It’s one of the big decisions of parents traveling with babies and toddlers – do we take a stroller along for the journey?

J and I always discuss this every trip, weighing the pros and the cons and it never feels like an easy decision – and each trip can have a different verdict! Hopefully, this guide will help you make this decision and find the best stroller for travel that fits in with your trip and your circumstances.

Should you travel with a stroller?

If you have young children that need a stroller regularly then ideally, yes, take one! There’s often more to it than that though. If you are travelling by car then you’re used to fitting your stroller in the trunk, thus it can be easy to take one. If you’re flying, however, it can be more complicated.

Reasons for…

• Easy to transport the kids and push them around. Even when we travelled throughout Asia and visited many places where the footpaths were not suitable for strollers, we found it invaluable when we visited places like zoos and theme parks. They can even be handy just to go to lunch next door if you have a baby that needs a nap.
• If your child still naps, they can nap in the stroller. Again a feature that we found priceless.
• You can stay out for longer and spend more time walking around with young kids and babies if they have somewhere to sit.
• It saves your back from having to carry them.
• In hot places, using only a carrier can be tough.
• Travel is far less complicated when you can have your hands free.

Reasons against…

• Having to check in a stroller and deal with the stroller on top of ordinary luggage can be painful. We did not regret taking our stroller with us to Asia at all, but the extra piece of luggage made things more complicated and meant that we generally took taxis when we had to move around with all of our luggage. That extra piece of luggage did tip us over what we could comfortably manage.
• In Europe, we had to carry it around a lot. We stayed in many apartments with lots of stairs. Train stations, museums, etc often had lots of stairs as well.
• The worry of the stroller getting damaged while flying.

If the extra weight and baggage don’t put you off then, in my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons. If you disagree then you might find our guide to baby carriers useful. We find it useful to have both a carrier and a stroller.

Do you need to buy a stroller especially for travel?

This really depends on if you already have a stroller that is suitable to be used as a lightweight stroller for travel. If at home you generally use a full featured, big stroller then you may want to think about buying a smaller, lighter stroller. Will you be taking public transport? Flying? If you are driving your own car, will your stroller fit along with all your other luggage?

The other thing to consider is that if you are flying, your stroller can get damaged if you need to check it in. If you love your existing stroller and it came with a big price tag, it may also be worth considering buying a new stroller.

The best strollers for travelling are made to be lightweight and easy to take away. A 30 pound stroller may not bother you now, but it may if you have to keep carrying it up and down stairs, onto buses and store it in a small hotel room. My general recommendation would be that unless you bought your existing stroller in the first place with weight and ease of carrying in mind, then it is probably not suitable for travel.

When we went to the US with our 1 and 3 year olds, we actually found it easier to just buy a stroller once we arrived to save on transporting it with us. This is another option. One of the pluses about this was that we didn’t mind leaving it behind when we came home.

Conversely though, on our Europe trip, we also bought a stroller once we found we needed it. We had such limited choice, though, and ended up with a stroller that was bulkier than what is ideal and more expensive than what we would have paid for a similar stroller at home.

Best travel stroller comparison chart

Below is a comparison chart of all the top travel strollers which are mentioned in this article. Simply click on whatever criteria is most important to you to sort the table. You can then read my travel stroller reviews below featuring the best travel strollers has to offer.

Best double travel stroller comparison chart

How to choose the best travel stroller

Surprisingly, there’s far less things to consider when choosing a travel stroller than a regular stroller. That’s because you can focus on you and your child’s needs during travelling, rather than for everyday life and everything that includes. Instead, when choosing a travel stroller think of the following things…

1. Size and weight

This is the most important aspect when choosing a travel stroller. How much does it weight and how bulky is it? You really want it to be as small as possible while catering for all the other aspects that you need, such as a recline. You need to be comfortable lifting this stroller up stairs and you don’t want it to take up too much room in your hotel.

As a general rule, an umbrella stroller or a stroller specifically made for travel can be the way to go since they fold up nice and compactly.

