The Best Travel Strollers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed by Parents & Experts

Of the many travel strollers I've tried over the last decade, the Joolz Aer+ is the one I come back to again and again. Parents in our favorite products survey highlighted the Aer+ as “lightweight and smooth” and "the perfect blend of function and design," repeatedly calling out its compact fold and incredible maneuverability. And Babylist team member and mom of three Amanda pegged it as her all-time favorite travel stroller.

“I’ve brought it on several trips, and it’s great quality and extremely light. It fits in the overhead compartment, which makes it great for going through the airport. It is easy to push and handle, and you can push it with one hand,” she told us.

Pushing the Aer+ doesn’t feel much different than pushing a larger, more expensive stroller—and that’s one of the main things I love about it. "It feels compact but never cramped—like a full stroller cleverly disguised as travel gear," one parent said in our survey.

That’s because the Aer+ has four-wheel suspension, an uncommon feature in travel strollers. It glides effortlessly across uneven surfaces like bumpy sidewalks and dirt paths. Combined with the incredibly easy one-handed fold (after a few tries, it won’t take you more than two or three seconds, ever), the compact design and the comfortable seat that contours to fit your child’s body, this stroller is a great choice for travel and everyday use. (It currently occupies a permanent spot in the trunk of my car in addition to coming along on all family trips.)

The Aer+ is newborn-friendly with the addition of the Aer+ Bassinet Cot or with Nuna, Clek, Maxi-Cosi or Cybex car seats (adapters sold separately), so it works if you want to use it from day one. The stroller folds small enough to sling over your shoulder—there’s a carry strap built right in—and tote up and down stairs, on public transportation or anywhere else you need to go. It also comes with a travel bag.

The stroller’s biggest con, other than price, is the basket size, which is small but still large enough to fit an average-sized diaper bag. You’ll also need to purchase the footrest separately if you want one, which is frustrating for a stroller at this price point.

Additional Specs

• Stroller Weight: 13.2 lbs

• Folded Dimensions: 21” L x 17.7” W x 8.5” H

• Age Range: 6 mos up to 50 lbs; from birth with bassinet or infant car seat (sold separately)

  

There are two travel strollers I recommend to families regularly: the Joolz Aer+ (which I’ve raved about sufficiently above) and Bugaboo’s compact stroller, the newly updated Butterfly 2.

This style-forward stroller shares many of the same thoughtful features as the Aer+. It also has a four-wheel suspension system, a huge perk when I pushed it on anything other than smooth pavement and perfect for toting around my larger toddler. (This 2.0 version also features larger wheels than the original Butterfly.) While it doesn’t maneuver quite as easily as the Aer+ (and know I’m being really nitpicky in saying that), it’s pretty darn close; it moves and turns really well and I was able to steer it with only one hand. The fold is just as impressive; I also did it one-handed, and the Butterfly folds down to about the size of a small bag and will fit in the overhead bin on most airlines. There’s also a built-in carry strap, a must-have for me. The newly updated 2.0 model also features a more spacious seat with a flatter recline and an additional storage pocket on the seat back, two helpful additions.

"I bought the Bugaboo Butterfly stroller primarily for travel...[it] quickly became both my and my husband's favorite, and it's the one we reach for day-to-day, consistently," one parent told us in our survey. "If I could go back in time, I'd buy it as our primary stroller."

Where the Butterfly differs from the Aer+ is in its backrest. It’s high; my 95th-percent-in-height almost four-year-old still fits well in it, whereas his head is now peeking over the top of our Aer. If you’re a parent of a taller or older kid, this feature is noteworthy as it means you’ll be able to use the Butterfly longer. There’s a built-in footrest for extra comfort, another toddler-friendly feature. And the sun canopy on the Butterfly is one of the best I’ve seen of all the travel strollers on our list.

The Butterfly is pricey, and there's no bassinet option. (You can attach select infant car seats from Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, Clek and Cybex, however, with adapters, sold separately.) The storage basket is larger than the Aer+’s but still on the smaller side. And the back wheels are fairly close together. That setup, combined with a handle that doesn’t extend (which is the norm for compact strollers), means that if you’re on the taller side like me (5’10”), you may kick the back of the stroller while you’re walking. And although I wouldn’t consider it heavy, it is one of the heavier travel strollers on our list by about three pounds.

