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Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Is a Streamlined Travel Stroller for Parents on the Go

We’ve been testing one for months, and here’s our honest review.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Baby Jogger City Tour 2

Verywell Family / Laura Denby

Maneuvers easily on different surfaces

Lightweight and compact folded

Reclines fully for naps

Minimal under-seat storage

No shoulder strap

Too large for most overhead bins

Though lacking some of the special features of a larger, everyday stroller, the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 is a comfortable, compact, and easy-to-use stroller that makes traveling with a baby considerably easier.

Who It’s For

Maneuverability, portability, how we tested, the competition.

• Final Verdict

If you’ve ever traveled with an infant or toddler, you know how important it is to pack strategically. Strollers are often the biggest challenge when it comes to packing for a baby. They’re essential, but they can be bulky and cumbersome to carry. They take up a ton of space in the trunk of a car and are often too large to carry on an airplane. If you travel often or have limited storage space at home, having a dedicated travel stroller can make life much easier. That’s why we decided to test travel strollers , including the Baby Jogger City Tour 2, in the lab and out in the real world. 

The City Tour 2 is a dedicated travel stroller that folds up tightly, allowing for easier travel while still providing a smooth, comfortable ride for the child. This compact, 14.5-pound stroller fits into a convenient package that’s ideal for parents who don’t have the space—in the car or in the house—to store and transport a large stroller.

Our expert product testers put this stroller to use over the course of three months. First, we tested it alongside other leading travel strollers in the Verywell Testing Lab , where we evaluated everything from weight and size to maneuverability and durability. Next, we took it home and used it with an 11-month-old baby for everyday tasks like going to the grocery store, taking long walks, and quick trips to the beach. Our testers considered how it performed compared to standard strollers, and evaluated any special features that made it stand out. Most of all, we aimed to assess how convenient it is for parents, and how comfortable it is for babies.

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 folds easily into a compact package, so it’s ideal for families who travel often—by car, train, or airplane. It makes car travel easier by freeing up space in the trunk, and it’s easy to lift and carry with one hand. Like the name implies, this stroller can easily navigate crowded city streets or fold up when riding public transportation, so it’s an ideal option for families on the go. It’s great for smaller homes or apartments that can’t spare the extra space to store a bulky stroller. Keep in mind that it has minimal storage, so it won’t be able to hold groceries, a large backpack, or even some diaper bags. Overall, this is a great option for anyone looking for a smaller, more streamlined stroller that can be packed up and stowed away when not in use.

A stroller that babies can easily nap in is essential for travel, so the ability to recline is a crucial design feature. This stroller reclines with the push of one button, so a baby can sit up or lay back comfortably. The large sun canopy is UV 50+ with a mesh peekaboo window for shade and increased air flow on sunny days. The straps are adjustable, and the padded clasp is secure and easy to latch and unlatch. We love that it has adjustable calf support, so it can adapt to your baby’s growing legs. However, this streamlined stroller has minimal storage underneath the seat. In fact, our testers weren’t able to store a backpack or diaper bag in there, which can make traveling with bags more cumbersome. Also keep in mind that the handle doesn’t have adjustable heights. Overall, it scored a 4.5 out of 5 stars for design.

This stroller maneuvers exceptionally well across different surfaces, including grass, gravel, and carpet. In fact, our testers gave it a near-perfect 4.8 score for maneuverability. It’s easy to push and feels lightweight when doing so. Our testers barely notice the difference when transitioning from gravel to carpet or hardwood, so it provides a smooth ride with barely any bumps felt in the handle bar. The wheels turn quite well with a tight radius. The foot break is easy to latch and unlatch, providing extra convenience and safety.

During our lab test the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 received a 4.5 rating for overall portability. It folds up easily and doesn’t feel bulky. It almost feels like a briefcase when carrying it folded up by the handle. Although the stroller itself doesn’t have a shoulder strap, the included carry-bag does, so you can pack it up and have your hands free for other luggage and your child. 

In order to fold the stroller, you lock the wheels then slide the thumb button and press the handle button using your remaining fingers. Then you push the handle bar into the canopy to collapse it into itself, and lock it into place using the lever. Folding the stroller is intuitive and takes just a few tries to get the hang of it. Our testers appreciated that it could be done with one hand (though at first it took two hands to lock it into place). Our at-home testers were able to fold it and unfold it while holding a baby in the other hand. Once folded, it’s easy to pick up and maneuver with one hand. The wheels detach for added portability, which means it can squeeze into even tighter spaces if needed.

To test this stroller, we considered a number of different attributes like weight, design, durability, portability, maneuverability, and how easy it is to fold. We tested it alongside competitors in our lab, and used it at-home over the course of three months to gain real-world insight. We first recorded things like weight and measurement, then ran the stroller through a number of tests to determine its overall functionality and performance. 

First, we practiced opening and closing the stroller multiple times to determine how easy it is to fold. We considered any straps, buttons, or locks, and noted how intuitive or confusing it was to figure out. We paid particular attention to how easy it was to open and fold with one hand, considering the fact that most users will be holding a baby in the other hand. To test portability, we carried the stroller around using the included straps, and assessed whether or not they were comfortable, well-placed, and sturdy. To test maneuverability, we wheeled the stroller back and forth over carpet, gravel, hardwood flooring, and grass, then recorded its performance. To test durability, our testers folded up the stroller and dropped it from waist height, then we pushed it off a table. We recorded any signs of damage and took note of any changes in performance. 

After the initial testing phase, we continued to use this stroller in everyday applications over the course of three months. Our home tester used this as her primary stroller on car trips and train trips, on long walks along the road, and on the beach. She put it to use traveling alone with an 11-month-old baby, and gained real-world insight into its efficacy as a functional travel stroller.

Verywell / Laura Denby

This is one of Baby Jogger’s most affordable strollers, and it retails for $250 at the time of this publication. Travel strollers are typically less expensive than standard strollers, but this is still one of the more cost-effective strollers we tested. Considering how easy it is to maneuver, how comfortable it is to use, and how easy it is to store, this is a fantastic value for the price. 

Nuna TRVL Stroller

Our testers found the Nuna TRVL to be easier to fold up with one hand than the Baby Jogger City Tour 2. We loved how easy the buttons are to push. Like the Baby Jogger, we found it to be incredibly easy to maneuver on grass, gravel, and carpet. It’s slightly more compact than the Baby Jogger and can fit into a standard overhead bin in an airplane. Although it’s more compact, the TRVL is slightly heavier (15.4 pounds compared to the City Tour 2’s 14.5), which could be because it boasts more storage. The Nuna has a storage bin that’s large enough to accommodate a backpack or diaper bag. However, it’s considerably more expensive and retails for about $450 .

The City Tour 2 is a convenient and portable stroller that makes traveling with a baby much easier. It maneuvers expertly across different types of terrain and is easy to fold up and tote around, so we think it’s an incredible value for the price. It lacks some of the bells and whistles that larger strollers have—like extra storage, an extendable handle, and cup holder—but that doesn’t take away from its overall functionality as a streamlined travel stroller.

• Product Name Baby Jogger City Tour 2
• Price $250.00
• Weight 14.5 lbs.
• Product Dimensions 20 x 40 x 26 in.
• Color Black, Gray, Green
• Dimensions Folded 19.5 x 7 x 22.5 in.
• Weight Capacity Can accommodate children up to 45 pounds
• Storage Bin Weight Capacity 15 pounds
• Warranty Limited lifetime warranty
• Includes Protective carry bag

By Laura Denby Laura Denby is a New York-based parenting, home, food, wine writer who focuses on finding the best products for parents and home cooks. She has a Culinary Arts diploma from the Institute of Culinary Education and a WSET Level 2 Award in Wine and Spirits. Her product recommendations have appeared on leading publications like Food Network, Taste of Home, Forbes Vetted, Parents.com, and Real Simple.

Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Ultra-Compact Travel Stroller - Jet

The city tour™ 2 folds small for big adventures. Now newly redesigned with infant car seat connection and carry cot compatibility so you can stroll from birth or with toddler on the go. The ultra-compact one hand fold and included carry bag make the city tour™ 2 the ultimate travel companion. Weighing only 14 lbs, the fully featured stroller includes multiple recline positions, adjustable calf support, UV 50+ canopy and a comfortable padded seat with added depth. Add-on accessories allow for easy customization of the city tour™ 2 stroller so you're equipped to carry on with your day, wherever it may lead you.

• Infants Welcome: City Tour 2 is compatible with infant car seats as well as the new Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Carry Cot.
• A Comfortable Ride: Padded seat with added depth keeps baby comfortable as you're strolling.
• Fold It, Lock It, and Go: One-hand fold and auto-lock make it easy to take the City Tour along with you, no matter what the day brings.
• Travel Ready: Take a trip without breaking a sweat. Ultra-compact stroller folds to 19" across, 7" deep, and 23" tall to fold up and pack alongside your luggage.
• Smooth Rides: Lightweight, durable rubber composite tires and locking front swivel wheels with suspension provide a smooth and nimble ride.
• Get a Leg Up on Comfort: Baby can stretch out and relax! Adjustable calf support provides maximum comfort for growing legs.
• Canopy with a View: Keep baby shaded with the UV 50+ canopy with extension panel, while the peekaboo window lets you keep an eye on baby as you stroll.
• Store Without Stress: Storage basket has front and rear access so everything you need is within easy reach.

Specifications:

• Stroller Weight: 14.3 lbs
• Stroller Height: 38.9”
• Folded Dimensions: 6.8 H x 16.9 W x 21.6 L
• Usage age: 6 months to 45 lbs 
• Size folded and unfolded small, the push, the car seat adapter and so easy.
• Car seat stroller and everyday use
• The foot rest can twist and make it hard to fold down, the harness comes apart when your trying to buckle the 5 pieces together
• -compact, slim & light
• -adjustable footrest
• -change diapers
• -easy maneuverability
• -deep recline for comfortable napping
• -good canopies
• -firm & sturdy structure
• -traveling abroad
• -strolling at WDW Resort
• -easy loading on trams, buses, trains, etc.
• -minimalistic approach to parenting lifestyle
• -fits great in small to medium sized trunks without taking to much space
• -does not stand easily on its own
• -no cup holder for parent or child
• -May need both hands to fold and unfold smoothly
• Great for the price.
• Compact easy to fold.
• Travel or leave in a car.
• Sun shade could be bigger.
• More upright for the upright position.
• Lightweight and compact
• Easy to handle
• Built sturdy
• Large canopy
• Almost flat recline
• Calf support
• Ability to attach infant car seat
• Nice fabric
• Every day for toddler
• Cannot stand up without tipping over on its side

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Baby Jogger® City Tour™ 2 Ultra-Compact Travel Stroller, Shadow Grey

About this item.

• Ultra-lightweight travel stroller weighs only 14 lb, with a compact and easy-to-maneuver design
• Create a travel system by adding a Baby Jogger infant car seat using adapters (car seat and adapters sold separately)
• Ultra-compact, one-step fold and auto-lock ensures easy transportation and storage
• Multi-position padded seat reclines to a near-flat position, and adjustable calf support provides comfort for growing children
• Includes carry bag to protect stroller from dirt and scratches when traveling

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From the manufacturer

The Perfect Stroller For:

• Convenience on the go with a fast and compact one-step fold
• A lightweight option for every journey at only 14 lb
• Baby's comfort with padded, reclining seat & adjustable calf support
• Adaptability from infancy through age 5
• Large basket holds up to 15 lb

Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Ultra-Compact Travel Stroller

Travel in style from day one.

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 is the ultimate stroller for travel, with an ultra-compact, one-hand fold, a weight of only 14 lb, and an included carry bag. But despite its lightness, the City Tour 2 doesn't skimp on features. Baby rides comfortably in a padded seat with multiple recline positions, adjustable calf support, and a UV 50+ canopy. Pair with any Baby Jogger infant car seat (sold separately) for a smooth and serene ride from infancy.

• *We recommend checking with your local airline prior to departure for specific carry-on requirements.

Everything You'll Need for a Quick Getaway

All the comforts you expect from baby jogger, product description.

The Baby Jogger® City Tour™ 2 folds up small for big adventures—85% smaller than when it's unfolded. The City Tour™ 2 is the ultimate stroller for travel, with an ultra-compact, one-step fold, a weight of only 14 lb, and an included carry bag. But despite its lightness, the City Tour™ 2 doesn't skimp on features. Baby rides comfortably with multiple recline positions, adjustable calf support, a UV 50+ canopy, and a comfortable padded seat with added depth. The infant car seat connection with the City Tour™ 2 lets you and baby travel together from infancy. Pair your City Tour™ 2 with any Baby Jogger® infant car seat for a smooth and serene ride for babies up to 20 lb (infant car seat sold separately). Choose from plenty of add-on accessories (sold separately) to customize the stroller for the comfort and convenience of both parent and child. With the City Tour™ 2, you're fully equipped to carry on with your day, wherever it may lead you.

Product information

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Customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the portability, ease of folding, size and quality of the stroller. For example, they mention it's lightweight, compact, sturdy and easy to maneuver. That said, they appreciate the high quality back pack and the fact that it can be folded up one handed.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the size of the stroller. They mention that it's compact, easy to take on a plane, and takes up very little space. Some say that the umbrella is a nice size and came in handy for Florida. They also say that it folds into a flat square and fits in the bins going through security. Overall, most are satisfied with the size and functionality of the product.

"...It has a very smooth ride, has room to hang a parent organizer thing , reclines almost completely flat, and has a good size canopy...." Read more

"...I love that it is so compact. It folds into 3 and takes up very little space in my trunk which is great when you are packing up a whole family for a..." Read more

"...Finally purchased this one and LOVE it. Easy to store in my trunk and was perfect for vacation...." Read more

"I absolutely love this stroller! It is compact yet has plenty of space for my toddler! So easy to open , to close and to recline...." Read more

Customers like the stroller for its ease of folding. They mention that it is easy to fold and store, and can be folded up one-handed. Some say that it takes up very little space in their trunk. Overall, customers are satisfied with the strollers ease of use.

"...It folds easily with one hand —you just have to make sure there is nothing in the bottom basket no matter how small or it won’t fold...." Read more

"...Super light, narrow, easy to maneuver, quick to fold , decent basket for a stroller this compact, the full recline and popped foot rest were great..." Read more

"...Easy to store in my trunk and was perfect for vacation. Can fold it up one handed while holding on to my toddler, great for theme parks, small..." Read more

Customers find the stroller lightweight enough to be truly convenient, easy to fold, and carry on a plane. They also mention that it's slim when folded.

"This is a lightweight stroller that functions as a full size stroller...." Read more

"...After a 12 hour day at Disney, this thing delivers. Super light , narrow, easy to maneuver, quick to fold, decent basket for a stroller this compact,..." Read more

"...Just because tour1&2 are so neat and slim when folded they seem to be lighter than others although they are actually all about the same)..." Read more

"This was the best stroller I could’ve chosen for air travel. Small, light , and most of all handy...." Read more

Customers like the quality of the stroller. For example, they mention it's well-made, sturdy, and has held up so far. Some appreciate the high-quality back pack that's included. Overall, most are happy with the product's quality.

"...When the stroller is open it seems sturdy and comfortable for my 14 month old. I like also that it leans back until almost flat...." Read more

"...- take the older version, it’s 100% no hassle and very high quality back pack is included ..." Read more

"... wheels are cheap and meant for very smooth surface only, uncomfortable for..." Read more

"...It’s incredible. It’s sturdy . Feels much more expensive than a traditional umbrella/trifold stroller...." Read more

Customers like the ease of use of the stroller. They mention that it is easy to maneuver, take from point A to B, operate, and convenient. They also say that it glides like a dream, is easy assemble, and has a very smooth ride.

"...It has a very smooth ride , has room to hang a parent organizer thing, reclines almost completely flat, and has a good size canopy...." Read more

"...Super light, narrow, easy to maneuver , quick to fold, decent basket for a stroller this compact, the full recline and popped foot rest were great..." Read more

"...I previously used a City Tour 1. This one is overall much easier to manage and seems a bit smaller without compromising space or comfort...." Read more

"... Easy to maneuver , and once folded it even fit into overhead bin in a plane. Also, I was always able to unfold it with one hand...." Read more

Customers find the stroller great for travel and everyday use. They say it's easy to operate, small to carry, and has no issues traveling. Some mention it'll fold up small on the bus and subway. It's also lightweight and easy to travel on planes with. It has a modern look and is perfect for everyday errands.

"...Can fold it up one handed while holding on to my toddler, great for theme parks , small rental cars and airports. My toddler seems comfortable in it...." Read more

"...This is perfect for traveling and is the main reason I purchased it. Can't wait to use it!" Read more

"...But if you just want something lightweight that is easy to travel on planes with ...then this fits the bill." Read more

"...Easy to roll, very smooth ride, and made our trip a lot easier than taking our big stroller would have been...." Read more

Customers like the comfort of the stroller. They say it's super comfortable for their daughter and the calf support can accommodate to baby. They also mention that it'll easily one-hand with a baby.

"...My toddler seems comfortable in it . I have no complaints. Very happy with this purchase." Read more

"...and I loved that the calf support can accommodate to baby that way when they are sleeping they don’t have their..." Read more

"...road trip because it folds up SO small, and my son was comfortable the entire trip ...." Read more

Customers like the reclining feature of the stroller. They say the back reclines almost flat for napping and the footrest raises making it very easy to open, close, and recline. They also like that the seat fully reclines and has a great feature that allows the foot rest to flip up. Customers also mention that the strollers glides like a dream and that the children can lie flat.

"...smooth ride, has room to hang a parent organizer thing, reclines almost completely flat , and has a good size canopy...." Read more

"...quick to fold, decent basket for a stroller this compact, the full recline and popped foot rest were great for on the go naps, the seat depth was..." Read more

"...I like also that it leans back until almost flat ...." Read more

"...So easy to open , to close and to recline . I previously used a City Tour 1...." Read more

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• Baby and kid

The Best Travel Strollers

By Elise Czajkowski

A good travel stroller can make the difference between a jaunty vacation and a miserable slog.

We researched dozens of travel strollers, tested seven on a variety of trips involving planes, trains, buses, and cabs, and concluded that the Uppababy Minu V2 is the best option to keep parents and tots happy. Unlike most travel strollers, you’re sacrificing very little in comfort and maneuverability with the Minu V2—which is why many people find it’s also the ideal everyday stroller.

If you’re looking for a lighter, simpler option, the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller is a great budget pick.

Everything we recommend

Uppababy Minu V2

The best travel stroller.

This comfortable, sturdy travel stroller handles bumpy streets better than the competition and is easy to fold one-handed. Many parents love it for everyday use as well.

Buying Options

Budget pick.

Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller

Simple and sturdy.

This less-expensive option handles rough terrain well and offers the best on-the-go napping option of all the strollers we tested.

What we looked for

Being able to quickly collapse or unfurl the stroller is crucial when traveling.

We prioritized strollers that are easy to steer one-handed over bumpy surfaces and around tight turns.

A travel stroller should be small enough to store easily, whether in a closet or a packed car trunk.

You shouldn’t need to look at the manual to relearn how to use your stroller each time you pull it out.

Neither the Minu V2 nor the City Tour 2 Stroller is compatible with any of the picks in our guide to infant car seats ; if that’s a must, the Mountain Buggy Nano (2020+) is another good option . And if putting your stroller in an overhead compartment is a priority, we recommend the Babyzen Yoyo2 Stroller .

