Guide To Strollers: The Intermediate Guide Towards Strollers

The Lightest, Most compact pushchair and Easiest to Fold Travel Strollers

This stroller is one of the lightest and compact. It's also the easiest folding strollers. Despite its size it has an excellent ride, great sun canopy and multi-position recline.

For less than $100 it's an excellent value. It comes with an easy, compact fold and a carry strap, which makes it easy to carry over your shoulder or carry on public transport.

1. Lightweight

When it comes to travel strollers - read this -, lightweight and easy-to-fold are key. The top models we tested fold down with only one hand (and sometimes two) and can fit in overhead luggage compartments. They are also compact and roll well which makes them easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Some models have a telescoping hand for parents of varying heights. Find a lightweight, easy-to pack stroller for your family, regardless of whether you're planning to go on short trips with a baby, or a long-haul trip with an infant.

To determine the top travel strollers, we evaluated nine strollers that met our minimum weight and size requirements. Each model was tested on city streets as well as on country side walks and in the airport terminal to assess its ability to maneuver, its ease of carrying and folding and overall comfort for the child.

Our picks include the Babyzen YoYo2 ($320), which has the most simple fold of the travel strollers we've tested and can fit into overhead bins on airplanes. It's car seat compatible and its seat can recline almost completely flat, making it ideal for babies. The car also features a deep undercarriage and a bag-hook attached to the handle and compact travel stroller UPF50+ canopy to offer plenty of protection to your child.

The Cybex Orfeo (320) is an alternative that is a great choice. It has an articula fold that can be done with one hand and is very light. The padded five-point harness, crotch strap, and reversible seat keep your child safe with a huge undercarriage basket as well as a reversible seat ensure that there is room for their belongings. It is also compatible with the brand's infant car seat. This makes it a good choice for families beginning at the time of birth.

The Coya TRVL ($320), one-handed, one-step fold, is also compatible with car seats and has an enormous canopy. It's a bit more expensive than other models in this category however it has additional features, including a larger cupholder for the parent and a handlebar that can be adjusted for parents of all heights, and a comfortable carry strap. The simple design does not mean it's as durable, as relative to other models in this class.

2. Easy to fold

A stroller for travel is one that is easy to open and shut when you're on-the-go. If you have a bag of groceries, or children in your arms, you don't want 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 comfortable strap that can be comfortably placed over your shoulder.

In our tests, we gave the Libelle stroller top marks for its compactness and easy folding. It also has some other attractive features. It's smooth to roll on all surfaces and has an extensive canopy that gives sufficient coverage. It's also extremely light and stands up by itself when folded. This makes it easy to keep in storage.

We recommend parents who want their strollers to fit in the overhead bins of planes, look for models that promise to fit. The Munchkin Sparrow is a good example. It can fit into the smallest folding space and comes with an enclosed travel cover. However, it does not have a reclining seat and the cargo area is too small to accommodate anything other than an infant diaper bag or tote.

Another option is the Babyzen Yoyo 2, which folds into a concertina style but also features an reversible seat that can be used for back-to-back or face-to-face riding. The handle is tucked behind the seat, but our editor didn't love the way it folded.

The newest type of stroller for travel is tri-fold, which folds in thirds and provides the perfect combination of compactness and features. The UPPAbaby Minu for example, has a convertible seat, an unstructured rear storage pouch, and a lockable clasp to keep it folded. It's a bit bigger than the umbrellas made by the brand but folds more compactly than their G-Luxe or G-Link counterparts. It also comes with a shoulder strap that is cushioned.

3. Easy to store

The best strollers fold down to a small, easy-to-store size that you can easily fit in the trunk of your car or into the overhead bin of an airplane. Some even have a carrying strap that is easy to sling over your shoulder and you don't have to worry about your hands becoming tired. They are also lighter than standard strollers, which can make them easier to lift and carry when you're ready for a stroll around the neighborhood or the airport.

This stroller performed exceptionally excellently in our durability tests and was easy to maneuver across all kinds of surfaces. From smooth hardwoods to sag flooring, this stroller is an excellent choice. However some of our testers noticed that it was a bit thin and the handlebar does not have any padding to help keep your hands comfy. Another thing to consider is how big the basket is It's on the smaller side and some parents have found it difficult to squeeze a large diaper bag into it.

In general, we recommend calling your airline ahead of time to check their specific guidelines for bringing on board strollers and strollers, as they may vary. This is especially important if you wish to check your stroller's gate-ability that allows you to travel around the airport without it and still be able to use it once you're on the plane (though this isn't a viable option for families that require a car seat or toddler booster).

If you're looking for a no-fuss travel stroller that's lightweight and folds down to a compact size, the Contours Itsy is a great choice. It's almost fully assembled right out of the box and the only thing you have to do is snap the bumper bar into the right position. It has a parent cup holder and a back pocket but there isn't a large basket that could limit your ability to pack essentials for a long-distance trip.

If you're an avid traveler, we suggest you consider a more robust stroller that has better features and can hold more cargo. The UPPAbaby Minu, for example, has many of the same features similar to its G-Luxe and G-Link siblings, but it's more compact and folds more quickly. It's also slightly more robust than an umbrella stroller, and has a padded strap to lift some of the burden off your shoulders.

4. Confortable

Strollers are often used for prolonged durations of time when traveling, and comfort is important. Seats with plenty of padding and a recline system that can be adjusted at different angles are the best. Note if the canopy extends for sun protection, and if the mesh windows encourage airflow. If you have to carry items with you, consider a model with cups and organizers for parents as well as a large storage basket under the seat. If you're shopping for a stroller for older children, check the age range and determine whether your child will be at ease in the seat, even without a pushchair car seat seat for infants.

It is also crucial to consider how a stroller is rolled. It must be able to roll easily over various surfaces including smooth hardwoods and shag carpet to cobblestones and gravel. It should be able to handle curbs, stairs and other obstacles with ease. Pick a stroller that is lightweight when you intend to do a lot of walking during your trip. This will help to prevent leg and back pain.

A great stroller for travel should also be simple to use. It should be simple to assemble and snap back together when put in the proper location. It must also be able to fold flat and fit in the boot of a car or the overhead compartment of planes. It should also be upright when folded, so that you can grab it with a single hand and hold your child in the other.

For parents looking for a high-quality lightweight stroller for their child, the Joie Tourist is a great option. It comes with various recline positions, to allow your child to rest comfortably. The canopy extends to provide plenty of sun protection with UPF protection. Additionally, it includes a variety of additional features such as a footmuff and cup holder, stroller (bookmarksparkle.com) and rain cover are all included. Charlotte is thrilled that it's suitable from newborns up to four years old and doesn't require an additional car seat adapter.