Additional Specs

• Stroller Weight: 16 lbs

• Folded Dimensions: 17.6” x 9.6” x 21.8”

• Age Range: 6 mos up to 50 lbs; from birth with infant car seat (sold separately)

If you can’t or don’t want to spend upwards of $500 on a travel stroller, or if you don’t travel frequently enough to justify a higher price tag, Summer Infant’s 3Dquickclose is your best bet. At just about $100, this lightweight stroller matches many of the features found on the much higher-priced travel strollers on our list. It’s about 17 pounds, which is only a pound heavier than the Bugaboo Butterfly. Its most noteworthy feature is the fold; it’s quick and one-handed, and there’s a carry strap to make it easy to take on the go.

Performance-wise, the 3Dquickclose lacks a suspension system and has plastic wheels, so you won’t get as smooth of a ride as with more expensive picks. But it still has a ton going for it, especially considering the price. The 3Dquickclose handles well on paved surfaces. It’s easy to push and steer, the recline is adjustable and the fabrics are soft. The storage basket is big enough to tuck away an average-sized diaper bag or a jacket and some snacks, and the canopy provides good shade. One of the best features is infant car seat compatibility. The 3Dquickclose accepts a variety of seats from popular brands like Graco, Chicco and Baby Trend, and there are no adapters needed—just secure the seat with the included strap.

If you’re debating between this stroller and another lower-cost option like an umbrella stroller (Summer’s 3D Lite Convenience Stroller is a popular umbrella-style pick), I’d choose this one. The 3Dquickclose is more compact, easier to maneuver, can be used from birth and has much better storage and sun coverage, among other things.

Additional Specs

• Stroller Weight: 15.8 lbs

• Folded Dimensions: 14.8”L x 20.5”W x 26.5”H

• Age Range: 6-24 mos, up to 50 lbs; from birth with infant car seat (sold separately)

When I became a parent, travel strollers were designed exclusively for travel. Now, a decade later, the world of lightweight strollers is something else entirely; UPPAbaby’s Minu V3 is a great example of these advances, a compact stroller that can also be used as an everyday option, offering all the conveniences of a day-to-day stroller in a travel-friendly package.

“We never bought a full-size stroller because [the Minu] met all our needs,” one mom told us. “It’s light, easy to use, and fits overhead on a plane. Our infant carrier was a different brand and still clicked in like a breeze when our girl was little. There are available attachments if you want cup holders and other extras. There are cheaper travel strollers out there, but since getting this one was enough for us to forgo a full-size, it provides a great value.”

"This has been our primary stroller since day one and is so easy to use in the city, for travel, or just to the park. It’s so versatile," another parent echoed.

Babylist team member Cassie, a mom of a toddler and a new baby, agrees. “It’s truly our primary stroller, not just travel. Given what I know about the Minu I often tell my husband I’d likely just get that if I was expecting now, and not also get the Vista.”

A few of my favorite features on the Minu include the roomy, high-back seat, the easy-access basket and the substantial canopy. V3 upgrades include a fold-up foot barrier so you can use the stroller from birth (no bassinet needed), enhanced suspension (including independent rear-wheel suspension) and the even more compact fold. You can also pair the Minu with UPPAbaby infant car seats or use adapters for Nuna, Cybex or Maxi-Cosi seats.

As for cons, the V3 is easy to push, steer and turn—but not quite as easy as the Aer or the Butterfly. The fold isn't always fluid (sometimes it takes a few tries), and the integrated carry handle isn't the most comfortable if you're slinging it over your shoulder. It's also on the heavier side for a premium travel stroller at almost 17 pounds.

Additional Specs

• Stroller Weight: 16.7 lbs

• Folded Dimensions: 10”L x 18”W x 21.5”H

• Age Range: Birth to 50 lbs or 40"

Traveling by plane presents a challenge when your little one still uses a stroller. “Checking a stroller means it goes with the rest of the luggage and no one’s really paying special attention to it,” says Militello. “It goes up and down ramps, gets thrown from one area to the next, and [you have to] pick it up on the carousel.” Gate checking is an option, but many parents still don’t love the idea of letting such an expensive item of baby gear out of their sight.

The YOYO3 folds the most compactly of any of the travel strollers on our best-of list, and will fit easily in the overhead bins on most planes. (PSA: It’s always worth a call to your airline just to be sure.) It’s the stroller of choice for many light-packing parents who don’t want to deal with the hassle (or risk) of gate-checking a stroller when they fly. “[The YOYO] is the best travel stroller and it has been SO easy to travel with overseas and around the country and you can carry it on,” one parent told us in our Best Baby Products survey. “It’s super light, easy to clean and works like a dream.”

