Light and compact — these are the best travel strollers, tried and tested by parents 2024

If you're planning a short break with a baby or a long-haul holiday with a toddler in tow, the best travel strollers make travelling from A to B easy. Here we put top-rated travel strollers to the test — these are the nine that made the cut. 

Making it out of the house with a baby can be daunting. But that shouldn't put you off making plans for a family adventure. Instead of fretting about how you'll get your precious cargo from one destination to the next, focus your energy into tracking down the best travel stroller for your family's needs. 

Just like choosing the best newborn pram when you're expecting a baby — picking the best travel stroller can make seeing the world a whole lot easier. That's because travel strollers are in a different league of their own. They're compact, lightweight and more often than not, can pop up and down at the click of a button. Plus, some options in our guide are cabin-approved so can be used from check-in to check out with ease. 

Each of the travel-friendly buggies in this buying guide has been tested by our parent reviewers with children of different ages and in different conditions to give a true picture of their performance in real life. We asked our testers to report back on how easy they were to use, how easy they were to fold and why they would recommend these buys. Our panel of parents has also road-tested them for ease of maneuverability on different terrains — from beaches to boardwalks and muddy paths to cobbled streets — while ranking them on design appeal and overall functionality. 

Unsure of what type of pram or stroller you need? Check out our explainer on what is a travel system? And head this way for the best pushchairs for growing toddlers. 

Best travel strollers 2024: the quick list

No time to read the full reviews? Choose from our summary of the best prams: 

Best travel strollers 2024 - tried and tested by parents 

Best travel stroller overall

Tested by: Floss Guppy, mum to eight-week-old daughter, Josie.

Our baby gear expert says: Every detail on the Silver Cross Clic has been cleverly thought through. You can pop it up with one hand in a literal second and it folds down just as easily. It's super compact and has a handy shoulder strap which we found especially useful when it came to navigating the London Underground with a newborn.

The Clic is ideal for parents who use public transport frequently or who are planning to travel by airline with a baby or toddler. It's also a good choice for parents wishing to combine babywearing with using a pushchair because it's light and easy to fold away when you want to pop in a car boot or store it. The seat unit seems super comfortable, even for very young babies, and it reclines easily for comfy snoozes on the go - our tester found the recline feature smooth and ‘really easy’ to operate.

Parent tester, Floss, says: "That level of comfort extends to the person pushing it too - manoeuvering the Clic almost effortless. The wheels offer a smooth ride and seem less flimsy than those on other travel strollers, although the wheels aren't up to off-roading or very rough terrain, particularly with a younger baby."

The Silver Cross Clic has the added benefit of being suitable from birth until four years old, meaning you don't need to invest in another pram for your baby's first six months; the Clic can cope with it all.

GoodtoKnow verdict: The Silver Cross Clic is our top pick of the best travel stroller for 2024 because it's compact and lightweight, making it a brilliant buy whether you're dashing through a busy airport or tackling daily urban life with a little one. The fact that it fits in the overhead compartment of an aeroplane makes it extra convenient for travel use, but there's no compromise when it comes to comfort, style or durability.

Read more: Silver Cross Clic stroller review

Best for jet setting

Tested by: Anna Watt and her eighteen-month-old, Harry.

Our baby gear expert says: Lightweight, travel-friendly, compact and easy to fold, the YOYO2 from Babyzen can be classed as cabin baggage, so it's unsurprisingly popular with celebrities and jet-setting parents. Kitted out with individual suspension on all four wheels and an integrated carrying strap, this buggy makes travelling with tots easy. 

Parent tester, Anna, says: "The Babyzen YOYO2 is aesthetically pleasing, with a small curved frame and high-quality mono-colour fabric. The hood is thick enough to keep the strong summer sun out of my baby's eyes, while the handlebar has a leather feel and feels much sturdier than the handle on a typical lightweight pushchair. 

"The basket can carry up to 5kg which is more than enough for my change bag and some shopping, and the buggy frame can support a shopping bag attached to the handlebar when your child is seated in the pushchair."

All in all, the Babyzen YOYO2 is a great choice for a toddler, although its low position to the ground slightly put our tester off the idea of using it as a pram with the bassinet attachment. "I like that a toddler is close enough to the ground to easily get out of the buggy independently once the straps are opened, but I probably wouldn't choose this for a newborn as I'd prefer my baby to be higher up and closer to the person pushing the pushchair," she said.

GoodtoKnow verdict: Overall, this is a well-made, stylish pushchair that you can use from birth (if you purchase the YOYO+ newborn pack) up to around five years. However it does come at a cost. But, as Anna explains: "It's good value for money considering you could use this as your sole pushchair, rather than, as I did with my first child, and many do, have a main pushchair and a more compact foldable stroller for when travelling."