The Uppababy Minu V2 has many features that allow it to function as a full-size stroller, including an underseat basket that holds up to 20 pounds, a simple recline option that’s good for napping, and a handy backseat pocket for storing odds and ends. Its one-hand fold is impressively simple, and of the travel strollers we tested, it has the easiest harness to adjust and the most-intuitive brakes. It also has a large, zip-out sun canopy with UPF protection. You can use it—without attachments—with children as young as 3 months, or with Uppababy’s bassinet or select car seats with newborns. A kid doesn’t officially outgrow it until they reach 50 pounds—which is often grade-school age. But at 17 pounds, it’s heavier than our budget pick.

The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller isn’t quite as simple to fold, recline, or buckle as the Minu V2, but it has the most comfortable handlebar of the travel strollers we tested, a decent canopy with UV protection, and a good amount of underseat storage (though it is harder to access than the Minu V2’s). Its large, adjustable footrest, long seat, and deep recline make it the best stroller that we tested for on-the-go naps, even for older kids (it fits kids up to 45 pounds). At 15.1 pounds, it’s a couple of pounds lighter than the Minu V2 and, unlike that stroller, comes with a travel bag.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked and tested, our pick: uppababy minu v2, budget pick: baby jogger city tour 2 stroller, other good travel strollers, the competition.

I’ve been writing about strollers for Wirecutter for more than two years, and I’ve tested dozens of strollers from 16 brands in that time. For a 2023 update to our guide to travel strollers, I researched more than a dozen popular models and tested seven with my 1-year-old son.

My husband and I brought these strollers on international flights, regional trains, and local buses, and we loaded them in and out of cabs and cars of various sizes. Other Wirecutter parents tested strollers on their summer trips, and I badgered people around my neighborhood about their experiences with travel strollers.

This article builds on the work of writer Sonjia Hyon, who logged 130 miles testing nine travel strollers for an earlier version of this guide.

For many families, a travel stroller will never be necessary; for others, it may be the only stroller they ever need. In general, travel strollers are smaller and lighter than full-size strollers and fold down to fit easily in many forms of transportation.

If you don’t travel regularly, or you’re mostly visiting people who have a spare stroller, you can forgo one entirely and rely on carriers and car seats. On the other hand, I know plenty of parents who use a travel stroller as their everyday go-to; it’s a particularly good option for anyone who is living in a small space or has to carry a stroller up and down steps on a regular basis.

Travel strollers have increasingly replaced umbrella strollers as the go-to lightweight, foldable option for travelers, which became clear when we noticed brands discontinuing their umbrella strollers and making travel models instead. They are primarily distinguished by their fold; a travel stroller collapses into a more compact, suitcase shape while umbrella strollers fold into a long, golf bag shape. This extra convenience comes at a cost; travel strollers are generally much pricier. All of the so-called budget travel strollers we tested in 2023 were more expensive than the priciest model we considered for our guide to umbrella strollers .

You do, of course, have to make some compromises. The travel strollers that fold the most compactly are likely to be the hardest to fold; the lightest strollers do not maneuver as well as heavier options. And all lack some features that many parents love in their full-size strollers, such as large storage baskets, reversible toddler seats, and adjustable handlebars.

If you’ve already purchased a full-size stroller that you like and are looking to add a travel stroller, you may want to look first at options from the same brand. Stroller manufacturers keep many things consistent across their lines, so you’ll find that elements like the type of brake, the style of the buckle, and the feel of the handlebar are familiar. For instance, the Uppababy Cruz V2 and Minu V2 share the same harness that’s easy to adjust and buckle, which I consider to be one of the most important elements in a good stroller.

More travel strollers are available now than when we began testing in 2018, as high-end brands have begun to offer more luxe options. We began our 2023 research by looking at the updated models of our three past picks—the Uppababy Minu V2 has replaced the original Minu, the Babyzen Yoyo2 Stroller has replaced the Yoyo+ Stroller, and the Mountain Buggy Nano (2020+) has replaced the original Nano. We also read online reviews for dozens of strollers to determine other good options to test. Based on our research, we determined that a good travel stroller is:

Easy to push and maneuver: Because a travel stroller needs to perform in a variety of environments inside and outside, we prioritized strollers that are easy to push on uneven terrain and able to maneuver through tight spaces. We only tested strollers that could be pushed and steered one-handed. I took seven strollers home and tested them several times in different conditions, including over cobblestones and uneven streets, in and out of subways, and up and down stairs. I also put them through a test course in our Long Island City, New York office, using sandbags in the toddler seat to test maneuverability and the one-handed push.

Easy to fold and unfold: A travel stroller needs to be easy to quickly fold and unfold; ideally, you should be able to collapse or unfurl a stroller while holding a squirming baby or kicking toddler. In my testing, I timed how long it took to fold and unfold each stroller and if it required one or two hands.

Easy to carry and stow: The stroller should fold down to a compact size; some even get small enough to fit into the overhead compartment on an airplane. We didn’t prioritize that ability, since different airlines and planes have different requirements, and it may be up to individual flight crews to decide if you can put a stroller in the overhead bin. We weighed each stroller ourselves, and the ones we tested ranged from 13 to 17 pounds, a close enough number that it didn’t end up being a major factor in our decision making. We also looked for strollers that have a shoulder strap or travel bag for carrying.

We liked to see that strollers had an option for clicking in an infant car seat, though neither of our picks are compatible with our best infant car-seat picks .

We also looked for a reclining seat, an easily adjustable harness, a decent-size canopy for sun protection, and an accessible underseat storage basket. I tested how easy it was to clean up food messes by smearing jam and whipped cream on all of the strollers and seeing how hard it was to remove stains with just baby wipes or fabric cleaner. Where small children go, messes follow—that’s why we devoted an entire article to  how to clean a stroller .

The Uppababy Minu V2 is an exceptionally comfortable travel stroller for children and parents. It’s similar to the previous version of the Minu, which was our top pick for years, but it improves on that model with a simpler-to-adjust harness, a bigger sun canopy, and an adjustable footrest.

I found that it was sturdy enough to maneuver on bumpy cobblestone streets, light enough for one person to haul up short flights of stairs with a child buckled in, and simple enough to fold one-handed and throw in the back of a car. It has a comfortable handlebar, ample underseat storage, a large canopy with UPF protection , and a harness that adjusts quickly and intuitively.

It has a fantastic one-handed fold. The Minu V2 is the only one of our picks with a one-handed fold—you slide a lever and push a button simultaneously on the handlebar, push the whole thing forward, and the stroller collapses onto itself. The unfold is also fairly simple; undo a latch on the side and pull up on the handlebar, and it all flings open. The stroller stands up pretty well on its own when folded. In our tests, we found that it took less than 10 seconds to fold or unfold the stroller.

It’s easy to carry. The Minu V2 includes a carry handle and a shoulder strap, so it’s easier to pick up for short hauls than our other pick. (Though at 17 pounds, it’s not particularly comfortable to tote around for long periods.) Uppababy also sells a travel bag that lets you access the TravelSafe program , an additional two-year warranty added onto the original product warranty that offers replacements for parts damaged during air travel.

The harness is simple. The simple plastic buckle is easy to close and open. I find the Uppababy’s harness straps to be the easiest to use of any strollers I’ve tested because the shoulder and waist straps are permanently connected (on other strollers, including the city tour 2, our budget pick, they can separate). This does mean wiggling your child’s arms in and out of the straps, which some parents find more taxing. The harness straps are also the easiest to adjust of any that we tested; simply slide the strap up and down along the back of the child’s seat to change the height, and pull on the ends of the straps to tighten or loosen.

The recline and incline function on the seat is straightforward. You simply pull down a buckle to recline and pull up on two straps to incline. It does take some effort to incline with a toddler in the seat, but none of the travel strollers that we tested were any easier.

The brakes are intuitive and easy to engage, even when you’re barefoot. Like the Uppababy Cruz V2 , a pick in our guide to full-size strollers , the Minu V2 has two brake pedals—a red to lock and a green to unlock—that are easy to engage and, based on their position, allow you to see from a distance if the stroller is locked.

It can be used for a long time and has plenty of storage. With an additional attachment, the Minu V2 can be used with the Uppababy bassinet as well as several infant car seats , making it a good option for newborns, and it can fit a child as young as three months without any accessories. The seat can hold a child up to 50 pounds, the maximum of the travel strollers we tried, and the underseat storage basket can hold up to 20 pounds, the most of any travel stroller we tested, making it popular as an everyday stroller, with good reason. It lacks some of the best features of the larger, more expensive Uppababy Cruz V2 —a reversible toddler seat, a storage basket that can handle a grocery haul, an adjustable handlebar—but it’s narrower, lighter, and faster to fold.

The canopy, seat fabric, and underseat basket can be removed for hand-washing. In our cleaning tests, it was hard to get stains out of the green fabric of our stroller; even after using a stain remover, we could see dark splotches on the seat.

Uppababy strollers come with a two-year limited warranty and an extra year if you register your stroller within three months of purchasing.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The first Minu V2 that we tested held up well for several weeks of travel—and then, one day it refused to fold. We contacted Uppababy, which said this is not a known issue (although we found a few online complaints of a similar issue with the original Minu) and that anyone with this problem would be issued a new frame immediately; our replacement stroller has held up just fine so far. Given Uppababy’s reputation for good strollers, we’re fairly confident that we simply got a lemon.

At nearly 17 pounds, the Minu V2 is the heaviest of the strollers we tested. It’s also one of the largest when folded, meaning it may need to be gate-checked when boarding a plane. (Though it is larger than almost all airlines’ official requirements for on-board luggage, it may fit in the overhead bins on larger airplanes.) In our travels, it required some careful, Tetris-like finagling to squeeze it into a hatchback alongside our luggage, although one tester was able to fit it behind the driver’s seat of a sedan.

Like all of the travel strollers we tested, it sometimes requires a little shoving to get it to collapse fully. And because of the way the canopy is attached, it sometimes felt flimsy, and it occasionally popped off the frame on one side when unfolding or carrying the stroller up stairs with a child inside.

Weight: 17.3 pounds Frame dimensions: 20.5 by 36 inches (WL) Folded size: 20.5 by 23 by 13 inches (WLH) Child weight, height limit: 50 pounds, 40 inches Storage basket weight limit: 20 pounds Car seat compatibility with an adapter: Uppababy Mesa; Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 Infant Car Seat, Mico NXT Infant Car Seat, Mico AP Infant Car Seat, and Mico Max Plus Car Seat; Nuna Pipa, Pipa Lite, Pipa Lite Lx, Pipa Lite R, Pipa Rx, and Pipa Lite Rx; the Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton Q, and Aton M Second child adaptability: ride-along board available for purchase Wheel diameter: front wheels 5 inches, rear wheels 6.5 inches Included accessories: bumper bar Add-on accessories: cup holder , travel bag , parent organizer , bassinet , ride-along board , snack tray , rain shield , and basket cover

If you’re willing to sacrifice a one-handed fold, an easily accessible storage basket, and a notably easy-to-buckle harness, the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller is a remarkably solid and maneuverable stroller for its price. It handles bumpy streets and cobblestones without complaint, and I found the handlebar’s height and material more comfortable than those on the other less-expensive options we tested.

The City Tour 2 Stroller also has a large adjustable footrest that allows a young toddler to lie almost completely flat; paired with its built-in UV 50+ sun canopy, it’s a great option if on-the-go naps are a priority. For many parents, the best thing about this stroller is that it doesn’t feature anything too noteworthy or fussy; it’s a simple stroller that just works.

The fold is simple, but it requires two steps and both hands. Slide a lever and push a button to fold down the handlebar, then pull up on a strap on the inside of the seat to collapse the whole thing. (If you have the adjustable footrest up, you need to put it down for maximum compactness.) To unfold, undo a latch on the side and click it all into place. In our testing, it took about 10 seconds to fold the stroller (including lowering the footrest) and about 7 seconds to unfold.

The buckle has five pieces but stays together well. The shoulder and waist straps on each side click together, which allows you to simply slide your child’s arm through the shoulder straps rather than attach five separate pieces. One tester found that these pieces tended to separate when her toddler was getting out of the stroller, requiring her to clip them again the next time. But the straps remain snug once buckled. Reclining and inclining the seat is simple—pinch a clamp and pull down on the seat to recline, then pinch the same clamp and push up to incline. As with all of the travel strollers we tested, inclining can be a challenge with larger children.

The underseat basket can easily hold a day’s worth of stuff. The underseat basket holds 15 pounds—not as much as our top pick, but more than most of the strollers we tested.

The seat fabric of the City Tour 2 Stroller can be machine washed; other parts should be hand-washed. In our cleaning tests, we found that food wiped easily off of the black fabric, and any lingering smudges disappeared with stain remover. Unfortunately, we can’t say if this was due to the dark color or the fabric itself, but this stroller comes only in black or gray (you can also buy a blue-green, special-edition model that’s about $60 more) while the Minu V2 comes in many colors.

It also comes with a travel bag, which adds another layer of protection if you’re gate-checking a bag or putting the stroller away for long-term storage.

Baby Jogger strollers come with a lifetime warranty for manufacturer defects on the frame, and a one-year limited warranty on the fabrics. And though it doesn’t offer the same sort of TravelSafe program as Uppababy, the company said they “are always willing to help our customers where we can with damaged goods.”

The canopy can be hard to unfurl. The peekaboo window is secured with Velcro, which means it could wake up a sleeping child when undone. (The peekaboo flap can also be held open with a button.) The single brake pedal must be pushed up from the bottom to unlock, which is tricky if you’re barefoot or in open-toe shoes; the Minu V2’s two pedals are easier to use. And though the City Tour 2 Stroller does come with a travel bag, the stroller itself doesn’t feature a shoulder strap for carrying.

The seat’s most upright position is somewhat reclined. As with other Baby Jogger strollers that we’ve tested, the seat is never fully upright, which can be frustrating for a bigger kid who wants to look around (or a parent who doesn’t want a toddler to nap). The harness can be a challenge to adjust—the waist straps in particular take some time—and to change the height of the shoulder strap, you need to rethread the straps through the back of the toddler seat, which can’t be done with a child in the stroller. Unlike the Minu V2, the back of the seat doesn’t have a pocket for small items.

The stroller does not stand on its own when folded. It always needed to be propped against a wall or laid down flat. And I found that I sometimes smashed my hand when pushing down to make sure that it was folded as compactly as possible. The stroller also doesn’t have a mechanism for the whole stroller to stay attached to itself when folded; if you grab the handlebar when the stroller is folded, it will pull away from the body.

At 5 foot 2, one tester found it was difficult to fold the handlebar down and needed to stabilize the stroller by putting her foot on the underseat basket for leverage; at 5 foot 7, I didn’t have the same issue.

Weight: 15.1 pounds Frame dimensions: 20 by 39 inches (WL) Folded size: 20 by 22.5 by 9.5 inches (WLH) Child weight, height limit: 45 pounds, 40 inches Storage basket weight limit: 15 pounds Car seat compatibility with an adapter: Baby Jogger City Go Infant Car Seat, City Go 2 Infant Car Seat, and City Go Air Infant Car Seat; Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite and SnugRide SnugLock 35 Platinum Second child adaptability: stroller cannot be adapted; City Tour 2 Double Stroller is also available, but we have not tested it yet Wheel diameter: front wheels 5 inches, rear wheels 6 inches Included accessories: travel bag Add-on accessories: belly bar , parent console , and weather shield

If you need or want to travel with a car seat: The Mountain Buggy Nano (2020+) is equipped with a universal car seat adapter—a genius feature that all stroller companies should adopt. Not only can you use many infant car seats with the nano—including any of our infant car seat picks —but it works with lightweight toddler car seats and convertible travel car seats like the Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat , which we recommend as the best convertible car seat for travel .

But the canopy rests against the handlebar when closed, making the stroller uncomfortable to push for long periods, especially in the heat. It also has finicky harness straps that never felt tight enough and a brake that’s easy to trip accidentally.

If a stroller that fits in most overhead compartments is crucial: Consider the Babyzen Yoyo2 Stroller , which has the smallest fold of any of the strollers we tested. It meets the International Air Transport Association standards for carry-on bags, and I’ve seen people putting it in the overhead bins on several flights—even though at 17.3 inches wide, it is wider than the official width limit of 14 inches on many airlines. The fabric was also the easiest to wipe clean of every stroller we tested.

But its multistep folding mechanism is frustrating; it involves pushing a button and pulling a handle underneath the seat, which means crouching down and feeling around for the right spots. It’s also difficult to push and steer in a hurry; in our tests, it veered off course easily when pushing one-handed. And the front tires had a tendency to spin uncontrollably after hitting a bump, creating a drag that took a few seconds to correct.

This is not a comprehensive list of everything we tested in previous iterations of this guide; it only includes strollers that are still available for sale.

The 16-pound Bugaboo Butterfly is well made and easy to maneuver, but multiple testers said they found the handlebar uncomfortable to push, particularly on hills. I also found that I sometimes struggled to get it unlocked and unfolded in a hurry—an important feature of a travel stroller.

At about $500, the nearly 16-pound Nuna Trvl is the most expensive travel stroller that we tested, and it has some excellent features, including the simplest fold we saw on any travel stroller. But it is very large when folded with the belly bar attached, and when the canopy is closed, it covers the handlebar, making it uncomfortable to push.

The dual handlebars of the Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller , our umbrella stroller pick , make it nearly impossible to push one-handed—an important feature if you’re traveling by yourself and need your other hand for carrying other items. If you don’t mind using two hands and relying on a simpler but less maneuverable stroller than those recommended in this guide, you can save money by using an umbrella stroller over a travel model.

The Zoe the Traveler is only 13 pounds and has some nice features, including a parent cup holder, but it didn’t maneuver as well as I’d like. I struggled to push it off the subway, and it nearly tipped forward from a small, uneven bump in the sidewalk. It was also one of the hardest strollers to unfold.

We tested the 11-pound Zoe XL1 Best in 2018 (which has since been renamed The Tour+) and dismissed it after finding it harder to push and maneuver than other travel strollers we tested. It would frequently stop suddenly, causing the parent to pitch forward.

The 9.5 pound GB Pockit Air All-Terrain and the 13-pound GB Pockit+ All-City were dismissed because they didn’t feel sturdy.

The Kolcraft Cloud Plus Stroller was dismissed because it did not feel durable, was challenging to maneuver, and didn’t have a working lock.

This article was edited by Rachel Hurn and Kalee Thompson.

Meet your guide

Elise Czajkowski

Elise Czajkowski is a freelance writer and editor covering strollers for Wirecutter.

Further reading

Traveling With Little Kids Can Be Tough. The Right Gear Can Help.

by Kerry Davis McGuinness

From compact car seats and cribs to portable blackout shades and white noise machines, the right tools for travel can lead to less fuss—and more fun.

The Best Travel Car Seats

by Christina Szalinski and Rebecca Gale

After testing 17 lightweight, portable car seats, we have five good options for infants, toddlers, and big kids to recommend.

The Best Stroller Wagons

by Liz Iversen

Got kids and gear you need to schlep to the soccer field, the beach, or the neighborhood block party? A stroller wagon might be for you.

The Best Umbrella Stroller

by Elise Czajkowski

An umbrella stroller should be hassle-free and inexpensive enough to buy as a spare to store at Grandma’s house.

The Best Strollers for Airline Travel this Year (based on 100 Tests)

We evaluated all the best lightweight strollers on the market and chose 20 to purchase and perform extensive side-by-side testing. Not every lightweight stroller is great for airline travel so we narrowed the list to 12 strollers and the best of those include: the Joolz Aer , Zoe Tour+ , and Bugaboo Butterfly . 

