Deuter Pico Backpack
The Deuter Pico, with its blend of thoughtful design and sturdy construction, aims to be a dependable companion on your child's early adventures, from the first day of preschool to family hikes and beyond.
Our Verdict
Light weight with moderate storage capacity, more suitable for half-day preschool sessions
Ergonomics
Streamlined, child-friendly design simplifies toddler bag carrying
Water Resistant
Quick drying and only effective against light moisture
Harness
Padded, contoured straps ensures proper weight distribution
Load
Bag capacity is more suitable for 2 years and below
Our opinion reflects our personal experience with the product. We encourage you to consider our assessment alongside your own research to determine if it's the right fit for you.
Buying Options
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Full Review
Finding the perfect children's backpack often feels like an impossible quest – you need something tough enough to survive daily abuse while actually working for small humans and their particular needs. The Deuter Pico enters this arena specifically designed for adventurous tots aged 2 and up. We've put this pack through its paces to see if it delivers on its promises.
First Impression
Built from robust 600D REC PES fabric, the Pico handles the inevitable toddler thrashing with ease. This recycled polyester isn't just marketing fluff – PES fibers deliver serious tear and abrasion resistance while barely absorbing moisture, perfect for the juice-box-and-puddle world our little ones inhabit. Deuter, with decades of pack-making wisdom, opted for a PFAS-free water-repellent treatment on this technical textile. It's both a practical choice and an environmental nod that will resonate with parents increasingly mindful about what materials touch their children's world.
The main compartment offers a modest 5-liter capacity with a horseshoe-style zipper providing decent access to the goods inside. There's a name tag tucked in there – a simple but crucial feature when your little one's bag joins twenty identical ones at preschool.
Crafted from a durable polyester fabric, known for its resilience against the wear and tear.
What caught my eye was the thoughtful color harmony – from the understated two-tone base to the playful front prints, right down to the matching zipper threads and pulls. This cohesive approach feels refreshingly intentional compared to the visual chaos typical of kids' products.
Child-Friendliness
For kids' packs, proper fit isn't just about comfort – it's a health consideration. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children's backpacks stay under 10-20% of body weight, a principle clearly guiding the Pico's design. The back panel features kid-specific padding shaped for small frames, and at just 8 ounces empty, the lightweight design ensures the pack itself isn't eating into that weight allowance.
However, no product is without its challenges. The main compartment opening, while secure, could be more generous – younger users might need help reaching items that have settled at the bottom. The zipper pull, which occasionally tucks into the elastic side pocket, could present challenges for small hands to grip and manoeuvre. Toddlers might find it difficult to fish out the zipper pull and maintain their grip while opening the bag. While most children would likely master this with practice, it's a design quirk that could require initial parent assistance.
Harness System
The anatomical engineering of the Pico's harness deserves special mention. The straps are shaped to stay put without slipping off narrow shoulders, while a chest strap adds stability for active kiddos. The adjustable straps accommodate growth spurts, extending the pack's useful life considerably.
The S-shaped shoulder straps are a standout feature, padded and contoured to fit little shoulders comfortably.
The back panel is lightly padded, providing a cushion against sharp objects inside the bag. This padding also adds a bit of structure to the pack, helping it maintain its shape even when not fully loaded. To enhance comfort, Deuter incorporated a breathable mesh panel that not only improves ventilation but also prevents the bag from sliding around on your child's back, ensuring a more stable and cool wearing experience during warmer days.
Storage Capabilities
The Pico's main compartment embraces a "less is more" philosophy with its unstructured cavity – an approach that proves surprisingly kid-friendly. This straightforward design allows toddlers to access their treasures without navigating complex organization systems.
The stretchy side pockets offer storage solutions for water bottles, though with some limitations. Standard-sized drink containers sit securely, but chunkier bottles become a tight squeeze, potentially frustrating both parents and thirsty kiddos. During testing, slim water bottles nestled in perfectly, while wider options required some wrestling. The elastic pocket grip keeps water bottles from making escape attempts – a thoughtful touch for parents tired of backtracking for dropped bottles.
We love how the elastic pocket holds the water bottle firmly in place.
