Travel Stroller Comparison: Best Lightweight & Airline-Friendly Picks + Honest Reviews
I’ve included my Travel stroller buying guide Google sheet round-up below if you’re just looking for a quick glance - or keep reading for a more in-depth discussion.
When we first started the hunt for a stroller, we were mainly just concerned with daily travel from our house and from the car with our car seat. We didn’t really know what to expect with traveling - and we didn’t necessarily think we’d be traveling with an infant.
We had the Munchkin Sparrow on our registry and were kindly gifted it. We also received the Nuna Tavo Next as our everyday stroller. We traveled with the Nuna to Tampa and didn’t love it for travel. In planning our trip to Europe with a 7 month old we knew we’d need something she could take naps in, would be small enough to navigate crowded Europe, and could still fit a lot of stuff. That’s when this blog post about the best travel stroller for travel originally started… and how I ended up buying an entirely new stroller lol. See more about my experience on our youtube or blog below.
I should also mention, in week one at home with babe I bought a bassinet stroller off of Facebook Market Place because I realized she’d be more comfortable (and I would be too) if she could lie flat AND face us. This $100 investment has been a game changer and is my current go-to stroller, except it’s not compatible with our car seat (it’s from 2014) and it is SO bulky. It’s almost impossible to take it with us and have the dogs or another person in the back seat.
I clearly have a problem. But hopefully my neurosis will help inform your decsion before you end up a stroller obsessed monster with a husband who says no more stroller please.
Lightweight vs everyday stroller: which is right?
Flash forward to 2024, and I traveled alone and knew I’d want to be able to safely set her down, so I reached for the Munchkin Sparrow this time. It easily folds up and fits in the overhead bin. This is truly a lightweight travel stroller for flying. It’s not a trendy, name-brand travel stroller with storage, but when you’re traveling solo with a baby, it works super well. We also used it once we got to our destination for short shopping trips in tight spaces. HOWEVER, if this was going to be my only stroller for an entire week trip with a toddler I wouldn’t be happy. SOOOO we come back to this blog post once again…. LOL
So, that brings us to this blog post - my very scientific, unscientific roundup of my favorite (and some follower-recommended) travel strollers for toddler travel and the reasons why you might want to invest (or not). Please keep in mind we’re specifically looking for the best travel stroller for travel that we could also use for our travels around town and walking from our home, which makes some of the more airport/quick-use strollers less interesting to us, but doesn’t mean they aren’t great choices!
Note: I found that a lot of the online reviews of some of these strollers seem like paid or compensated with product for reviews which was disheartening. It was hard to find reviews that had put a lot of thought into their responses and had used the strollers for more than one go around. If I ever get my hands on any of these strollers besides the ones we currently have I’ll be sure to update with my honest opinion after actual use!
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Bugaboo
Dragonfly - I like the dragonfly - it was perfect for Europe. We gate checked it in the US and throughout Europe (though we did have to check it before security in a few spots). I invested a lot in this stroller so I elected to purchase the bugaboo comfort travel bag to keep it safe. The bag is awesome but its really big, it barely fits under the stroller so it’s a pretty bulky additional useless piece to have to travel with when you are only using it at the airport. Note: I wouldn’t use it at the airport without it though.
What I love: the compact fold, the bassinet, the toddler seat that faces both ways and the style.
What I don’t like: the price. I know it would be worth it but it is hefty in comparison to some of the others on this list! It’s also pretty hefty in size in comparison to some other options but that was outweighed by our other needs at the time.
Butterfly - This stroller is one of the top-rated travel strollers and is super lightweight. It has a great-looking one-handed fold.
What I love: compatibility with car seats, weight, fits in overhead bin, style
What I don’t love: seat only faces one way, only works for infants with car seat attachment
Thule
Spring - billed as a flexible, fun and functional stroller that makes your daily life easier.
What I love: The compact fold, self standing ability.
What I don’t love: The way the wheels fold seems a bit bulky, and honestly the lack of content about this stroller was interesting.
Guava
Roam $649.95- Originally on the list as Drew’s top pick, the weight comparison removed it from our list. While this might be a great option for someone in the market for a jogging stroller that travels, it just doesn’t fit with our needs at this time.
