A Compact Travel Stroller Should Be Easy to Carry
When it comes down to choosing the ideal compact stroller, you need one that folds up into a small, easy-to-carry package. It should be lightweight, come with an auto seat-compatible design and fit into overhead bins for airlines.
This streamlined stroller by UPPAbaby is a great choice. It folds up easily and comes with a padded strap for carrying. It also fits in the overhead compartments of planes. It has a simple, nearly flat recline and smooth movement.
Easy to Assemble
Whether you're strolling through the airport on the way to the gate, or navigating an unfamiliar city with your baby in tow, traveling is stressful enough without worrying about how to pack and carry everything. We believe that a quality travel pram should be simple to fold, assemble and carry. And that's exactly what this lightweight Kolcraft model provides. This lightweight, compact stroller is easy to open and close by simply pressing two buttons on the handleand all while standing upright (no need to lean back to do it). It can be tucked away in overhead bins on many planes, and comes with a carrying bag that allows you to carry the stroller over your shoulders while out and out and about.
This stroller is light and an excellent choice for travel. It rolled over any terrain and was able to maneuver well. It also comes with a large sun canopy with a zip-open mesh segment that offers plenty of coverage and visibility for your baby, as well as an adjustable leg rest and padded shoulder straps. It also fits on most Nuna PIPA car seats (just click and you're finished) and comes with an enormous storage bag that can accommodate all your essentials on the go.
This ultra-compact Babyzen stroller is a popular choice among parents who love to travel system prams or reside in cities. It arrives in the box already assembled and is just as simple to open by pressing two buttons on the handle. It also folds back up with the same ease and fits into the convenient bag that comes with it. The only downside is that it may be a bit too big for some airplane overhead bins We've heard reports of the handles being somewhat flimsy and some parents found it uncomfortable. Despite that, it's still a solid option for those who want a super lightweight, small-fold travel stroller. We'd like it to have a parent facing pushchair pocket to hold things like dollar bills for ice cream!
Easy to Fold
Travel strollers are compact, as the name suggests. They fold smaller than everyday strollers and have fewer accessories such as cup holders and a large storage basket. They must be able to be used for everyday use, and be easy to carry. If you plan on traveling often with your little one think about purchasing a stroller for travel with features that meet your requirements.
For instance, the UPPAbaby G-Luxe is simple to fold and can fit into overhead bins. It's also easy to roll and maneuver even on rough terrain. The UPPAbaby has some nice features, including a deep recliner and an additional sun canopy that gives your child a wide area of protection. The only downside is that the mechanism to fold isn't as smooth, and you may have to carefully time your hands to make sure it's just right.
The Babyzen YOYO2 is another option. It folds down to a tiny size and can be opened with one hand. It may not offer the same amount of storage as other strollers, but it does have some great features. These include an easy-to-carry strap as well as a spacious basket beneath the carriage and a wide-extending umbrella. It's our most expensive travel stroller, but it's also the most luxurious.
The Cybex Libelle 2 is another travel stroller with an ultra-small fold that's easy to unroll. It weighs more than other strollers, yet it's lightweight and compact enough to be a great option for those who want to travel in style and city life. It comes with a variety of nice features, including cups holder to hold a standard mug, a convenient handle and a canopy that extends to shield your child from the sun.
The UPPAbaby Mini is a great option for those who own the Vista or Cruz strollers from this brand and are looking for an easier version. It weighs less than the original Minu however it's a bit heavy for a travel stroller. It comes with a myriad of other cool features such as a large storage basket as well as a deep reclining seat and an extendable canopy with UPF protection of 50+.
Easy to carry
No matter if you're taking your little one on an airplane, or packing it into your car for a road trip the ease with how your stroller folds down can make all the difference in how easy it is to navigate a busy airport or onto a cramped bus. A good travel stroller should easily fit into your trunk or overhead bin with a couple of quick controlled movements, and remain standing up by itself when folded. You should be able to carry it by its handle, attach a carry strap, or place it in the storage bag that comes with it for easy transport.
If you're planning to take your stroller on planes make sure it's certified by the airline or is guaranteed to fit in the overhead bins. The International Air Transport Association recommends carry-on luggage that is no bigger than 22 x18 x 10 inches. A majority of our top picks, like the ultra-lightweight Nuna TRVL, Double Stroller which is priced at $100 or more, can fit in these bins (although some require gate screening). The TRVL is also lightweight enough to be carried as a purse with the help of an attached padded shoulder strap and a bumper bar that doubles as a carry handle.
The TRVL is a great choice for parents who are always in motion, as it works with all Nuna Pipa baby car seats and without adapters. Our experts love the simple two-position recline mechanism, as well as the non-rethread safety harness, which is made to grow with your baby. Additionally, it's lighter than most other strollers, making it the perfect choice for families who are frequent travelers.
Other great features on this compact travel stroller include a spring-loaded back-of-the-underseat basket that's big enough for a backpack, diaper bag, or purse, and a flat, open sun canopy that offers some coverage and blockage (though it's not as large as the ones on some of our other top picks). It's also among the lightest strollers we tested--but keep in mind that while the majority of airlines allow you to check in at the gate with the full-sized stroller, they may also require you to take the stroller folded through security and out of the plane cabin. If this is the case, you may think about buying a travel bag with a protective cover to protect it from damage by baggage handlers.
Easy to Store
A compact travel triple stroller is ideal for frequent travelers because it doesn't require a full-size stroller trunk or take up too much space in your car or hotel room. Some models fold down so compact that you can easily fit them into an airplane's overhead bin and some are so light that they don't add much weight to your carry-on bags. They're also easy to maneuver through busy airports and on crowded city sidewalks.
If you're a frequent traveler, it's worth investing in one of the best strollers we've tried. The Silver Cross Jet 4 is an excellent, well-constructed stroller with a number of features. It has a large basket under the seat and a padded bar with a wrist-strap which makes it comfortable for long journeys. The stroller's reclining mechanism is easy to use and can be tucked away in an airline's overhead compartment (though you'll need to check it at the gate). This model is compatible for babies from birth using the Nuna Pipa infant car seat and has a built-in carry bag that includes insurance against the possibility of damage to your stroller while traveling.
The Babyzen YoYo2 stroller is also a super-lightweight model, perfect for air travel or quick getaways. The stroller is easy to maneuver through plane aisles and remains upright when folded. This is helpful when trying to juggle the stroller with other luggage. The YoYo2 isn't as large as a standard stroller when it's folded, but it comes with plenty of features including a convenient oversized under-seat basket and a reclining mechanism that's easy to operate by hand.
A stroller is a vital piece of equipment for parents who travel with their children. A compact stroller with good quality will provide you with peace of mind while traveling, and allow you to navigate busy city sidewalks and public transport with ease. Think about your family's lifestyle and needs when choosing a new baby stroller. Then you can look through our list of top picks to find the right stroller for your next family adventure. The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing products for over 100 years, and this guide is based upon expert research. Editorial and writer contributors who are parents of children aged 6 and under independently analyzed the guide. They tested the strollers at a lab, with their families and on road trips. They also consulted with consumer testers for additional feedback.