The Lightest, Most Compact and Easiest to Fold Travel Strollers

This stroller is among the lightest and most compact. It's also among the easiest folding strollers. It offers a smooth ride with a great sun canopy, and a multi-position recline.

For less than $100, this stroller is a great value. It's compact and easy to fold, making it ideal for public transport or to carry over your shoulder.

1. Lightweight

When it comes to travel strollers lightweight and easy to fold are essential. The top models we tested fold down with only one hand (and sometimes two) and can be tucked away in overhead luggage compartments. They are also compact and roll well, making them easy to maneuver in tight space. Some even offer the option of a telescoping handle to parents of various heights. If you're planning a brief trip with your newborn or a long-haul vacation with a toddler, look for a light, easy-to-pack stroller to make the journey and return -- easier for your family.

To find the best travel strollers, we evaluated nine that meet our minimum weight and size requirements. Each model was tested on city streets, country side walks, and at the airport terminal to assess its ability to maneuver, its ease of folding and carrying, and twin pram overall comfort for the child.

Our top picks are the Babyzen YoYo2 ($320), which has the most simple fold of all the strollers that we tried and fits into overhead bins for airplanes. It's compatible with car seats and the seat reclines completely flat, making it suitable for infants. Other parent-friendly features include a deep undercarriage storage basket, a bag hook on the handle and a UPF 50+ canopy which provides plenty of coverage for your child's travels.

The Cybex Orfeo (320) is another option. It features an articula fold that can be completed with one hand and Pram store near me is very light. The padded five-point harness, crotch strap, and Reversible seats ensure your child's safety with a huge undercarriage basket as well as a reversible seat will ensure there is enough space for their possessions. It's also compatible with the brand's infant car seat which makes it a feasible option for families who start from the time of birth.

The Coya TRVL ($320), a one-handed, one step fold, is also compatible with car seats and comes with a large canopy. It's a bit more expensive than other models in this class however, it comes with additional features such as a large cupholder for the parent, an adjustable handlebar to accommodate parents of all heights, and a comfortable carry strap. Its simplicity may sacrifice a bit of durability compared to the other models in this category, however.

2. Folding is easy

If you're constantly on the move the stroller you use for travel needs to be simple to open and close. You don't want a stroller that is difficult to close when you have children or groceries in your arms. Even with just one hand, the most convenient strollers for travel can be folded easily and compactly. Many come with a comfortable strap that can be comfortably placed over your shoulder.

In our tests, we awarded the Libelle stroller high marks for its compactness and its ease of folding. However, it also has some great features: It can roll effortlessly across all surfaces and has a large canopy that gives plenty of coverage. It's also extremely lightweight and stands by itself when folded. This makes it easy to store.

We recommend that parents who want their stroller to fit in the overhead bins of planes Look for models that claim to fit. The Munchkin Sparrow is a good example. It fits into the smallest folding stroller space and comes with an extra-safe travel cover. However it doesn't come with a reclined seat, and its cargo area is too small to hold anything but an infant diaper bag or tote.

The Babyzen Yoyo 2 is another alternative. It folds concertina-style fashion, but it also has a reversible seating position to ride face-to-face or back-to-back. The handle is hidden behind the seat, however our managing editor didn't like the way it folded.

The tri-fold is a new stroller for travel. It folds in three pieces and provides the best combination between compactness and features. The UPPAbaby Miniu for instance, comes with a reversible seat, an unstructured storage pouch at the rear, and a lockable latch to keep it folded. It's a bit bigger than the umbrellas from the brand but folds more compactly than their G-Luxe and G-Link counterparts. It also comes with a shoulder strap that is cushioned.

3 in 1 pram. Easy to store

The best travel strollers fold down into a small, easy-to-store size that you can easily fit in the trunk of your car, or into the overhead bin on an airplane. Some models even come with a carrying strap that makes it simple to sling over your shoulder and not need to worry about your hands becoming tired. They also tend to be lighter than regular strollers, which could make them easy to lift and carry when you're ready to take a stroll around the neighborhood or to the airport.

When we test this stroller, it did very well in our durability tests, and it was easy to maneuver across all kinds of surfaces, from smooth hardwoods to shag carpeting. However, some of our testers noted that it's a little flimsy and the handlebar doesn't have any padding to keep your hands in a comfortable position. Another thing to take into consideration is how big the basket is it's on the smaller side, and some parents found it difficult to squeeze a large diaper bag into it.

In general, we suggest calling your airline ahead of time to confirm their specific guidelines for bringing on board strollers, as they can vary. This is particularly important if you want to gate-check your stroller and allow you to navigate the airport without it, and then use it when you're on the plane (though this isn't a viable option for families who require an infant car seat or booster).

The Contours Itsy travel stroller is an excellent choice if you want a lightweight, compact stroller. It's almost fully assembled out of the box and the only thing you need to do is put the bumper bar into place. It has an apron for a cup for the parent, as well as an additional back pocket. However it doesn't come with an oversized basket. This can restrict your ability to carry essentials for a long journey.

If you're an avid traveler, we suggest you consider a more robust stroller that has more features and can carry more cargo. The UPPAbaby Mini, for instance, has many of its G-Luxe or G-Link siblings' features, but is more compact and folds faster. It's also slightly sturdier than an umbrella stroller, and it comes with a cushioned carrying strap that takes some of the burden off your shoulders.

4. Comfortable

The comfort factor is crucial when using strollers over long periods of time. Seats with a lot of padding as well as a reclining system that can be adjusted at various angles are ideal. Take note of whether the canopy extends for sun protection, and if the mesh windows allow airflow. Look for a model with a parent organizer/cupholder and an ample basket under the seat in case you need to carry things with you. If you're looking for a travel stroller for older children, check the age range and determine whether your child is comfortable in the seat without a car seat for infants.

The way a stroller is rolled is also important. It must be able to roll easily across a variety of surfaces that include smooth hardwoods, shag carpets, cobblestones and gravel. It should also be able to navigate stairs and curbs without difficulty. If your plans for travel include a lot of walking, Baby Essentials choose a stroller that is light to avoid leg and back soreness.

A quality stroller for travel should be easy to use, too. It should be simple to put together and snap together when placed in the correct position. It must also be able to fold flat and fit in the car's boot or in the overhead compartment of a plane. It should also remain upright when folded so that you can pick it up with one hand, while holding your baby in the other.

The Joie Tourist is an excellent option for parents seeking a light quality, high-end travel stroller. It offers multiple recline positions, so your child can sleep comfortably. The extensible canopy provides plenty of sun coverage with UPF protection. It also comes with a lot of other accessories such as a footmuff and cup holder, and rain cover are included. Charlotte loves that it's suitable for babies up to four years old and doesn't require a separate car seat adapter.