The right travel stroller can help make vacationing with kids smoother. While traveling with your children is the perfect time to have fun and make memories, there’s no denying it can be stressful, particularly when sorting out the logistics. When you have a lightweight stroller that’s easy to travel with, that’s one less thing to worry about.
Our home and family advisor, Richard J. Bartlett, has compared some of the most important features of travel strollers to come up with a definitive ranking. He found the gb Pockit Air All Terrain Travel Stroller ranked the best overall based on a range of factors, such as its price, weight, and dimensions.
Our Expert’s Top 5 Travel Strollers
Here are the top picks from our home and family expert. Compare the ratings and key features of the different models.
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating | Weight (Pounds) | Carry-On Compliant | Reclining Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | gb Pockit Air All Terrain Travel Stroller | 10.4 | |||
| Best Budget | Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller | 13.0 | |||
| Best Carry-On Compliant | gb Pockit+ All City Stroller | 13.2 | |||
| Best for Disney Approved | Kolcraft Cloud Plus Travel Stroller | 11.8 | |||
| Best Suspension | UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stroller | 16.3 |
*Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 and based on reviews, feedback, and opinions of actual customers
In This Article
Who Should Buy a Travel Stroller
- Parents who travel frequently – If you travel a lot, it’s certainly worth splashing out on a travel stroller, while occasional travelers may be able to make do with what they’ve got.
- Anyone who needs a stroller that meets certain restrictions – You might be looking for a carry-on-compliant or Disney-approved stroller, in which case, compact travel versions are more likely to fit the bill.
- People looking for a lightweight stroller – Even if you don’t travel regularly, you might want a stroller that’s lightweight, highly maneuverable, and folds into a compact package.
Who Should Not Buy a Travel Stroller
- Buyers who want the most features from a stroller – In a bid to be as light and compact as possible, travel strollers often pare back on features, so parents who want all the bells and whistles should look elsewhere.
- Parents of newborns – Most aren’t suitable for newborns, so you should wait to use one until your baby can sit up unassisted.
Research Tips (from a Home & Family Expert)
Finding the right travel stroller is important to make trips easier. Of course, weight, foldability, and overall portability will be high on your list of priorities when traveling with a stroller. Make sure to take these factors into account when buying. It’s also a great idea to ask other parents for their opinions, particularly if they’ve traveled with their kids recently.
- Consider weight – Take a look at how much any stroller you’re considering weighs. Most travel strollers weigh 10-15 pounds. Anything over 15 pounds is likely to be frustratingly heavy and bulky when traveling.
- Look at the minimum and maximum age or weight – Check the minimum age or weight babies must be to ride in the stroller, as well as the upper weight limit.
- Check the dimensions – Take a look at the measurements of the stroller. If you’re looking for a stroller suitable for use at Disney, it must be no more than 31 inches wide and 52 inches long.1 Most travel strollers fit within these dimensions, but it pays to double check.
- Think about storage – One thing you don’t want to skimp on is storage since you’re likely to be traveling with a lot of baby or toddler gear. A generous under-seat storage basket is a must.
How Much Do They Cost?
Between $70 and $400
You can pay anywhere from $70-$400 but you can find excellent models for $200 or less, so you don’t have to go to the upper end of the price spectrum. The most expensive models are usually lighter without sacrificing features and hold up the smallest.
Our Methodology: Why Trust Safe Sound Family
To find the best travel strollers, I compared the top 30 models on a range of factors. I looked at variables including price, popularity, average customer reviews, stroller weight, and maximum child weight limit. By inputting this data into a spreadsheet, I was able to rank them to find the definitive top five. This scientific approach negates any potential bias, instead focusing on the facts. – Richard J. Bartlett
The Best Travel Stroller: Full Reviews
With its compact, lightweight design, the gb Pockit Air All Terrain Travel Stroller is perfect for travel. It weighs just 10.4 pounds and folds into an extremely compact handbag shape package that’s carry-on compliant. There’s no need to check it into the hold if you’re flying with your baby or worry that it might not reach your destination!
The breathable mesh fabric helps keep kids cool, which is great if you’re vacationing somewhere warm. It’s suitable for babies from 6 months old who can sit independently and fits toddlers and little kids up to 55 pounds.
- Great for air travel as it’s carry-on compliant
- The double wheels are great for a range of terrains
- Folds quickly and easily
- Only has a sun visor rather than a full canopy
- Seat doesn’t recline
Despite its lightweight 13-pound design, the Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller still feels sturdy and has everything you need from a basic stroller. The large canopy protects your little one from the sun while the large storage basket has ample room for all the essentials.
It’s easy to fold to a compact size and includes a convenient strap that allows you to carry it with you. You can also choose from four colors: black, gray, eucalyptus, and teal.
- Four-position seat recline
- Features a cup holder and storage pocket for parents
- 50-pound weight limit
- Not suitable for babies under 6 months
- Kids can get too tall before they exceed the weight limit
Looking for a quality carry-on-compliant stroller? The gb Pockit+ All City Stroller might be the one for you. Despite its ability to fold into a super small package, it doesn’t lack the features that some similar models do. It has a full canopy to protect your little one from the sun, a reclining seat, and a spacious basket for storage.
You can even use this stroller from birth with any Cybex infant car seat using the included adapters, making this a versatile choice for travel and everyday use.
- Plenty of storage space
- Stands up when folded
- The mesh seat back is breathable
- Expensive if you only intend to use it for travel
- Doesn’t work well on rough terrain
The Kolcraft Cloud Plus Travel Stroller is a great option for anyone who’s looking for a compact stroller to use at a Disney park and doesn’t want to spend too much. At 11.8 pounds, it’s light enough that it’s easy to push around all day and you won’t struggle to carry it if you need to.
Thanks to the large storage basket, there’s plenty of room to hold everything you need for your child. Plus, there’s a cup holder in the handle, which parents will certainly appreciate. It comes in either slate grey or fire red.
- Large sun canopy
- Reclining seat
- Quick and easy to fold with just one hand
- Fine for occasional travel use but not durable enough for every day
- Doesn’t recline completely flat
The Appleby G-Luxe Stroller looks and feels solid. At roughly 16 pounds, it’s a little heavier than some travel strollers, but it’s durable enough for everyday use. It’s suitable for babies from 3 months to little kids up to 55 pounds, though it’s likely that kids will get too big for the stroller before they reach that upper limit.
The seat has three recline positions, with the most reclined being almost completely flat. If you’ll be traversing cobble stones and other bumpy surfaces while on your travels, you’ll be pleased the built-in all-wheel suspension will give your little one a smoother ride.
- Quick and easy to fold
- Large under-seat storage basket
- Parent cup holder
- A little heavier than other travel strollers
- Could fold smaller
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of stroller can you take on a plane?
Do airlines charge for strollers?
What’s the most lightweight travel stroller?
Is a travel stroller necessary?
Article Sources
Safe Smart Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Disney Theme Parks & Water Parks – Frequently Asked Questions. Disneyworld.disney.go.com. Accessed June 6, 2022.
- Air Travel With a Stroller. Tsatraveltips.us. Published July 18, 2016. Accessed June 6, 2022.
Home and family advisor for Safe Smart Family with more than a decade writing about home and family lifestyle topics and expertise in home product reviews
