Many hiking enthusiasts enjoy sharing nature walks with their children. However, the little ones can tire out within the first mile or two, meaning moms and dads have to carry their munchkins for the rest of the journey. Either the parents are left with aching necks and backs or the expedition is cut short. Neither one is particularly appealing.

Luckily, the Piggyback Rider was created. Touted as a hiking parent’s best friend, the device evenly distributes the child’s weight. It has padded should straps similar to that of a backpack. The shoulder-mounted foot-bar distributes children’s weights (up to 60 pounds) at their parents’ cores. Parents can stand upright, not hunched over to support their children’s weight during the piggyback ride.

The foot bar sits just at waist-level. The kiddos can hold onto the handles that are integrated into the shoulder straps of the carrier. Additional safety features include a safety harness for the young passenger. This harness easily hooks into the Piggyback Rider.

Even celebrity parents love this product. Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott state, “We love the Piggyback Rider; makes taking the kids around so easy!”

The product was developed by the Lifshitz brothers, of Full Sail International LLC. The Piggyback Rider will be available for viewing and demonstrations at the Outdoor Retailer Show later this week.

If you’re planning a late summer family vacation, you may want to place an order for one of these child carriers. Aside from your hiking boots, this might be the one thing you can’t hike without.

What’s your choice tired-child transportation method?