Many strollers you find promoted in other articles aren’t mentioned here because they have comparatively weak customer reviews or simply aren’t good for airline travel. Strollers that didn’t make the cut .

Table of Contents

Weight and Folded Size:  We limited this list to strollers 17 lbs or less. The UPPAbaby MINU V2 is the heaviest at 16.9 lbs. We also eliminated strollers that were more than 3.5 cubic feet when folded. 

Recommended Travel Strollers

The best strollers for airline travel are the Joolz Aer , Zoe Tour+ , Zoe Traveler , Nuna TRVL , and Bugaboo Butterfly . 

We discuss the Babyzen YoYo2 , Cybex Libelle , and gb Pockit+ All Terrain in the next section. Their notable feature is being able to fit in an airline overhead bin, but none of them tested as well as the recommended strollers above.

Editor's Choice

Fast folding, highly maneuverable, lightweight stroller worth the price

The Joolz Aer took the top spot out of 20 lightweight strollers across all testing categories and it is also a great choice for air travel considering its weight-to-size ratio. Weighing in at 13.4 lbs and collapsing to 1.8 cubic ft, it’s not the lightest or smallest of all strollers, but its combined score is tough to beat.

This stroller offers quick fold and unfold times, taking 2 seconds to fold and 3 seconds to unfold, all with just one hand. At 21 x 18 x 8.5 inches folded, it slightly exceeds the standard size for many but not all, airline overhead bins. 

A distinguishing feature of the Joolz Aer is its exceptional responsiveness and maneuverability. On a smooth sidewalk, in a crowded grocery store, or on paved roads, you can guide it with minimal effort. However, its performance dwindles on uneven terrains like cobblestones or areas with large cracks or gravel. 

A few features make the Aer parent-friendly. The peekaboo window, brake comfort and effectiveness, included travel bag and rain cover are awesome. The storage basket is reasonable but on the smaller side, though this is quite typical for this category of strollers. There is a pocket for small items.

We like the stylish, comfortable handle though it would be even nicer if it were adjustable in height. Other minor drawbacks include having to use a long zipper to recline the seat, an average harness buckle, and awkward harness adjustment.

Our ride smoothness test positioned the Joolz Aer second of twenty, measuring for vibrations and bumpiness. The seat is soft and plush and reclines to a decent napping angle. 

Unfortunately, the Joolz is missing cup holders for parents and children. The canopy provides decent sun protection extending over the knees, but doesn’t have as much coverage as the Zoe or Bugaboo. 

Despite minor imperfections, the Joolz Aer impresses with its high-quality fabric and robust frame. Its folding mechanism and wheels are reliable. 

Our full review of the Joolz Aer.

Zoe Tour+ Luxe

Recommended

Quality, high performing in every category

The Zoe Tour+ Luxe came out as a strong contender for the best travel stroller in all our testing categories. Boasting an ultra-light weight of 12.5 lbs, it’s highly suitable for travel despite its larger folded size of 26 x 20.3 x 7.5 inches which prevents it from qualifying as an airline carry-on.

Similar to the Aer, the Zoe Tour+ showcases impressive steering capabilities and can maneuver deftly through compact spaces, such as grocery aisles and crowded airports. Its performance dips when venturing off-road or on uneven terrains.

The stroller tends to drift off course slightly more than average in our testing. It also requires more force than other strollers in the group to jump curbs based on its frame shape. While its overall maneuverability was average in our tests, it excels in regular, everyday usage.

The Zoe Tour+ Luxe we tested came packed with extra features: a cup holder for parents, an organizer, a belly bar, additional storage bags, and a cup and snack holder for children. Surprisingly, this is not the priciest lightweight stroller, but it offered the most extras among all the strollers we purchased.

Despite its feather-light weight, it boasts one of the most spacious storage baskets, offering 0.75 cubic feet of space, and an additional small item pocket near the handle. If you are using the stroller in an airport, the storage basket and cubbies can give you a place to put a diaper bag, purse, toys, and feeding items.

The tan “leatherette” handle offers both aesthetic appeal and comfort. We appreciated the seat recline mechanism, buckle operation, and harness adjustment, alongside the peekaboo window. However, the separate brake pedals and their functionality left something to be desired.

The Zoe Tour+ Luxe provides the convenience of a one-hand fold, averaging 2 seconds to fold and 3 seconds to open. The fold mechanism operates through a simple pull on the strap at the seat’s center. Its folded size is compact compared to many strollers, but it falls short of the most compact strollers as shown in the attached photo:

In terms of child comfort, the Zoe Tour+ Luxe provides a ride that’s smoother than most. The large canopy offers excellent sun protection, extending beyond the knees, while an extendable leg rest enhances naptime comfort. The upright seat angle is perfectly calibrated, but a recline greater than 30 degrees would be advantageous. While the harness straps are slightly abrasive near the neck area, the seat is generally comfortable. However, this stroller is not designed for larger children, with a maximum weight limit of 45 lbs.

Zoe’s Twin+ and Tandem+ double strollers share many features with the Tour+.

In our noise tests, this stroller tied for first place as the quietest, averaging a decibel level of 44. It performed commendably in our pinch-point tests but didn’t fare as well in the sideways tip-over test. As for the overall quality of parts and materials, the Zoe Tour+ Luxe is exceptional.

Our full review of the Zoe Tour+ Luxe

Bugaboo Butterfly

Comfortable, quick tight folding, high-quality

We also highly recommend the Bugaboo Butterfly Stroller for plane travel, owing to its consistently robust performance across all testing categories and specs. While it compacts neatly to 2.0 cubic feet, potentially fitting into some airplane overhead storage compartments, it weighs in heavier than our other top picks at 16.1 lbs.

Scoring 7th place out of 20 in our tests for maneuverability and steering, the Butterfly excels on flat terrains but struggles when confronted with numerous cracks or hurdles. It pushes straighter without pulling than the Zoe Tour+ and Joolz Aer, though, like these models, it’s not the best at negotiating curbs. It does, however, feature an impressively low wheel vibration compared to other strollers we tested.

The Butterfly offers a substantial storage basket with a capacity of .75 cubic feet, though it lacks additional storage spaces. A sizable mesh peekaboo window ensures extra airflow for the baby. There’s a single brake pedal that’s easy on bare or sandalled feet, although it doesn’t always engage on the first press.

The harness buckle operates smoothly. At first, I didn’t like having to insert four individual clips into the buckle instead of two. However, the Butterfly does a great job of keeping the harness clips up where you can find them which saves a lot of time.

Another benefit is that the harness straps are easy to adjust, and the seat recline mechanism is conveniently one-handed. Regrettably, it’s missing a cup holder for parents!

The Butterfly can be collapsed with one hand, and the folding process takes mere seconds. It folds down compactly and features a padded carry strap for easy transportation when folded.

The stroller provides a comfortable ride with a soft, padded seat and an adjustable leg rest. The upright seat angle leans back more than we’d prefer, and the recline doesn’t go back far enough. Ride smoothness was average in our tests for the Bugaboo, and it does not come with a cup holder for kids.

Tying with the Zoe for the quietest ride, the Bugaboo registered an average decibel level of 44. The stroller’s quality is evident in the fabric’s feel and its performance with regular usage. The wheels come with rubber treads and spring suspension, enhancing its overall appeal.

Our full review of the Bugaboo Butterfly Stroller

Zoe Traveler

The Zoe Traveler stroller, weighing 13 lbs, is well-received by users for its light weight and easy portability. We found it to be slightly more convenient for air travel than the Zoe Tour+ based on its ability to fold compactly to 22 x 19 x 10 inches, which allows it to fit into many, but not all, airplane overhead bins. The Zoe Tour+ folds to 26 x 20.3 x 7.5 inches.

We like that the belly bar and optional snack tray fold into the Traveler when collapsing to reduce the folded size. Unlike the Tour+ which folds in half, the Traveler is a tri-fold stroller folding into thirds. This results in a smaller fold but it doesn’t open as smoothly or reliably and sometimes requires two hands to unfold.

However, the Tour+ is wider, has a taller seat back and increased storage, and is more suitable for daily use. The Tour+ also has additional features like a car seat adapter, all-terrain wheels, and an add-on seat option, allowing it to transform into a Tandem+ stroller for growing families.

The bottom basket is a little difficult to reach and not quite as big as the Tour+ basket.

The Traveler’s mélange fabric provides a distinctive look and waterproof capabilities. Users also note the ease of maneuverability and the comfort it offers for their child.

The Traveler’s seat can recline up to 32 degrees and features a reclinable footrest. The recline isn’t as far back as many, but with the footrest out it still makes a nice napping surface.

The seat does not accommodate an infant car seat. The seat dimensions are small at 11 inches in width and 8 inches in depth, and the back of the seat measures 16 inches high. While Zoe recommends the stroller for children from 3 months of age to 45 lbs, bigger kids will find it uncomfortably tight.

The stroller comes with a belly bar and a parent cup holder, which adds to the convenience. This model also meets the size requirements for strollers at Disney theme parks, gaining it a ‘Disney Approved’ status.

 The brake is easy to engage although a little uncomfortable on uncovered feet.

The Nuna TRVL™ stroller is appreciated for its self-collapsing feature, activated with a push of a button. Both fingers must be engaged in the movement to ensure safety, avoiding accidental folding while your baby is in it. However, it’s important to remember to handle it by the side of the bumper bar when locked, as it can unfold otherwise, a factor that could be challenging, especially for those who frequently travel.

Unfolding the TRVL stroller is a breeze – it works effortlessly and doesn’t require any practice. However, while it is marketed as an ultra-lightweight stroller at 13.6 lbs, this weight does not include the bumper bar or the canopy. Hence, the stroller is naturally slightly heavier than some of the lightest competitors on the market.

The stroller comes with a bag, but no carry strap. The bag, while a nice addition, can be inconvenient as you might occasionally need to fold the stroller quickly and carry it on your shoulder. Furthermore, the bag requires the removal of the back wheels to fit the stroller, which adds an extra step.

While the Nuna stroller is designed for travel, it’s worth noting that it may not fit in the overhead compartment due to its dimensions of 24 x 20.25 x 11 inches. 

Maneuverability, however, is a high point for the stroller. It pushes nicely, doesn’t wobble, and the rear-wheel suspension technology provides a smooth ride. The stroller can also be used on rougher terrain by locking the front wheels.

In terms of compatibility, the stroller can be used with Nuna car seats that easily insert into the bumper bar. However, if you have a different car seat brand, you cannot use it with the Nuna TRVL™ stroller as it doesn’t have adapters for other car seats.

Despite the comfortable seat and the in-built footrest, one significant drawback of the Nuna TRVL™ stroller is the seat height when reclined. While it partially reclines, the seat backrest is only 15” which is comparatively very short. This limitation may make the stroller unsuitable for napping as the child grows.

The storage basket is a strong feature. It’s large, easily accessible, and securely holds a significant amount of items. The seat compartment and canopy are comfortable and come with the added feature of a large ventilation panel at the back, enhancing breathability. However, the no-rethread 5-point harness could be cumbersome to put together when the toddler is unsettled.

Lastly, it’s essential to be aware that the TRVL comes only with a travel bag, and extras like a rain cover are sold separately. Despite the luxury feel and easy folding feature, the stroller falls short on compatibility with other car seats and comfort during reclining for growing toddlers. The Nuna stroller has a hefty price tag and other cheaper travel stroller options might offer more practical features.

Strollers that Fit in An Airplane Overhead Bin

I don’t consider the need to fit in an aircraft overhead compartment to be the most important criterion for a travel stroller, even for air travel.

Checking the stroller at the gate, even though it sometimes requires some wait time to pick up the stroller after the flight, is usually a much better option. Here’s why:

• When I have kids along there are already too many things to carry onboard.
• For many airlines, the stroller counts as a carry-on bag or hand luggage, which means if I take the stroller I have to check another bag or limit myself further.
• The strollers are too wide to be pushed down the aisle of the aircraft, so they must be folded and carried which ties up my already busy hands.

If you are checking other luggage, checking your stroller at the ticket counter is one less thing you have to take through TSA security. Of course, then you don’t have a stroller to put your baby in while at the airport. Pick your poison.

However, if you want to carry your stroller on board the airplane, here are the best options with some pros and cons for each.

Babyzen YoYo²

Luxury, highly maneuverable, small folded size, difficult to fold

Renowned for its compact folding size, the Babyzen YoYo2 fits comfortably as an aircraft carry-on and can be conveniently stowed in many overhead compartments. Despite its travel-friendly dimensions of 20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1 inches, it’s recommended to verify specific airline carry-on stroller policies. Most domestic, U.S. airlines permit up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches. 

We listed the Babyzen first because it has a higher score than the Cybex Libelle and gb Pockit+, but the Babyzen’s folded size is slightly larger than those strollers.

Weighing in at 13.6 lbs, the YoYo2 isn’t the lightest stroller in the group but still maintains an easy, light feel during active usage. Its excellent maneuverability and relatively effortless curb-jumping capabilities make it a superb travel stroller, although it’s not designed for rough off-road conditions. Wheel vibrations on this model may be slightly more noticeable than on other lightweight strollers.

Its storage basket is .47 cubic feet (quite small) and accommodates up to 11 lbs, which is typical for travel strollers. It is accessible from the front however, two bars obstruct the placement of larger items.

Additional storage is provided via a zippered pocket, ideal for essentials such as wipes, car keys, and cell phones. Regrettably, it lacks a parent console or cup holders; these and other accessories can be purchased separately.

The stroller comes with a comfortable carry strap, allowing easy transportation over your shoulder when folded. The canopy features a small plastic peekaboo window which reflects the sun making it difficult to see through.

Its synthetic leather handle cover is robust and comfortable, and includes a safety strap to prevent the stroller from rolling away. The handle is not height adjustable, but it measures a comfortable 40″ high. The solidly built canopy offers lesser sun protection than many due to its limited extension.

Setting up the Babyzen YoYo2 took approximately 15 minutes, longer than any other stroller tested. This included assembling the separate YoYo base, frame, and the “6+ Color Pack” that contains the seat and canopy. Our assembly manual rating is 6 out of 10, as the diagrams provided were only satisfactory, and the instructions were separate from the pictures.

The seat recline mechanism involves pulling two straps apart and back together. While it isn’t overly complex, other strollers offer more straightforward mechanisms. The seat buckle is easy to operate, and the shoulder harness straps are adjustable as your child grows.

Operating the brakes is a breeze thanks to a single comfortable pedal. This design is preferable to dual-pedal systems. The carry strap conveniently sticks out of the travel bag. While the bag is easy to carry and keeps dirt off the stroller, it is thin and won’t protect the stroller when it is thrown around.

The Babyzen YoYo2 comes in several attractive colors and has an optional car seat adapter compatible with certain infant car seat models.

Its folding mechanism was found slightly disappointing, requiring two hands and several steps. The process gets simpler with practice but still takes approximately 6 seconds to fold and 4 seconds to open.

When it comes to child comfort, the YoYo2 offers a well-padded seat and leans back farther than most in its upright position. The seat doesn’t recline as much as other strollers in its reclined position. While it doesn’t offer mesh ventilation, the small canopy doesn’t obstruct much wind. The stroller does not come with cup holders or a snack tray, but they can be purchased separately. Additional accessories are also available, albeit at a rather high price point.

On the downside, the YoYo2 scored below average in our ride vibration and bumpiness tests. However, in terms of quality and safety, it feels sturdy with plush fabric. The folding mechanism is robust and less prone to mechanical issues. The durable rubber wheels, equipped with front spring suspension and rear frame suspension, enhance the stroller’s performance.

Despite its lightweight frame, the YoYo2 is remarkably solid and durable. During tip-over tests, it tipped over with a 12 lb bag on the handle and more easily tipped sideways while empty than most other strollers. This stroller had more potential pinch points than many others we tested.

Cybex Libelle

Compact fold, lightweight stroller with a smooth ride

The Cybex Libelle is an upgraded version of the gb Pockit+ all-terrain stroller. Both brands are owned by the same company.

The Libelle challenges other lightweight strollers in terms of weight and compactness. Weighing a mere 13.7 lbs and occupying just 1.07 cubic feet when folded, with dimensions of 18.9 x 12.6 x 7.8 inches, it conveniently fits into overhead compartments on planes, trains, and buses.

There are numerous joints in the frame that allow the stroller to be folded into a small unit, but those joints make the frame of the stroller flex substantially. Sometimes if feels like its going to break when making simple turns although that hasn’t happened to us, it feels like it will.

The gb Pockit+ folds to a smaller size but takes more effort and coordination to make the fold happen.

When it comes to steering and maneuverability, the Cybex Libelle performs adequately on smooth terrains. Its frame showcases slight flex when cornering, yet the wheels respond swiftly. However, encountering bumps or cracks poses a challenge and its performance on uneven terrain is unremarkable, which is a common issue among lightweight strollers.

We gauged the effort to mount a curb with a fully-loaded stroller; the Libelle required an average force of 11 kg. Despite the minimal shake in its wheels which facilitated in noise tests, it has a tendency to veer sideways, and lacks front wheel locks for adjustment. Consequently, its overall steering and maneuverability rating is mediocre.

In terms of utility, the Libelle’s storage basket, while not large at 0.50 cubic feet, is more accessible than most, albeit small. Capable of holding up to 11 pounds, the basket’s central bar placement is, regrettably, inconvenient. Additionally, the stroller lacks any other storage spaces, including cup holders. As for the handlebar, covered in simple foam, the height is fixed at 39 inches, potentially uncomfortable for taller individuals.

The brake, a single pedal at the back center, engages when stepped on from the left and releases from the right, simultaneously affecting both wheels. Its operation is effortless and gentle on the feet. The harness clips are easy to fasten and release with appropriate pressure, but adjusting the straps can be challenging.

The recline mechanism necessitates two hands for inclining and one for reclining, though it doesn’t offer a significant recline angle. The stroller comes with car seat adapters compatible with any Cybex infant car seat, enabling usage as a travel system. However, the stroller seat needs to be removed prior to mounting a car seat.

When it comes to folding and transport, the Libelle’s compactness shines as it folds down to 1.1 cubic feet, making it one of the smallest folding strollers available. The folding process requires two hands and care should be taken not to pull the latch instead of the frame when carrying. Unfortunately, it lacks a carry strap.

Regarding comfort, the Cybex Libelle excelled in our vibration and bumpiness tests, though its seat design has drawn complaints about slouching and discomfort. The padding is adequately thick and extends beyond the knee bend area down to the calves. The seat is inclined at 62 degrees in its upright position, but it may be uncomfortable for larger children. 

In our quality and safety assessment, the Libelle scored 8 out of 10 in our pinch-point tests. Most of the pinch points we identified were related to the folding process, emphasizing the need to keep children away while folding. 

The Cybex Libelle showcases high-quality parts and materials that have proven durable. Features such as the folding mechanism, brake pedal, and canopy hinges function consistently well. The stroller comes equipped with front wheels with spring suspension, EVA foam treads, and sturdy wheel assemblies.

gb Pockit+ All-Terrain

Compact travel stroller, difficult to fold, not particulraly kid or parent friendly

The gb Pockit+ All-Terrain stroller tips the scales at 12.3 lbs and when folded, has a volume of 1.01 cubic feet. We measured its folded dimensions to be 16.5 x 13.4 x 7.9 inches which is smaller than the Cybex Libelle’s 18.9 x 12.6 x 7.8 inches. It will fit in every overhead bin that we are aware of, although some airlines have additional restrictions beyond dimensions.