It performs like a champ off the plane, too, easily steering through crowds and narrow spaces. It’s also endlessly customizable, a unique feature I really like. You can change out the seat and shade fabrics with a new color pack, add a custom footmuff for cooler temps or a stroller board for an older child and even add a storage bag that uses wheeled support so your stroller won’t tip. And it’s compatible with many popular infant car seat brands.

The fold on the YOYO3 isn’t as intuitive as other travel strollers on our list; there are two steps, and it takes some practice. The canopy is on the shorter side. This travel stroller does come with a rain cover, but all the other extras and custom adds will cost you, which can add up quickly as this stroller is expensive on its own.

Additional Specs

• Stroller Weight: 13.6 lbs

• Folded Dimensions: 20.5” x 17.3” x 7.1”

• Age Range: 6 months, up to 50 lbs; from birth with bassinet or infant car seat (sold separately)

Double strollers often feel big and bulky, even those designed specifically for travel. That’s not the case with Zoe’s Twinᵛ² Double Stroller. It’s a delight to open, close and even lift in and out of your car, making it perfect for traveling with two (or more) kids or for times when you don’t want the hassle of a larger stroller. And it holds up to 60 pounds per seat, a high limit for a double stroller in general but even more impressive considering how lightweight the Twin is.

I was able to open and close the stroller in seconds (and without reading the instruction manual) the first time I tried. Because traveling with kids often involves all of the snacks, I appreciate that this travel double comes with a child snack holder right out of the box. (There’s a parent cup holder included, too.) The stroller weighs about 23 pounds, which is really light for a double. And it’s only 29 inches across, so it fits through standard doorways with ease and is Disney-approved. If you’re traveling with more than two kids, the Twin converts into a stroller for three or even four by adding a triple or a quad seat.

The Twin accepts one infant car seat from a wide range of brands (Graco, Chicco, Nuna and more), so you can use from birth with kids of different ages, but not for twins. The stroller's biggest con is how it performs on rough terrain. It doesn’t handle well off-road—it’s designed for smooth surface strolling.

Additional Specs

• Stroller Weight: 23 lbs

• Folded Dimensions: 28”H x 30”W x 11.5”D

• Age Range: 3+ mos or from birth (for 1 child) with car seat adapter and compatible infant car seat

If you know you’ll be traveling frequently throughout your baby’s first year, you may want to invest in a travel system (a stroller and car seat that attach; here’s more on how to pick a travel system). This combo is my favorite and what I wish I’d had way back when as a new mom living in New York City who didn’t own a car. It combines the ultra-popular TRVL stroller with the urbn, the first baseless car seat.

TL;DR on infant car seat installation: all infant seats can be installed without a base, but require a seat belt—along with time and patience. But not the urbn! There’s no base and no seat belt required for installation since the LATCH system is built right into the seat’s base. It installs effortlessly and in seconds; just release the LATCH connectors and attach it directly to your vehicle’s lower anchors. It's especially ideal if you’ll be using your car seat on the go in rideshares or taxis. “I love being able to move the car seat in and out of any car without worrying about a base,” one Babylist parent told us.

The included TRVL stroller is just as great. The two standout features for me are its fold (one-handed, quick and ridiculously easy) and its compact size (it stands on its own and weighs just over 13 pounds.) While not huge, the basket is large enough to hold your essentials + a bit more and is easy to access, and the TRVL’s maneuverability is good enough that you’ll be able to steer easily with one hand.

Keep in mind that the TRVL is on the pricier side and doesn’t have a carry strap, but the maneuverability, suspension and versatility help explain the higher price point. I found it worked as a travel stroller but also as an everyday stroller, too. There are also lots of thoughtful design details like magnetic buckles, a no-rethread harness and a leatherette bumper bar and handlebar. The urbn car seat has a lower height and weight limit than many infant car seats—not ideal, but not a huge dealbreaker, either.

Additional Specs

• Stroller Weight: 16.4 lbs

• Car Seat Weight: 7 lbs

• Folded Dimensions: 24” x 20.25” x 11”

• Age Range: Stroller: birth (with infant car seat, included) up to 50 lbs; car seat: 4-22 lbs, up to 29”