Piggyback Rider in 2026: price, weight limits and where to buy

Is the Piggyback Rider still sold in 2026?

Not by the company that made it. On Oct 18, 2026, the Piggyback Rider website carried an update thanking families who used the carrier "for over 15 years" and stating that the company has no inventory and is closing the business. The notice names two reasons: the impact of current tariffs and what it calls the Amazon ecosystem, which it describes as both a blessing and a curse. It also asks anyone interested in buying the rights to manufacture and distribute the product to email the company.

The rest of the site still looks like a working store, which can confuse shoppers. The homepage banner still advertises promotions on Scout purchases, but the Backpacks and Accessories category pages say there are no products listed, and the old Scout product page returns a "page not found" error. In short, there is nothing to add to a cart.

The notice is not dated on the page, so PickedBox cannot say exactly when sales stopped.

Piggyback Rider weight limits, age range and carrier weight

The design is unusual: the adult wears it like a backpack, and the child stands on an aluminum bar behind the adult's back, holding two hand grips and clipped in with a safety harness. Shoppers who find one secondhand should know the maker's own limits, taken from the official Piggyback Rider FAQ:

• Child weight: up to 50 lbs (23 kg).
• Age: the FAQ calls it ideal for children 2 and older and recommends an upper limit of 6 years. Its rule of thumb is that a child who can walk up and down stairs unaided is ready.
• Harness: every carrier was sold with a child safety harness. The FAQ says the harness has no chest strap on purpose, to avoid a strangulation risk when mounting, dismounting or in a fall.
• Shoes: the company recommends that children wear shoes for grip on the bar tape.
• Carrier weight: the homepage says about 2 lbs, while the company's comparison chart lists 2.3 lbs. Older Amazon listing copy said under 3 lbs.
• Hip belt: sold as an add-on. The FAQ notes that with the hip belt fitted, the standing bar cannot be raised or lowered for the child's height.

The 2022 Scout bundle paired the carrier with the safety harness and was marketed for ages 2 to 4. A used unit should come with its harness. If it does not, the maker's FAQ makes clear the carrier was never meant to be used without one.

What a Piggyback Rider Scout cost, and what it costs now

There is no current list price because nothing is for sale on the official site. The figures below are the last ones PickedBox could find, with their dates or sources:

• Company comparison chart: "starting at $90.00", still shown on the child carrier comparison page on Oct 18, 2026.
• Fatherly deal article (undated): a $155 list price on the company site, with the Scout marked down to about $90 on Amazon at the time.
• Marketplace listings: eBay listings from 2023 showed new Scouts at about $90 from a reseller and $124.99 to $165 for multi-piece bundles from the official seller account. Those listings may no longer be active.

Expect secondhand prices to move around now that new stock is gone. A fair check is to compare any used price with the old $90 to $155 range. Paying more than the original list price for a discontinued carrier with no factory support is hard to justify when the alternatives below are in stock.

Where to find a Piggyback Rider now

• Amazon: leftover stock from third-party sellers may still appear. PickedBox could not load Amazon search results on Oct 18, 2026, so availability there is unconfirmed. Check the seller name and return window on any listing, and search the plain Amazon results page for Piggyback Rider. The PickedBox Amazon page lists current Amazon offers.
• Used marketplaces: eBay and local listings are the most likely source. Ask whether the safety harness and all straps are included, and look for bends in the standing bar.
• Rental: BabyQuip, a baby gear rental marketplace, has had local providers listing the Scout for trips. For a one-time vacation or theme park visit, renting avoids buying a product that can no longer be supported.

One caution on support: the maker's warranty page promises lifetime coverage against defects for the original owner, with service by phone through a return authorization number. With the business closing, PickedBox could not confirm whether anyone will honor warranty claims or sell replacement parts. Treat any used unit as sold as is.

Piggyback Rider alternatives and October 2026 prices

No other company PickedBox found sells a standing carrier like it in the US. The closest replacements carry the child seated, either in a soft toddler carrier or a framed hiking pack. Prices below were shown on the brands' own sites on Oct 18, 2026.

Osprey's load range for the Poco LT covers the child, gear and pack together, so the child's own weight limit is lower than 48.5 lbs. The Tula Kid Carrier's 60 lb rating is higher than the Piggyback Rider's 50 lbs, and it rolls up small, which was the standing carrier's main selling point. A shoulder carrier such as the MiniMeis G4 is another compact option; retailer listings rate it at about 40 lbs, but PickedBox did not find an official US price.

Who a standing carrier suited, and who should skip a used one

The Piggyback Rider made the most sense for parents of a 3 or 4 year old who walks most of the way but tires on long days at a zoo, theme park or trail. The child can hop off and walk, then climb back on, and the carrier packs down small when empty.

It suits a used buyer less well if the child is under 2, cannot yet manage stairs alone, or is close to 50 lbs. Follow the maker's limits above, and ask a pediatrician if a child has balance or muscle tone concerns before using any carrier where the child stands. For a newer, supported product, the Tula Kid Carrier is the cheapest of the alternatives listed here.

How we checked this

On Oct 18, 2026, PickedBox read the closing notice on the Piggyback Rider homepage, the empty Backpacks and Accessories category pages, the official FAQ, the child carrier comparison chart and the warranty page. Old prices come from the comparison chart, an undated Fatherly deal article and 2023 eBay listings found through search. Alternative prices and ratings come from the Tula Kid Carrier collection page and Osprey's Poco collection and Poco LT pages. Amazon search results could not be loaded, so Amazon stock was not confirmed. No carrier was handled for this page.

• Piggyback Rider: homepage with closing notice
• Piggyback Rider: frequently asked questions
• Piggyback Rider: child carrier comparison chart
• Fatherly: Piggyback Rider carrier deal
• BabyQuip: Piggyback Rider Scout rental listing
• Tula: toddler and kid carriers
• Osprey: Poco family of child carriers
• Osprey: Poco LT

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