Read more: Babyzen YOYO2 review

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Easiest to fold

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Tested by: Charlotte Clarke, mum to 22-month-old daughter Adelaide.

Our baby gear expert says: They thought of everything when it came to designing the Joolz Aer. The smooth, one-handed folding mechanism is a dream - you simply press two buttons on the handle and watch it collapse, concertina-style, into itself.

Parent tester, Charlotte, says: "My minor gripe is sometimes the buttons don’t engage on the first go but I think this would improve with regular use. When folded down, this stroller is flat and tiny with a carry handle so you can hoist it up and carry it over your shoulder like a bag. When collapsed, the Aer is about a third of the size of my usual travel system. It's a bit of a revelation to me that pushchairs can be this compact."

When upright, the Joolz Aer is light and smooth to push with relatively sturdy front wheels that swivel 360 degrees. "With my toddler on board, I could easily push this with one hand," Charlotte says. "There’s lots of padding in the seat unit and multiple recline positions for naps on the go so when Adelaide snoozed, I simply unzipped the back and gently laid her down. There was no fiddling with straps.

"The storage options on the Joolz Aer are particularly impressive. It has a deep shopping basket, a bag hook on the handle, and an extra storage pocket at the back for personal items and valuables. Stroller manufacturers often overlook how important storage is so I’m pleased it’s been given proper thought."

Verdict: At £399, the Joolz Aer is at the top end of the price spectrum for a travel stroller but if it's within your budget, we're confident it'll be money well soent. "If you are planning to use the Aer regularly, rather than just for travel use, or hoping to use it for several children as your family grows, you’ll appreciate the extra features it has compared to cheaper travel strollers," she adds. "So it’s definitely worth the price tag."

Read more: Joolz Aer pushchair review

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Smoothest ride

Tested by: Holly Upton put Joie's newest lightweight stroller to the test with her 19-month-old son, Remy. She used it daily, for everything from quick dashes to the supermarket and longer walks to parks and playgroups, testing it for manoeuvrability on different types of terrain and to see how easy it is to fold and carry and push with a busy toddler aboard. 

Our baby gear expert says: The Joie Pact Pro lightweight stroller is a definite contender worthy of your consideration if you're shopping around for a travel-friendly pushchair that's affordable too. The easy-to-fold design and the fact that it's so compact (and freestanding) are huge plus points, regardless of whether you plan to push it through a busy airport or pop it in your car boot without sacrificing all the luggage space. And when the holiday is over, this is still a light and manoeuvrable pushchair suitable for everyday life with a baby from birth to toddlerhood - and beyond.

Parent tester, Holly, says: 'The stroller is very simple to assemble and fold down and is possible to do this with one hand which is handy when holding a toddler; it is also lightweight to lift and carry, which helps when getting it in and out of the boot. We keep the stroller in the boot of the car, which I found didn’t take up too much space and I could still fit a 'big food shop' amount of shopping bags in the boot alongside the stroller.'

Our testing revealed that the Joie Pact Pro is as easy to fold with one hand as Joie claims, and Holly found it compact enough that it could easily fit in an understairs cupboard or even in a narrow hallway. 'It does stand on its own when folded but I'm not sure how sturdy it would be to stay standing if my toddler started climbing on it, which he no doubt would,' adds Holly.

Verdict: In terms of value for money, this is a solid mid-range buggy that's ideal for travel use. Our tester has recommended it to friends, primarily because of how remarkably compact it is when folded. 

Read more: Joie Pact Pro review

Most compact

Tested by: Hollie Bond and her one-year-old daughter, Margot.

Our baby gear expert says: The Joie Tourist gets all the essentials spot on. It’s lightweight, weighing just 6kg, and folds down so compactly that you can fit it in an overhead locker. Folding up and down is simple with the simple press of a button, so you can do this one-handed while juggling a toddler.

Parent tester, Hollie, says: "It's a breath of fresh air to have a pushchair that folds so beautifully and doesn't make you huff and puff every time you get it out!"

As well as being easy to get up and down, Hollie found this pleasant to manoeuvre, with an adjustable handle and lockable wheels. "As it’s so lightweight it does feel a little flimsy at times, but then it’s so light that you couldn’t reasonably expect anything else," adds Hollie. Where she did have a few gripes was with the comfort of the seat. "It’s quite hard and doesn’t have particularly deep sides to it, so doesn’t feel like the cosiest option," she explains.