2. Easy to fold with a carry strap

Being easy to fold and having a carry strap (or case) are not essential elements but very helpful. It is far easier to use and transport a stroller if you can fold it up quickly (preferably with one hand) and carry it easily.

This isn’t such a big deal at home – you might only fold up your stroller when putting it in the car, when your child is already in their seat. When travelling, however, you’ll do it multiple times, possibly with your child or luggage in one arm. And then carry it.

So having a carry strap and being easy to fold up makes any stroller far easier to use, and more useful, when travelling. We also find strollers that are compact enough to be a cabin size stroller which you can take on board planes as carry on luggage generally can be carried over your shoulder which make them even easier to transport since they leave your hands free.

3. Storage basket

I like storage baskets – they’re a super handy place to put all the items that you’d end up with in your hands otherwise. However, the bigger the basket, the bigger the stroller. Have a think about how important the storage is.

For security I like to keep anything important on me or in a backpack, lest someone try and steal something from the stroller. I tend not to use them that much when travelling.

4. Recline

The final important feature is recline. Do you need a reclining seat or not? Strollers that feature a recline generally are bulkier and weigh more. This might be worth it if your child naps in a stroller.

The bigger stroller might be a worth while trade-off so your kid can nap and you can go about your travels as they do. Otherwise, maybe consider a stroller with little or no recline to save on weight and space.

Best lightweight travel strollers 2022

If you’ve decided you need to find the best travel strollers, you have come to the right section! Here I share the most travel-friendly options for the best lightweight stroller.

ZOE XL1 Deluxe Xtra Lightweight Travel & Everyday Umbrella Stroller System Review

If you are looking for an option for the best lightweight buggy on the market then this one should be on your shortlist. This stroller is a great match between being a light stroller for travel while still having many features.

At just 10lb, you can easily fold this stroller up with one hand, and it fits in most airline overhead compartments too, making the whole process of travel much easier as a result. It’s a very portable stroller for traveling.

You also have a lifetime warranty and guarantee on the wheels, which is obviously the part of the stroller which takes the most wear and tear, and that gives you more bang for your buck.

There are several added extras with this particular model and that includes a child cup holder, a snack cup holder, and a very well padded front bar or safety and comfort.

The sun canopy is large and has a window in the top so you can see what is going on. There is also a small accessory pocket for you to store small items, such as your phone or your keys.

The seat also reclines back and is tested up to 50lb capacity, with a five point harness fastening for safety.

Click here for more information and the latest prices.

UPPABaby G-Lite Stroller Review

This would have to be the best lightweight travel stroller. It not only weighs in at an amazing 11 pounds, but is easy to fold up and down and has a carry handle making this stroller absolutely ideal for when you are travelling and need to quickly fold up the stroller to hop on a bus or to climb up stairs. The weight makes it easy to carry both the stroller and your baby/toddler. It also has a standing fold meaning it will stand up by itself which makes it far easier to store.

It features high performing wheels and 4 wheel suspension making it one of the easiest strollers to push around that are this lightweight. It also has a decent storage basket and a mesh seat to keep baby cool at hot destinations.

The only drawback with this stroller is that it doesn’t recline. If recline is important to you, look for another stroller. Otherwise this would have to be one of the easiest and best travel strollers for toddlers.

Click here to check out the latest price, more details and reviews.

UPPABaby G-Luxe Stroller Review

If you would love the UPPABaby G-Lite but need a stroller that reclines, then this may be the best travel umbrella stroller for you. It has basically the same features as the G-Lite with an easy standing fold, high performance wheels and is a lightweight stroller at only 15 pounds.

The UPPABaby G-Luxe also has a great storage basket, sun canopy and a removable, washable seat pad. It is not quite as easy to transport as the G-Lite, but that’s the price you pay for the good, one hand, 3 position seat recline. If you have a kid that still needs to nap, this is a great choice.

Click here to see the latest price, read more details and more reviews.

