Jul 21, 2024 9:00 AM

The Best Travel Strollers for Your Summer Adventures

Whether you’re on a road trip or a plane ride, these are our favorite travel strollers that fold as flat as possible.

I love travel strollers. I test strollers as a part of my job, but whenever I'm not testing something new, I switch to these fantastic, lightweight strollers, even if I'm not traveling! They've become my go-to everyday strollers since my kid turned 1 and could face forward on our walks. They're quick to fold and easy to throw in the trunk of my small sedan, and I can carry ’em with one hand while balancing my kid and unlocking the door with the other. They’re great for actual travel too. Whether on a road trip or a plane ride, these lightweight travel strollers are the ones I love most after weeks of testing.

Be sure to get our tips on how to buy a stroller first. If you’re curious about more parenting gear, check out our related guides, including the Best Baby Monitors, Best Breast Pumps, Best Baby Gear, and Best Strollers.

Updated July 2024: We've added the Joolz Aer+ with Carrycot as a pick for best travel pram, and a new section about whether strollers can go on planes.

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Nuna TRVL stroller — Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Overall
Nuna TRVL
WIRED TIRED
Remarkably easy to fold. Lightweight. Well-built and sturdy frame. Comes with a travel bag for stroller. Expensive. No drink holders or kiddo snack tray. Not tall enough for older kids. Not compatible with most car seats.
No stroller is as easy to fold as the Nuna TRVL. Just the other day a fellow mom asked me what stroller it was, saying she'd never seen a stroller fold like that before. The 14.6-pound Nuna quickly folds forward onto itself into an upright position, sticking the belly bar in the air for you to grab and go, whether you're in the airport or piling into the car after a day at the zoo. It comes with a travel bag, which you can stuff into the lower storage basket and then use when checking the stroller onto a plane. Speaking of, the storage basket’s sides are a little low, but it was a perfect size to fit my favorite diaper bags.
I really love this stroller for the hand fold. I used to live in an apartment with a staircase between me and the rest of the world (my car! the street! any useable sidewalks!) and having a lightweight, easy-to-fold stroller made getting out of the house or coming home from a walk so much easier. For my next little one, I'm buying Nuna's car seat and using this system from day one, since Nuna's TRVL line is compatible with its car seats. It offers a smooth ride even with the lightweight frame, though you do have to look out for big bumps on the sidewalk.
*13.6 pounds without handlebar, 14.6 with the handlebar. Comes with a travel bag.*
$450 at Nordstrom
$450 at Pottery Barn Kids
$450 at Nuna

WIRED	TIRED
Remarkably easy to fold. Lightweight. Well-built and sturdy frame. Comes with a travel bag for stroller.	Expensive. No drink holders or kiddo snack tray. Not tall enough for older kids. Not compatible with most car seats.

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Best Travel Pram (and a Great Toddler Stroller Too)

Joolz Aer+ with Carrycot

WIRED	TIRED
Folds nicely. Smooth ride and sturdy build. Can switch between toddler seat and bassinet (and both are great!). Comes with travel bag for stroller. Has car seat adapters.	On the pricey end to get both stroller and bassinet. Not intuitive to switch out toddler seat and bassinet—definitely find a video to help you do it.

The Joolz Aer+ on its own looks like a normal travel stroller. It has a solid yet lightweight build and beautiful color choices that give it a luxury look. The storage basket is a little small, and I find it's easier to stick a diaper bag through the front side of the stroller rather than the back, making it a little more effort to take things in and out since you have to park and walk around the stroller to do so.

But where the Joolz Aer+ shines is the fact that you can swap out the toddler seat for the Joolz Carrycot ($229), transforming it into a travel pram or bassinet stroller. The bassinet can hold babies up to 20 pounds or 30 inches tall. I needed to watch the how-to video to figure out how to swap out the toddler seat for the bassinet, but once the seat is out, the Carrycot is easy to pop into the stroller. The stroller also still folds with the bassinet attached, but I liked popping out the bassinet out and fully compacting the frame. It's one of the only travel stroller setups you can use from birth without needing car seat attachments. Joolz does sell car seat attachments ($45) for the Aer+, but check the compatibility list to see if it works with your car seat of choice.