The Joie Tourist has multiple recline positions. This meant Hollie's daughter could lie completely flat for naps. However, she had trouble putting it up straight and found that Margot leaned forward to look around. Also, Hollie felt this stroller might need some adapting for extreme weather. You’d need to buy a footmuff if it was cold and an additional sunshade in direct sunlight. 

GoodtoKnow verdict: The Joie Tourist is a good option as a mid-range travel buggy. We'd particularly recommend it to busy parents who want a light, easy-to-use buggy for holidays or hassle-free daily use.

Read more: Joie Tourist travel stroller review

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Best longevity

Tested by: Grace Holliday and her seven-month-old daughter.

Our baby gear expert says: Grace took the Inglesina Quid2 with her on holiday to Devon and used it as a travel alternative to her own set of wheels. "It weighs just 5.9kgs, which is half the weight of our usual pram, and we can really tell the difference," she says. 

During testing, Grace noted lots of positives about the stroller. She found it easy to steer, even in tricky places like narrow shop aisles and cafés, and she reports that it handles both grass and smooth pavements well. In particular, Grace highlighted the reclining seat which is easy to adjust via a toggle, and the extendable hood, which has a mesh window so you can easily keep an eye on your baby. 

Parent tester, Grace, says: "Ideally I'd prefer a buggy with the option to have my daughter facing me, but the stroller’s compactness and lightness would probably have to be compromised to make this possible. The basket underneath is also quite small but, again, that's necessary to achieve such a compact design, and it does at least fit my baby's change bag."

Verdict: One of the big selling points of the Inglesina Quid2 is its wide age range; it's suitable from birth to four years. According to Grace, the price (at the higher end of the mid-range bracket) is justifiable because you can safely continue using this for longer than many other travel strollers. Would she recommend it to a friend? She already has - and tells us they went straight out and bought it!

Read more: Inglesina Quid2 stroller review

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Best for rough terrain

Tested by: Charlotte Clarke and her 22-month-old daughter Adelaide.

Our baby gear expert says: The Didofy Aster 2 travel stroller is "a great little run-around", according to our tester. It's not the lightest, smallest or most stylish travel stroller we tested but its selling point is that it boasts a sturdy chassis that performs as well on a muddy country walk as it does on smooth pavements. 

Parent tester, Charlotte, says: "It’s not the most compact buggy but this means its wheels are larger than most and it can cope with a few bumps on a journey. As we live in the country, this is a huge bonus." 

The Aster 2 folds down with a simple, sliding motion on the handle. It concertinas down and then up again for easy storage and re-assembly. In terms of comfort, there are padded straps and a well-padded seat, plus the option to recline your baby. "I found the toggle to recline the seat a bit stiff, and I couldn’t manage to pull it enough, so Adelaide was sitting upright," adds Charlotte. This meant she had to lean forward a little to look out.

This travel stroller is suitable for newborns through to four-year-olds; a design feature that Charlotte thinks is fantastic. "It's amazing to think you could invest in this and not need to buy a cumbersome travel system for use from birth," she adds.

GoodtoKnow verdict: Included are lots of extras; a footmuff, coffee cup holder, rain cover, and extendable hood all come as standard. "With all the extras and the wide age range, this represents good value for money if you want a lightweight and easy-to-manoeuvre stroller for regular, everyday use," Charlotte tells us.

Read more: Didofy Aster 2 stroller review

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Best for small cars

Tested by: Mum of two, Emma Stokes and her four-month-old baby daughter, Evelyn.

Our baby gear expert says: If you're after a nippy travel system that folds and opens easily and doesn't cost the earth, you'll find what you're looking for with the Graco EeZeFold pushchair. Suitable from birth, it’s ideal for occasional use such as short shopping trips or on holiday. It's also a great choice if you have a small car boot with minimal storage space for a pushchair. 

Parent tester, Emma, says: "We had a fabulous time trying out the pushchair on a range of different ground types, such as flat pavement, bumpy pathways, grassy areas, and also uphill."

Emma also praised the large storage basket underneath the seat; it's the perfect size for carrying all the usual baby/toddler essentials, whether this be snacks, a nappy changing bag, or extras such as spare shoes/coats. "I've also found you can pop the rain cover (that comes with the pram) in the basket and still have plenty of room for other stuff," she added. 

"We've had a few pushchairs in the past - both gifted and bought from expensive brands - and the EeZefold comes in at a fraction of the cost but is certainly one of the best we've tried," Emma told us. "It’s sturdy, good value, and can be used time and time again without showing signs of wear and tear."

Verdict: There's lots to love about this stroller that's sturdy enough to travel over rough terrain, according to our tester, who thinks it's a brilliant buy for £150. "It provides so much comfort, support, and reassurance for any parent, whether it’s your first child or not. It’s always satisfying knowing your child is riding comfortably."

