Choosing a Travel Stroller (and which one is our favorite)

Choosing a Travel Stroller (and which one is our favorite)

I'll be honest- I travel all the time with my kids and don't always use a travel stroller. Here's why: I have four kids that are 9 and under. For the last few years, we have always had a baby and a toddler-aged kid who both need a stroller. There's a ton of great options for single travel strollers, but we didn't want to both be pushing a stroller around for both kids. So bringing two singles was out. And there's not a lot of budget-friendly double travel stroller options out there. So a lot of the time, we would use what we had (and UppaBaby Vista which we love) and made it work. It's pricey to buy a family of 6 tickets anywhere, and the thought of buying MORE travel gear on top of that seemed like a lot. 

Fast forward a few years, and slowly over time (and through finding sales), we have stocked up on travel gear and have tried out quite a few single AND double strollers. Everything on this list are strollers we have personally used and tested out on trips, and I'll share my honest opinion about the pros and cons of each. And which stroller(s) is the one we are constantly reaching for over and over on trips. (Spoiler alert: it's THIS ONE.)

SINGLES:

ErgoBaby Metro+ Deluxe. This stroller checks all my "yes" boxes for so many reasons. 

  • Weight: 18.1 lbs
  • Easyfold: pretty easy to unfold with one hand. I use two to fold it.
  • Bag for storage: backpack (and it's padded, not a ton, but enough I feel comfortable traveling with it in just this bag)
  • Good for naps: LOVE it for naps. The sun shade is nice and big, and it lays down to 175 degrees. The calf rest adjusts too so you can get the perfect nap comfort set up.
  • Handlebar: telescoping and tall-people friendly! My husband is 6'3" and can comfortably push it.
  • Baby friendly: has an infant "nest" so you can use it for the littlest ones
  • Storage: the basket under this is one of the best I've found for a travel stroller
  • Can you make it into a double: there's a ride-on scooter board you can purchase to add to the back. And when we were in London in a pinch, we reclined the stroller all the way to make it more of a wagon-type seat, and my 2 and 5 yr old both sat there (be careful doing this because it can tip, but in a pinch you can fit two kids this way).
  • Pros: this is the stroller I constantly reach for when we travel. It is my favorite (and my husband's favorite) travel stroller that we have
  • Cons: A bit pricey, and the wheels are small, but we took it on the cobblestones in Ireland streets and it worked fine.

Colugo Travel Stroller. This stroller comes in lots of fun colors and has quite a few accessories included.

  • Weight: 16 lbs
  • Easyfold: this one folds and unfolds really quickly
  • Bag for storage: yes
  • Good for naps: love it for naps (reclines almost totally flat), however, the straps to make it recline aren't the smoothest
  • Handlebar: no
  • Baby friendly: no, but you can buy an insert to make it work with a baby
  • Storage: average basket underneath, not huge
  • Can you make it into a double: no
  • Pros: if you want a stroller that is a decent price, easy to travel with, fits in the trunk well, and has lots of fun color options, this is the one!
  • Cons: My biggest complaint about this is that the recline isn't super smooth and requires two hands, so if you're walking to put a baby to sleep and need to recline them, it is difficult.

Gb Pockit+. I couldn't believe they actually made a stroller this small and that was actually sturdy enough to use until we tried this one out. My mind was blown. And if you just need something that doesn't take up hardly any space and you can put in an overhead bin (therefore not needing even a car seat bag), this is a great choice.

  • Weight: 9.5 lbs
  • Easyfold: not as easy as others but it's pretty fast to collapse
  • Bag for storage: purchase individually
  • Good for naps: Not my favorite for naps. The sun shade is very minimal. And the recline isn't great
  • Handlebar: not telescoping, so if you're tall, this wouldn't be your favorite
  • Baby friendly: you can use their brand car seat with it
  • Storage: not much
  • Can you make it into a double: no
  • Pros: This is the ultimate space saving stroller if you want something super minimal. It is ultra lightweight and fits in most overhead bins, so if you don't want to check a stroller, this is a great one to choose.
  • Cons: This is definitely a very minimal stroller, which is why I don't usually choose it as my first choice for someone with more than one kid. You always have more "stuff" to carry with multiple kids and this one really only has enough room for one child and their items. I also wouldn't recommend this for very young kids who are still relying on naps because it's not a great nap stroller.

