20 Myths About Travel Stroller: Busted

A Compact Travel Stroller Should Be Easy to Carry

When it comes down to choosing the best compact travel stroller, you should choose one that folds into a compact, easy-to carry package. It should be light and have a car seat-compatible design and fit in overhead bins for airlines.

This compact stroller made by UPPAbaby is a great choice. It's easy to fold and comes with a comfortable carrying strap that easily fits into the overhead compartments of planes. It has an easy, nearly flat recline and smooth movement.

Easy to Assemble

If you're walking through the airport to get to the gate or navigating an unfamiliar city with your child in the stroller, traveling can be stressful enough without worrying about how to pack and carry everything. We believe that a great travel babiie stroller should be simple to fold, assemble and carry. This is exactly what this lightweight stroller Kolcraft model has to offer. The stroller is compact and light. is easy to open and close by pressing two buttons on the handle -while remaining straight (no need to lean over to perform the task). It also fits in the overhead bins on most planes, and comes with a great carrying bag that is ideal to carry the stroller on your shoulder while you're on the go.

In our tests, this light stroller easily rolled over all kinds of terrain and maneuvered well, making it a great choice for traveling. It has a large sun canopy with a mesh segment that can be opened and closed to give your child ample coverage and visibility. It also has an adjustable leg rest that is easily adjustable and comes with padded shoulder straps. It's also a great fit for most Nuna PIPA series car seats (just click and you're done) and comes with a large storage basket that can hold a lot of your on-the-go essentials.

This compact stroller from Babyzen is a popular choice for parents who live in cities and/or love to travel. It arrives in the box already assembled and is just as simple to open by pressing two buttons on the handle. It folds back in the same way and can be tucked away in the carry bag. It may be too large for some overhead bins at airports. Parents have also complained about the handles being fragile. It's still an excellent option for those who want a lightweight, compact travel stroller. We just wish it had a small parent pocket for holding things like dollar bills for ice cream!

Easy to Fold

As the name suggests, travel strollers are designed to be compact. They fold less than normal strollers and have fewer accessories, like cup holders and a large storage basket. But, they'll function well enough for day-to-day use, and are easy to carry around or store away. If you are planning to travel often with your little one, consider getting a stroller for travel with features that meet your needs.

The UPPAbaby G-Luxe, for example, is easy to fold up and fits into overhead bins. It's also easy to roll and maneuver even on rough terrain. The UPPAbaby is equipped with a variety of nice features, like a deep recliner and an additional sun canopy to give your child ample coverage. The only downside is that the folding mechanism isn't the most reliable, and you may have to carefully time your hands to ensure that it is just right.

Another alternative is the Babyzen YOYO2, which can be folded into a compact size and springs open with one hand. It isn't as spacious in storage space as other travel strollers but it comes with some attractive features, like a comfortable carry strap, a spacious undercarriage basket and a wide-extending canopy. It's our most expensive travel stroller, however, it's also the most luxurious.

The Cybex Libelle 2 travel stroller is another stroller with a fold that's easy to unfold. It is heavier than other travel strollers but still light enough and compact enough to make a great choice for city living and luxurious travel. It's got a lot of great features, like cups holder to hold the typical cup, a handle that is easy to carry, and a canopy to protect your child against the sun.

The Mini model from UPPAbaby is a great choice for those who already have the Vista or Cruz strollers of this brand and are looking for a lighter version. It weighs less than the original Minu, but it's still a bit heavy for a travel stroller. Fortunately, it has lots of other cool features, like an ample storage basket as well as a recline that is deep and an extended sun canopy that comes with UPF 50+ protection.

Easy to carry

The ease with which you can fold down your travel stroller will make an enormous difference in the way it's possible to navigate a crowded airport or squeeze into a crowded bus. When folded, a good travel stroller should fit easily into your trunk or overhead bin using some controlled movements. It should also stand up on its own. You should be able to lift it up by the handle, attach a carry strap or slide it into the storage bag that comes with it for easy transport.

If you're planning to take your stroller on planes choose one that is approved by the airline or promises to fit inside overhead bins. The International Air Transport Association recommends that carry-on bags not exceed more than 22 x 18 x 10 inches, so the majority of our top picks -- including the super lightweight, $100-plus Nuna TRVL--will fit (though some of them will require you to gate-check the strollers). The TRVL is even lightweight enough to be carried as a handbag with the help of an attached strap for the shoulder that is padded and the bumper bar, which can double as a handle for carrying.

The TRVL is a fantastic option for parents who are always moving around, since it works with all Nuna Pipa baby car seats, without adapters. Our experts love the simple two-position reclining mechanism, as well as the non-rethread safety harness, which is made to grow with your baby. Plus, it's a bit lighter than the majority of other travel strollers--which makes it the perfect choice for families with frequent travelers.

Other great features on this compact strollers travel stroller include a spring-loaded back-of-the-underseat basket that's big enough for a backpack, diaper bag, or purse, and a flat, open sun canopy that offers some coverage and blockage (though it's not as large as the ones on some of our other top picks). It's also among the lightest strollers we've tested. However, keep in mind that while most airlines will allow you to check in at the gate with a full-sized stroller, they might require you to carry the stroller in a folded form through security and out of the airplane cabin. If this is the case consider buying a protective travel bag for it to shield it from damage caused by baggage handlers.

Easy to store

A compact travel stroller is perfect for frequent travelers since it doesn't require a large stroller trunk or take up a lot of space in your car or hotel room. Some models fold down so compact that you can fit them in an airplane's overhead bin and some are so lightweight that they don't add much weight to your carry-on luggage. They're also easy to maneuver through the crowded airports as well as on the crowded city sidewalks.

If you travel frequently, it is worthwhile to invest in the best travel stroller that we have test-driven. The Silver Cross Jet 4 is a top-quality, well-constructed stroller that has a variety of features. It has a large basket under the seat and an adjustable bar that is padded with a wrist strap which makes it ideal for long-distance trips. The stroller's reclining mechanism is simple to use and it can be placed into an overhead compartment of an airline (though you will need to check it at the gate). This model is suitable for babies from birth using the Nuna Pipa infant car seat. It also comes with a built-in carry bag that includes insurance against damage to your stroller while traveling.

The Babyzen YoYo2 stroller is also a super-lightweight model, perfect for travel, or for quick getaways. It's easy to maneuver through plane aisles and remains upright when folded. This is useful when trying to juggle the stroller with other luggage. The YoYo2 isn't as large as a standard stroller when it's folded, but it still comes with plenty of features including a convenient oversized under-seat basket, as well as a reclining mechanism that can be operated using just one hand.

A stroller is an essential piece of equipment for parents who travel with their children. A good quality compact stroller will ensure your safety when you travel and let you navigate the busy streets and public transportation easily. If you're looking for an all-new stroller, think about your family's needs and preferences to determine what features are most important for you. Then, take a look at our top choices to choose the perfect stroller for your family's next adventure. The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing products for over a century, and this guide is based on expert research. Contributing writers and editors who are parents of children ages 6 and below, independently reviewed the guide. They used the strollers in the lab, on road trips and with their own families, and also leaned on consumers to provide feedback.