Read more: Graco EeZeFold pushchair review

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Most lightweight

Tested by: Amelia Jean Jones and her two-year-old daughter, Olga.

Our baby gear expert says: Even for a travel stroller, the Chicco Cheerio is light. At 5.6kg, it's easy to lift in and out of a car boot, even if you’re pregnant, like our tester. While she found it "so lightweight it can feel a bit out of control on rougher surfaces," she also appreciated that this was a trade-off since a sturdier stroller would likely way much more. 

Parent tester, Amelia, says: "The one-handed mechanism means it takes mere seconds to put up and down. When it is collapsed, it’s also really small. It's remarkably compact (about half the size) compared to my last pram so it slots neatly into a gap in my hallway. That's a relief, after two years of negotiating my way past a bigger pram and trying to squeeze it into a small car boot."

While the basics are good, Amelia had some issues with the extras. At 5ft 2in tall, she still found the handle too low and the rain cover was fiddly to attach. "The basket at the bottom is also really small with a metal bar that runs across it, meaning it's difficult to fit my child's nursery backpack in there," she says. "Buying a bag clip for the handlebars might solve that."

Verdict: Overall, Amelia would recommend this as one of the best travel strollers you can buy if you're looking for something very lightweight and incredibly compact for either occasional or travel use. "It's pretty simple but what it does, it does well," she adds.

Read more: Chicco Cheerio stroller review

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Best for comfort

Tested by: Harriet Reid alongside her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter.

Our baby gear expert says: If there's one brand that knows how to do pushchairs, it's Cybex. Founded in Germany in 2005, the premium babywear brand has marketed the Cybex Coya as a 'luxury' travel experience — and we'd agree. The ergonomically designed seat has been designed with comfort in mind so there’s plenty of padding for your little traveller. You can life it flat and it comes with a leg rest. The seat pad removes to reveal a mesh back which is wipeable and great for hot climates. 

Plus, as you'd expect from this premium pushchair, just one click of a button and this lightweight stroller folds down making it easy to on and off-board your little one while on the move — or jetting from one country to the next. 

Parent tester, Harriet, says: “It folds with one hand (as long as the wheels are lined up) and then the carry strap extends so you can throw it over your shoulder which is incredibly handy. I do it more than I thought I would as it’s so easy. It’s also really compact (it fits behind the driver’s seat of my car, on planes, trains etc.) and incredibly is lightweight. I could carry it, my toddler, and a change bag simultaneously over short distances!”

It weighs 6.6kg which Harriet says makes it 'effortless to push and very manoeuvrable'. "I can push with one hand which is a must-have for me. It isn’t designed for off-road so I wouldn’t recommend it for really thick mud, but it performs well on grass, cobbles, up and down curbs etc. On any terrain it feels stable, with good suspension and like it won’t tip easily,” adds Harriet.

GoodtoKnow verdict: Perhaps the only real bugbear with this stroller? The price. And our tester concurs. "You can find other strollers with greater longevity (over the age of four), that come with accessories, are equally as compact for less money, so it feels hard to justify the price tag,” admits Harriet.  “While it isn’t a cheap stroller, it is well-built, the materials are high-quality, it has lots of thoughtful features, is beautiful to look at and generally I would recommend it if someone wanted to buy it.”

Read more: Cybex Coya pushchair review 

How to choose the best travel stroller

The best travel strollers are designed to deal with all the hiccups that can make city life with a standard pushchair a little tricky, from navigating public transport to tackling uneven pavements. They're also light enough to carry up a flight of steps and compact enough to fit neatly beside you in a busy café - or even in the overhead storage compartment of a train or plane.

Here's what else to look out for when you're shopping for a travel stroller:

