A Retrospective: How People Talked About Travel Stroller 20 Years Ago
A Compact Travel Stroller Should Be Easy to Carry When it comes to picking the best compact travel stroller, you want one that folds into a compact, easy-to-carry package. It should be light, come with an automobile seat-compatible design, and be able to fit in overhead bins for airline bags. This sleek stroller from UPPAbaby is a great choice. It folds easily and comes with a padded strap to carry. It also fits in the overhead compartments of planes. It features an easy, nearly flat recline and smooth movement. Easy to Assemble Traveling can be stressful enough without having to think about how to take everything. This is why we believe that a good stroller for travel can be a breeze to assemble and fold up to carry around. And that's exactly the features this light Kolcraft model offers. The compact, lightweight stroller can be opened and closed by pressing two buttons at the handle while standing up. It can also be inserted into the overhead bins on most planes, and comes with an excellent carry bag that's ideal to carry the stroller on your shoulder when you're on your go. This stroller is light and an excellent choice for travel. It was able to roll across all kinds of terrain and was maneuverable. It also comes with a large sun canopy with a zip-open mesh segment that offers plenty of coverage and visibility for your little one and an easy-to-change leg rest and padded shoulder straps. It also fits most Nuna PIPA car seats (just click and you're done) and comes with an enormous storage bag that can accommodate many of your essentials when you're on the move. This ultra-compact Babyzen stroller is a favorite among parents who like to travel or reside in cities. It comes fully assembled and equally easy to open with two buttons on the handle. It folds up in a similar manner and fits in the carrying bag. It could be too big for some overhead bins on airlines. Some parents have complained about the handles being fragile. It's a great option for those looking for an ultra-light, compact travel stroller. We wish it had an adult pocket to store things like dollar bills for the Ice cream! Easy to Fold Like the name suggests that they are designed to be compact. They fold less than normal strollers and have fewer accessories like cup holders or an enormous storage basket. However, they will function well enough for day-to-day use, and are easy to carry around or store away. If you plan to travel often with your child think about purchasing a stroller that has features that meet your needs. For instance the UPPAbaby G-Luxe is easy to fold and can be tucked away in overhead bins. It's also easy to roll and maneuver even on rough terrain. The UPPAbaby is equipped with a variety of nice features, such as a large recliner, as well as an additional sun canopy to give your child a wide area of protection. The only downside is that the mechanism for folding isn't the most reliable and you may need to be very careful with your fingers to get it just right. Another alternative is the Babyzen YoYO2 that folds to a tiny size and opens with one hand. It isn't as spacious in storage space as other strollers, but it does offer some attractive features, like a comfortable carry strap, a large undercarriage basket, and a large-extending canopy. It's our most expensive travel stroller, however, it's also the most luxurious. The Cybex Libelle 2 travel stroller is another one that folds easy to unfold. It is heavier than other travel strollers but still lightweight and compact enough to make a great choice for city living and luxurious travel. It's got a lot of great features, like the cup holder that can be used for the standard mug, a convenient handle, and a canopy that can be extended to protect your child against the sun. The Mini UPPAbaby is an excellent choice for those who already own the Vista or Cruz strollers from this brand but want an easier version. It's lighter than the original Minu but still quite heavy for a travel pram . It's a good thing that it comes with a lot of other awesome features, including a spacious storage basket as well as a recline that is deep and an extendable sun canopy that has UPF 50+ protection. Easy to Carry The ease with the ability to fold your stroller for travel will make a a big difference in how it's possible to navigate a crowded airport or squeeze onto a crowded bus. A good travel stroller should easily fit into your trunk or an overhead bin using a couple of quick controlled movements, and remain standing by itself when folded. You should also be able to pull it by the handle or attach a strap to carry it or put it in the storage bag included for easier transport. If you plan to use your stroller in an airplane, make sure it's approved by the airline or that it will fit in the overhead bins. The International Air Transport Association recommends that carry-on luggage not be larger than 22 x 18 x 10 inches, so several of our top picks, including the super lightweight, $100-plus Nuna TRVL—can fit up there (though some will require you to check gate for them). The TRVL is so light, you can carry it as a handbag. It has a padded shoulder strap and a bumper bar which doubles as a handle. The TRVL is a fantastic option for parents who are always in motion, as it works with all Nuna Pipa baby car seats, without adapters. Our experts love its simple two-position recline harness with no-rethread that is designed to grow with your child. It's also lighter than other travel strollers which makes it a great option for families that often travel. 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 one of our lightweight strollers. However, keep in mind that a majority of airlines allow you to gate-check a full-sized pushchair but may require you take the folded stroller out of the cabin and through security. If that's the case, consider buying a protective travel bag to protect against accidental damage by baggage handlers. Easy to Store A compact travel stroller can be ideal for frequent travelers, because it doesn't require a full-size trunk or take up much space in the car or hotel room. Some models fold down so small that you can fit them into the overhead bin of an airplane, and some are so lightweight that they don't add any weight to the luggage you carry. They're also easy to maneuver through crowded airports and on packed city sidewalks. If you frequently travel it's worthwhile to invest in the best travel stroller that we have tested. The Silver Cross Jet 4 is an excellent, well-made stroller that has a variety of features. It has a large basket that sits under the seat, as well as an adjustable bar that is padded with a wrist-strap that allows it to be comfortable for long journeys. The stroller's recline mechanism is simple to use, and it fits in an airline's overhead compartment (though you will need to check it at the gate). This model is compatible from birth with the Nuna Pipa infant car seat. It also comes with an integrated carry bag that comes with insurance against the possibility of damage to your stroller during travel. The Babyzen YoYo2 stroller is also a super-lightweight model, perfect for travel, or for quick getaways. It's easy to maneuver in airplane aisles and it's upright when folded, which is helpful if you're trying to juggle it with your other luggage. The YoYo2 isn't as large as a full-size stroller when folded, but it offers plenty of features, for instance, a spacious under-seat basket as well as a recline mechanism that's easy to operate with one hand. For many parents who have children, a stroller is essential for getting around with kids. A quality, compact stroller will provide you with peace of mind when traveling and allow you to navigate busy sidewalks and public transportation without difficulty. Think about your family's needs and lifestyle when looking for a new baby stroller. Then you can look through our list of top picks to find the right stroller for your next family adventure. This guide is based on extensive research conducted by experts and has been tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute for more than 100 years. It was independently reviewed by contributing writers and editors who are parents of children 6 and less. They used the strollers in a lab on road trips and with their families, and leaned into consumer testers for additional feedback.