Its nimble steering and maneuverability are commendable, however, the frame’s flexibility may create an illusion of breakability, especially when negotiating sharp turns with a full load. Despite this, the Pockit+ posted a respectable score for Ease of Steering.

Advertised as an “all-terrain” stroller, it falls short in handling anything other than flat surfaces. Its small wheels tend to swivel and jam, while its frame lacks the rigidity to navigate obstacles. Its performance in rough terrain tests was disappointing. This isn’t a problem in airports, but may limit where you can go as tourists.

It has the lowest score in the group for wheel vibration. In our veering tendency tests, the Pockit+ fell slightly below average. Notably, it has front wheel locks to keep from veering on long, straight walks. Taking into account all these factors, its Overall Steering and Maneuverability Rating was unimpressive.

The Pockit’s compact design naturally limits storage space. Its basket can hold up to .35 cubic feet, roughly equivalent to two bread loaves. Access to this basket can be challenging and despite its 11-pound rating, it’s unlikely to hold this much. Regrettably, there’s no additional storage, including parent cup holders or a compartment for small items.

Its sunshade lacks a peekaboo window but offers a minor gap between the shade and the seat back for partial visibility. This, however, does let in light.

The non-adjustable, foam-padded handles are placed at a height of 38 inches, posing difficulties for taller individuals. These handles tend to wobble and flex while making turns.

The harness buckle is simple to use, featuring two clips and a one-thumb release. Adjusting the harness entails sliding clips along straps behind the shoulder harnesses, which can be a bit challenging but quicker than rethreading.

Its brakes operate both rear wheels with a single pedal located on the right rear wheel, which is small and can be hard to engage with your foot. Releasing the brake pedal is uncomfortable with uncovered feet.

The gb Pockit is compatible with Cybex infant car seats using provided car seat adapters.

Reclining the seat back involves a one-hand operation: unzip the zipper below the handlebar, press the button on the recline clip, pull down and release the strap. Raising the seat requires two hands: holding the recline strap while pushing up the recline clip.

In our folding demonstration video for the gb Pockit+, we showcase an easy fold method resulting in a marginally larger fold size. Achieving the smallest fold size involves extra steps, including raising the rear wheels and aligning them before compressing the whole stroller.

The Pockit+ folding process requires two hands and a bit of patience. On average, the larger fold takes around 6 seconds while the more compact fold takes an additional 6 seconds, granted everything runs smoothly. Often it takes much longer to get the wheels aligned properly for the fold.

While the gb Pockit+ All-Terrain stroller does not excel in certain areas, it’s one of the top contenders for a small and lightweight option. If your main priorities are travel and commuting with the occasional mild outdoor usage, the gb Pockit+ All-Terrain could be a decent choice.

Why You Should Trust Us

Being a U.S. native but having lived in Africa and Asia for 11 years, and traveled for work and pleasure all over Europe, with numerous visits to Central America, and a couple to South America, with and without kids, I have a great deal of experience in airports and airplanes.

My wife and I founded ExperiencedMommy.com and now KidTravel.org and have collectively reviewed more than 111 strollers over the past six years. We own 20 lightweight strollers and use them with our grandkids as well as farming them out for additional experience and feedback.

In the research process, we looked at  stroller safety issues ,  recall notices , studied certification standards , and performed our own safety checks like tip-over and pinch-point testing.

Price vs Performance

Note that the Nuna TRVL and Zoe Traveler are missing from the chart below because we haven’t tested them yet. The Nuna TRVL is high priced at $500 while the Zoe Traveler currently sells for half that at $249. 

How They Compare by Category

Weight and folded size.

The strollers we recommend above vary in weight from 12 to almost 17 lbs. In practice you may not be able to tell much difference but every pound counts when you travel! The folded size is also similar enough that it shouldn’t be too big of a factor unless you absolutely need to be able to carry it on a plane.

Folded Size

Folded Dimensions

Most U.S. domestic airlines use a 22 x 14 x 9 inch maximum dimension guideline for carry-on eligible bags and strollers for overhead compartments. Many international carriers accept larger sizes or use a weight criterion or total dimension standard where the sum of the height, width and depth must total less than a maximum number specified in their policy.

Getting into Disney World with any of the strollers in this article is not a problem. And they all fit easily into the trunks of even small cars.

Storage and Ease of Use Comparison

Stroller storage space is always important but especially valuable when on vacation. Here are how the baskets compare for the strollers for airplane travel we recommend above.

Of the three the Joolz Aer basket in the center below is the smallest, at least from the back.

But most of these strollers have front access to the basket as well and the Joolz and Bugaboo have large front openings. In an airport when you are sitting facing your baby it is nice to be able to get to the basket from the front.

Overall the Butterfly and Tour+ have the most usable basket space of the three.

This next group of strollers fold to a smaller size and not surprisingly have smaller baskets overall. 

In the front view you can see that the gb Pockit has little front access, and the basket of the YoYo is blocked by two metal bars that keep you from putting anything big in the basket. Unfortunately, the rear opening of the YoYo is also too small for many diaper bags.

While the volume of the baskets is a factor, the opening size can be just as important.

Storage Basket Volume:

In addition to the basket, several of the strollers have extra storage options. The Zoe comes with a parent console with two cup holders and several cubbies and pockets as shown below.

If you aren’t using the console, there is a small fabric pocket on the canopy that will hold a phone.

The Joolz Aer has a thin pocket on the back but it doesn’t hold very much.

The Butterfly, gb Pockit+ and Cybex Libelle have no additional compartments.

However, the YoYo has a fabric, zippered pocket:

Except for the gb Pockit and Libelle the other recommended strollers have a peekaboo window in the canopy for viewing your little one.

The handles on all of these strollers are non-adjustable and fixed at around 39″ high plus or minus an inch. There are very few strollers with adjustable handlebars that are also lightweight.

If you need a higher or lower handle consider the Ergobaby Metro+ which has an adjustable handle from 37.4″ to 41.3″. We did not buy and test the Metro+ because of its slightly lower customer reviews. It is about 18 lbs and has some very nice features for travel including a small fold size.

For taller and shorter parents, handle height can be important. The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 is the only stroller in the group with an adjustable handle. The rest are non-adjustable and with few exceptions are about 39 inches high.

How could we discuss Ease of Use without mentioning parent cup holders ? Few strollers come with them, but all of them have cup holders or parent consoles that can be purchased separately. This is a great parent organizer with a cup holder that will fit any stroller.

The Bugaboo Butterfly is the only stroller mentioned above with both a one-hand seat recline and one-hand seat raise action. The others take two hands for at least one of the steps. The Joolz has a zipper that goes all the way around the edge of the seat like a suitcase.

The Babyzen and Joolz Aer come with nice travel bags that include shoulder straps. Note that they are made of thin nylon and provide minimal protection of the stroller. Strollers that are checked or gate-checked will probably get some abuse. It’s not likely they will break badly enough to not be operational (although that could happen), but there can be damage to the handle or surfaces. Bags like this one offer more protection but they are one more thing to carry. Personally, I skip the bag.

Only a few travel strollers come with infant car seat adapters for mounting a car seat. 

Car Seat Adapter Included

Car Seat Compatability

In the Ease of Use category, we considered the brake operation, storage, recline operation, carry straps, handle height and adjustability, harness and buckle operation, and several other things. Here are the overall scores for Ease of Use:

Maneuverability

We did maneuverability testing on all the strollers to be able to compare them in a consistent way. This included steering through an obstacle course, pushing on rough trails and rough surfaces, measuring the force required to jump curbs, measuring how far strollers would go straight without drifting off a center line, measuring wheel vibration and several other tests. The Overall Maneuverability Scores  below incorporate all of those results:

Here are the ratings for basic steering and turning and flat surfaces. All the strollers did pretty well.  Steering Ratings:

When it came to rough surfaces, or consistently bumpy, like on brick or cobblestone streets, none of these strollers did great. You really need bigger wheels and better suspension for rough roads and off-roading. Lightweight, travel strollers just aren’t built for that. That said, the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 and Besrey strollers did a little better than the others in this group.

The top three travel strollers, the Joolz Aer, Bugaboo Butterfly, and Zoe Tour+, all fold in two seconds and open in two or three. They can all be folded and opened with one hand. 

The Joolz and Bugaboo are all tri-fold strollers that collapse with the press of a release button or latch followed by squeezing the fold button on the handle. The Zoe is a bi-fold and collapses in one step by pulling the strap on the seat.

The more compact strollers, the gb Pockit+, Cybex Libelle, and Babyzen YoYo, require two hands, require multiple steps to fold and unfold, and take from 6 to 30 seconds to fold correctly. Of these three, the Libelle is the easiest.

Here’s what it looks like to fold 19 strollers in just over two minutes.

You can see the relative size of the strollers when folded below. All stand when folded, but most aren’t too stable, especially the Zoe. The YoYo, Libelle, and Pockit have a high probability of being accepted as carry-on bags for placement in aircraft overhead compartments.

The Tour+ won’t be accepted as a carry-on for most US domestic flights. And the Aer and Butterfly are hit and miss for domestic flights and a higher probability for international flights.

Here is how the strollers look with the 22 x 14 x 9 inch, standard airline baggage sizer. Some airlines allow for slightly larger bag sizes, but this is the most common standard.

Once folded here is how you carry the strollers:

All of them fit easily into a car trunk:

Kid Comfort

Comfort is key for strollers used on vacation, as they’ll be used a lot.

We first checked how smooth the ride is. Using a tool called an accelerometer, we measured the bumpiness kids might feel in the seat. We did this on a fairly smooth path with some purposely rough spots. A lower number means a smoother ride.

Results for Smoothness of Ride:

Strollers that do well for airline travel typically aren’t the strollers that are most comfortable for bigger kids. 

We assigned a “ Sized for Big Kids Rating ” based on manufacturer guidelines, seat depth, width, height, and distance to the ground.  

The top strollers on this list accommodate children up to 50 lbs. The Cybex Libelle claims to handle 55 lb kids but the measurements and our experience make us skeptical.

  Sized for Big Kids Rating:

Except for the Zoe Tour+ you’ll need to buy snack trays and cup holders for kids separately.

Our babies never liked reclining back too far when they were out and about unless it was nap time. Many strollers lean back at a steep angle even when they are fully upright. This is a complaint we have against some of the top strollers on our list.  Upright Seat Angle:

On the other end of the scale, when it is nap time you want a seat that will go back as far as possible. Here are the  Maximum Seat Recline Measurements:

Also important for napping are leg rests that can be raised. In addition to those below the Nuna TRVL and Zoe Traveler also have leg rests. One can be purchased for the YoYo

Sun protection is also important on vacation. Some of these strollers have very skimpy canopies and others have good coverage. Take a look below.

The Zoe canopy extends down to the belly bar. The Bugaboo also has good coverage, although some sun shines through the large peekaboo window up top.

The compact fold strollers have mostly pitiful sun shades. The Babyzen’s isn’t too bad but it is still smaller than the strollers above.

We measured the noise level of each of the strollers because noisy strollers drive me crazy. Here are the average decibel levels:

All things considered, here is how the strollers rank for  Overall Kid Comfort:

The quality of parts and materials is important for a travel stroller because of the wear and tear that always happens.

We examined the wheels, folding mechanisms, safety features, zippers, snaps and velcro, suspension and other quality factors and rated Overall Quality as follows:

Stroller Accessories for Travel

Sadly many strollers do not include the following basic accessories, which can be lifesavers on a trip.

Cup Holders

Here is a good universal cup holder that attaches to the stroller frame and can be used for both kid and parent cups.

Organizers or Consoles

We like this Momcozy parent organizer because of its many little places to store things and the built in cup holder. Velcro straps allow it to fit on all handlebars.

Rain Covers

Rain covers are optional but if you want to be super prepared here is a generic stroller rain cover. It is a good idea to check whether there is a rain cover made specifically for your stroller before you buy generic.

Stroller Fans

Stroller fans can add hours to your day when the weather is uncomfortably hot. There are many choices but here is a good one.

Stroller Boards

If you have a second child who is able to handle standing on a stroller board, make sure to check on the manufacturer’s website for one of these. This one isn’t perfect but is semi-universal. It is a lot simpler to have a stroller board than to lug around a double stroller if your kids’ ages are appropriate.

Alternative Strollers for Air Travel

Here are a few strollers that are good choices for travel that either didn’t score quite as high as the Joolz, Zoe, or Butterfly, or didn’t fold quite as compactly as the Pockit, Libelle, or Babyzen, and thus weren’t discussed above. 

Of these, the UPPAbaby MINU V2 is a very solid choice as well as the Besrey Gravity fold stroller based on overall performance.

The Besrey stroller surprised us with great scores in maneuverability, user-friendliness, and quality. It appeals to parents with features such as ample storage, an included cup holder, and a peekaboo window.

It has a reasonable weight for travel at 14.4 lbs. But its fold size is 2.9 cubic feet and 25.2 x 19.7 x 11.8 inches which is on the larger side.

Mirroring the aesthetics and feel of a high-end stroller, it nonetheless comes at a lower price. Despite these merits, it did fall short on ride smoothness compared to others and lacks side panels for sun protection.

Besrey Stroller Review

Like the Besrey, the MINU V2 has a high-end look and feel. It is super easy to fold and steer. And it is strong in the storage department.

However, from a travel perspective, it is a bit heavier than the top strollers at 16.9 lbs and has the largest folded dimensions of the group at 23 x 20.3 x 12.5 inches (3.3 cubic feet).

The downsides are a comparatively bumpy ride and a seat back that doesn’t attach well to the frame such that it tips backward and forward when it shouldn’t. 

UPPAbaby MINU V2 Review

The City Mini GT2 is a robust, 3-wheel, lightweight stroller that transports kids up to 65 lbs or 44 inches. It is 20 lbs and barely made our cutoff for lightweight strollers. It folds super easily, maneuvers well, has great quality, and good parent and kid comfort features. The basket is big but difficult to access. Double stroller version.

Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Review

The Quid is very lightweight at 13 lbs folds to a very reasonable 22 x 19 x 8 inches or 2.5 cubic feet. With these numbers it is definitely in the running for a solid travel stroller.

We also love its maneuverability and quality.

But it is lacking in the folding department where it requires two hands, and doesn’t score as high as many in kid comfort or parent ease of use.

Inglesina Quid Review

Finally, the City Tour 2 is also a decent choice for air travel at 14 lbs and 2.2 cubic feet folded. The folded dimensions are a little wider than we would like at 22 x 20 x 7 inches.

It excels at pushing and steering and is easy to fold.

 It scores well in kid comfort, ride smoothness, and noise. We wish it came with cup holders.

There is a Double stroller version available.

Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Review

Strollers That Didn’t Make the Cut

Here are some strollers that are popular, but we didn’t buy and test because they had lower customer reviews than our cutoff limit. Some of these we do own but don’t recommend for travel for the reasons we list below. For example, we didn’t list any umbrella strollers because they are quite bulky when folded compared to other strollers we tested.

gb Pockit+ All City

Honestly the gb Pockit+ All City is right on the borderline for customer satisfaction and it has excellent specs for travel at 13.2 lbs with a very small fold size that is just slightly bigger than the Pockit+ but still able to fit in an overhead bin.

We may buy and test this one in the future. However, the gb and Cybex stroller we have didn’t perform well in any areas of our testing so we aren’t surprised the average reviews aren’t that high for this one.

Delta Children Clutch Compact Stroller

The  Delta Children Clutch has a similar frame style as the Pockit+ All City. It is also very lightweight and folds compactly. But it is also short in the customer review department and has limitations that make it unlikely to score well in most of our categories.

Mompush Lithe Lightweight Stroller

The  Mompush Lithe Lightweight Stroller is light but has weak customer reviews.

Ergobaby Metro+ Compact Baby Stroller

The  Ergobaby Metro+ Compact Baby Stroller also has less than perfect customer reviews although it has good specs for travel.

Silver Cross Jet 3 

The  Silver Cross Jet 3 stroller has even weaker reviews than those above.

Mountain Buggy Nano V3 Stroller

I don’t know why people continue to tout the  Mountain Buggy Nano V3 Stroller when the customer experience is largely underwhelming. 

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Best Travel Strollers of 2024

Traveling with a baby is hard enough without a big, bulky stroller weighing you down.

The best travel strollers make the experience (a little) easier by being lightweight to carry, quick to fold, and easy to stash in a hotel room, the trunk of a taxi or even the overhead bin on a plane.

While most families prefer a full-size stroller with more features, storage and maneuverability for everyday use, a secondary lightweight stroller may come in handy for more than just travel—especially once your toddler wants to walk more than ride.

While your regular stroller stays parked in the garage for walks and longer outings, you might keep your travel stroller in your trunk for errands and appointments.

In this guide, we'll cover the best travel strollers in multiple categories, looking at the lightest and most compact strollers, the top options for newborns, the best travel strollers compatible with car seats, and more.

Best Travel Strollers Video

See eight of the best strollers for travel in action by watching this video, featuring popular options from Babyzen , Bugaboo , Doona , Silver Cross , UPPAbaby and more.

Best Strollers for Travel

Strolleria's best-selling travel strollers are lightweight and compact while still offering features you'll find on larger strollers, like all-wheel suspension, car seat compatibility and high-quality materials like leatherette handles.

The  Babyzen YOYO2 , Bugaboo Butterfly and   Joolz Aer  fold to a size that's carry-on-compatible for many airlines , helping you easily tote your stroller through an airport and sparing it from possible gate-check damage.

Despite being one of the smallest travel strollers, the YOYO2 is also the most versatile: The Connect  accessory turns the YOYO2 into a double by adding a second seat and frame to the back of the stroller. 

While slightly less compact, the Nuna TRVL and   UPPAbaby Minu V2  are still easy to gate-check  and fold quickly with one hand (or, in the case of the TRVL, automatically after the push of a button).

Meanwhile, the  Doona   is the only car seat on wheels that reduces the amount of gear you need for travel during baby's first year.

Strolleria's most popular travel strollers are:

• Babyzen YOYO2
• Bugaboo Butterfly
• UPPAbaby Minu V2

Lightest Travel Strollers

When you're already lugging around suitcases—not to mention a kid—you'll want the stroller to help lighten your load.

The best travel strollers weigh less than 15 pounds, a savings of about 10 pounds compared with a typical full-sized stroller. Plus, travel strollers like the  Babyzen YOYO2 ,  Joolz Aer  and Bugaboo Butterfly  feature an incorporated carry strap so that you can wear the stroller on your shoulder.

The  lightest travel stroller  carried by Strolleria is the  Joolz Aer , at 13.4 pounds, although several additional options—including the  Babyzen YOYO2 ,  Silver Cross Jet , Nuna TRVL ,  Peg Perego Selfie   and   Baby Jogger City Tour 2 —are only heavier by a matter of ounces.

See What is the Lightest Stroller?  for our top 20 lightest strollers.

The lightest travel strollers  include:

• Joolz Aer : 13.4 pounds
• Babyzen YOYO2 , Nuna TRVL * and Silver Cross Jet (tie): 13.6 pounds
• Peg Perego Selfie and Baby Jogger City Tour 2 (tie): 14 pounds
• UPPAbaby G-LUXE : 15 pounds
• Bugaboo Butterfly : 16.1 pounds
• UPPAbaby Minu V2 : 16.9 pounds

* Note that Nuna weighs the TRVL without the canopy or bumper bar.

Most Compact Travel Strollers

The most compact travel strollers include the  Silver Cross Jet  and  Babyzen YOYO2 , which fold tightly enough to fit in the overhead bin on an airplane.