I really liked the Joolz Aer+ though. If the toddler seat had a belly bar to hold it by (you can buy one separately for $50), it would be tied with the Nuna TRVL for me.

13.2 pounds with toddler seat, 17.6 pounds with bassinet. Comes with travel bag and bassinet.

$668 at Joolz

$449 at Amazon (Stroller Only)

$229 at Amazon (Bassinet Only)

Photograph: Zoe

Best Budget Travel Stroller

Zoe The Tour V2

WIRED	TIRED
Great price. Lightest weight. Comes with lots of accessories, unlike most strollers. Folds nicely. Has car seat adapters you can buy.	Quality feels a little cheap, especially the seat material. Build feels a little flimsier than other picks. But it's literally cheaper.

The Zoe Tour V2 stroller has a lot of what I like about the Nuna, with a slightly worse fold and not as nice of a finished folding position. But it's $200 cheaper! It also comes with cup holders for both parent and baby, and even a little snack bowl for my kid (these are so often extra upgrades you have to pay for on other strollers). You do have to choose either the belly bar or the kid cup and snack holders—you can't have both. The belly bar is handy to lift the stroller with when folded.

The Tour V2 looks nice, though the materials feel a little rough and the build doesn't feel as sturdy. But the seat was still plenty comfy for my kid, and this compact stroller was easy to maneuver around. It's the lightest stroller I have tested and recommend, though the difference isn't that noticeable compared to other strollers that weigh between 13 to 15 pounds. You can also buy car seat adapters from Zoe to make the Tour V2 compatible with car seats from Graco, Chicco, Nuna, and others.

13.4 pounds. Comes with a parent drink holder, baby drink holder, and baby snack bowl.

$259 at Zoe Baby

Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Carry-On Stroller
Silver Cross Jet 5
WIRED TIRED
Folds and wheels like luggage. Nice build quality and beautiful colors. Reclines all the way back. Challenging to unfold. Bassinet mode doesn’t feel secure enough for a newborn baby.
Most planes will make you check your stroller at the gate. The ones that won't require a stroller within carry-on dimensions; many travel strollers fold too long and wide to fit perfectly. But the Silver Cross Jet 5's folded position looks like a piece of luggage, folding down to 10 x 14.5 x 24.5 inches with a handle sticking straight up like on a traditional carry-on. You can lug it around like luggage when folded, which is super handy when you let your toddler run wild at the departure gate so they nap on the plane. It has a cover to make it look more suitcase-like too. It's still a few inches larger than carry-on luggage—most airlines are looking for 8 or 9 inches by 15 and 22 inches for overhead bin luggage—but the Jet 5 might honestly pass for a carry-on when you wheel it past the flight attendant. You'll need to pop the handle off to fit it in the overhead compartment, which is easy to do.
The build materials are fantastic and the stroller is sturdy, but I did find this one more challenging to unfold than any other stroller I've tested. You have to snap the supports together and while they have handles, my small hands struggled to snap them into place while holding the stroller up. It's easier with two people, but even my husband found it difficult. There’s a seat that reclines into a bassinet-like mode with an included piece of fabric to keep the baby in place, but it didn’t feel secure enough for me to want to use with a newborn.
15.9 pounds. Comes with a travel cover and rain cover.
$480 at Amazon
$480 at Nordstrom
$480 at Strolleria
$480 at Silver Cross

WIRED	TIRED
Folds and wheels like luggage. Nice build quality and beautiful colors. Reclines all the way back.	Challenging to unfold. Bassinet mode doesn’t feel secure enough for a newborn baby.

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Best for Taller Kids

Bugaboo Butterfly

WIRED	TIRED
Easy and compact fold, lightweight to carry. Nice colors. Big canopy. Can guy car seat adapters. Almost exact dimensions for carry-on luggage.	Seat feels a little stiff for my kid to sit in. I wish the frame felt sturdier for the price, and that it had a bumper bar.

The Bugaboo Butterfly is like the Nuna TRVL with a similarly easy fold, but the seat is a little taller and my 70th-percentile-height 2-year-old has plenty of headroom when he's sitting in it (and room to grow into it too). I like that the extendable canopy is larger, giving my son better coverage when we're on a day trip to the zoo or walking around the park on a sunny afternoon. My kid doesn't like to wear hats, so I'm dependent on my stroller's canopy to protect his poor little head. The Bugaboo's frame doesn't feel as sturdy as the Nuna TRVL though.