Bombi Beebee V2 Lightweight Stroller. This one is a newer stroller to us and I've been really impressed with it. It's also great for taller kids because it has a generous seat height.

  • Weight: 11.6 lbs
  • Easyfold: yes
  • Bag for storage: comes with a travel tote
  • Good for naps: yes! It has a good recline (about 150 degrees) and a nice, big sun shade
  • Handlebar: not telescoping
  • Baby friendly: works with their car seat adapter
  • Storage: good amount of storage
  • Can you make it into a double:
  • Pros: Love that this fits in overhead compartments. The buckle on this is also super easy to use (one handed)
  • Cons: I don't love reclines that use straps instead of a button if you have sensitive kids who may wake if you don't do a perfectly smooth recline.

Stokke YoYo3. This stroller is beautiful and sleek looking, and is my favorite stroller to use if we are doing city travel. It's fast to fold/unfold and has a nice, narrow profile for busy city streets. (This one is sometimes sold out, so if you're looking for a very similar one, the Yoyo2 is here.)

  • Weight: 13 lbs
  • Easyfold: yes! love how fast this one is
  • Bag for storage: not included
  • Good for naps: this is great for naps, doesn't lie totally flat but has a decent sun shade (not the largest one) but there are canopy extensions available
  • Handlebar: doesn't telescope
  • Baby friendly: yes- with their newborn system
  • Storage: decent
  • Can you make it into a double: yes, you can buy a ride on board OR connect their strollers together which is really unique
  • Pros: This stroller has a lot of flexibility and different set ups you can use from newborn to bigger kid, so I love that you can definitely use this for many years of travel
  • Cons: This is a great stroller and I love the design of it, but it's pricey.

Summer Infant 3DLite. This is my favorite budget-friendly travel stroller option! You can usually get this for $100 and under.

  • Weight: 13.2 lbs
  • Easyfold: yes
  • Bag for storage: no
  • Good for naps: there's 4 different positions it can recline to, but the sun shade isn't huge
  • Handlebar: not telescoping
  • Baby friendly: works with a few different car seats but I wouldn't recommend it due to the fact that it's not the most sturdy frame with a car seat
  • Storage: decent amount of storage
  • Can you make it into a double: no
  • Pros: This is the most budget-friendly travel stroller and often goes on sale for an even better discount.
  • Cons: The sun shade on this is my biggest drawback, so if you have a child that needs a darker space for naps, this isn't the stroller for you.

DOUBLES:

Zoe Twin+. This is the most popular travel stroller that I recommend and it is definitely a great investment if you have more than one child.

  • Weight: 23 lbs
  • Configuration: side by side
  • Easyfold: it's not one-handed but it's pretty easy to fold.
  • Bag for storage: no, purchase separately
  • Good for naps: one of the best. The recline is great on it (close to flat) and the sun shade gives a nice dark space.
  • Handlebar: adjustable
  • Baby friendly: yes, works with lots of car seats
  • Storage: love the amount of storage it has
  • Pros: a big perk on this one- it fits through doorways! And with a side-by-side double, that's not always the case. You can confidently bring this places knowing it's going to be able to maneuver well.
  • Cons: It's definitely an investment, but I will say I wish I had pulled the trigger on this one earlier in our travel career with young kids. It would have made life so much easier.

Mompush Lithe. For a more budget-friendly option, this is a great one! It looks sleek and I love the seat recline and shade this one offers.

    • Weight: 25.4 lbs
    • Configuration: side by side
    • Easyfold: not really
    • Bag for storage: no bag, but for the price that's expected for a double
    • Good for naps: great for naps, and the seats individually recline and have a great sun shade
    • Handlebar: no
    • Baby friendly: no 
    • Storage: ok storage size, and the baskets are individual
    • Pros: for a travel-friendly double, the price point on this is great!
    • Cons: the wheels on this aren't my favorite, they don't roll smooth over bumpy roads

Uppababy Minu Duo. High price point but with the quality of UppaBaby, this stroller will definitely last through many, many travels and years.

