Strollers come in all shapes,???.?????.????????.????.????? sizes and designs, with all-purpose strollers for everyday use, entire stroller travel systems, three-wheeled jogging strollers, stroller frames, umbrella strollers, and what we're focusing on in this guide -- lightweight, compact, travel strollers. We're taking a look at six best portable and practical strollers you can buy now, but we're also throwing you a curve ball and sharing two really interesting alternatives that, depending on your needs, might suit you even better than a standard stroller.
We've compiled a list below with details about each stroller and the problems it solves, but if you want a cheat-sheet, here are our picks:
Best overall: Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller
Best compact: gb Pockit Lightweight Stroller
Best for two-child families: Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite Stroller
Best lightweight option: Cosco Monster Elliot Umbrella Stroller
Best for air travel: Jovial JPC20BK Compact Travel Stroller
Best for twins and close siblings: Graco DuoGlider Double Stroller
Best for airports and train stations: Holm Airport Car Seat Stroller Travel Cart and Child Transporter
Best for camping and festivals: Radio Flyer 3951Z 3-In-1 Ez Folding Wagon With Canopy
What to consider when shopping for a travel stroller
We've taken a variety of factors into consideration when compiling this collection of excellent strollers. Some obviously shine brighter in certain categories than others, and when this is the case, we've explained why we've chosen them and what we feel they do well. These are the six main areas we've judged our selection on.
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How heavy is the stroller alone?
Weight is an obvious point to consider when shopping for a travel stroller. Whether it's when you're lifting it in and out of a car, or up and down steps, the more lightweight, the better. Also consider that lighter options are less hard work to push around, an important point if you're going to be on the move more than when you're at home.
How bulky is it when folded down?
Another factor we've taken into consideration when compiling this guide is how small the stroller can fold down. Some options collapse to impressively compact dimensions and are able to even fit into overhead compartments on airplanes.
How much storage is there?
An aspect to look at is how much storage space the stroller has. You don't want to be bogged down by heavy bags while out and about, so storage space under the stroller is practically an essential, while other storage pockets and options are clearly a bonus.
What special features are needed?
Special features of travel strollers can include cup holders, umbrella covers, and table trays. While none of these are absolute essentials in our opinion, some of the extras may sway you to one stroller over another if it's a feature that would be useful to you and/or your child.
How fast does it fold and unfold?
We've looked at how quick and easy it is to fold and unfold these strollers too. Some on the market (that didn't make the final cut) practically require a degree in engineering to manipulate. All our choices can be managed by the average parent or caregiver.
Easy to clean
Finally, it may not be the most glamorous angle, but how easy to clean the stroller is important, especially if you're going to be away from your usual arsenal of cleaning supplies at home.
Here is our carefully considered pick of the best compact travel strollers for all your 2020 adventures…
1. Best Overall
Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller — $63.49
Credit: Amazon Summer's 3DLite Convenience Stroller is just shy of being the smallest and lightest in our collection, but it is half the priceof rival models, and with over 4,000 4.5 star Amazon reviews alone, it's a capable, competent and well-recommended option for anyone with a child weighing in at 50 pounds or under. A durable 13 pound frame holds a retractable canopy and a four position reclining seat with a five point safety harness. There's a decent-sized storage basket, a rear storage pocket with a flap closure and a cup holder. When you need to fold this down, it has a simple fold flat mechanism and a lock to keep it closed. Finally, Summer has made it available in a range of colors -- black, blue, grey, green, pink and a lovely shade of teal -- meaning it's an option that not only performs really well for the price, but looks great too.
2. Best Compact
gb Pockit Lightweight Stroller — $152.00
Credit: amazon With award-winning design, gb's Pockit compact stroller made it into the Guinness World Records as the world's smallest folding stroller, collapsing down to 12 X 7 X 20 inches, folding into a lightweight package that weighs under 12 pounds. It's small, but mighty, able to hold a child from 6 months up to 55 pounds -- in addition to 11 pounds of gear in its storage basket. If small folded dimensions and minimal weight are important to you, and you can stretch to the cost, this could well be the option to suit you.
3. Best for Two-Child Families
Joovy Caboose Ultralight Graphite Stroller — $188.98
Credit: amazon At the higher end of the compact stroller marketplace is this cleverly designed option from popular brand Joovy. It's not the most lightweight option out there at 22 pounds, but it can transport two kiddies, the younger one in the seat with a five-point safety harness, while an older child can hop on and off the back as they wish, either standing on the stand-on platform, or sitting on the built-in seat. You'll love the storage -- a basket, side pockets and a slip-on "parent organizer" that's made of neoprene with smaller storage pockets and two cup (or bottle) holders.
