Guide To Strollers: The Intermediate Guide In Strollers
The Lightest, Most Compact and Easiest to Fold Travel Strollers
This stroller is among the smallest, lightest and easiest to fold. Despite its size, it offers an excellent ride, fantastic sun canopy, and a multi-position recline.
This stroller is a great value at less than $100. It's compact and easy to fold, making it ideal for public transport or slinging over your shoulder.
1. Lightweight
When it comes to travel strollers lightweight and easy to fold are key. The top travel models we tested fold down using just one hand (and sometimes two hands) and can fit in overhead luggage compartments. They are also lightweight and easy to roll, making them easy to maneuver in tight space. Some models have an adjustable hand for parents with different heights. Find a lightweight, easy to carry stroller for your family, no matter if you're planning short trips with a baby or a long-haul trip with an infant.
To find the best strollers for travel, we analyzed nine that were able to meet our weight and size requirements. Each model was put to the test on city streets, country streets, and at the airport terminal for maneuverability 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 travel strollers we've tested and can fit into airplane overhead bins. It's car seat-compatible and the seat reclines completely flat, which makes it suitable for infants. The car also features an undercarriage with a deep design with a bag hook on the handle and a UPF50+ canopy that will offer plenty of protection to your child.
Other alternatives include the Cybex Orfeo ($320), which has a one-handed, concertina fold and is incredibly lightweight. Its five-point harness, padded and crotch strap keep your child safe, while the reversible seat and massive undercarriage basket make sure there's room for all of their items. It's also compatible with the brand’s infant car seat. This makes it an ideal option for families with children beginning at the time of birth.
The Coya TRVL ($320), one-handed, one-step fold and is also compatible with car seats and comes with an enormous canopy. It's more expensive than other models in this category but it also comes with extra features such as a large cupholder, a parent pocket, a movable handlebar to accommodate parents of different heights, and a comfortable carry strap. Its simplicity is sacrificed for some of its durability in comparison to the other models in this category, but.
2. Folding is easy
A stroller that is designed for travel should be easy to shut 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 complicated stroller to close it. Even with only one hand, the most efficient travel strollers can be folded easily and compactly. Many have a padded strap that you can wear comfortably over your shoulders.
In our tests, we gave the Libelle stroller top marks for its compactness and ease of folding. But it also has other excellent features: It glides smoothly over all surfaces and has a large canopy that provides ample coverage. It's also surprisingly light and free-standing when folded, which makes it easy to store.
For parents who want to stroll right up to the plane gate and pop their stroller into the overhead bin, we recommend looking for an option that will fit into. The Munchkin Sparrow is a good example. It fits in the smallest folding space and comes with an extra-safe travel cover. However it doesn't have an adjustable seat and the cargo area is too small to accommodate anything but a small diaper bag or a tote.
Another option is the Babyzen Yoyo 2, which folds into a concertina style but also features the option of a reversible seat to allow face-toface or pram and travel system back-toback riding. Our editor was able to open and close, but she wasn't crazy about how the handle slides behind the seat when folded.
The newest type of stroller for travel is tri-fold, which folds into thirds and offers the perfect combination of compactness and features. The UPPAbaby Miniu, for example, has a convertible seat, an unstructured rear storage pouch, and a lockable clasp to keep it folded. It's slightly larger than the umbrella models made by the brand however it folds more compactly than G-Luxe and G-Link counterparts. It also comes with a padded carry strap that can be worn over your shoulder.
3. Easy to pram store near me
The best strollers for travel can fold down to a small size that can be easily stored. They can easily be tucked away in the trunk of a car or the overhead bin of the plane. Some come with a strap can be used to carry the stroller over your shoulder to ensure that your hands don't get exhausted. They are also lighter than regular strollers, which could make them easier to carry and lift when it's time for a stroll around the neighborhood or at the airport.
When we tested this stroller, it did very well in our tests of durability and was able to maneuver over all sorts of surfaces from smooth hardwoods to shag carpeting. Some of our test subjects found it a bit flimsy and the handlebar wasn't cushioned to ensure your hands were at ease. Another thing to consider is the size of the storage basket is: It's on the smaller side and some parents found it difficult to fit the large diaper bag inside it.
In general, we suggest calling your airline prior to time to confirm their specific guidelines regarding the use of strollers on planes as they may differ. This is crucial in case you intend to gate-check a stroller. Then, you can use it on the plane, and then navigate the airport without a stroller.
If you're looking to purchase a straightforward stroller that's light and folds down to a compact size The Contours Itsy is a great option. The Contours Itsy comes almost completely assembled and all you need to do is attach the bumper bar. It has a cup for parents holder and back pocket, but no oversized basket, which could limit your ability to pack essentials for a long-distance trip.
If you're a frequent traveler we recommend considering a more robust stroller that has more features and can carry more cargo. The UPPAbaby Minu, as an example, has many of the same features similar to its G-Luxe and G-Link counterparts but is smaller and folds up more quickly. It is also slightly more robust than an umbrella stroller, and has a padded strap to help lift some of the burden off your shoulders.
4. Comfortable
The comfort factor is crucial when using strollers over long durations of time. Choose a seat with ample padding and a recline feature that lets you set it at various angles. Also note whether the canopy extends to provide coverage from the sun and if it has mesh windows that allow airflow. You should consider a model that comes with a parent organizer/cupholder and 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 comfortable in the seat even without a car seat.
The way that a stroller moves is also important. It should be able to move easily on different surfaces such as smooth carpets, hardwoods and shag carpets cobblestones and gravel. It should also be able to navigate stairs and curbs without difficulty. If your plans for travel include lots of walking, choose a stroller that is light to help you avoid leg and back soreness.
A good quality travel stroller should be easy to use, as well. It should be easy to assemble and snap together when placed in the correct position. It must also be able to fold flat and fit into the boot of a car or the overhead compartment of an airplane. It should also stay upright when folded, so you can grab it using one hand and then hold your child in the other.
For parents seeking a top-quality, lightweight travel stroller, the Joie Tourist is a great alternative. It features various recline positions, to allow your child to sleep comfortably. The extendable canopy offers lots of sun protection and UPF protection. It also includes a rain cover, coffee cup holder, and footmuff. Charlotte loves that it's suitable for babies up to four years old and doesn't require the purchase of an additional car seat adapter.