It has a slightly shorter, more compact fold than Nuna's strollers, almost perfectly hitting carry-on luggage size. It's still a little wide— 17 inches when carry-on luggage usually can only be 14—but it has a better shot than most other strollers. It's rated to be IATA (International Air Transport Association) compatible, so it should fit in most overhead compartments. Bugaboo also has adapters to make this stroller work with popular infant car seats from Maxi Cosi, Graco, Cybex, and others. The Butterfly has a carry strap rather than a handle when folded, which is fine but not quite as convenient to grab—it often got stuck inside the stroller for me. You can also grab the handle but avoid the center button.

16 pounds. Comes with a rain cover.

★ Easier fold, smaller canopy: The Nuna TRVL LX ($550) also has more headspace for bigger kids like the Bugaboo Butterfly. The Nuna has a softer seat and I find the fold a little easier, but the Bugaboo offers a better canopy and is slightly more compact.

$479 at Amazon

$479 at Target

$479 at Bugaboo

Photograph: Doona

Best for Infant Travel

Doona Car Seat & Stroller

WIRED	TIRED
Stroller and car seat in one. Isn't too heavy. Easy to switch between car seat and stroller mode. Doesn't need a base to be secured.	More expensive than other car seats, and you'll need a new stroller and car seat later. Shorter than regular strollers.

Any trip you're taking with an infant will require a car seat. That's true for road trips, air travel, quick Ubers from your hotel, or even just going home to the hospital (baby's first big trip home!). So why deal with a stroller and a car seat when you can have two in one? The Doona Car Seat & Stroller had me kicking myself that I didn't try it sooner. I was so stressed out trying to make a car seat and stroller pair on a budget, and I should have just bought this all-in-one for the early days and then bought a real travel stroller when my kid grew out of it. Another idea for kid number two!

The Doona is 17 pounds, which isn't light once the baby is in there, but it doesn't feel too heavy. It's easy to switch from stroller to car seat mode once you get the motion down to click the legs back up or out again. The Doona's seat and handle are a little low compared to normal strollers, so tall parents might not like it as much, but it's a great pick to go from car to airport to plane and back again without needing more than one gadget. Just remember—infants can't be in a car seat for more than two hours at a time.

17 pounds. Comes with a car seat base.

Photograph: Nena Farrell

A City Stroller I’d Travel With

Thule Shine Stroller

WIRED	TIRED
Compact size for a traditional stroller. Good investment for both travel and everyday use. Works with several car seats with a separately purchased adapter.	More expensive since it's a traditional stroller, and can't be a carry-on since it's larger than travel strollers. Doesn't come with a travel bag. You can buy one, though.

This is not a travel stroller. The Thule Shine (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a city stroller, meaning it's a little more compact than your usual everyday stroller, but still has all the capabilities of a full-size stroller. It has a toddler seat that can face both inward and outward and works with third-party car seats with adapters (sold separately).

That said, I like it for travel since it's much smaller than other traditional strollers, like the Uppababy Vista V2 or the Nuna Mixx Next, while still packing similar features. Thanks to the adjustable handlebar, it wasn't too short for my 6'3" dad, and it folds compact enough to almost pass for a travel stroller. It's super easy for city strolling thanks to its slim size and would be a fun stroller to bring on a longer trip where you'll be walking a lot. I'd happily tote it around Europe for a few weeks if I ever get the guts to take my kid on such a long flight. You'll have to check the Thule Shine and it doesn't come with a travel bag, but Thule sells one ($80). Thule also has a rider board ($130) for older children to hop onto, letting this stroller easily transform into a double stroller. The rider board can get in the way when folding, but it's easy to remove when you aren't using it.

21.6 pounds. Comes with a rain cover.