Our testing showed comfortable capacity for toddler essentials: a 10 oz water bottle, complete clothing change in a wet bag, a napkin, standard picture book, and the non-negotiable stuffed companion. This proves ideal for toddler daily carry, making the simple design a feature rather than a limitation for 2-year-olds who typically carry minimal items.
However, as children reach kindergarten age, the bag's storage constraints become more apparent. Parents of 3-5 year olds might find themselves seeking more sophisticated storage solutions that offer multiple compartments and greater organizational flexibility.
Durability and Cleaning
Deuter's reputation for bombproof construction comes through in the Pico. The reinforced bottom withstands being dragged, dropped, and generally subjected to toddler handling. This reinforcement adds practical durability without creating an uncomfortable rigid base.
The polyester fabric wipes clean easily for minor incidents. For more significant messes, a gentle machine wash works fine, though to preserve the water-repellent finish, stick with cold water and a non-detergent cleaner. Skip fabric softener as it compromises the DWR coating, and always air-dry to prevent heat damage to the water-resistant properties. When water stops beading on the surface, you can revive the DWR with a spray-on treatment specifically designed for outdoor gear.
Water Resistance
The Pico's durable water-repellent finish provides practical protection against everyday moisture encounters. During testing, water beaded up and rolled off the fabric nicely – perfect for unexpected drizzles or spilled drinks. Our napkin test (placing napkin inside and spraying the exterior) confirmed the fabric effectively repels typical day-to-day moisture exposure.
The water-repellent finish provides a decent defense against light rain and inevitable spills.
It's worth noting that water-repellent differs from waterproof. While the DWR coating handles brief moisture contact well, sustained heavy rain will eventually penetrate. The zippers, though well-made, aren't designed as water barriers.
What impressed us was the fabric's quick-drying properties – if the bag gets wet during morning drop-off, it's typically dry by pickup time. Parents should note that the DWR finish may gradually lose effectiveness with regular use and washing, though this is standard for all water-repellent treatments.
Technical Details
Dimension
11 x 7.5 x 4.7 inch
Weight
0.44 lbs
Storage
5 litres
Material
600D REC PES
Customer Reviews
"The backpack is of very good quality and looks nice. Unfortunately, the opening is much too small. My daughter's snack box barely fits through the opening. Therefore, she cannot put in and out the can by herself."
"The backpack fits my 2-year-old daughter very well and offers enough space for everything necessary for everyday daycare. I've already washed it in the washing machine and it still looks good."
"Great design and well made! Made to fit a 1 or 2 year old. Main compartment is big enough for small water bottle, set of clothes and maybe a small toy/stuffed animal. Side mesh pockets are perfect for holding a small snack. Very happy with purchase!"
"The bag came in very quickly. The material seems very sturdy. I do like that is has a chest chip. However- the straps and bag are much to small for my five year old. He is on the taller side but we were unable to find a comfortable position with the straps. I think it would be ideal for a smaller child."
Opening of the bag is too small.
Not enough storage space to fit everything a child needs.
- Thoughtfully designed harness system with child-specific padding to ensure proper weight distribution and comfort for developing spines
- Lightweight design doesn't add unnecessary burden
- Water-repellent finish helps protect contents
- Robust construction with reinforced bottom
- Basic back ventilation may lead to sweatiness in warm weather
- Opening is too small to get items out
- Lack advanced organizational features
Conclusion
The Deuter Pico strikes a solid balance between practicality and kid-friendly design, making it a worthy companion for toddlers taking their first independent steps. Its strengths shine in its rugged construction, thoughtful ergonomics, and features that accommodate growing children. The featherweight frame and anatomical straps particularly excel for neighborhood adventures and preschool commutes.
That said, the Pico isn't without compromises. The zipper accessibility and modest capacity might frustrate some users, and the minimal internal organization could challenge parents of older preschoolers managing more complex daily supplies.
The pack performs best for quick park outings, casual playdates, and half-day preschool sessions. While capable of handling occasional library trips or grandparent visits, it's not your go-to for extended adventures requiring multiple outfit changes or elaborate snack arrangements.
For parents prioritizing durability and simplicity over fancy features, the Pico offers reliable performance that grows with your toddler through the early years.