By bringing your stroller onboard the plane, you'll avoid the risk of it getting dirty or damaged during a gate check (provided that the airline allows you to consider your stroller as a carry-on.)

While several brands advertise  strollers that fit in the overhead bin , carry-on luggage size restrictions vary by airline. Carry-on dimensions of 22" x 14" x 9" are used by carriers including American, Delta and United.

Your airline may not allow strollers onboard depending on the plane size and capacity, so prepared with a stroller travel bag to protect your stroller from getting dirty or damaged if you're required to check it at the gate.

Strollers that fit in an overhead bin  include:

• Baby Jogger City Tour 2 : 21.6" x 16.9" x 6.8"
• Babyzen YOYO2 : 20" x 17" x 7"
• Bugaboo Butterfly : 21.2 x 17.7" x 9"
• Joolz Aer : 21" x 17.7" x 8.5"
• Silver Cross Jet : 21.6" x 11.8" x 7.1"

Best Travel Strollers for Newborns

Not all travel strollers can be used for your first trips with an infant. Umbrella strollers, for example, don't recline flat enough for a newborn's developing head and neck, and they can't be used with a car seat or bassinet.

The  Silver Cross Jet  is among the few travel strollers with a reclinable seat that's considered flat enough for a newborn, while most seats are recommended for 3 to 6 months and up.

But several top travel strollers can be paired with an infant car seat, which not only makes the stroller newborn-safe but reduces the amount of gear you'll need to carry. The  Doona  simplifies things even further—it's a car seat with retractable wheels that convert it into stroller mode.

A few travel strollers, like the  Joolz Aer  and  UPPAbaby  Minu,   also offer a bassinet attachment that allows your baby to lie flat in a more comfortable and ergonomic position. The  Babyzen YOYO2  offers two bassinet choices: the newborn pack , consisting of soft fabrics that fold with the stroller, and the bassinet , which has a hard bottom that allows for indoor use.

The best travel strollers for newborns include:

• Babyzen YOYO2  (using car seat , newborn pack or bassinet )
• Joolz Aer  (using car seat or bassinet ) 
• Silver Cross Jet  (using car seat or lie-flat seat)
• UPPAbaby Minu V2  (using car seat or UPPAbaby Bassinet with adapters )

Best Travel Strollers Compatible with Car Seats

With the exception of umbrella strollers, most travel strollers are compatible with at least one type of car seat using adapters. Here's a look at the best travel strollers compatible with top car seats.

Travel Strollers Compatible with Baby Jogger City Go

• Baby Jogger City Tour 2

Travel Strollers Compatible with Clek Liing

• Cybex Eezy S Twist 2
• Silver Cross Jet

Travel Strollers Compatible with Cybex Car Seats

Travel strollers compatible with maxi-cosi car seats, travel strollers compatible with nuna pipa car seats.

• Bugaboo Butterfly (also compatible with Bugaboo by Nuna car seats)

Travel Strollers Compatible with Peg Perego Car Seats

• Peg Perego Selfie

Travel Strollers Compatible with UPPAbaby Mesa

Best Travel Strollers with Reversible Seats

With the reduced weight and compact size of a travel stroller comes a few trade-offs: Most travel strollers lack features you'd find on a larger stroller, like a reversible seat.

The  Cybex Eezy S Twist 2  is unique in that its seat rotates 360 degrees. You can also easily remove the freestanding seat to swap it with a car seat, while other travel strollers require you to remove and reattach fabrics to do so.

As a car seat on wheels, the  Doona  allows your child to be parent-facing—as is the case when you attach any car seat or bassinet to a stroller.

The best travel strollers that are parent-facing include:

Best Double Travel Strollers

A stroller large enough to hold two kids isn't exactly convenient for travel, but a few options are lighter and more compact than others.

Strolleria's two lightest double strollers are both side-by-side double strollers with a one-piece fold that's easier than other doubles, which can require removing the second seat before folding.

The  Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double  and  UPPAbaby G-LINK V2  weigh around 22 pounds, compared with many doubles topping 30 pounds. Neither option is compatible with car seats, but the City Tour 2 can accommodate up to two bassinets for newborns.

The Babyzen YOYO2 is the only travel stroller that converts from single to double with the purchase of the Connect frame, which adds a second frame, seat and back wheels to the rear of the main stroller. If one child no longer needs a ride, you can fold the Connect and hang it on the back of the YOYO2 for easy storage.

• Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double
• Babyzen YOYO2 Connect Double
• UPPAbaby G-LINK V2

Best Travel Strollers with Ride-Along Boards

Traveling with a newborn and a toddler? Instead of hauling a double stroller around, consider a travel stroller with a ride-along board attachment.

When your older child calls it quits on walking through the airport, he can hitch a ride on the back of the  Babyzen YOYO2 , Bugaboo Butterfly ,  UPPAbaby Minu V2 or Joolz Aer —some of the only travel strollers with a ride-along board accessory.

The boards for the Babyzen YOYO and Joolz Aer include a bicycle seat that's perfect for tired toddlers on the verge of a mid-travel meltdown, while the Minu V2 Piggyback board is positioned to one side so parent and standing child are side by side—giving you more legroom as you're pushing the stroller.

While many strollers are compatible with ride-along boards, few are small enough to be considered a travel stroller. But if you're willing to scale up, the Baby Jogger City Mini or City Mini GT 2 ,  Bugaboo Bee6 and Thule Spring  are among the most compact choices compatible with a board.

The best travel strollers with ride-along boards include:

• Baby Jogger City Mini 2 or City Mini GT 2
• Bugaboo Bee6
• Thule Spring

Strolleria is dedicated to making the baby gear buying experience less overwhelming for parents. If you have more questions about the best travel strollers , feel free to contact us at 480-442-9433 or [email protected] .

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We Tested the Best Travel Strollers for Every Type of Adventure

These are lightweight, small, and ready to make your trip easier

In This Article

Our Favorites

Our testing process, other notable travel strollers, factors to consider.

• How to Use a Travel Stroller Safely

Your Questions, Answered

Parents / Jhett Thompson

Any parent who has dared to travel alone with a small child knows how essential it is to have a high-quality stroller. A stroller can make or break a trip through the airport, and it really comes in handy when rushing through security and to a gate. But standard strollers are often too bulky for air travel —or they’re just too nice to risk handing over to the baggage handlers—which is why having a dedicated travel stroller can make all the difference. We tested more than 40 compact strollers in our labs to find you the very best to take on your next trip.

Recall Alert

In early December 2023, Bugaboo and the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of the Bugaboo Dragonfly, a standard stroller that is not on this travel stroller list. When in parent-facing mode, the seat of this stroller may be unfolded incorrectly so that it the back rest is at a negative incline, posing an injury risk for infants. The recall is only for 1,200 Dragonfly strollers purchased in the U.S. and Canada before June 27, 2023. For a list of recalled serial numbers and instructions for getting a replacement seat, visit the CPSC or Bugaboo.com . We've tested the strollers on this list in our lab and at home, updating it immediately if our long-term testers discover any damage or possible risks to children.

Before selecting a travel stroller, you should make sure it’s durable, portable, maneuverable, lightweight, and worth your money (these strollers range in price from $100 to $500). Plus, it should be comfortable and practical to use when you get to your destination. We assembled, wheeled, turned, pushed, dropped, and folded each stroller to find which met our standards. We also spoke to Betty Choi, M.D., a pediatrician and mother of two, to get her insight into what qualities to look for in a stroller. 

Finally, to make this list of the best travel strollers, we made sure that most of these would be easy to use with one hand, so that parents carrying a bag or baby would be able to maneuver it throughout their journey with one less thing to worry about. 

• Best Overall: Bugaboo Butterfly
• Best Overall Runner-Up: GB Qbit+ All City

Best Budget: babyGap Classic Stroller

• Best Comfort: Uppababy Minu V2
• Best Luxury: Nuna TRVL Stroller
• Lightest: Contours Itsy
• Best Double: Uppababy G-Link 2
• Best for Air Travel: Munchkin Sparrow
• Best for Car Travel: Baby Jogger City Tour 2
• Best for City Travel: Babyzen YOYO2

Best Overall: Bugaboo Butterfly Stroller

Why We Like It: A spacious, padded seat, generous cargo space, and excellent maneuverability all fold up into carry-on size. 

But Take Note: Be sure to fold up the footrest if you check this on a plane, as it’s not as durable as the rest of the stroller. 

Some high-end strollers are just charging you for the label, but others, like the Bugaboo Butterfly, really do deliver in terms of quality, convenience, and extra features for your money. It doesn’t just look good. It truly impressed us in all of our tests, as well as in the real world, when our editor took it for a spin to Puerto Rico and back. Note: The Butterfly is not the model Bugaboo recently recalled because of a seat issue .

While it’s a very compact stroller, when opened, it offers plenty of seating space for your baby or toddler. As part of the very quick assembly process, you attach fabric padding to this seat for extra comfort, not to mention easier cleaning. The sun canopy extends fully with a zip-open mesh segment, giving baby protection and a cool breeze. And speaking of which, that machine-washable fabric didn’t make a toddler very hot when he sat in it on his tropical vacation. Unlike a lot of other travel strollers, this model doesn’t sacrifice cargo space to get it down to travel size. The back of the under-seat basket is spring loaded, so you can push it down to stuff a backpack or diaper bag inside, and it will pop back up to secure the contents. It’s also got a fully extendable footrest, which doubles as a handle when the stroller is folded up. Unfortunately, when our editor wound up checking this stroller on her flight, she left this footrest/handle out, and baggage handlers managed to snap the thing right off. (Bugaboo offers a four-year warranty, but it won’t cover airline damage.) The footrest appears to be more vulnerable to breakage than the rest of the frame, which looks and feels thicker and more solid. 

To avoid that kind of airline mishap, you can also fit this little guy into most overhead compartments as your carry-on. That is, after you take advantage of its simple folding process—which we weren’t exactly able to do one-handed at first, just because the two buttons at the handlebar were a bit hard to press, but we still loved how swiftly it shrunk down into itself. There’s a strap for lugging it around hands-free on your shoulder, and at 16 pounds, that’s pretty doable for most parents used to playing pack mule, for short distances, at least.

The Butterfly moved like butter over various surfaces in the lab, even rocks and fake grass, taking sharp turns with very little effort, too. The small wheels mean this isn’t exactly a rugged, all-terrain stroller, and a baby will get a bit jostled if you’re going over gravel or cobblestones in your travels, but since it’s so light you’ll both get through those tough surfaces just fine!

The Details:

• Size open: 36.42 x 17.72 x 40.31 inches
• Size folded: 17.72 x 9.06 x 21.26 inches
• Weight: 16 pounds

Best Overall Runner-Up: gb Qbit+ All City Stroller

Why We Like It: This is an incredibly comfortable stroller that maneuvers smoothly and folds up easily. 

But Take Note: It’s heavier than some others we tested and doesn’t have a shoulder strap. 

This travel stroller landed near the top in our testing because it’s comfortable, easily maneuverable, portable, and durable—which are some of the most important criteria when shopping for a travel stroller. We found this stroller to be easy to close and fold with one hand, by pressing down on the two buttons. The shoulder straps are comfortably padded and meet at a buckle that we didn't mind in the lab, though it later proved a bit tricky in the real world when we wrangled an impatient child into it. It features a padded seat that reclines nearly all the way back, revealing breathable mesh at the top, so kids can comfortably nap while in transit. With the adjustable footrest in the straight-out position, this is also suitable for a newborn, if you’d rather leave the car seat and adapter at home. Keep in mind that the canopy provides pretty good coverage, but doesn’t extend as far as the Nuna TRVL or the Uppababy Minu V2. 

This stroller has enough storage space to hold a medium-size backpack, which also makes it useful during travel. With all-wheel suspension, it maneuvered easily over different terrain like gravel, wood, and carpet in the lab. In fact, we barely noticed a difference when transitioning from carpet to gravel. Though it drives comfortably, keep in mind that the handlebar isn’t adjustable, and it doesn’t come with a cup holder.

A huge point in the Qbit’s favor is that at $380, it’s about $70 less than the Bugaboo Butterfly and the Uppababy Minu V2. But it’s also a bit heavier than some of the others we tested, doesn’t have a shoulder strap, and might not fit in all overhead compartments. 

• Size open: 33 x 17 x 42 inches 
• Size folded: 17 x 10 x 23 inches 
• Weight: 17.6 pounds
• Age range: Birth up to 55 pounds

Parents / Conor Ralph

Parents / Phoebe Cheong

Why We Like It: It’s got the convenience and price of an umbrella stroller, but it doesn’t feel rickety and it looks so cute.

But Take Note: The light-colored fabrics may not stay in pristine condition for long.

Umbrella strollers are no one’s favorite mode of conveyance, as they typically sacrifice style and comfort for cost and the ability to collapse into a small package that you won’t care terribly about breaking or losing. But in our testing, we were able to find a few that we genuinely liked for reasons beyond their near disposability. This model from Gap, made by Delta Children, surprised us by not just looking cute. The gray-and-white striped fabric—very Gap!—is part of its appeal, however, and it’s made from recycled water bottles. (It also comes in pink-and-white stripes, black camo, and navy camo.) 

This inexpensive stroller has some thoughtful features: The canopy fully shades a child, though it doesn’t have a peekaboo window. It reclines enough for a toddler’s nap, but does not have a footrest. The five-point harness buckles at three points, has removable padding, and doesn’t have to be rethreaded to adjust. The two handles have faux leather covers that feel good to hold, and it comes with a fabric caddy to hold the grown-up’s small belongings, a water bottle, and a cup or bottle for the kid as well. You can squeeze a diaper bag into the cargo area—it’s about the size you expect from an umbrella stroller. Our one concern about the design is that we’re not sure how long the whiter parts of the fabric will stay looking white. 

We were truly surprised by how good it felt to push this stroller around on different terrain, given that it doesn’t have fancy shock absorption or other luxury features. There was none of the telltale rattling of an umbrella stroller, and it’s so lightweight that we could manage stairs and curbs without much inconvenience. 

To fold, you lift a lock in the back, push a lever on the bottom right side, and push the whole thing forward. We found the lock that keeps it folded is a bit finicky, and could totally see someone breaking a nail unlocking it one day, so watch out for that. Still, it has a well-placed strap for carrying and weighs only 15 pounds. We can imagine it being a great second stroller that you can take on trains, pack in the trunk, and even gate-check on planes. 

• Size open: 20.7 x 31.50 x 42.9 inches
• Size folded: 12 x 44 x 11 inches
• Weight: 15 pounds

RELATED: The Best Baby Pool Floats for Safe Splashing in the Sun

Best Comfort: UPPAbaby MINU V2 Stroller

Why We Like It: Plush padding, a sun shade, and an almost-flat recline make this perfect for stroller naps.

But Take Note: It’s too large for many overhead compartments, and you may want to buy a separate travel bag to protect it when flying.

For a comfortable ride for both parent and baby, the Uppababy Minu V2 is one of your best bets. It’s one of a few on this list (like the Bugaboo Butterfly, for example) that could serve as your only stroller, too. Stroller naps are essential when traveling—it buys grown-ups so much more sightseeing time!— and this spacious seat reclines pretty far and features extra padding to make those naps last longer. They’ll stay cool, too, because that canopy unzips to an almost horizontal level for great sun coverage, with a mesh peekaboo window for extra air flow. For the adult behind the wheels, there’s a padded leather handle bar that doesn’t adjust but is at a good height for tall and short people alike. Though it doesn’t come with a cup holder or caddy, there is a pocket behind the seat where you can stash a water bottle and phone, and the storage basket is large and spacious, holding up to 20 pounds, which makes it easy to tote a backpack or diaper bag. 

You and your kiddo might even remain comfortable when navigating bumpy ground, thanks to four-wheel suspension, or weaving in and out of crowds, as we found it took sharp turns easily (even one-handed!). And when it’s time to get in the car, walk up stairs to a train, or get on the plane, this ride folds up quickly. We found it did take a little practice (and for some, two hands) to press the two buttons on the handle to trigger the folding process, but then it collapses down on its own. 

It stays upright when folded, and you can pick it up by a handle or the attached padded strap. But beware that it weighs about 17 pounds and it probably won’t fit in overhead compartments of smaller planes. You may also want to invest in Uppababy’s travel bag , because it includes insurance against damage to the stroller by the airline, once you enroll in the TravelSafe program. 

• Size open: 35.5 x 20.3 x 41 inches
• Size folded: 12.5 x 20.3″ x 23 inches (with bumper bar)
• Weight: 16.9 pounds

Best Luxury: Nuna Trvl Lightweight Stroller

Why We Like it: It easily reclines and maneuvers smoothly. 

But Take Note:  The bumper bar can be a pain to take on and off when you're in a hurry.

Here’s a peek inside our testing process: It’s kind of great for editors who are in the market for these products ourselves. We were all heart eyes when we beheld the Nuna TRVL, and one of us immediately called it to take home for long-term testing. This is a luxurious travel stroller whose comfort, functionality, and efficiency rival that of an everyday stroller. It had one of the smoothest rides out of any of the strollers we tested—we felt no difference when traversing hardwood, tile, and shag carpet. The seat is easy to recline with one hand and an adjustable calf rest adds extra comfort. Because it does not go all the way flat, this stroller on its own is inappropriate for a newborn, but if you purchase a Nuna Pipa car seat, you won’t need an adapter for it. The leatherette on the handle and bumper bar is both attractive and nicely cushioning. We love that the water repellant, UPF 50+ canopy provides shade with the option to open multiple mesh windows. 

Besides the fact that it just looks good, the real wow factor with the TRVL is that it actually folds itself for you with just the push of a button. It also fits into the overhead bin of most planes. Its under-seat compartment is large enough to fit a backpack or diaper bag, so it’s a great option if you’re carrying multiple other bags for your trip. There’s no shoulder strap, but the bumper bar works as a great handle when the stroller is folded—which is a good thing because the hassle of removing and reattaching that bar is one of our main complaints about the stroller in the real world. While it comes with its own travel bag, it digs into your shoulders after a long walk through the airport. Though the brand says that the TRVL weighs 13.6 pounds, that’s not counting the canopy and arm bar, which make it actually 15.4 pounds. That’s lighter than the other luxury strollers on this list but heavier than, say, the Contours Itsy and the Munchkin Sparrow.

You also can’t ignore that while this is one of the most comfortable, maneuverable, and well-designed strollers we tested, it’s one of the most expensive. 

• Size open: 20.5 x 26 x 41 inches
• Size folded: 20.25 x 27.25 x 11 inches
• Weight: 15.4 pounds
• Age range: Birth (with car seat) to 50 pounds

RELATED: The Best Diaper Bags for Two Kids

Lightest: Contours Itsy Lightweight Stroller

Why We Like It: Not only is it light, but it folds up one-handed into something you could fit in a backpack.

But Take Note: It lacks storage space and doesn’t recline, and we suspect bigger kids won’t find it super comfy.

For many of us, when we say we want a travel stroller, we don’t want all the bells and whistles and aren’t looking to replace our everyday wheels. What we really want is the very lightest, most compact stroller that can take our kid from point to point, and then all but disappear until the next time we need it. That is what the Contours Itsy is. It is possibly the lightest stroller we’ve ever used, and with just one hand, we could pack it up into the size of a grocery bag and lift it—still one-handed!—into an overhead compartment. And we could probably even do that while holding a wiggly toddler!