Maclaren Volo Stroller Review

Maclaren are well know for making the best umbrella strollers and the Volo is no exception. This incredibly light travel stroller is a great pick for travel. I am a big fan of Maclaren strollers and this one is a winner.

Like the G-Lite, it is easy to fold and has a carry handle making this very easy to transport while travelling. It also has a storage basket and good sun canopy. The weight and size make it a very compact travel stroller which is an option for best light stroller for people who have weight as their most important feature.

It does not recline, so unfortunately is not suitable for families who need this feature. It is suitable to up to 55 pounds though, so it should easily accommodate your child until they no longer need a stroller making it one of the best strollers for toddlers. It meets the highest safety standards worldwide and would have to be the best option for anyone who wants the lightest stroller possible.

Click here to see the latest price, read more details and more reviews.

Maclaren Mark II Stroller Review

Maclaren is a huge name in the baby stroller world and this particular product certainly lives up to the reputation in umbrella stroller reviews. Available in five different colours, including classic silver, this particular stroller is for children aged six months upwards, until they are 55lb in weight.

This stroller is incredibly lightweight at only 7.4 pounds. In fact, it is the lightest umbrella stroller in this list. The strength comes from the frame which is hexagonally shaped, and that means it is strong but remains lightweight, with a one handed fold up mechanism making the whole procedure quick and simple.

After being so lightweight, the big bonus with this stroller is that it also a reclining stroller. Your child will be comfortable and safe, thanks to a strong but easy to use harness, and breathable fabric in the seat. The handles are molded for your comfort when pushing, either at home or away.

There is a cable braking system in place also, which gives you extra safety and peace of mind, especially when you are moving over uneven terrain, or down steep hills. Given it’s low weight, this may be the best lightweight stroller for travel.

Click here to see the latest prices of the lightest travel stroller.

Quinny Yezz Stroller Review

The Quinny Yezz Stroller has an innovative design perfect for travel. Many parents declare this the best stroller for air travel thanks to its crazy compact fold.

It is a lightweight stroller option which, when folded, has a shoulder strap meaning that you can carry it around like a shoulder bag. You should be able to board the plane with this stroller. Despite its compact size, it has great maneuverability and fits kids up to 40 pounds.

On the downside, there is no recline, not much storage and no cup holder, although there is a pocket that would hold a phone. It is the best compact stroller for travel for parents where size matters more than features.

Click here to see the latest price and read more details and reviews.

Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller Review

The Mountain Buggy Nano is our choice for the best stroller for air travel. We recently bought this stroller for travelling and we have not been disappointed.

We were attracted by its lightweight and compact fold. Although we have coped fine traveling with umbrella strollers in the past, they do feel like an extra piece of luggage that we are stuck carrying around.

The Nano’s compact fold and shoulder strap means we are able to carry it over our shoulder which frees up our hands for our kids and other luggage. It’s a great foldable stroller for travel.

The stroller folds small enough to be carry on luggage on airplanes with the wheels easily removable as well. It comes with a travel bag.

It’s a great stroller in its own right, too. With a reclining seat, cargo space underneath and a quick and easy fold, it’s easy to use. The maximum carrying weight of 44 pounds means that our 4 year old also fits in it making this an option if you are looking for the best lightweight stroller for a 4 year old.

The stroller can be used with the Nano travel system by Mountain Buggy, too. There’s a built in car seat adapter. We also purchased the optional Cocoon Carrycot which meant we could use it from birth and this also gave us a bassinet to use around the house.

The only drawbacks we have found is that when the cocoon is attached, we are unable to see our baby if we use both the hood on the cocoon and the Nano’s sun canopy. It is not as easy to push as the bigger strollers we have used. However, we still think it’s the best stroller for travelling. Thanks to commenter Kate Comer for the tip!

See more reviews and the latest prices for the Mountain Buggy Nano Stroller. or read our full review here.

Babyzen YOYO Stroller Review

The Babyzen YOYO is another special folding stroller for travel that folds up so small you can carry it onto – and stow it on – a flight. It even folds up (slightly) smaller than the Mountain Buggy Nano, which is pretty small.