4. Best Lightweight option
Cosco Monster Elliot Umbrella Stroller — $24.99
Credit: Amazon Part of Cosco's super-fun "Monster Elliot" range, this adorable, affordable buggy is available in orange, blue, and pink. Perfect for shorter trips out, or for children who take turns to walk and be pushed when they get tired, obviously aimed at older toddlers and pre-schoolers, this can handle up to 40 pounds. What makes it great for travel is that it's lightweight at 7.15 pounds and has a simple umbrella fold mechanism. There is no built-in storage, but the stroller's design is suitable for the detachable under-chair storage nets that you can buy separately.
5. Best for Air Travel
Jovial JPC20BK Compact Travel Stroller — $99.99
Credit: jovial Aimed at up to three-year-olds, this is a very attractive option for anyone who travels often, thanks to its really compact folded down dimensions of 18.9 X 10.6 X 22.0 inches and the tidy bundled storage bag. Small enough to fit in an airplane's overhead compartment, this nonetheless has some great features like a black, red, or blue retractable canopy, a footrest, an adjustable seat that reclines down to 170 degrees and a generous storage basket under the stroller.
6. Best for Twins and Close Siblings
Graco DuoGlider Double Stroller — $127.49
Credit: amazon Suitable for two little ones, from baby to around age four (or 40 pounds) this double stroller from well-respected brand Graco offers two reclining seats with individual footrests and canopies. It can also accept two Graco SnugRide Click Connect infant car seats. The rear seat reclines to a completely flat position so babies can sleep lying down. There's a deep, drop-down storage basket and a very easy, one-handed standing fold closure method.
7. Best for Airports and Train Stations
Holm Airport Car Seat Stroller Travel Cart and Child Transporter — $47.89
Credit: amazon Holm's car seat roller offers a smooth ride for your child seated comfortably in their own familiar car seat fixed to the roller frame. If you don't have a need for a stroller at the other end of your journey, this could be the solution that helps you get your child around transport hubs, saving their little legs and keeping them safely restrained and close to you. It weighs three pounds and folds down to a 13 by 10 by 4 inch square that will fit under your seat, or in the overhead compartment.
8. Best for Camping and Festivals
Radio Flyer 3951Z 3-In-1 Ez Folding Wagon With Canopy — $99.99
Credit: Amazon Radio Flyer's Wagon is a great way of getting toddler-plus kids around camp grounds, festival sites, on stroller-friendly country trails and beaches. It's a fully-sized wagon that folds down to a manageable size and offers three useful modes -- two children can ride seated with seatbelts, it can be used as covered bench seating when stationary, and can be used as a flatbed for hauling your gear.
Tips for traveling with a stroller
If you've bought a brand-new stroller to take on your travels, practice with it before you go, ensuring you know exactly how it folds, unfolds and any other necessary functionality.
Put something distinguishing on your stroller, such as a colorful bandana wrapped around the handle, so that you can easily identify it in a sea of similar models in a stroller parking area, etc.
Add a weatherproof sticker with your phone number somewhere easy to see on your stroller, that way if you do forget where you left it you'll have a chance of getting it back.
If you're going to be going through airport security, be aware that the TSA insists all kinds of strollers, baby carriers, and booster seats have to be screened by X-ray, so you will be expected to put them on the X-ray belt. Any items too large to fit will undergo a visual/physical inspection by TSA officers.
Stroller rules and regs on airlines vary from company to company, but most are understanding about your need to take one and don't charge extra. For example, American Airlines allows one stroller and one car seat per ticketed customer, to be checked either at the ticket counter or gate before boarding. The best advice is to check your airline's rules before traveling.
Keep a squirty bottle of water in your stroller to wash down the wheels before you enter posh hotels / your rented holiday accommodation / fancy restaurants, etc.
If you're headed somewhere with a high risk of stroller theft (we'd hope not with a kid in tow, but you never know!) consider investing in an RFID tag that alerts you on your phone when the stroller leaves a predetermined perimeter.
If you're going to be pushing the stroller a lot more than you normally would, or over rough terrain, you could think about adding extra padding to the handles, or if the climate suits, wearing gloves.