The Lightest, Most Compact and Easiest to Fold Travel Strollers
This stroller is one of the lightest and compact. It’s also one of the most easy to fold. It offers a smooth ride, a great sun canopy, and a multi-position recline.
This stroller is a great value for less than $100. It’s compact and easy to fold, making it perfect for pushchairsandprams public transport, or even slinging over your shoulder.
1. Lightweight
The most important thing to consider when choosing a travel stroller is that it should be lightweight and easy to fold. The best models we tested could be folded with one hand and sometimes with two and can be tucked into overhead compartments for luggage. They are also compact and roll well, making them easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Some models come with a telescoping handle for parents with different heights. Find a lightweight, easy to pack stroller for your family, no matter if you’re planning to go on an excursion with a baby or an extended trip with a toddler.
We tested nine strollers that met our minimum weight and size requirements. Each model was tested on city streets as well as on country side walks and in the terminal at the airport to assess its maneuverability, ease of folding and carrying, and overall comfort for children.
Our top pick is the Babyzen YoYo2 (320) that folds the most easily of the strollers we tested, and fits in overhead bins on planes. It’s car seat-compatible and its seat reclines almost completely flat, which makes it suitable for infants. Other features that are suitable for parents include a large undercarriage basket and a bag hook attached to the handle, and a UPF 50+ canopy that provides ample coverage for your little traveler.
The Cybex Orfeo (320) is an alternative that is a great choice. It features an articula fold that can be operated with one hand and is extremely light. The five-point harness is padded, an adjustable crotch strap and a reversible seat protect your child and secure, while a large undercarriage basket and a convertible seat ensure that there is enough space for their possessions. It’s also compatible with the brand’s infant car seat. This makes it a viable choice for families that have children from birth.
Lastly, the Coya TRVL ($320) is another one-handed fold that is one-step with car seat compatibility and a wide canopy. It’s more expensive than other models in this category however, it comes with additional features, including a spacious cupholder, a parent pocket, a movable handlebar to fit parents of all heights, and a comfortable carrying strap. The simplicity of the model does compromise durability, Pushchairsandprams relative to other models in this class.
2. Folding is simple
When you’re on the move, your stroller has to be simple to open and close. You don’t want a stroller that is difficult to close when you’re carrying children or groceries in your arms. The best travel strollers fold up easily and compactly, even when you only have one hand. Many come with a cushioned strap that can be comfortably placed over your shoulder.
In our tests, the Libelle stroller scored well for its easy folding and compact size. It also has a few great features: It can roll smoothly over all surfaces and has a generous canopy that provides ample coverage. Plus, it’s surprisingly lightweight and free-standing when folded making it easy to store.
For parents who want to roll right up to the plane gate and then put their stroller into the overhead bin, we recommend looking for one that can fit into. The Munchkin Sparrow is a good example. It fits into the smallest of foldings and comes with a protective travel cover. However it doesn’t come with an adjustable seat and its cargo space is too small to hold anything other than a small diaper bag or a tote.
The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another option. It folds concertina-style fashion, but it also offers a reversible seat for riding back-toback or face-toface. The handle is hidden behind the seat, but our managing editor didn’t like the fold.
The newest type of travel stroller is tri-fold, which folds in thirds, and offers the best combination of compactness and features. The UPPAbaby Miniu for instance, comes with a reversible seat and a storage compartment that is unstructured in the rear, and a lockable latch to keep it folded. It’s slightly larger than the umbrellas of the brand, but folds more compactly than their G-Luxe or G-Link counterparts. It also comes with an adjustable shoulder strap.
3. Easy to store
The most effective travel strollers fold up into smaller, compact size that is easy to fit into the trunk of your car or squeeze into the overhead bin on the plane. Some come with a strap can be used to carry the stroller over your shoulder, so that your hands won’t be tired. They’re also lighter than regular strollers. This makes them easier to lift or carry for a stroll in the neighborhood or at the airport.
The stroller performed extremely well on our durability tests and was easy to maneuver across all types of surfaces. From smooth hardwoods to shag flooring this stroller is an excellent choice. However, some of our testers noticed that it was a bit fragile and the handlebar doesn’t have any padding to keep your hands comfortable. Another thing to take into consideration is the size of the storage basket is it’s on the smaller side, and some parents have found it difficult to squeeze an enormous diaper bag in it.
We suggest calling your airline prior to departure to confirm their specific guidelines concerning strollers. They can differ. This is especially crucial if you plan to check your stroller’s gate-ability that allows you to navigate the airport without it and use it when you’re on the plane (though that option won’t work for families who need an infant car seat or booster).
If you’re looking for a simple stroller that’s light and folds down to a compact size The Contours Itsy is a great choice. The Contours Itsy is completely assembled, and all you have to do is attach the bumper bar. It has a parent cup holder and back pocket however, there is no basket that is large, which could make it difficult to carry essentials for long trips.
If you are a frequent traveler we recommend that you consider a stroller that is more robust, with more features and the ability to carry more cargo. The UPPAbaby Miniu, for instance, comes with many of the same features as its G-Luxe and G-Link cousins, but it’s more compact and folds more quickly. It’s also a bit stronger than an umbrella stroller, and comes with a comfortable carrying strap that takes some of the burden off your shoulders.
4. Confortable
Strollers are often used for prolonged durations of time when traveling, which is why the comfort of the stroller is crucial. Seats with a lot of padding and a recline system that can be adjusted to different angles are ideal. Take note of whether the canopy extends for sun protection, and if the mesh windows allow airflow. Look for a model with an organizer for the parents or a cupholder, as well as an ample basket under the seat if you need to carry things around. When shopping for a travel jogger for older children be sure to look at the age range. Also, consider if your child is at ease in the seat without an infant car-seat.
It is also crucial to think about how a stroller is rolled. It needs to maneuver easily across a variety of surfaces including smooth hardwoods, shag carpets to cobblestones, and gravel. It should also be able to navigate curbs and stairs with ease. If your travel plans include a lot of walking, you should choose a stroller that is light to help you avoid leg and back soreness.
A good travel stroller is also easy to use. It should be easy to assemble and snap back together when it is placed in the right place. It should fold flat enough to fit in the boot of your car or the overhead compartments of planes. It should also be upright when folded, so that you can grab it up with one hand while holding your child in the other.
The Joie Tourist is an excellent option for parents looking for a lightweight, high-quality travel stroller. It comes with multiple recline positions to allow your child to rest comfortably. The canopy extends to provide ample sun protection, with UPF protection. It also includes a rain cover and a coffee cup holder and a footmuff. Charlotte loves the fact that the car seat is suitable for infants to four-year-olds and does not require an adapter separately.