Watch Out: How Strollers Is Taking Over And What Can We Do About It The Lightest, Most Compact and Easiest to Fold Travel Strollers

This stroller is among the lightest, most compact and easy to fold. It offers a smooth ride with a great sun canopy, and multi-position recline.

This stroller is a great value at less than $100. It features an easy compact fold, as well as a carry strap, so it's easy to put it over your shoulder or take on public transportation.

1. Lightweight

The most important aspect of a great travel stroller is that it should be light and easy to fold. The best models we tested can fold with just one hand and sometimes two, and they can fit in overhead luggage compartments. They also have a good roll and are small enough to be easily maneuvered in tight spaces. Some even offer an adjustable handle for parents of various heights. Find a lightweight, easy to pack stroller for your family, no matter if you're planning to take short trips with a newborn or taking a long-haul journey with an infant.


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

Our top picks include the Babyzen YoYo2 ($320), which is the easiest to fold of the travel strollers we tried and fits into overhead bins on airplanes. It's compatible with car seats and its seat reclines almost completely flat, making it suitable for infants. Other parent-friendly features include a deep undercarriage basket as well as a bag hook that is attached to the handle, and a UPF 50+ canopy that offers ample coverage for your young traveler.

Other options include the Cybex Orfeo ($320), which features a single-handed concertina fold and is extremely lightweight. Its five-point harness, padded and crotch straps keep your child safe, while the reversible seat and a massive undercarriage basket make sure there's plenty of space for their possessions. It is also compatible with the brand's infant car seat. This makes it an ideal option for families starting from the time of birth.

The Coya TRVL ($320) is another one-handed, one-step fold with car seat compatibility and a wide canopy. It's more expensive than other models in this category, but it offers extra features like a large cupholder and parent pocket as well as an adjustable handlebar for parents of all heights and a comfy carry strap. The simplicity of the model does compromise durability, contrasted with other models in this category.

2. Easy to fold

When you're on the go, your stroller has to be easy to open and close. You don't want a stroller that is difficult to close when you have food items or children in your arms. Even with just one hand, the most convenient strollers for travel can be folded easily and compactly. Many come with a cushioned strap that you can comfortably wear over your shoulders.

In our tests, we awarded the Libelle stroller top marks for its compactness and ease of folding. It also has a few nice features. It is smooth across all surfaces and features an expansive canopy that offers enough coverage. Additionally, it's extremely light and free-standing when folded, making it easy to store.

We suggest parents who wish to have their stroller fit in the overhead bins of planes, look for models that claim to fit. The Munchkin Sparrow, for example is a great fit in the smallest fold, and comes with a handy protective travel cover, but it has no recliner and a narrow cargo space that can only accommodate a small bag or diaper bag (no backpacks).

The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another option. pushchair newborn pushchairsandprams.uk folds concertina-style, but has a reversible seating position for riding back-toback or face-toface. The handle is tucked behind the seat, however our editor didn't love the way it folded.

The tri-fold is the most recent stroller that travels. It folds in three pieces and provides the most compact combination of size and features. The UPPAbaby Minu for example, has a reversible seat, an unstructured rear storage pouch, and a locking clasp to keep it folded. It's a little bigger than the umbrella models made by the brand, but it folds far 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 strollers fold down to a small, easy-to-store size that's easy to fit into the trunk of your car or into the overhead bin on an airplane. Some models come with a strap can be used to carry the stroller over your shoulder so your hands won't be exhausted. They are also lighter than regular strollers. This makes them easy to lift and carry for a quick walk in the neighborhood or at the airport.

When we test this stroller, it did extremely well in our durability tests and was able to maneuver across all kinds of surfaces, from smooth hardwoods to shag carpeting. Some of our test subjects were a bit disappointed with the design and the handlebar wasn't cushioned to keep your hands comfortably. The size of the basket should also be considered. It's on the small side and some parents have had difficulty difficult to fit a large diaper bag into it.

In general, we recommend calling your airline ahead of time to confirm their specific guidelines regarding the use of strollers on planes as they may differ. This is particularly important if you wish to check your stroller's gate-ability that allows you to navigate the airport without it and still use it once you're on the plane (though this option isn't suitable for families who require car seats or a toddler booster).

The Contours Itsy travel stroller is an excellent choice if you are looking for a compact, lightweight stroller. The Contours Itsy comes almost completely assembled, and all you have to do is attach the bumper bar. It has a parent cup holder and back pocket however, there is no basket that is large that could limit your ability to pack necessities for a long trip.

If you're an avid traveler, we recommend considering a more robust stroller that has better features and is able to hold more cargo. The UPPAbaby Minu, for example, has many of the same features like its G-Luxe or G-Link siblings, but it's more compact and folds more quickly. It's also a bit stronger than an umbrella stroller, and it comes with a cushioned carrying strap to take some of the burden off your shoulders.

4. Confortable

Strollers are commonly used for prolonged periods of time while traveling, so the comfort of the stroller is crucial. Choose a seat with ample padding and a recline system that allows you to set it at different angles. Take note of whether the canopy extends to provide sun protection, and if the mesh windows encourage airflow. Look for a model with a parent organizer/cupholder and a large basket under the seat in case you need to carry things with you. If you're looking for a travel stroller for older children, make sure to check the age range and consider whether your child is at ease in the seat, even without a car seat for infants.

It is also crucial to consider how a stroller is rolled. It should be able to move easily across different surfaces such as smooth carpets, hardwoods, cobblestones, and gravel. It should be able to handle curbs, stairs and other obstacles with ease. If your travel plans include the majority of walking, opt for an easy stroller to help you avoid leg and back pain.

A quality stroller for travel is also easy to use. It should assemble in under 30 seconds and snap together securely when popped in the right place. It should also fold flat and fit into the trunk of your car or in the overhead compartments of planes. It should also remain upright when folded so that you can pick it up with one hand, while holding your child in the other.

The Joie Tourist is an excellent option for parents seeking a light, high-quality travel stroller. It has several recline positions, which means your child can nap comfortably. Its extendable canopy provides plenty of sun coverage with UPF protection. It also includes a rain cover as well as a 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.