    • Weight: 15 lbs
    • Configuration: side by side
    • Easyfold: pretty easy, not one handed
    • Bag for storage: sold separately
    • Good for naps: reclines almost flat, individual seat recline, great shade canopy
    • Handlebar: not telescoping
    • Baby friendly: yes
    • Storage: amazing storage
    • Pros: This brand has such incredible quality strollers, this will definitely last you for YEARS (We have had our UppaBaby Vista for 10 years now and it's still in great shape after 4 kids). This is also great for taller kids.
    • Cons: high price point

Baby Jogger City Tour 2. The wheels on this double are a major bonus, the push a lot smoother than other doubles with the weight of two kids in it.

  • Weight: 23 lbs
  • Configuration: side by side
  • Easyfold: no
  • Bag for storage: no
  • Good for naps: yes! It has a near flat recline
  • Handlebar: not telescoping
  • Baby friendly: no
  • Storage: average
  • Pros: This is the best for tall kids. The seat height is fantastic compared to other strollers.
  • Cons: I don't love the material on this one compared to other strollers. It feels lower quality.

What about wagons? Love them, but there's a catch. I'm a bit torn on wagons. If your airline lets you bring one, I think it is a fantastic option! BUT, don't count on every airline allowing it. I have heard many stories of people trying to check the wagon they brought as their stroller and the airline not allowing it and trying to charge them for it as a bag instead. We personally have never had that issue, but I think it's something to be aware of. I'd recommend looking up whatever airline you're flying on and under the section about permitted travel gear and what baby gear they allow, see what it says about strollers and wagons. And have that page pulled up on your phone in case you need it when talking to a gate agent. 

If you do want to bring a wagon (they can be so great for carrying multiple kids, beach gear, bumpy roads in Europe, laying flat for naps, etc.), here's my favorites:

Veer Cruiser. We love this wagon. It's one that will get tons of use

  • Weight: 32 lbs
  • Configuration: two seats facing each other
  • Easyfold: pretty easy
  • Bag for storage: no
  • Good for naps: no
  • Handlebar: telescoping
  • Baby friendly: no
  • Pros: This wagon folds nice and thin and will fit in most trunks. I also love how smooth it pushes and you can lock the handle for a straight push. My tall husband also loves the handle height on this.
  • Cons: This is a VERY high price point. So I wouldn't purchase it unless you know you're going to use it in daily life too, but if you will, it is so nice to have.

Baby Trend Stoller Wagon Expedition. If you want to bring a wagon but still have kids who nap, this is the wagon I'd bring!

  • Weight: 39 lbs
  • Configuration: two seats facing each other
  • Easyfold: easy-ish
  • Bag for storage: no
  • Good for naps: yes! The seats can become flat so you have a completely flat place to nap, and the sun shade covers the wagon completely.
  • Handlebar: not telescoping
  • Baby friendly: no
  • Pros: Having a full cover canopy and a flat place to nap is the best, and it has good storage and multiple ways to push the wagon
  • Cons: This is a VERY high price point. So I wouldn't purchase it unless you know you're going to use it in daily life too, but if you will, it is so nice to have.

Radio Flyer Stroller Wagon. If you know you're going to be checking the wagon, having a bag that fits it to help protect it is a major bonus. This one has just that!

  • Weight: 37 lbs
  • Configuration: two seats facing each other
  • Easyfold: yes
  • Bag for storage: yes
  • Good for naps: yes, it can be made flat but there's not much of a sun shade
  • Handlebar: telescoping
  • Baby friendly: no
  • Pros: The side of the wagon opens so it is easy to climb into, and the large wheels make for a nice easy push.
  • Cons: There's not much of a sun shade on this and you can't angle it

Overall, a travel-friendly stroller is definitely a nice item to have, and it makes it so much easier when you're carrying lots of baby gear, and trying to save space. However, you can definitely make whatever stroller you have work. But if you're thinking long term and have the budget to buy a travel stroller, I think a travel-friendly stroller is 100% worth the investment.

 

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