A sturdy stroller with all the best features is key — until you’re bumbling along with heavy suitcases and a gigantic stroller at the base of a spiral staircase in a Paris metro station. Lightweight strollers are a must-have when traveling with kids so you can remain flexible and keep them comfortable on the go.
Top 10 lightweight strollers
- Best overall: Nuna TRVL
- Best super lightweight: GB Pockit Air All-Terrain
- Best for poor weather: Maclaren Quest
- Best for cobblestone roads: UPPAbaby MINU
- Best for airports: Joolz AER
- Best budget: Kolcraft Cloud Plus
- Best double: Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double
- Best with car seat adapter: Mountain Buggy Nano V3
- Best sustainable: Bombi Bebee
- Best for easy access to your baby: CYBEX Eezy S Twist 2
How we chose the best lightweight strollers for travel
Picking the right lightweight stroller can mean the difference between an enjoyable vacation and a hectic one. We’ve completed the initial research for you by narrowing down the top lightweight strollers on the market. We picked the best lightweight strollers based on:
- Foldability
- Smooth maneuverability
- Price
- Child comfort for long travel days
- Secure, easy-to-fasten harness
- Canopy for weather protection
- Storage
- Weight and size
Best overall: Nuna TRVL
$449.95
from
Nunababy.com
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Best for poor weather: Maclaren Quest Stroller
$400
from
Amazon.com
What We Like
- Large, wind-resistant rain cover with UPF 50+
- Easy to clean
- Leg extender and flat recline
What We Dislike
- Complicated harness
- Steering requires both hands
- Doesn't fit in airplane overhead bins
One thing you can’t control when traveling is the weather. This Maclaren stroller offers wind and rain resistance, as well as sun protection. Reviewers praise Maclaren’s performance in both an Irish winter and a Disneyland summer — this stroller is ready to handle almost any climate.
The Maclaren has a leg extender and reclines almost flat, making it a solid option for younger babies and napping toddlers. The seat material is machine-washable and easy to wipe down, too.
While the Maclaren does have a smooth, one-hand fold, parents say they need both hands for effective steering. The harness buckles prove challenging for some reviewers, and this stroller needs to be gate-checked at the airport as it won’t fit in the plane’s overhead bin.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 30 x 19.1 x 40.9 in.
Weight: 12.5 lbs.
Best for cobblestone roads: UPPAbaby MINU
$359.99
from
Amazon.com
What We Like
- Suspension helps on rougher terrain
- Comfortable padding and shade for naps
- Easy to fold and carry
What We Dislike
- Storage basket is tricky to access
- Expensive
Most parents want a stroller with a compact, one-handed fold, while babies and toddlers want the smoothest and most comfortable ride possible. The UPPAbaby MINU delivers the best of both worlds. The MINU folds up small enough to fit in an airplane overhead bin and even comes with a shoulder strap for easy transportation.
Larger wheels and better suspension than some other lightweight travel strollers mean the MINU likely rolls more easily on cobblestone or gravel. This stroller also has plenty of padding and an excellent sun shade, making it a great option for naps on the go.
Some reviewers mentioned that the UPPAbaby MINU didn’t take turns as smoothly as some models. And while the storage basket is roomy, the seat bar doesn’t flip up for easy access, so you’ll need to fit your belongings around it.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 35.5 x 20.5 x 41 in.
Weight: 15.2 lbs.
Best for airports: Joolz AER
$449
from
Amazon.com
What We Like
- 4-wheel suspension ride
- Fits in airplane overhead bin
- Large, comfortable seating and canopy
What We Dislike
- Complicated buckles
- Footrest doesn't raise
- Expensive
The Joolz AER offers an intuitive, one-handed fold and reliably fits in overhead bins, so you don’t need to check it at the gate and waste precious time between connecting flights. The seat and canopy feel more spacious than more expensive strollers out there. Plus, the four-wheel suspension and smooth turns make it a breeze to navigate in busy airports or crowded streets.
Some drawbacks to keep in mind are that buckling the straps is trickier than in other strollers, and the footrest doesn’t raise. In addition, you’ll have to purchase a newborn adapter separately on an already-pricey stroller.
For frequent fliers or traveling parents of older tots, this may be your best pick to balance kid comfort and airport convenience.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 32.7 x 17.7 x 41.5 in.
Weight: 13.4 lbs.
Best budget: Kolcraft Cloud Plus
$79.99
from
Amazon.com
What We Like
- Affordable
- Long-lasting
- Good storage options
What We Dislike
- Doesn't fit in airplane overhead bin
- 1-hand fold is tough to master
- Less comfortable than some options
If you’re looking for a travel stroller solution on a budget, the Kolcraft Cloud gets high praise for its lightweight frame and sturdy construction. Some reviewers go as far as to call this stroller “indestructible,” which is especially impressive for a model under $100. The roomy basket underneath is also a welcome feature for such an affordable stroller.
The Kolcraft Cloud won’t fit in an overhead bin on an airplane, so you’ll have to plan to check it at the gate for flights. Some reviewers say the promised one-handed fold is tough to execute, and this stroller doesn’t offer the cushiest seat or softest ride like some of the more expensive options on the market. But for the affordable price, you can rely on the Kolcraft to hold up nicely.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 31.25 x 18 x 39 in.
Weight: 11.8 lbs.
Best double: Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Double Stroller
$449.99
from
Amazon.com
What We Like
- Near-flat recline
- Fits standard doorway
- Excellent maneuverability
What We Dislike
- Doesn't stand after folding
- Low weight limit
- Smaller storage basket
Traveling with multiple little ones is an adventure when you go around the block, let alone around the world. The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 can fit through a standard doorway, so you’ll have an easier time touring museums or maneuvering in a restaurant on vacation. The canopies also work individually, so kids can choose their own sun or shade. The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 can also use two newborn carrycots, which is a major plus for parents of twins.
The City Tour 2 doesn’t stand after folding, so it can be frustrating to bend over to retrieve it. In addition, because the weight limit is only 33 pounds, as opposed to 50 pounds for many other single stroller models, you might have to find an alternate stroller setup sooner.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 37.2 x 26.1 x 40.3 in.
Weight: 23 lbs.
Best with car seat adapter: Mountain Buggy Nano V3
$219
from
Amazon.com
What We Like
- Universal car seat adapter
- Lie-flat recline
- Roomy undercarriage storage
What We Dislike
- No peekaboo window
- Doesn't roll well on cobblestone
Traveling with a young baby is challenging because infants don’t have the neck strength to sit up safely in most unadapted strollers. The Mountain Buggy Nano V3 offers a universal car seat adapter, so you can easily set your baby up for a safe and secure ride. We also love the generous recline for naps and young baby comfort, and the roomy storage underneath is always helpful for travel.
That being said, this option doesn’t have a peekaboo window in the canopy, which would allow you to check on your baby from above. The Mountain Buggy Nano V3 doesn’t ride very smoothly over rougher streets, such as cobblestone and gravel, and it doesn’t fold easily either. For newborn travel comfort, though, this is an excellent choice.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 31.5 x 21.3 x 41.3 in.
Weight: 13.2 lbs.