It includes a carry bag (as does the Nano) which makes stowing and carrying the collapsed YOYO really simple. The babyzen YOYO is designed so that folding, unfolding and pushing only require one hand. That’s perfect when you need to carry some luggage or hold another child’s hand at the same time.

There’s support for carrying things under the seat, but it’s not a basket. More like a place to rest things that won’t fall out. It makes getting things in and out easier but does restrict what you’d put there.

The seat does recline, but not completely flat and so it isn’t perfect for newborns. It’s recommended only for kids 6 months and up. Additionally the YOYO can only support 33 pounds, meaning its age range is restricted compared to alternatives. That said, it is still a great option for a lightweight, easy to carry and store, travel stroller.

Thanks to reader Joe for the recommendation to look at Babyzen strollers as the best travel buggy!

Click here for more information and the latest prices for the Babyzen YOYO Stroller.

Baby Jogger Vue Lite Stroller Review

The Baby Jogger Vue Lite may be the best umbrella stroller for travel for parents who want a full featured stroller. This stroller has plenty of features while still weighing in at only 14 pounds.

It is also a great option for parents who are travelling with a newborn. The Vue Lite features a full recline and is suitable from birth until 55 pounds meaning you should never need another stroller. It can also hold an infant car seat.

A great feature of the Vue is that the seat is also reversible meaning you can have your child facing you while you push them. It is great to maneuver and easy to fold. The front wheels can lock into place for long distance walking on your trip. The sun canopy is fantastic. This really is a stroller you could love both while travelling and at home. The only downside is that the storage basket is not easy to access.

If you can stand a couple of extra pounds while travelling, the Baby Jogger Vue is an excellent choice that you will enjoy at home as well as while away. In my opinion, it is definitely the best stroller to travel with for parents of young babies.

Click here to read more reviews, more details and to see the latest price.

GB Pockit Stroller Review

This is certainly a small stroller for travel in more ways than one, and the name is very appropriate. It folds up extremely small, into a handbag shaped box you can easily transport with you.

It fits into overhead compartments or under the seat in front of you in planes, meaning it’s a good carry on stroller and a strong choice for the best stroller for flying.

Choose from six different colour schemes, and with the two step technique for folding, you don’t have to worry about complicated processes. When the stroller is folded up it is self-standing, which certainly cuts out on hassle, and another plus point is the 360 degree swivel wheels, which mean that you no matter what terrain you are moving over, you can easily get from A to B.

Underneath the stroller there is a storage basket for your belongings or shopping, which can take up to 11lb. This is basically a great lightweight stroller, which is also durable.

Click here for the latest prices and more information.

Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience Review

This is a great new stroller that came out in 2015. Despite being a light weight of under 16 lbs, it handles a lot – it can carry 50 lbs worth of weight and will be a contender for the best umbrella stroller for travel.

It has a lot of the features of much larger, heavier strollers such as four recline positions, a cargo net underneath, good brakes and easy to fold up. The recline makes it suitable for babies from birth so it may be the best baby stroller for travel.

One of the nicer aspects is its handle height. This is something Josh has trouble with: strollers with low handles meaning he has to bend over to push. No fun at all.

Although it doesn’t fold up to  carry-on size, it is still compact when collapsed. It’ll be easy to stow on a bus, train or taxi. And when it is collapsed it isn’t too hard to carry, even one handed.

There’s a few reported drawbacks with this stroller. The canopy coverage isn’t fantastic and some people complained it wasn’t great for taller kids. Bigger bodies weren’t as comfortable in the 3D Convenience Stroller.

See the latest prices for the Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience Stroller.

Best double stroller for travel

If you are travelling with two young ones, then you might need a double stroller. Thankfully there are some great lightweight, double umbrella stroller choices which will make traveling easier. I recommend a double umbrella stroller configuration as they are the lightest and most compact to store.

