I tested Ergobaby's popular Omni 360 baby carrier with my infant, and it's the most comfortable, versatile one I've tried

• Ergobaby Omni 360 can hold babies from 7 to 45 pounds, which corresponds to infants that are roughly 1 week to 48 months old.
• The baby carrier is available in several colors and you can choose either the cotton version or the cool air mesh carrier, which is made of polyester and cotton fabric.
• The hidden privacy hood protects your baby from the sun and the detachable front pouch provides ample storage for things like a smartphone, sunscreen, and keys.

Baby carriers make it easy to hold your infant and keep your hands free at the same time. We at Insider Reviews have tested a number of baby carriers, including ones that are simple fabric wraps and others that are more complex and fully featured.

One of the most popular baby carriers, the Ergobaby Omni 360, may be on the more expensive end of the spectrum at $180, but it has quickly found its way onto many baby registries because of its handy features and comfortable fit.

A lot of new parents may wonder if it's actually worth the steep price, so we decided to test it out. Ergobaby sent me a review sample of the Omni 360 in the green khaki cool-air mesh fabric. I've been trying it out for a few months and I'm very impressed.

Design and specs

Ergobaby claims the Omni 360 can hold children ages 1 week to 48 months old or, in terms of weight, children who weigh between 7 and 45 pounds. Thanks to its versatile design, you don't need to purchase an additional infant insert for your newborn. The Omni 360 also offers four ways to carry a baby: inward-facing, outward-facing, side carry, and on your back. These options are nice to have as your child grows and their needs change.

The Omni 360 weighs just over a pound and comes in either cotton or a cotton-polyester blend that's called "cool-air mesh" (this is the version I tested). The mesh offers more breathability for both parent and child, but both options are machine washable. The carrier comes with a detachable pouch on the front and a hidden privacy hood near the top that provides coverage for your child's head.

Equipped with nice thick shoulder straps and a wide padded waistband to help absorb the stress of the belt against your back, this carrier is surprisingly comfortable. Additionally, the Omni 360 has quick slider adjustments on the front that, along with the color-coded Velcro harness on the inner part of the waist belt, make it easy to customize the carrier to your baby's size.

What it's like to use

Recently, I tested the Boppy ComfyChic carrier and enjoyed it, but I needed to watch some videos to understand how to wear it. That was not the case with the Omni 360. Right out of the box, it was practically ready to go. I simply adjusted the seat width based on the color-coded Velcro system on the waistband and was off for an afternoon walk with my infant son (walk for me, nap for him) in just a few minutes.

As far as the fit goes, Ergobaby recommends wearing it higher than I expected. Usually, carriers sit low on the hips, but with the Omni 360, the company suggests wearing it high enough to bend your head down to kiss your baby. Once I made that tweak, the fit was even better.

The detachable front pocket might sound like a small feature, but it is such a convenience. I ended up putting my keys, AirPods case, sunscreen, and phone in there when walking around. It had me really considering a fanny pack for the times I'm not wearing my son!

What makes the Omni 360 stand out

This carrier stands out because of its value. It can also hold an infant without needing an insert, which is a big win compared to the competition. The included detachable pocket and privacy hood are nice to have, too. A lot of other carriers either sell those items separately or don't offer them at all. Ergobaby also sells the carrier in numerous colors to match your preference, something most other carriers can't match.

The cons

You can find baby carriers for less than $50, but given that the Omni 360 has several unique handy features and can carry your baby from the time they're a 7-pound newborn to when they weigh 45 pounds, it's well worth the steep price. However, it certainly is expensive.

It's worth noting that after the easy initial setup, I did have one issue with the fit. The front straps that help keep your baby snug to your chest are hard to tighten by yourself while wearing the carrier. Once my son was loaded in, I asked my wife to tighten the straps, and then it was set, but doing it alone would have been frustrating.

The bottom line

Certainly, there are other great baby carriers worth considering, including the Ergobaby 360 ($139), Boppy ComfyChic ($75), BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Free ($160), or BabyBjörn Carrier Mini ($99), but all of these carriers lack the full suite of features you get from the Ergobaby Omni 360, not to mention all the color options.

Its $180 price tag makes the Omni 360 one of the priciest baby carriers, but in testing, it met all of my high expectations, and I can confidently say it's worth it. The quality of the straps, breathable mesh material, ease of fit, privacy hood, and wide rear lumbar belt all help create a baby carrier that's the best you can get.

Pros: Breathable mesh, lots of color options, included detachable pocket and privacy hood, no infant insert needed (7 to 45 pounds), machine washable

Cons: High price, chest straps are hard to adjust with baby in the carrier