The Lightest, Most Compact and Easiest to Fold Travel Strollers
This stroller is among the lightest and compact. It’s also among the easiest folding strollers. It has a great ride and a fantastic sun canopy, and a multi-position recline.
This stroller is an excellent value at less than $100. It features a simple compact fold, as well as a carry strap, so it’s easy to sling over your shoulders or take on public transportation.
1. Lightweight
When it comes to travel strollers, lightweight and easy-to-fold are the most important factors. The most popular models we tested can fold with just one hand and sometimes two and can be tucked in overhead luggage compartments. They are also compact and roll well which makes them easy to maneuver in tight space. Some even come with the option of a telescoping handle to parents of various heights. If you’re planning a short trip with your newborn or a long-haul vacation with a toddler, find a light, easy-to-pack stroller that will make the journey — and return — easier for your family.
To determine the top strollers for travel, we analyzed nine models that were able to meet our weight and size requirements. Each model was tested on country roads, city streets, and in the airport terminal for mobility in folding, ease of carrying, as well as overall comfort for your child.
Our top picks are the Babyzen YoYo2 ($320), which is the easiest to fold of the strollers that we tested and can fit into overhead bins for airplanes. It’s compatible with car seats and the seat reclines completely flat, making it suitable for infants. The car also has an undercarriage that is deep with a bag hook on the handle and a UPF50+ canopy that will offer plenty of protection to your child.
The Cybex Orfeo (320) is another great option. It has a concertina folding that can be completed by one hand and is extremely light. The padded five-point harness, crotch strap, and an reversible seat will 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, making it a viable option for families who start from the time of birth.
Lastly, the Coya TRVL ($320) is another one-handed, one-step fold with car seat compatibility and a wide canopy. It’s more expensive than other models in the same category, but offers additional features such as a large cupholder and a parent’s pocket, a movable handlebar to accommodate parents of all heights and a comfortable carrying strap. Its simplicity does sacrifice some of its durability in comparison to other models in this category, but.
2. Folding is easy
A stroller that is designed for travel should be simple to close and open when you’re out and about. If you’re carrying a load of groceries, or children in your arms you don’t want to wrestle with a complex stroller to close it. The best Travel stroller travel strollers fold up easily and compactly, even with just one hand. Many come with a padded carrying strap that fits comfortably over your shoulder.
In our tests, we awarded the Libelle stroller high marks due to its compactness and easy folding. It also has a few nice features: It rolls effortlessly across all surfaces and has a generous canopy that gives plenty of coverage. It’s also surprisingly lightweight and stands in its own right when folded. This makes it much easier to put away.
Parents who want to roll straight to the plane gate and put their stroller into an overhead bin, we recommend looking for a model that promises to fit in. The Munchkin Sparrow, for example, fits nicely into the smallest fold and comes with a handy travel cover, but it comes with no recliner, and a small cargo space that can only hold a small tote or diaper bag (no backpacks).
Another alternative is the Babyzen Yoyo 2, which folds up into a concertina-style but also has an reversible seat that can be used for back-to-back or face-to-face riding. The handle is tucked behind the seat, but our managing editor didn’t like the way it folded.
The tri-fold is the most recent stroller for travel. It folds in three parts and offers the perfect combination of compactness and features. The UPPAbaby Miniu, for instance, has a reversible chair and a storage compartment that is unstructured on the rear, and a lockable latch that keeps it folded. It’s a bit bigger than the umbrellas made by the brand but can be folded more compactly than G-Luxe and G-Link counterparts. It also comes with a padded shoulder strap.
3. Easy to store
The best travel strollers can be folded down to a small size that is easy to store. They can be easily stowed in the trunk of a car or the overhead bin of an airplane. Some even have a carrying strap that makes it easy to carry over your shoulder and you don’t have to be concerned about your hands getting tired. They’re also lighter than regular strollers. This makes them easy to lift and carry around for a quick stroll in the neighborhood or at the airport.
This stroller performed exceptionally well in our tests of durability and was easy to maneuver over all types of surfaces. From smooth hardwoods to sag flooring, this stroller is a great option. Some of our testers found it a bit flimsy, and the handlebar wasn’t padded to ensure that your hands are comfortably. The size of the storage basket should also be considered. It’s quite small and some parents have had difficulty difficult to fit a large diaper bag inside it.
We suggest that you contact your airline prior to departure to verify their specific guidelines regarding strollers. They can differ. This is particularly crucial if you plan to check your stroller’s gate-ability and allow you to navigate the airport without it, and then be able to use it once you’re on the plane (though this option isn’t suitable for families who require a car seat or toddler booster).
If you’re looking to purchase a straightforward stroller that’s light and folds down to an extremely compact size, the Contours Itsy is a great option. It’s almost fully assembled right out of the box The only thing you have to do is put the bumper bar into the appropriate spot. It has a cup for parents holder and a back pocket but there isn’t a large basket that could limit your ability to pack necessities for a long trip.
If you’re an avid traveler, we recommend considering a more robust stroller that offers better features and can hold more cargo. The UPPAbaby Mini for example has many of its G-Luxe and G-Link siblings with features, but it is more compact and folds faster. It’s also slightly more robust than an umbrella stroller and has a padded strap to help take some of the burden off your shoulders.
4. Comfortable
Strollers are commonly used for extended periods of time when traveling, so it is essential to be comfortable. Choose a seat with ample padding and a recline system that lets you set it at multiple angles. Also, consider whether the canopy extends to provide protection from the sun, and if it has mesh windows to promote airflow. You should consider a model that comes with an organizer for parents and a cupholder as well as a large basket under the seat in case you need to carry things with you. If you’re in the market for a stroller for older children, make sure to check the age range and determine whether your child will be comfortable in the stroller without a car seat for infants.
It is also important to think about how a stroller is rolled. It should be able to move effortlessly across a variety of surfaces such as smooth carpets, hardwoods, cobblestones, and gravel. It must also be able to handle stairs and curbs without difficulty. Consider a stroller with a light weight when you plan to do a lot walking during your journey. This will prevent back and leg pain.
A good travel stroller should also be easy to use. It should be assembled in less than 30 seconds and be able to snap together when popped into the correct position. It should fold flat and fit into the trunk of your car, or the overhead compartments on a plane. It should also stay upright when folded, so you can pick it up using one hand and hold your baby in the other.
The Joie Tourist is an excellent choice for parents who are looking for a lightweight, high-quality travel stroller. It features various recline positions, so that your child can rest comfortably. The canopy that extends can provide lots of sun protection and UPF protection. It also comes with lots of extras; a footmuff, cup holder, and rain cover are all included. Charlotte is thrilled that it’s suitable from newborns to four years and does not require an additional car seat adapter.