This is a very inexpensive stroller, at just $170 at this writing, so you’re not getting luxury. But you are getting a stroller with a safe five-point harness, a removable bumper bar, and suspension in the front wheels to help it navigate some minor city bumps. There’s a UPF 50+ canopy with a very breezy mesh window in the back, and it will shade most toddlers, though we wish it extended just a tad further so that shorter kids could get its full benefit. The seat has a bit of a footrest, but it does not recline. It does not fit a full-size diaper bag in the cargo space, and there are no cup holders or caddies. All of that takes up space, and that’s not what the Itsy is here for!

After putting together a whole lot of strollers over the course of many tests, we really appreciated that this came right out of the box fully assembled. All that was left to do was attach the bumper bar. Folding it is almost just as effortless, with just the press of one button!

The stroller didn’t maneuver quite as smoothly as some of the other compact strollers in our test—it was even beat out by the cheaper babyGap Classic—and we got a bit annoyed by the way the single brake takes a good push to engage, and it also caught on the stairs when we were pulling it up and down. Another downside is that it’s got a lower weight capacity (40 pounds) than many other strollers and doesn’t look very comfortable for bigger kids. Still, at this price, you’ll be happy that it’s going to achieve the exact thing you want it to do.

• Size open: 32 x 18.20 x 39 inches
• Size folded: 10.5 x 11 x 22 inches
• Weight: 12.3 pounds

Best Double: Uppababy G-Link V2 Stroller

Why We Like It: With padded, adjustable straps and a compact build, this umbrella stroller is comfortable and easy to maneuver with two kiddos.

But Take Note: Since it’s naturally larger than the single options, you’ll have to gate-check it on the plane.

Traveling with two children requires a special type of stroller—one that can keep both content enough to stay put, and maybe even handle a bumpy ride while they're strapped in. That’s why we love the Uppababy G-Link 2, it’s a sizable double stroller that maneuvers with the lightweight ability of a single stroller. It has all the features that make a parent’s life easier, like a cup holder, storage pockets, easy buckle and adjustable shoulder straps. Two extendable UPF 50+ sun shades and adjustable recline make it cozy for the kids, too. Four sets of wheels (instead of the six of some other double models) make it easy to turn and maneuver, and our testers found that it did so with ease over different types of terrain.  

This stroller excelled in our comfort and maneuverability tests, but it lacked in terms of portability. Despite the larger size, it’s still easy to fold up with one hand and can stand up when folded. Since it holds two children, it’s not as compact as some of the others, so you’ll definitely have to gate-check it. Although it has a handle, it does not have a shoulder strap, so there’s no hands-free carrying option, either. Still, when you’re traveling with more than one child, you’re probably going to keep them strapped in for as long as possible.

• Size open: 28.25 x 25 x 41 inches 
• Size folded: 17.5 x 40 x 14 inches
• Weight: 22 pounds

RELATED: The Best Double Strollers We Tested Loaded With Kids

Parents / David Carr

Best for Air Travel: Munchkin Sparrow Stroller

Why We Like It: It’s got one of the most compact folds and comes with its own carrying bag.

But Take Note: There’s basically no canopy or storage area on this stroller.

You may giggle a little upon seeing the Munchkin Sparrow in person for the first time—it’s as silly and bird-like as the name implies. And like its namesake bird, this is no fancy showpiece. This is the stroller for the person whose top priority is being able to fold it into a teeny-tiny carrying bag and pop it into the overhead bin with zero arguments from any flight attendants. 

Like the Contours Itsy, the super-compact size of this means it arrives in the box fully assembled. You place the wheels side up, press two little buttons on the handle, and it pops right open. It folds back just the same, too. And then it fits in the very conveniently included carrying bag. 

It’s a few ounces heavier than the Contours and slightly more expensive, and we find that what it passes off as a shade canopy is kind of insulting. (Maybe your kid will get shade at noon.) There’s only the merest hint of a cargo space, too. We were unimpressed by how it handled curbs and bumpy surfaces. On the other hand, the seat is a bit bigger than the Itsy, and the stroller can hold a kid until they weigh 55 pounds. Still, parents who frequently fly solo with a kid, or not-solo with multiple children, might be quite relieved to have an option like this for their journeys.

• Size open: 39 × 18.5 × 28 inches
• Size folded: 15 x 14 x 6.25 inches
• Weight: 12.8 pounds

Best for Car Travel: Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Stroller

Why We Like It: Exceptional maneuverability, easy to recline seats, and padded straps make this a comfortable ride for parents and baby, but it packs up small to fit in the trunk of a car.

But Take Note: It does not fit in an overhead bin, and not everyone loves its utilitarian look.

For a stroller that maneuvers well and compacts into a small, convenient package that slides easily into a trunk or backseat, try the Baby Jogger City Tour 2. This easy-to-use stroller is built to keep babies and toddlers happy: It reclines far and has padded shoulder and crotch straps, plus the built-in, solid footrest can withstand the kicks of those bigger riders. The canopy goes down nicely to provide lots of coverage, with a peekaboo window to check on your kiddo. 

Though you have to push two buttons, you can fold and unfold it with one hand. Once folded, tote it by the attached strap or use the included carrying bag. Though it doesn’t fit into an overhead bin, it’s a great option for packing on car trips. It takes up considerably less room than a standard stroller would—which is particularly convenient when packing a crowded car. 

In testing, the City Tour 2 was up there with our top picks in terms of maneuverability over bumps and around tight turns. It looks and feels sturdier than most of the ultra-compact options, but it weighs less than 15 pounds. This stroller doesn’t look luxe, or even very cute, but many caregivers who know the mess, wear, and tear kids can inflict on a stroller will call that a plus.

The Details :

• Size open: 20 x 26 x 40 inches 
• Size folded: 19.5 x 7 x 22.5 
• Weight: 14.5 pounds
• Age range: Newborn (with car seat) up to 45 pounds

RELATED: 9 Best Potty-Training Seats and Chairs for Toddlers

Best for City Travel: Babyzen YOYO2 Stroller

Why We Like It: This folds up into a really small, convenient package, and handles city streets so well.

But Take Note: You need two hands to fold it up, and it’s not great on rougher terrain. 

Strollers are incredibly bulky when you live in a small apartment, so it’s important for city dwellers to find one that won’t take up too much space when not in use. And if you’re visiting a city on vacation, you’ll feel the same. This option from Babyzen is great for city life because it’s incredibly portable and folds up into a small, convenient package you can stash just about anywhere. It’s also more narrow than most, so it can weave through the crowds on sidewalks. This is why it’s been dominating the streets of Brooklyn for the past few years. 

Of course the stroller’s key feature is how small it is, both narrow when in use and compact when fully folded. But its seat is surprisingly roomy and nicely padded for a child, even if it’s lacking an extended footrest. The storage area is small, too, though we like that it’s easily accessible. Those are some of the sacrifices necessary for its folding size. Folding is not a one-handed process, but unfolding is. A padded shoulder strap allows for hands-free carrying of this 14 pound stroller, so you can get up and down those subway stairs, or in and out of buses, while carrying your kid. It fit nicely into the mock overhead bin in our test, too.

We emphasize that this is a city stroller because while it was so good at weaving in and out of cones in our obstacle course, it wasn’t so great on rough surfaces. Another drawback is the price. When you’ve purchased the frame and its “color pack”—that’s the canopy and the fabric that goes over the seat, which the brand unfortunately sells separately —it ends up costing between $400 and $470, depending on your color choice. You can choose between the 0+ color pack, which is suitable for newborns lying flat, and the 6+ color pack made for 6 months old and up, and both of these are machine washable. (You can also buy a bassinet , but that won’t fold up with the rest of the stroller like the newborn back does.) We find this separate fabric system a little confusing, but it does make it quite nice if you want to switch up the colors for a second child, or even if you’re buying it second-hand.

• Size open: 33.80 x 17.3 x 41.7 inches
• Size folded: 20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1 inches
• Weight: 13.7 pounds

Best With Car Seat: Doona Convertible Infant Car Seat Stroller System

Why We Like It: This car seat with wheels saves you the step of switching from one set of wheels to another.

But Take Note: Your kid will outgrow it quickly.

When we first tested this funny stroller in 2022, we swore we were never going to tell readers you should spend more than $500 on something you might be using for less than a year. Since then, we have had so, so many city (and some suburban) parents tell us that they love their Doonas and didn’t regret the purchase for an instant, that we had to give it a second chance. After all, it isn’t just a stroller. It’s more of a car seat that grew legs and wheels. And for those few months in which your baby fits into an infant car seat, it’s actually a really streamlined way to travel.

When it's in stroller mode, the baby faces you (like they would in an infant seat attached to a stroller), but they'll be much lower to the ground than you’d typically keep an infant. Still, the handle reaches high enough that it’s comfortable for adults to push. And compared to most car seat travel systems, this is a really smooth, easy ride. What’s more, if you wind up having to take stairs on your journey, you can fold up the wheels (while the baby’s still in it!) and carry it as you would any car seat. (The combined weight of a baby plus the seat’s 17 pounds isn’t exactly going to be light, but it’s doable.) 

Inside, your baby is snug and certifiably safe in a typical car seat harness, surrounded by fabric that’s breathable and machine washable. And you don’t have to remove them from that cozyness when it’s time to get in the car. Instead, you’ll have two hands free to collapse the whole thing down into a car seat. It comes with a LATCH car seat base you can leave in your car. But Doona’s whole concept is even more attractive to people who wind up taking taxis, car services, or friends’ cars in between places where they’ll be walking a lot. 

Because it’s less of a stroller than a car seat, there are a few things missing here. For one, the canopy isn’t very big, though you can purchase a more complete sunshade separately . And for another, it has zero storage. You’ll just have to carry that diaper bag, or delicately drape it over the handle (against expert advice, mind you) and hope it doesn’t tip the whole thing over. 

Back to the question of whether this is worth your investment. Infant car seats can cost anywhere from $100 to $500, so if you were already going to spring for the high-end models, you could consider this a reasonable amount to spend on a two-for-one item (especially when most infant car seats are in the $300 range). Many parents we know also either resold their Doonas, or passed them along to friends and family members, because in such a short period of time, they saw little wear and tear. If you consider this a kind of short-term heirloom, or the start of a Sisterhood of the Traveling Stroller, it may be worth your money.

• Size open: 17.4 x 32.3 x 39 inches
• Size folded: 17.4 x 26 x 22.4 inches
• Weight: 17 pounds
• Age range : Birth to 35 pounds (or 32 inches tall)

Parents / Dera Burreson

Smoothest Ride: Silver Cross Jet 3 Super Compact Stroller

Silver Cross

Why We Like It: It maneuvers like a dream over various terrain, and we loved rolling it like a suitcase folded up.

But Take Note: It’s sorely lacking in storage space.

We’ve tested a lot of Silver Cross strollers in the past year, and most wound up being very pretty to look at, but not much else. We were happy to discover that the Jet 3 broke the mold. This is a luxury stroller you can fit in most overhead compartments and also enjoy pushing around town. In testing, it was smooth as silk, maneuvering through our obstacle course and over grass and gravel. We didn’t even mind bumping it up and down stairs! And when it’s folded up, we got a real kick out of how much it looks and feels like a fancy rolling carry-on bag, as the leatherette bumper bar becomes the handle.

Silver Jet doesn’t skimp on looks—and you can even spend an extra $50 to get the black version with rose-gold details, which is to say, this is for parents and caregivers who want to look good too. On a more practical level, we’re fans of the magnetic buckle on the five-point harness. The seat reclines completely flat, and there’s an adjustable footrest. Unlike most travel strollers, you can use this from birth, letting the baby lie flat and pulling up this bit of stretchy fabric up and over the footrest to make it resemble a mini bassinet. The canopy is generous, though not quite as much as the Uppababy Minu V2. The one true and unmissable design flaw here is the cargo area, which is difficult to access and would barely fit a diaper bag. 

Folding this stroller takes two hands to get it into its most compact position. It comes with a protective travel cover that has a pocket into which you can store the bumper bar when it’s time to stash the whole thing into the trunk or your overhead bin. It doesn’t fold as small as the Yoyo2 or the Munchkin Sparrow, but it’s more compact than the Bugaboo Butterfly and the Nuna TRVL, which are priced about the same.

• Size open: 35.43 x 17.7 x 39.5 inches
• Size folded: 7.08 x 11.81 x 21.65 inches
• Weight: 13.6 pounds
• Age range : Birth to 55 pounds

To find the best travel strollers available, we evaluated each product to assess a number of attributes like design, portability, maneuverability, and durability. To start, we weighed and measured each stroller to determine how compact it is when folded compared to how large it is when expanded. Next, we assessed how easy the stroller is to fold. When traveling with a child, parents often have to maneuver through an airport, security line, or plane aisle while holding a baby, so we wanted to find the strollers you can fold with one hand. We assessed the individual features of each stroller's design, like adjustable handle height, seat level, canopies, storage, and cup holders. To evaluate portability, we folded up each stroller and tried to pick it up, carried it up and down stairs, and lifted it over our heads into an overhead compartment. We observed handle placement and took note of overall convenience. To test maneuverability, we wheeled the stroller around cones, over hard floor, carpet, fake grass, and gravel. Lastly, we dropped the strollers multiple times from shoulder height and knocked them off a table to evaluate durability. We considered what shape the strollers were in to start with and observed any dents, scratches, or changes to function after putting them through our durability test. 

We also spoke to board certified pediatrician Betty Choi, M.D. , author of “Human Body Learning Lab,” to get a better sense of the safety requirements to consider when buying a travel stroller.

• Gb Pockit Air All-Terrain : This stroller is easy to fold and surprisingly maneuverable, but it lacks some of the additional features that are important for a comfortable ride. It has little storage and no padding, and its canopy is all but ineffective. Its tiny size impressed us, though!
• Chicco Liteway : This is a great lightweight umbrella stroller for the price, and it’s a decent alternative to the babyGap Classic on this list. It’s really just a matter of aesthetics. 

Size and Weight

Travel strollers should be lightweight and small, above all else, in order to be useful to families on the road. But how light and how small is an individual decision.

“While the lightest strollers will be easier to carry, the tradeoff might be other features like storage space and seat comfort,” Dr. Choi tells us. “Therefore, the best travel stroller depends on where the family is going to use it and how many kids will be riding the stroller.”

Whether you’re traveling by car, train, or plane, travel strollers will need to be packed at some point. Before selecting a travel stroller, assess what type of travel you plan to do. If you plan to travel by plane, make sure the travel stroller can either fit in an overhead bin or withstand abuse by baggage handlers. If you choose the former, make sure it’s light enough to lift over your head. For car trips, you can go slightly bigger, but make sure the stroller can fit in your trunk or passenger seat. 

Portability

Portability is particularly important when selecting an efficient travel stroller. If you plan to travel alone, assess whether or not the stroller can be folded and carried with one hand. When collapsed, does it easily lock? In addition to the folding system, make sure to look out for handles, carrying straps, or bags. Portability is one of the key differences between a standard stroller and a travel stroller, so be sure to keep it top of mind when considering which product is best for you. 

Comfort and Design

Although most travel strollers aren’t as big, luxurious, and plush as a standard stroller, they should still be comfortable. Naps are usually taken on-the-go when traveling, so it’s important to find a stroller that your little one will feel comfortable sleeping in. If you’ll be traveling in different types of weather, assess whether or not the stroller has a sun canopy or mesh window to encourage air flow. 

“Young children, especially those with fair skin, are prone to sunburns,” Dr. Choi reminds us. “Consider the size of the canopy and how much shade it can provide for your child.”

For your own comfort, note whether or not the stroller has storage or cup holders, both of which could make your life easier when bustling through a busy airport or train station. Make sure the handlebar is at an appropriate height so you can easily push it without hunching over. 

Like most kids’ gadgets, strollers can come with a hefty price tag. The strollers we tested ranged in price from $110 to $500. If you’re purchasing a travel stroller as your main stroller, you might be inclined to spend a bit more and invest in a product that has extra features. If you’re purchasing a streamlined second stroller for occasional use, a more budget-friendly option might be better suited to you. 

How to Use a Travel Stroller Safely 

Strap in securely .

Operate a travel stroller with the same level of care and consideration as any other baby gear you use. Before using the stroller, read the user manual, particularly instructions related to safety. Be sure to understand the strap system, and always double check that your child is securely strapped into the harness straps according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

Use the Brake

If your stroller has removable wheels, make sure that they are securely installed before using it. Whenever the stroller is parked, always use the brakes to ensure it doesn’t roll away. 

Store Bags Properly

According to the AAP , heavy items like diaper bags or backpacks should always be stored under the stroller, rather than hanging from the handlebar. When heavy bags hang from the handlebar it can cause the stroller to tip or flip, which could cause injury. “To prevent tipping, the base of the stroller should be wide, and the seat should be low to the ground. While it can be tempting to hang your diaper bag on the handlebars, this weight can cause the stroller to tip over. That's why it's important to consider the size of the basket under the stroller,” adds Dr. Choi.

Keep Weight and Age in Mind

Before selecting a travel stroller, always check age and weight limits, and make sure that they will remain in that range for the entire time you plan to use the stroller. “Make sure the stroller is made for your child's age, weight, and height. Babies are usually too young for travel strollers because they need more neck and head support than older infants and children,” said Dr. Choi.

Is a travel stroller worth buying?

If you travel frequently, a travel stroller can make the experience much more efficient and convenient. “Because families need to carry extra snacks, clothes, and other supplies while traveling with kids, a portable stroller can help lighten the overall luggage load,” Dr. Choi says. “If a stroller folds easily and feels light, it may help conserve your energy for carrying all of the other important things.”

Can you use a travel stroller every day?

Depending on the type of travel stroller you choose, you can absolutely use it every day. Though they are often smaller and less luxurious than a standard stroller, most travel strollers still perform the basic functions that any stroller should. If you’re looking for a stroller that has a lot of extra features and a big storage area, opt for something larger. 

Can I take my stroller on the plane?

Many travel strollers are small enough to take on a plane. That means, they’re perfect for air travel. If you plan to take a stroller on a plane, make sure you select one that folds up quickly and easily into one compact, lightweight package. Always check with your airline for specific carry-on sizes for your flight. And since flights are always making last-minute requests for people to gate check, you may want to come prepared with a storage bag to protect your stroller, just in case.

Laura Denby is a freelance product reviewer and food, home, and lifestyle writer. She has been testing and reviewing products for the past five years, and creates thoroughly tested, comprehensive product reviews for sites like Food & Wine, VeryWell Family, Real Simple, and Better Homes & Gardens. She is also the mother to an active 1-year-old, whom she travels with monthly.

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The 15 Best Travel Strollers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

We tested the best travel strollers on the market for maneuverability, design, durability, and portability.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks
• Others We Liked

Our Testing Process

• Tips for Buying

You May Also Want

• Why Trust T+L

Travel + Leisure / Phoebe Cheong

If you're traveling with a child under 4 years old or so, you need a stroller. But your everyday stroller might not be ideal for packing into trains, planes, and automobiles or for bringing in and out of a hotel. If you plan to travel even somewhat often with your little ones, you might want to invest in a travel stroller, which is typically smaller and more scaled-back with a collapsible frame. Many travel strollers fold multiple ways to reduce the length, width, and height, while others fold one way into a narrow but still-long piece. In the end, you want your travel stroller to be comfortable and safe for your child while folding up into a very compact, easy-to-carry package.

We tested more than 32 travel strollers from top brands such as Uppababy, Nuna, and Babyzen. We measured and weighed them, then spent eight and a half hours in our New York City lab putting them all through the wringer, looking at each stroller's maneuverability, design features, durability, and portability. We then sent them out into the real world to be used by families like yours to guarantee stroller longevity and functionality.

Best Overall

Joolz aer+ baby stroller.

It folds up into an extremely compact, easy-to-carry package that is great for storing at home or on flights.

The seat can only be hand-washed and air-dried.

The Joolz Aer+ looks great, rolls smoothly, and features plenty of padding for the little rider sitting in it. It wowed us right out of the box and was one of the quickest strollers to assemble with just a quick-snap connection to a secure and stable stroller. While the Aer+ is about one pound lighter than earlier models, it is still the same size and features all of the perks parents look for in a high-quality stroller. The roomy shopping basket can hold up to 11 pounds, the canopy is adjustable, and the seat reclines to multiple settings to help keep your little one comfortable as they grow.

Throughout our tests, we tossed the stroller off of a counter to see how it held up and it remained in impeccable condition with little to no scratching and no major breaks or rips. Even when fully loaded up, the wheels moved smoothly and limited turbulence as they are designed to absorb shock from pebbles, rocks, and other rough terrain. We could easily collapse the stroller down using only one hand — which is perfect for use when flying — and it can once again be assembled with just the click of a button. At just over 13 pounds, it's also easy to carry, so you can transport this stroller just about anywhere life takes you.

The Details: 13.2 pounds | 41.5 x 32.7 x 17.7 inches assembled | 8.5 x 21 x 17.7 x inches folded | 50-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph

Travel + Leisure / Phoebe Cheong

Best Overall, Runner-up

Nuna trvl lightweight stroller.

Not only does it roll well, but the one-handed folding process was the smoothest of all the strollers we tested.

It's not especially small when folded and is a little unwieldy to carry.

During testing, when we pressed the buttons to collapse and fold the Nuna Trvl, it felt like some spring-loaded mechanism started the process for us and made it easier. That's the kind of helpful detail any parent or caretaker appreciates. And that folding process was quick, easy, and doable with one hand. The Trvl isn't quite as light as some of the other strollers, however, and it has no strap for carrying over the shoulder (although the bumper bar turns into a handle for carrying when the stroller is collapsed). It's also not clear whether the Nuna Trvl will fit in all airplane overhead compartments; It was a tight squeeze when we placed it in ours, with the wheels sticking out a bit.

The Trvl has a lot of great design features, including an adjustable leg rest and simple, adjustable reclining system for your baby. The strap clasp is magnetic to save a little time, and the canopy has a peekaboo window and good ventilation. The bottom storage basket is also on the larger side for a travel stroller and can comfortably fit a backpack. The stroller gilded beautifully over each surface we tried; there was no difference between rolling over the smooth hardwood and the shag carpet, and it handled gravel without issue. And it held up just fine in the durability test.

The Details: 15.4 pounds | 41 x 26 x 20.5 inches assembled | 11 x 27.25 x 20.25 inches folded | 50-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Claire Cohen

Best Budget

Kolcraft cloud plus stroller.

It comes with a tray for baby's food and drink but is still extremely lightweight and easy to fold.

There isn't a ton of space in the undercarriage for storage.

Strollers are unnervingly expensive; many new parents experience sticker shock when they first see those price tags. The Kolcraft Cloud Plus is not. And while it's not the prettiest of the bunch (there's some loud branding), it folds easily — it can even be done one-handed with a little effort and coordination. We love that unfolding can also be done one-handed.

The Cloud Plus doesn't fold down quite as small as most every other one we're testing; the shape is somewhere between an umbrella and normal travel stroller. It's very lightweight, which we love, but since it doesn't fold small enough to fit in an overhead bin and doesn't have a strap or handle, it's not as portable as other options.

This stroller is the only one we tested with a tray for the baby's food and drink; the tray is removable if you're looking to save space. There are also two small cup holders for the adults, though our travel mug did not fit in them. The storage basket can fit a small backpack. The recline system is pretty easy to use and goes back three-fourths of the way to horizontal, and the canopy is good but not great. Same goes for the seat padding.

It rolled well on smooth surfaces, though there was some resistance on the carpet and a lot more on the grave. But we were able to push it through, and the stroller is light enough that when the wheels aren't rolling you can still keep moving. It's not the smoothest ride, but passable. The tray came unclasped during the durability test, but there was no actual damage. Overall, the price-to-performance ratio of the Cloud Plus is so good that it's an excellent budget option.

The Details: 11.8 pounds | 38 x 27 x 18 inches assembled | 10 x 33 x 17.5 inches folded | 50-pound weight limit

Travel & Leisure / Phoebe Cheong

Best for Warm Weather

Gb qbit+ all city stroller.

The back is made from breathable mesh to allow for airflow.

The handlebar isn't adjustable and the stroller is a bit heavier than other options.

The GB Qbit+ All City reminded us of the Nuna Trvl, but at a significantly cheaper price. The only areas the stroller fell short of the Nuna model are the canopy, which is not especially nice or expansive, and the fact that it's slightly harder to carry since it's a little heavier and has no actual carrying strap. That said, there's plenty to love about the Qbit. One-handed folding is smooth, and buckling and unbuckling the straps is easy. The seat is nicely padded, the entire back is made of breathable mesh to keep your child from overheating. The leg rest is simple to maneuver and goes all the way flat. The seat also reclines almost all the way back so that your baby can take a comfortable snooze. The included bumper bar comes off and on easily, and the handlebar looks and feels nice. There's enough storage for a backpack, too. As for maneuverability, it rolled great on all our testing surfaces and made crisp, tight turns. If you want something similar to and almost as good as the Nuna Trvl, this is your travel stroller.

The Details: 17.6 pounds | 41 x 24 x 17 inches assembled | 10.5 x 23 x 16.5 inches folded | 54.8-pound weight limit

Best Folding

Uppababy minu v2 stroller.

It folds up far more compactly than other UPPAbaby models.

The canopy sticks out a bit when the stroller is folded.

The Minu has a lot of the features familiar to UPPAbaby devotees — unstructured rear storage pouch, locking clasp to keep the stroller folded, excellent canopy — but unlike the brand's G-Luxe and G-Link models, this one is not an umbrella stroller. We actually think that makes for a better travel stroller. The Minu folds up more easily than other UPPAbaby models and far more compactly than an umbrella model. The fold can be done with one hand, but keep in mind the canopy needs to be tucked in once it's folded. A padded carrying strap easily fits over the shoulder. When carried, the Minu isn't the lightest or smallest option on our list, but it's portable enough and fits fine in an overhead compartment.

The Minu's seat back reclines nicely and easily for naps, and the handlebar feels good on the palms. The canopy's magnetic mesh window is handy and easy to keep open, and the sun shade for keeping the brightness out of your baby's eyes is one of the best we saw in our tests. The seat's padding is ample, though we'd like it if the leg rest were adjustable. We did appreciate the sizable bottom storage basket.

In terms of maneuverability, the Minu performed fine. It didn't make quite as tight turns as the Joolz or Nuna, and it felt a bit heavier to push, but it handled the gravel really well. A canopy rod popped out of place when we pushed the stroller off the table, but we were able to fix it pretty easily. Overall, while the stroller is expensive, it's not the priciest on the list and is worth it for the well-crafted features.

The Details: 14.75 pounds | 41 x 31 x 20.5 inches assembled | 12 x 22.5 x 20.25 inches folded | 50-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson

Best for Cities

Babyzen yoyo2 stroller.

It's very well-padded, folds up into a tidy package, and has a convenient carrying strap.

The clips and buckles can be hard to maneuver.

Folding the Babyzen Yoyo 2 took two hands and, while not difficult, was a little more involved a process than with some other strollers. Unfolding is pretty easy, except we noticed our feet getting caught in straps a few times. While folding and unfolding were slightly disappointing, we love how portable this stroller is. It folds up very small and has a comfortable padded shoulder strap as well as a metal bar for easy carrying. And it fits easily into an overhead storage bin so it's a great option to consider when flying with a baby .

The Yoyo 2 has nice features, too. The seat padding is especially cushy, and the seat reclines three-fourths of the way back to horizontal (though the recliner is a bit tricky to figure out). There's also a pocket in the back and a decent storage basket underneath that can fit a small bag. The canopy is good, though we'd prefer the peekaboo window to be mesh instead of plastic.

This stroller especially stands out for its handling. We were able to maneuver this stroller through the safety cones with such ease, we could really see this stroller being helpful at a crowded grocery store or airport.

The Details: 14.7 pounds | 41 x 28.8 x 17 inches assembled | 8 x 20 x 16 inches folded | 40-pound weight limit

Best Double

Uppababy g-link v2 stroller.

It folds more easily and rolls more smoothly than we expected from a stroller this size.

It doesn't fold down very small, and unfolding it could be easier.

For such a large contraption, this double stroller folds with surprising ease. We were even able to do it one-handed with a little effort, which none of us expected. Unfolding is a little trickier, as it takes some force to unhook the locking clasp. As a double stroller, the G-Link 2 is not the most compact package when folded. Plus, it's an umbrella structure, so this one probably isn't fitting in many overhead bins. Carrying it was a little unwieldy, as should be expected with a double stroller, but there is a helpful handle, and the stroller is lighter than it looks. You can actually wheel it along when it's folded instead of carrying it, but it's not easy, and it bumped into us when we did so.

We like the canopies on the G-Link 2: quality material and good coverage. There are little storage pockets behind each seat, and it comes with a cup holder. You can also fit a purse or very small backpack in the undercarriage basket. The seats have generous padding, which extends to form a sort of calf rest for the riders. The straps buckle easily and have different height options; the seat backs have two recline positions and are super easy to adjust.

The stroller rolled well over all the surfaces, even the gravel, and it made much tighter turns than we anticipated. We also like that there are no wheels in the middle of the frame (as most double umbrella strollers have), which makes it easier to push without kicking the wheels or frame. Finally, it showed no damage after our durability tests.

The Details: 21.8 pounds | 41 x 25 x 28.25 inches assembled | 14 x 40 x 17.5 inches folded | 55-pound weight limit per seat

Cybex Libelle Compact Stroller

It's a modern-looking stroller that's easy to move.

It lacked some of the features we'd have liked to see at its price.

The Cybex Libelle Stroller looks sleek and is easy to fold down into an easy-to-store size. Unfolding this stroller is incredibly easy — perfect for families on the go. The wheels of this stroller turn more easily than some other styles and provides a smooth ride over most surfaces.

Due to its simplistic design, this stroller doesn't have extra pockets or cupholders, but its lightweight and compact style makes this a great option for traveling since the stroller can fit in the overhead bins of most airplanes. Just be aware that this model does not include a carrying strap, so if you plan to walk for long periods of time with the folded stroller, you'll have to carry it by its medal frame.

It handled pretty well over the smooth hard surfaces with no noticeable hiccups, but it struggled a bit on the gravel.

The Details: 13.7 pounds | 41 x 20 x 20 inches assembled | 8 x 22 x 14 inches folded | 55-pound weight limit

Best Maneuverability

Bugaboo butterfly stroller.

It takes next to no effort to push this stroller over terrains of all types.

The instructions have pictures rather than words, so they’re a bit unclear.

From sharp turns to steep curbs to rocky terrain, the Bugaboo Butterfly Seat Stroller easily traverses it all. Built with advanced four-wheel suspension and a lightweight frame, we loved how little effort it took to push the stroller, even with one hand. The wheels seemed to absorb bumps and shock well, keeping the seat stable and the baby in place. 

We were equally impressed with the stroller’s packing and traveling capabilities. Weighing in at just over 16 pounds and boasting a compact size when folded down, the Butterfly is easy to carry and even hoist in the air to stow in a plane’s overhead bin. It’s also simple to assemble, and it remained perfectly intact and undamaged after we dropped it.

Other useful features of this stroller include a Velcro rain cover, seat cover, spacious under-seat basket, padded handlebar with a wrist strap, reclining mechanism, and an easy-to-use foot brake. 

The Details: 16.1 pounds | 36.4 x 17.7 x 40.3 inches assembled | 17.7 x 9.1 x 21.3 inches folded | 48.5-pound weight limit

Best for Air Travel

It easily fits in overhead bins and is a high-quality, durable option.

At 14.6 pounds, it's one of the heavier strollers we tested.

The Cybex Coya is a stylish and durable stroller that families will be happy to use for their daily activities and while traveling. It folds up quickly and easily slides into airplane overhead bins for easy access as you board and de-board. The comfortable seat padding is removable for cleaning and the canopy comes down for sun and rain protection. The five-point harness is also incredibly easy to adjust and the seat itself reclines to be almost flat. Pair that with the adjustable leg rest and you have the perfect spot for your youngster to nap on the go.

We also love the cushioned handlebar that adds some extra comfort when pushing the stroller and the zippered pocket in the back of the canopy where you can store your phone or wallet for convenience. The cargo area is also a great size considering the overall compact nature of this stroller and easily fit our packed diaper bag . After our toss test, the stroller is still in great condition, although we do recommend investing in a dust bag if you're nervous about bumps and scratches while traveling.

The Details: 14.6 pounds | 38.2 x 17.3 x 31.1 inches assembled | 7.1 x 17.3 x 20.5 inches folded | 55-pound weight limit

Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim

Best Compact

Contours itsy.

Once folded, this is about the size of a large grocery bag.

Parents of older, larger children may not find it as useful.

If you like to live your life simply, the compact and convenient Contours Itsy may be the stroller for you. Right out of the box, it’s already nearly fully assembled — all you have to do is snap the bumper bar into place, which takes almost no effort. On top of that, it’s a no-frills option, so there’s no cup holder or oversized basket to weigh it down, take up space, or make things complicated. 

We did, however, love features like the secure bumper bar, easy-to-use harness, canopy with UV 50 sun protection, and padding on the crotch strap, which makes the stroller look comfortable. They also appreciated the small size of the foot rest, basket, and entire stroller in general, because it made using and transporting it a breeze.

When it was time to stow the stroller away (or pack it up for travel), we got a kick out of just how tiny it folds up — in its simplest form, it’s not much larger than a grocery bag. It’s also ultra-lightweight and easily folds with just one hand. 

The Details: 12.3 pounds | 32 x 39 x 18.2 inches assembled | 11 x 22 x 11 inches folded | 40-pound weight limit

Best Comfort

Baby jogger city tour 2 stroller.

This rolls smoothly on various terrains, making it comfortable for riders and pushers.

It did not fit in our overhead bin and isn't easy to fold one-handed.

Folding this stroller was pretty simple, though not quite as smooth as it was with some of the others. The unfolding process was a little finicky as well and took some practice. So what do we like about the Baby Jogger City Tour 2? The price is reasonable, it performed solidly on most of our tests, and it maneuvered exceptionally well over all surfaces. We noticed little perceptible difference between its rolling over the shag carpet and smooth wood surface, and while other strollers struggled a bit on the gravel, this one navigated it with ease.

In terms of portability, the City Tour 2 doesn't feel bulky and has a good hand carrying handle. We would have liked to see a shoulder strap, however, and it did not fit in our overhead bin. The seat back has a lot of recline, and the drawstring to pull and push the seat forward and back is easy to use. The seat has good structure and good padding; the straps work well and can be adjusted to different height levels. There's lots of leg room and adjustable calf support for the baby, and the canopy has a peekaboo window and goes up and down smoothly. We'd have appreciated some more storage space; you can't fit a backpack anywhere. When we pushed the City Tour 2 off a table, we did notice that a small foam pad came off, though we couldn't even figure out where it came from, and it did not structurally damage the stroller.

The Details: 14 pounds | 40 x 26 x 20 inches assembled | 7 x 22.5 x 19.5 inches folded | 45-pound weight limit

Best Umbrella

Uppababy jordan g-luxe stroller.

The umbrella folding feature is more straightforward to use than other folding models.

The button/ring-pull combination for folding it is a bit finicky and has to be timed perfectly.

The first thing to note here is that ​​umbrella strollers only fold one-dimensionally, so the result is narrow but long…like an umbrella. The other strollers on this list fold down via multiple joints and in multiple directions for a smaller and more squarish package; neither is necessarily better, but you'll want to decide what you want before buying a travel stroller.

This particular UPPAbaby model is a bit tricky to fold because the handle/ring combination used to do so is finicky and has to be timed perfectly. Once you get that, the folding is smooth, but the whole button-and-ring thing is a little annoying. As with most UPPAbaby products, however, the G-Luxe's features are pretty nice. There's an included cup holder that fits a travel mug easily, and the canopy is expansive with extra sun shade (there is no peekaboo window, however). The leg rest for the child is easy to adjust, and the straps feature a five-point harness and adjustable height levels. The seat padding is substantial without looking bulky, and the recline system, while only providing two settings, is exceptionally easy to use. The unstructured (perhaps too unstructured) pocket behind the seat is pretty spacious and in a good location, but the storage basket at the bottom of the stroller isn't particularly big.

The G-Luxe maneuvers well, with good tight turns, though it rattled noticeably over the gravel. It held up well during our durability tests and sustained no damage.

The Details : 16.5 pounds | 42.5 x 23.5 x 18.5 inches assembled | 15 x 41 x 11.75 inches folded | 55 pounds weight limit

Best Lightweight

Zoe the traveler.

It's one of the lightest options on this list.

The attachable snack tray is sold separately.

If you're heading off on a family trip and looking for a simple, lightweight travel stroller, this minimalistic design will do the trick. It's incredibly easy to assemble and takes just a few minutes to click the wheels and bumper bar into place. It also comes with a parent cupholder and back pocket to help keep your hands free throughout your journey. We did note that the cargo area is the perfect size for a small tote bag or purse, but it may not be large enough to fit diaper bags or weekender bags .

We love that this stroller comes with a removable seat liner that can be thrown in the washing machine after a trip to keep clean and fresh. The canopy can also be unzipped to expand and it has a peek-a-boo feature on top so you can check on your child without stopping. This stroller is also easy to push around on every type of terrain — especially around tight corners. The stroller is light enough to lift up stairs, but we do recommend you use two hands when carrying down the stairs. When it's time to disassemble the stroller, simply press a button on the handlebar and bend the stroller forward. It’s so easy we didn’t even need instructions to figure out how to do it. You can even fold and unfold this one-handed, perfect for on-the-go travels.

The Details : 13 pounds | 41 x 30 x 18 inches assembled | 22 x 19 x 10 inches folded | 45 pounds weight limit

Most Adjustable

Thule shine.

The leg rest and handlebar are adjustable, providing comfort for parents and passengers.

It can be hard to turn on sharp corners.

For such a compact stroller, the Thule Shine has plenty of storage, an expandable canopy with UPF 50+ protection , a reclining seat, and adjustable leg rests — everything you need for a busy parent and growing youngster to travel comfortably. We love the fast assembly of this stroller and the security of knowing everything clicks together when positioned and popped in correctly. There is an adjustable handlebar that is super easy to figure out, an extra rain canopy that you can pack and bring with you, and it is so easy to fold down. The harness does need to be clipped in a specific order before it can be fully buckled, which might become difficult with a fussy child, but we did find the seat to be comfortable and loved that it was extremely adjustable.

During our tests, it only suffered minimal scuffing and we never felt as though it would tip or fall while maneuvering through an obstacle course. We were able to fold the stroller with just one hand, but it was difficult to get it fully locked into the travel position without using two hands. It does stand upright once folded, so you can pop it down quickly for storage, whether you're coming back home and stashing it in a closet or boarding a plane. The stroller also fits easily into car trunks, but is most suitable for gate checking and is not likely to fit in overhead airplane bins. Overall, the stroller felt durable and was light enough that most parents would be able to carry it when needed. We felt like it would last through at least a couple of kids should your family use it multiple times, which is perfect for growing families.

The Details : 21.6 pounds | 35 x 42 x 20 inches assembled | 13 x 27 x 20 inches folded | 49 pounds weight limit

Other Travel Strollers We Liked

Some of the travel strollers we tested did not make our list of recommendations. They all had positive attributes, but a few things held them back.

Summer Infant 3DLite : This is a decent budget option, but the price-to-performance ratio was just not quite as good as the Kolcraft Cloud Plus.

Doona Infant Car Seat and Latch Base : The easy-to-maneuver pick collapses into a car seat but the use case for this is too specific to pay as much as it costs, and many other stroller frames can fit a car seat.

Gb Pockit Air All Terrain : This one is incredibly light and folds easily, but there are basically zero features.

Ergobaby Metro+ Compact Stroller : While this is a sleek and stylish option, i t's not easy to carry, and the canopy adjustment makes a lot of noise, which could wake up a sleeping baby.

Munchkin Sparrow : The lightweight design is smart and thoughtful, but everything from the canopy to the storage bin is simply too small. 

Once we fully assembled all strollers in our New York City testing lab, we measured their height, length, and width, both fully opened and fully folded down. We also weighed each one, since weight is a particularly important aspect if anyone will be carrying the stroller during a trip. Then after carefully reading instructions, we repeatedly folded and unfolded each stroller. We took copious notes to record whether the folding process was intuitive and easy to execute. We considered how difficult it would be to do with a baby in one arm or with a whiny toddler pulling at our legs.

While each stroller was in its most compact setup, we tested it for portability. Is it easy to pick up? Comfortable to carry? Are there good handles and straps? Is it compact enough to fit in an airplane overhead bin (we constructed our own makeshift one according to standard airline measurements using a storage rack and a box). We recorded all this and more.

Next we carefully examined each stroller for included features. We looked for seat reclining and cushioning, cup holders, baskets and other storage space, canopy cover for protection from the weather, seat cushioning and reclining, and more. We tried the features out and took detailed notes on whether they were functional and helpful. We also practiced buckling and unbuckling the straps.

Then we put 25-pound sandbags in every stroller. We wheeled them forward and backward over hard floor, carpet, and gravel. We practiced U-turns and pivots and even wheeled them through a miniature obstacle course of cones. We also noted how well the brakes worked and if they were easy to engage.

Finally, we gave all of the strollers a durability test. We dropped each one from waist height and then pushed each off of a table slightly higher than that. We examined each after the falls to see if there was any damage.

After completing our lab tests, we sent each stroller out to real families to use these strollers over a period of six months to really put them to the test. Throughout the testing period, we asked how each stroller was holding up in terms of durability, comfort, portability, and more and updated our findings here.

Tips for Buying a Travel Stroller

Consider the types of travel strollers.

Not all travel strollers are designed with the same priorities in mind. Some may emphasize a lightweight and packable style while others are focused on maneuverability or durability. There are umbrella strollers, that are best for toddlers, but light enough for travel; jogging strollers with advanced suspension for smooth rides; and even full-sized strollers that may not seem best for air travel, but often include great features like storage compartments and padded seats when portability is less of an issue. When it comes to selecting the best travel stroller for your family, think about portability and convenience, but don't forget about comfort and bonus accessories to make your trip a smooth and unforgettable experience.

Pay attention to folded size

The biggest difference between a regular stroller and a travel stroller is that a travel stroller should pack up more compactly. You'll want it to fit easily into car trunks or train/airplane compartments without taking up much space. The Joolz Aer , our top pick, folds down to 8.5 (height) x 21 (length) x 17.75 (width) inches. That's a good guide for a stroller that will fit nicely into the aforementioned compartments.

Look for storage space and additional features

Just because your travel stroller might be a smaller and more scaled-down version of your everyday stroller, you shouldn't have to suffer from a lack of convenience. Good travel strollers still offer some storage space for small bags, toys, snacks, etc. Remember, you can always add a drink caddy for both your stroller and luggage. The seat for your baby should be padded and comfortable and able to recline; keep an eye out for a canopy that offers good coverage and buckles and straps that are easy to use. So, while compact folding and good portability are what make a travel stroller a travel stroller, be sure to look closely at the other features a stroller does (or does not) include.

Prioritize comfort and safety

At the end of the day, your stroller needs to be safe and comfortable for your child. Check for good, padded seats that recline. Make sure the straps don't look like they'd cut into your baby's shoulder or chest, and take note if there are leg rests. Note if the wheels can handle different surfaces well enough to keep the stroller from shaking and rattling too much.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you can fit it in the overhead, you can bring it on board. If you have an umbrella model or are using your regular (non-travel) stroller, your best bet is to gate check it. But many travel strollers fold down so compactly that they fit easily into an overhead bin. In general, carry-on luggage should be 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9 inches) or less. You can reference the FAA website for more guidance.

In short, a travel stroller is lighter than an everyday stroller and folds down far smaller. This means that the frames are usually thinner and have several folding joints, and the wheels will be smaller and less suited for rough terrain. Storage space, cup holders, and other accessories will usually be kept to a minimum. But a good travel stroller should give you everything you really need and even function well enough to be used every day — all while folding down nice and small and being easy to carry or pack away.

Traveling with a toddler? You're going to need a lot more than a travel stroller to help things go smoothly — or at least as smoothly as traveling with kids can be. These items will make your next trip a little easier, whether you're taking a road trip or flying internationally.

Graco Contender Slim Convertible Car Seat : This lightweight car seat is great for families who are traveling with lots of luggage — it weighs only 16 pounds and doesn't feel as bulky to carry around as other options. Installation only takes about 15 minutes.

​​ Stokke JetKids BedBox : Kids can ride on this spacious suitcase through the airport (a lifesaver for little ones who get bored while traveling), then turn it into a footrest or bed on the plane. It also comes in multiple colors and can be decorated with stickers.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Chris Abell is the Associate Editorial Director at Travel + Leisure , and he is a parent and frequent traveler. He's owned the Uppababy G-Luxe and the Joolz Aer, and he helped design and execute the testing for all the strollers on this list. Chris and commerce updates editor Hillary Maglin worked with a team of other editors and parents to test these strollers in our New York City lab space.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.

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The 20 Best Travel Strollers of 2024

A high-quality, compact stroller with user-friendly features can simplify travel and keep children comfortable on away-from-home adventures.

Whether you’re looking to accommodate a newborn, stow your stroller in the airplane overhead compartments, or find a practical solution that won’t break the bank, we’ve done all the research for you. Read on for our all-star list of the 20 best travel strollers of 2024:

The Winning Lineup

High-end (over $400)

• High-end winner : UPPAbaby Minu
• Best for overhead bin : Joolz AER
• Best self-folding : Nuna TRVL
• Most user-friendly : Bugaboo Butterfly Seat Stroller
• Best for urban transit : Silver Cross Jet 3
• Best travel system : Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller

Mid-priced ($200–400)

• Mid-priced winner : Baby Jogger City Tour 2

Most compact fold: Cybex Libelle

• Most versatile for newborn travel : Ergobaby Metro+
• Best newborn-ready : Mountain Buggy Nano V3
• Best all-terrain : Baby Jogger City Mini GT2
• Best for warm weather : GB Qbit+ All City
• Best color options : Inglesina Quid
• Best side-by-side double stroller : UPPAbaby G-LINK 2
• Best tandem double stroller : Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight

Budget-friendly (under $200)

• Budget-friendly winner : Kolcraft Cloud Plus
• Lightest weight : GB Pockit Air
• Best all-around umbrella-style : UPPAbaby G-LUXE
• Lightest umbrella-style : Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience
• Best self-folding budget pick : Evenflo Gold Otto

Detailed Buying Guide

Here’s the skinny on all our top picks, including whether they fit in the overhead compartment on most airplanes. We’ve used the International Air Transport Association ‘s max dimensions of 22” by 18” by 10” as our guideline, but be sure to check with your airline before heading to the airport.

High-end stunners: The best travel strollers over $400

High-end winner: UPPAbaby Minu V2

• Approximate price: $450
• Weight: 16.9 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 23” long by 20.3” wide by 12.5” high
• Open dimensions: 35.5” long by 20.3” wide by 41” high
• Does it fit in the overhead?: No
• Suspension: All-wheel
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 3 months to 50 pounds
• Under-seat storage capacity: 20 pounds!

The Minu features a one-handed folding mechanism, an included storage bag, a handy carrying strap, an extra-large sun canopy, adjustable recline and leg support, and luxe leather accents. Parents can purchase adapters to attach a car seat, infant bassinet, or standing ride-along board, all available separately. A supportive stroller seat, a seat-back pocket to hold small essentials, and a whopping 20-pound storage basket limit (the highest on our list!) make the Minu perfect for strolling all day long.

For more reasons why we love this stroller, read our complete review .

Best Aesthetics: Joolz AER

• Weight: 13.4 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 20.9” long by 17.7” wide by 9.1” high
• Open dimensions: 32.7” long by 17.7” wide by 41.5” high
• Does it fit in the overhead?: Yes
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 6 months to 50 pounds
• Under-seat storage capacity: 11 pounds

The AER boasts a one-handed fold, a carrying strap, and an included rain cover and travel bag. It’s compatible with car seats and with a bassinet with the purchase of adapters. Parents love its adjustable recline, protective sun canopy, and extended seat-back. Read our full Jooz Aer review .

Best self-folding: Nuna TRVL

• Approximate price: $500
• Weight: 13.6 pounds (not including sun canopy or arm bar)
• Folded dimensions: 24” long by 20.25” wide by 11” high
• Open dimensions: 32.5” long by 20.25” wide by 44” high
• Under-seat storage capacity: 10 pounds

The TRVL folds automatically with the touch of a button and attaches to Nuna car seats without adapters. It has a magnetic harness buckle, adjustable recline and calf support, an included carry bag, and a water-repellant canopy.

Most user-friendly: Bugaboo Butterfly Seat Stroller

• Weight: 16.1 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 21.3” long by 17.7” wide by 9.1” high
• Open dimensions: 36.4” long by 17.7” wide by 40.3” high
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 6 months to 48.5 pounds
• Under-seat storage capacity: 17.6 pounds

The Butterfly folds and unfolds in one swift movement, using one hand only. It has a carrying strap, a reclinable seat, an adjustable leg rest, an extendable canopy, an included rain cover, and machine-washable fabrics. Parents can attach a car seat with the purchase of adapters.

Best for urban transit: Silver Cross Jet 3

• Weight: 13.6 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 21.7” long by 11.8” wide by 7.1” high
• Open dimensions: 35.4” long by 17.7” wide by 39.5” high
• Suspension: Front-wheel
• Stroller seat age and weight range: Newborn to 55 pounds

The Jet 3 has a trolley mode that allows parents (and kids!) to pull it like a suitcase on wheels through subway tunnels or train stations. Parents can purchase adapters to attach a car seat or place their newborn right in the stroller seat. The Jet 3 has a magnetic buckle, adjustable recline and footrest, a one-handed fold, a pop-out sun canopy, and an included travel sleeve.

Best travel system: Doona Infant Car Seat and Stroller

• Approximate price: $550
• Weight: 17.2 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 26” long by 17.4” wide by 22.4” high
• Open dimensions: 32.3” long by 17.4” wide by 39” high
• Does it fit in the overhead?: No, but babies can sit in the Doona in flight if they have their own plane seat.
• Suspension: None
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 4 to 35 pounds (infants only)
• Under-seat storage capacity: None

The Doona is an infant car seat with stroller wheels that unfold from underneath. It comes with a car seat base, a vehicle seat protector, ergonomic newborn inserts, and a water-resistant canopy.

Mid-priced gems: The best travel strollers between $200 and $400

Mid-priced winner: Baby Jogger City Tour 2

• Approximate price: $250
• Weight: 14 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 23” long by 19.6” wide by 7” high
• Open dimensions: 37.8” long by 19.6” wide by 39.5” high
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 6 months to 45 pounds
• Under-seat storage capacity: 15 pounds

At a reasonable price, the City Tour boasts a one-handed fold, adjustable calf support, an extendable UPF 50+ canopy, a padded seat, machine-washable fabrics, an included carry bag, and a near-flat recline for peaceful naps on the go. Baby Jogger car seats attach with separately purchased adapters, as does a compatible standing glider board.

• Approximate price: $330
• Weight: 13.7 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 18.9” long by 12.6” wide by 7.8” high
• Open dimensions: 28.7” long by 20.5” wide by 40.9” high
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 6 months to 55 pounds

The Libelle requires two hands and multiple steps to collapse, but it has the smallest fold on our list. Purchase includes adapters to attach Cybex brand car seats. The Libelle features machine-washable materials and an adjustable recline and calf support.

Most versatile for newborn travel: Babyzen YOYO2

• Approximate price: $399
• Folded dimensions: 20.5” long by 17.3” wide by 7.1” high
• Open dimensions: 33.8” long by 17.3” wide by 41.7” high

The YOYO2 is compatible with several car seats, a classic bassinet accessory, and a soft newborn pack with a flat mattress that stays attached even with the stroller’s compact fold. The YOYO2 has a safety wrist strap, a water-repellant canopy, an adjustable recline, a zippered storage pocket, a padded shoulder strap, and an included carrying bag. Read our full Babyzen Yoyo2 review as well as how it compares to the Joolz Aer and Ergobaby Metro+.

Best newborn-ready: Mountain Buggy Nano V3

• Approximate price: $220
• Weight: 13 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 20.1” long by 21.1” wide by 11.8” high
• Open dimensions: 33.1” long by 21.1” wide by 38.6” high
• Suspension: Rear-wheel
• Stroller seat age and weight range: Newborn to 44 pounds

The Nano boasts a sling-style, newborn-ready seat with a lie-flat recline, a one-handed fold and unfold, a convenient carry handle and shoulder strap, an included travel bag, an extendable sun hood, and a seat-back panel for extra warmth on brisk days. An innovative tail-free harness system eliminates messy straps, and an adapter for various car seats comes with purchase.

The best strollers that fit in the overhead bin of an airplane

Best all-terrain: Baby Jogger City Mini GT2

• Approximate price: $280
• Weight: 20 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 31.5” long by 24.5” wide by 9.8” high
• Open dimensions: 41.3” long by 25.6” wide by 43.1” high
• Stroller seat age and weight range: Babies who can sit unassisted to 65 pounds

The City Mini ’s all-terrain tires are perfect for off-road destinations. It’s compatible with an available bassinet or piggyback board, and it includes adapters for Baby Jogger brand car seats. Key features include an adjustable handlebar, a hand-operated parking brake, a one-handed folding mechanism, adjustable leg support, a near-flat recline, a UPF 50+ sun canopy, and machine-washable fabrics.

Best for warm weather: GB Qbit+ All City

• Approximate price: $380
• Folded dimensions: 22.8” long by 16.9” wide by 10.6” high
• Open dimensions: 33” long by 17” wide by 41.7” high
• Does it fit in the overhead?: No (less than an inch too long!)

GB’s Qbit+ has a cool and breathable mesh seat back, a one-handed fold, a large sun canopy, an adjustable footrest, and a completely flat recline. It comes with a rain cover and car seat adapters. Read our review of the GB lineup here.

Most vibrant: Inglesina Quid

• Approximate price: $300
• Folded dimensions: 22.8” long by 18.3” wide by 6.8” high
• Open dimensions: 30” long by 18.3” wide by 40.6” high
• Under-seat storage capacity: 6.6 pounds

Parents who are tired of the muted tones of modern strollers will love the Quid , which comes in three solid hues and two bright, colorful patterns. This stroller has a one-handed unfolding mechanism, an adjustable recline and leg rest, a large sun canopy, a handy carrying handle, and low-light safety reflectors.

Best side-by-side double stroller: UPPAbaby G-Link 2

• Weight: 22.3 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 40” long by 20” wide by 14.5” high
• Open dimensions: 27.5” long by 28.5” wide by 42” high
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 3 months to 55 pounds each

The G-Link 2 is a double umbrella-style stroller with independently reclining seats, two sun canopies, two seat-back storage packets, a convenient carrying handle, and an included parent cup holder.

Best tandem double stroller: Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight

• Approximate price: $320
• Weight: 23.5 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 45.3” long by 21.3” wide by 10” high
• Open dimensions: 38” long by 21.3” wide by 42” high
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 3 months to 45 pounds each
• Under-seat storage capacity: 5 pounds

With the option to attach a car seat or change the back seat to a standing platform, the Caboose Too Ultralight is great for siblings of different ages. A car seat adapter, parent organizer, and child snack tray come with purchase. Additional features include an adjustable recline and a large sun canopy that covers both seats. Read our Joovy triple caboose review here.

Budget-friendly picks: The best travel strollers under $200

Budget-friendly winner: Kolcraft Cloud Plus

• Approximate price: $80
• Weight: 12.8 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 34” long by 18” wide by 12” high
• Open dimensions: 31.3” long by 18” wide by 39” high
• Stroller seat age and weight range: Babies who can sit unassisted to 50 pounds

The Cloud Plus is a full-featured steal with a one-handed fold, a reclining seat, an ample sun canopy. It also includes a parent tray with cup holders and a child tray. It cannot accommodate a car seat.

Read our full review of the Cloud Plus here.

Lightest weight: GB Pockit Air

• Approximate price: $199
• Weight: 10.4 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 19.6” long by 14” wide by 7.3” high
• Open dimensions: 28” long by 17.5” wide by 39.8” high

The Pockit Air is the lightest stroller on our list. It has a small sun visor, no reclining capability, and a three-point harness instead of the classic five-point system, but its 10.4-pound frame saves serious weight for frequent travelers.

Best umbrella-style: UPPAbaby G-Luxe

• Approximate price: $160
• Weight: 16.3 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 41.8” long by 19.2” wide by 12” high
• Open dimensions: 28.8” long by 18.8” wide by 43” high
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 3 months to 55 pounds

The G-Luxe is a souped up umbrella stroller with a removable parent cup holder, an extendable sunshade, a one-handed fold, an over-the-shoulder strap, and a multiposition recline.

Lightest umbrella-style: Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience

• Approximate price: $100
• Folded dimensions: 43” long by 12” wide by 10” high
• Open dimensions: 27” long by 18” wide by 43” high

Of the umbrella-style strollers on our list, the 3D Lite is the lightest in weight. It reclines for naps and includes a removable canopy, a cup holder, a rear storage pocket, and a carrying strap.

Best self-folding budget pick: Evenflo Gold Otto

• Weight: 18 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 21.2” long by 21.1” wide by 13.6” high
• Open dimensions: 33.5” long by 21.1” wide by 40.5” high

The Gold Otto folds automatically with the touch of a button. It features an oversized sun canopy, an adjustable footrest, a multiposition recline, an included cup holder, and a zippered storage pocket. It accommodates Evenflo car seats.

The Final Verdict: Finding the Best Travel Stroller

No matter which features matter most to you, we hope our round-up helps simplify your search. We think you can’t go wrong with the UPPAbaby Minu , the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 , and the Kolcraft Cloud Plus .

Whichever travel stroller you choose, make sure you strap your youngster in securely and cherish those beautiful memories adventuring with your family!

*Some links in this post are affiliate links that support this site at no extra cost to you. Rest assured we only review what we personally use and/or have extensively researched!

With a background in medicine as a licensed physician assistant, Christy is a freelance writer and mom of two young kids. As someone who loves to ski, run, and hike, she most cherishes introducing her son and daughter to the beautiful outdoors and spending time with her precious family.

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