• Weight - The lighter a stroller, the easier it is to lift and carry which makes travelling easier. However, keep in mind that other features such as basket space may be sacrificed by designers to create a very lightweight pushchair.
• Comfort - Comfort for both you and your baby is paramount when it comes to a travel stroller. Choose one with a spacious seat they'll be able to nap in (especially if they wake easily) and make sure it has at least one recline position.
• Age range - Many travel strollers can be used from birth - including some of those featured in this buying guide. However, some are not suitable until babies are around six months old because they don't recline fully flat. It's important to check and adhere to the age limits specified by the manufacturer. The NHS advises that strollers are only suitable for babies under six months old if they have fully reclining seats.
• Portability - How small a travel stroller folds is a very important factor. When it comes to fitting it into the boot of your car alongside other luggage or squeezing it into the overhead locker on a plane, the smaller the better. However, very compact travel strollers are typically expensive so factor this into your thinking if you're only planning to use it for tootling around the shops. It's well worth paying more for a compact fold if it's going to make travelling with a baby less stressful.
• Terrain - To keep their weight and size down, travel pushchairs tend to have smaller wheels which can be difficult to manoeuvre on anything more challenging than smooth pavements. If you need a more robust stroller for off-road use or to trek across the beach, look for a travel stroller designed with this in mind - bigger and thicker wheels are a must.
• Seat position - Most travel strollers have world-facing seats, meaning the child is facing the direction of travel rather than looking at the parent. Toddlers generally like to look at where they are going but if you have a younger baby, you might prefer to have your baby facing you. Parent-facing strollers make it easy to interact with your baby and can encourage bonding and promote eye contact and language development skills. You can also keep an eye on your baby more easily with a parent-facing pushchair. This is handy when it comes to knowing if they need more sun cream or are getting too hot or cold.
• Useful extras - Whether you're planning to use your pushchair frequently or just for holiday use, make sure you check what extras it comes with. Establish whether you need to pay more for accessories such as a rain cover and a full hood for protection from the sun, as these are essentials for a travel stroller. Other accessories, such as a roomy shopping basket (space for all those holiday essentials) and a coffee cup holder are nice extras.

Which travel strollers are allowed on planes?

Children’s strollers and car seats are not usually counted in an airline's standard baggage allowance. These can be checked in free of charge but you should always check an airline’s specific criteria before you travel. As a general rule, as long as a pushchair or pram is fully collapsible, it is permitted on board an aircraft. You can check it in at the gate and store it in the hold, and then retrieve it at the aircraft door when the aircraft has landed. Some airlines will allow you to take a travel stroller on board if it fits in the overhead locker and there is space on the flight.

‘Every airline has different rules so always check with specific airline before you fly,' says Tiffany Norris of The Mummy Concierge. 'British Airways states that pushchairs that fold down into a carry bag and are within the maximum hand baggage dimensions can be taken on board in place of, but not in addition to, your larger cabin bag. That means the second you get off a plane you have a pram, rather than having to wait for it to arrive at baggage reclaim.’

What’s the best travel stroller to take abroad?

The Silver Cross Clic stroller is the best travel stroller to take abroad, based on our testing of a range of lightweight pushchairs for this buying guide. 

If you're considering an alternative, firstly look for a light pushchair that's easy to lift in and out of a car boot or carry up a flight of stairs. Secondly, choose a design that can be folded and unfolded quickly and easily. And thirdly, pick a compact pushchair in case you want to place it in the overhead storage compartment on a plane. 

The best travel stroller for you depends on your destination. If you’re going somewhere warm, a pushchair with mesh fabric for breathability so your child can stay cool is an advantage. In addition, make sure it comes with a sunshade to help prevent sunburn.

Alternatively, if you are going somewhere cold, take a rain cover. If this isn’t included with the pushchair, buy the cover designed by the brand for your pushchair’s model. Generic covers are available and usually cheaper to buy but the fit is generally not as good. This means there’s a higher chance that it will let water in, for instance.

How we tested the best travel strollers

GoodtoKnow has developed a product review testing process that is fair, consistent and robust. For this buying guide, our Consumer Editor Heidi Scrimgeour came up with a shortlist of lightweight pushchairs based on her extensive product knowledge that spans 19 years as a mum and parenting journalist.

Next, she finalised the testing line-up by whittling down the options to ensure each stroller weighed less than 7kg, could be folded compactly, and was suitable for use as a holiday pushchair. She also selected products from a broad range of price points so there's something to suit all budgets.

Next, we called on our pool of parent testers and assigned them each a travel stroller to review with a child of the appropriate age. They tested the product rigorously for at least ten days, in a variety of weather conditions and on different types of terrain. 

After this, our parent testers gave each product a rating out of five for overall performance. We also asked for comprehensive feedback on key factors including design appeal, manoeuvrability, functionality (how easy is it to assemble and to fold/unfold), portability (how compact it is when folded), and value for money.

Heidi Scrimgeour

Heidi Scrimgeour joined GoodToKnow after a 16-year freelance career as a parenting journalist. She has written family features for a wide variety of publications including The Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Red, Psychologies and Stylist. She was the baby gear editor of Mother & Baby for six years and a parenting columnist for AOL’s Parentdish. Heidi has taken part in various parenting debates on This Morning, The One Show and BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, and lives in Northern Ireland with her husband and their three children. Find out more

Once you've decided on the best travel stroller, you might be interested in finding out the best travel cots, the best baby carrier and best prams for life on the go with your little one.