Maclaren Twin Techno Stroller Review

The Maclaren Twin Techno Stroller is a great Maclaren travel stroller choice. In fact, if you need to travel with baby twins, it may be the best double travel stroller. This is because this stroller features a full recline meaning it is suitable from birth. This feature in a double umbrella stroller is very rare.

In addition to a full recline, this stroller has full safety features, a good storage basket, front and rear suspension, extendable leg rests, height adjustable handles (perfect for taller parents), a rain cover and much more. The front wheels can also lock into place making this great for long distance walking.

The downside is the weight and the price. While relatively lightweight for a double stroller, it is a heavier double umbrella stroller option coming in at 27 pounds. It is also a pricier option. It really comes down to whether the extra features are worth the extra weight and price tag for your situation.

Click here to read more reviews, more details and to see the latest price.

ZOE XL2 BEST Xtra Lightweight Double Stroller Review

I love the ZOE XL2 BEST travelling stroller. This stroller is a great option if you are looking for a lightweight double stroller that also reclines.

Coming in at only 16 pounds, this is as lightweight as double strollers come. It has a handy and compact umbrella fold and the seats recline to 135 degrees. If this isn’t enough, it also comes with a carry bag making it even easier for your travel.

The canopies are quite large and should block out most direct sunlight. The storage basket is also a great size. What’s even better, though, is that this stroller is quite narrow and fits through typical 30″ doorways. It also comes with two cup holders and a snack holder.

The one drawback is that the seat backs can be a little low when reclined for bigger kids. This aside though, this is a fabulous option for a lightweight double stroller with all the important features.

There is also a single version of this stroller.

Click here to see the latest prices and more information.

UPPABaby G-Link Stroller Review

The UPPABaby G-Link is another stroller that I love from UPPABaby. It’s a great side by side double umbrella option especially if you are about to go traveling and are looking for a baby travel strollerg.

At 24.5 pounds, it does not compare to the Zoe in weight. However, it is a compact stroller that still has many features – one of the best being that it has a deep recline. This means this option will work from birth, even for twins. It also works well for tall toddlers.

The large canopies are individually adjustable and the leg rests are also adjustable. There is a great size basket and the stroller is only 30 inches wide – which means you should have no problems with any doorway.

This stroller features a compact fold and while it won’t win a prize for being the smallest stroller, it does come with many features and should fit your kids from birth to preschool age.

Click here to see the latest prices and more information.

Delta Children City Street Side by Side Stroller Review

The Delta Children City Street Side by Side Stroller is a fabulous option for parents who want the cheapest double stroller option suitable for travel and do not care about extra features.

This stroller has a lightweight frame and a compact fold. It weighs in at only 19 pounds. It has good, shock absorbing front wheels and comes with a cup holder and two hanging storage bags. It is a bargain at well under the $100 mark meaning its also a good option if you want to travel with a stroller which won’t devastate you if it is damaged.

On the downside the seats do not recline, it only feature 3 point harnesses and it is only suitable for kids up to 35 pounds meaning it won’t suit bigger toddlers.

Click here to see the latest price, more reviews and more detai of this cheap travel stroller.

Chicco Echo Twin Stroller Review

This is a great choice for parents who want to adapt the stroller for their kids. There is a 4 position, near flat recline as well as adjustable leg support and individually adjustable sun canopies. It is also compact when folded making storing it in your hotel room or car trunk that much easier. It has a carry handle.

The Chicco Twin Echo also features padded seats, 5 point safety harnesses and under-the-seat storage basket. It has great suspension and maneuverability.

The downside is that the stroller is a heavier option at 34.5 pounds. Ensure you are happy with this weight before purchasing.

Click here to see the latest price and more reviews.

We also recommend travelling with a baby carrier while your children are young. You can find our guides to the:

• best baby carriers
• best car and booster seats for travel
• best travel cribs

Find all our product guides here as well as our special baby travel gear page.

Do you have any tips for taking a stroller travelling? What’s your best travel pram? Any questions?

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Tags:  Travel Tips