consider the LuvdBaby Premium. This pack's overall performance (although not outstanding compared to high-ranking options) is an improvement from the Parade and is relatively similar in price. If comfort is your main priority, the Deuter Kid Comfort Active SL offers notable comfort, especially for parents with a shorter torso or slimmer body type, and it's still wallet-friendly for the baby backpack world. If you want one of the best packs, the Kelty Journey PerfectFIT Elite is a high-quality, worthy option, especially for avid hikers.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz