A Retrospective: How People Talked About Strollers 20 Years Ago

The Lightest, Most Compact and Easiest to Fold Travel Strollers

This stroller is among the lightest and compact. It's also the easiest folding strollers. It offers a smooth ride and a fantastic sun canopy, and a multi-position recline.

For less than $100 the stroller is an excellent value. It's lightweight and easy to fold away, making it perfect for public transport, or even slinging over your shoulder.

1. Lightweight

When it comes to travel strollers, lightweight and easy-to-fold are key. The top models we tested could be folded with one hand, and sometimes two, and they can fit into overhead compartments for luggage. They also roll well and are compact enough to easily maneuver in tight spaces. Some even offer an adjustable handle for parents of different heights. If you're planning a brief trip with a newborn or a long-haul getaway with a toddler, you'll need a light, easy-to-pack stroller to make the journey and return for your family.

We evaluated nine strollers that meet our minimum size and weight requirements. Each model was tested on city streets, country sidewalks and in the terminal at the airport for mobility as well as ease of folding and carrying, and overall comfort for your child.

Our picks include the Babyzen YoYo2 ($320) that is the easiest to fold of all the travel strollers we tested and can fit into overhead bins for airplanes. It's car seat compatible and its seat can recline almost completely flat, making it ideal for babies. Other features that parents will appreciate include a large undercarriage basket as well as a bag hook that is attached to the handle and a UPF 50+ canopy that provides plenty of coverage for your child's travels.

The Cybex Orfeo (320) is another option. It has the ability to fold in concertina that can be operated by one hand and is extremely light. Its padded, five-point harness and crotch strap keep your child safe, while the reversible seat as well as a large undercarriage basket will ensure that there is enough space for all their items. It is also compatible with the brand’s infant car seat. This makes it an ideal option for families with children that have children from birth.

The Coya TRVL ($320), an all-hands, one-step fold, is also compatible with car seats and has a large canopy. It's more expensive than other models in this category, but offers additional features such as a large cupholder and a parent's pocket, a handlebar that can be adjusted to fit parents of all heights and a comfortable carrying strap. The simple design does compromise durability, relative to other models in this class.

2. Folding is simple

A stroller for travel is one that is easy to open and shut when you're out and about. If you're carrying a bag of groceries, or children in your arms you shouldn't have to struggle with a cumbersome stroller to close it. The best travel strollers fold up easily and compactly, even with just one hand. Many come with a padded carrying strap that is comfortable over your shoulder.

In our tests, we gave the Libelle stroller high marks for Travel system prams its compactness and its ease of folding. However, it also has some great features: It can roll smoothly over all surfaces and has a large canopy that offers ample coverage. It's also extremely lightweight and stands by itself when folded. This makes it much easier to store.

If you're a parent who wants to roll right up to the plane gate and put their stroller into the overhead bin, we recommend looking for an option that will fit in. The Munchkin Sparrow is a good example. It fits in the smallest folding and comes with a protective travel cover. However, it does not have an adjustable seat and its cargo space is too narrow to hold anything but a small diaper bag or a tote.

The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another option. It folds concertina style, but it features a reversible seating arrangement to ride face-to-face or back-to-back. The handle is tucked behind the seat, however our editor didn't like the fold.

The newest type of travel stroller is tri-fold, which folds in thirds, and offers the most compact combination of size and features. The UPPAbaby Miniu, for example, has a convertible seat, an unstructured rear storage pouch, and a lockable clasp to keep it folded. It's a little bigger than the umbrella models from the brand however it folds more compactly than G-Luxe and G-Link counterparts. It also comes with a padded carry strap that can be worn over your shoulder.

3. Easy to store

The Best Travel Stroller travel strollers can fold down to a size that can be easily stored. They can be easily stowed in the trunk of a car, My babiie stroller or in the overhead bin of a plane. Some models even come with a carrying strap that makes it simple to carry over your shoulder and you don't need to worry about your hands getting tired. They are also lighter than regular strollers, which could make them easier to lift and carry when it's time for an easy stroll around the neighborhood or the airport.

When we tested this stroller, it performed exceptionally well in our durability tests, and it was easy to maneuver over all sorts of surfaces, from smooth hardwoods to shag carpeting. Some of our testers were a bit disappointed with the design, and the handlebar wasn't padding to keep your hands comfortably. Another thing to think about is the size of the storage basket is It's slightly smaller than the average, and some parents have found it difficult to squeeze the large diaper bag inside it.

We suggest calling your airline in advance to confirm their specific guidelines regarding strollers. They may differ. This is particularly important if you wish to check your stroller's gate-ability that allows you to get around the airport without it and be able to use it once you're on the plane (though this isn't a viable option for families who need a car seat or toddler booster).

The Contours Itsy travel stroller is an excellent option if you are looking for a compact, lightweight stroller. It's almost fully assembled straight out of the box and the only thing you have to do is to snap the bumper bar in the appropriate spot. It comes with an apron for a cup for the parent and a back pocket. However it doesn't have an over-sized basket. This may make it difficult to pack the essentials for a long journey.

If you are frequent travelers, we suggest that you consider a more robust stroller with more features and the capacity to hold more cargo. The UPPAbaby Mini, as an instance, has many of its G-Luxe or G-Link siblings' features, but is smaller and folds more quickly. It's also a bit more durable than an umbrella stroller, and it comes with a cushioned carrying strap that takes some of the weight off your shoulders.

4. Comfortable

Strollers are often used for prolonged periods of time when traveling, which is why it is essential to be comfortable. Seats with a lot of padding and a recline system that can be adjusted at different angles are the best. Take note of whether the canopy extends to provide sun protection and if the mesh windows allow airflow. You should consider a model that comes with a parent facing pram organizer/cupholder and an ample basket under the seat, if you have to carry things around. When shopping for a travel Jogger for older children, make sure to check the age range. Also, consider whether your child is at ease in the seat without a car seat.

The way a stroller is rolled is also important. It should be able to move easily across a variety of surfaces including smooth hardwoods and shag carpets to cobblestones and gravel. It must also be able to handle curbs and stairs with ease. If your travel plans involve the majority of walking, opt for an easy stroller to help you avoid leg and back soreness.

A good travel stroller is also easy to use. It should be simple to put together and snap together when put in the proper place. It should fold flat and fit into the trunk of your pushchair car seat, or the overhead compartments on a plane. It should also be upright when folded, so you can grab it by one hand and hold your baby in the other.

For parents seeking a top-quality lightweight stroller for travel, the Joie Tourist is a great alternative. It comes with several recline positions, which means your child can sleep comfortably. Its extended canopy offers plenty of sun protection with UPF protection. It also includes a rain cover, coffee cup holder, and footmuff. Charlotte is delighted the fact that the car seat is suitable for newborns to four years old and does not require a separate adapter.