$600 at Amazon

$600 at Nordstrom

$600 at Pottery Barn Kids

$600 at Thule

Photograph: Nena Farrell
Honorable Mentions
More Travel Strollers
There are a lot of strollers out there. Here are a few more I like but aren't my top recommendations for one reason or another.
Joovy Kooper for $250: This stroller is the cheapest I've tested, and I like that it comes with a full snack tray—something you won't find in almost any other travel stroller. It folds down flat rather than upright.
Colugo The One for $395: This is a fine stroller with similar features to the above picks, but I like the Zoe Tour V2 better for the price, or I'd rather pay $50 more for the Nuna TRVL. That said, Colugo has great stroller accessories I've used with non-Colugo strollers.
Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 for $430: This is another city stroller like the Thule Shine, but its nearly flat fold reminds me of a travel stroller. It comes with a car seat attachment that works with many popular car seat makers, so it's a great pick if you want something to work with a car seat right away and still has a great, lightweight fold. It has fantastic wheel suspension, similar to a jogging stroller but with much smaller wheels.
Thule Spring for $400: This stroller reminded me of the Baby Jogger with its three-wheel design and nice suspension, but folds a lot taller and thicker. It does stand up on its own if you put the handle at a middle height, which is nice. It's touted as a compact stroller for a reason—it's not lightweight or travel-friendly like our other picks. But it still has a nice size and handling if you want something more compact for everyday use.

Photograph: Bugaboo
Can Strollers Go on a Plane?
Strollers and Air Travel
A big reason you might be looking for a travel stroller is because you want to bring it on a plane.
Many major airlines, like American Airlines and British Airways, require you to gate-check strollers, which means you can still use them at the airport but can't put them in overhead space. Some airlines, like United, Emirates, and Virgin Atlantic, allow a travel stroller (often called a “collapsible stroller”) as carry-on luggage as long as it fits the size requirements of carry-on luggage, which is usually around 8 x 14 x 22 inches.
Technically, none of the travel strollers I've tested fit perfectly into these size constraints. But the Bugaboo Butterfly and Silver Cross Jet 5 have a compact size when folded that gets closer than most (as long as you remove the Jet 5’s handle). There's also a thing called IATA certification (short for the International Air Transport Association). Having that should mean it's safe to pop into the overhead compartment, but I'd still recommend checking the airline's specific rules. Two strollers in this guide are IATA certified, the Silver Cross Jet 5 and Bugaboo Butterfly, and I'm testing the Babyzen Yoyo soon, which is also certified.
Photograph: Nena Farrell
What to Look for in a Travel Stroller
Travel Stroller Shopping Tips
Shopping for a stroller can be intense. They're not a small investment, and you want them to last until your kid grows out of them (usually once they hit 50 to 55 pounds). If you're trying to pick a travel stroller in a pinch, or are feeling overwhelmed by the options, here are some guidelines that can help.
Is there a five-point harness? Five-point harnesses are the standard for securing your baby in the stroller via the straps. Every pick we recommend above has one. This is a feature you want and should be included.
Do you need car seat compatibility? If you're traveling with an infant, you'll either need a bassinet mode or the ability to connect your car seat to the stroller. You can DIY a travel system by pairing any stroller with a compatible car seat. Many strollers we recommend have car seat attachments you can buy that work with popular brands, but some aren't so flexible. (Uppababy's car seats only work with its strollers.)
Do you want a travel pram? A travel pram or bassinet is the lie-down flat mode that allows newborns to lie on their back while you walk. It's a nice mix-up from always being in a car seat—especially since infants can't stay in a car seat for more than two hours at a time. I haven't liked most bassinet modes I've tried on travel strollers since they feel a little flimsy and not as secure as I'd want an infant to be, but we're testing more soon and will update this guide with more recommendations.
Are these umbrella strollers? There's a mixed category of strollers sometimes called lightweight, travel, or even umbrella strollers. Umbrella strollers are less popular and are known for their rounded umbrella-like handle. This guide focuses on more general travel strollers, but we plan to test a few of these.
Do you need a double stroller? If you have two kids, you might be wondering if you're screwed. You're not! If I had two kids, I'd get a stroller I can add a rider board to, like the Thule Shine (if one of my kids is old enough to ride it). If not, the Zoe Twin V2 ($530) is a double stroller version of the Tour V2, and is a great price for two kids (and can still use Zoe's infant car seat attachment).

Nena Farrell covers consumer tech at WIRED and specializes in smart home products and parenting gear. She previously wrote for Wirecutter and Sunset. She lives in San Diego, where she can be found pushing her child around in various strollers.

Writer and Reviewer

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