What I love: Car seat compatibility, fold design
What I don’t love: only for 6mo+ or for a car seat, bulky weight
BabyZen
Yoyo3 - I’ve been seeing more of this stroller since I started looking around the airport and it seems like the stroller of choice for European families. I love the compact size of this one.
What I love: compact size, customizable, bassinet for newborn use
What I don’t love: doesn’t seem sturdy enough to be our every day AND travel stroller, it seems like it would be great just for travel days.
Nuna
Trvl - Had to look at this one because it’s compatible with our car seat. However, since we already have the Tavo it doesn’t really make sense to replace the Tavo with another Nuna that might just weigh less.
What I love: lightweight, easy fold, style
What I don’t like: only compatible with Nuna car seats, small basket, doesn’t seem great for heavy every day use
Tavo Next- We have this stroller and its a really high-quality stroller with a great ride. However, its just super bulky and so much better as a toddler stroller than a from-newborn option. We walk a lot of places from our house and I don’t want to have to use the car seat to take her from home. I would not choose this stroller again given the choice - but that just means its not for us, it could be for you!
What I love: the color, the style, the quality, lie-flat seat, fits our Nuna car seat
What I don’t love: babe can’t face us except when using with car seat, the lie-flat seat isn’t fully enclosed so she has to be strapped in any time we use it, wheels are SUPER bulky when folding it up.
Colugo
The Compact Stroller - HELLO I love colugo, they are amazing and our colugo carrier has been the best thing I bought for travel for baby. I recived this one to try from Colugo and it lives up to the hype. It handles GREAT for a compact stroller, folds up easily and has so much storage.
What I love: can use from birth, comes with Carry Backpack, Rain Cover and Cupholder!!
What I don’t love: not car seat friendly
2024 Update: I have this stroller (received from the brand in exchange for content) and I highly recommend it. Its so nice to travel with AND is actually nice to have when you get to your destination too. Fits well in tight spaces and comes standard with a rain cover we’ve used every time we’ve traveled. Highly recommend adding the on the go bag for extra storage on the stroller and to use as a cross body when traveling. Would absolutely use my own money to buy this stroller again. Also, followers say its a great stroller for disney. Works really well for 11 months + in my opinion.
2025 Update: the stroller was updated to a new version that is a bit different than mine but I would still recommend.
Mountain Buggy
Nano $219.99 w/o bassinet | $297 with - This was recommended by a follower and is one they’ve used for a few trips. They said it’s held up well and they enjoy that it reclines.
What I love: Reclines, compatible with any car seat, price, bassinet attachment can be removed and used on a stand
What I don’t love: doesn’t seem compatible with heavy everyday use
Uppa Baby
Minu - This is an awesome option if you already have an Uppa Baby stroller and/or car seat. The bassinet from any other Uppa Baby stroller can be used on this frame. You can also attach a car seat. Had I started with a base Uppa Baby I’d definitely be interested in this option, but we travel with the Nuna Pipa Car seat and don’t already have an Uppa Baby Bassinet. A follower recommended this option stating she just got it and loves it.
What I love: adjustable recline, bassinet option, colors
What I don’t love: design of base basket
Munchkin
Sparrow This is an awesome option for an older childer who may only need to ride for a little bit and prefers to walk. It folds down sooo small into a bag that’s so easy to carry and will be great to store in our car when baby g is older. I wouldn’t get this stroller this early if I had to do it again.
What I love: compact size, weight
What I don’t love: doesn’t recline, not suitable from birth, not car seat compatibility, definitely not great for every day heavy use
2024 update: was gifted this stroller before babe was born and used it when I travel solo with her at 11months old. It was perfect to travel alone with but was frustrating to use outside of the airport. It’s a little short for me (at 5’10) and not super sturdy for cobblestones etc.
Travel Stroller FAQs (Everything Parents Ask Before Buying)
Shopping for a travel stroller can feel overwhelming—especially when every option claims to be “the best.” These are the most common questions parents ask when comparing travel strollers, from flying and overhead bins to toddler comfort and everyday use. I’ve answered them based on real travel experience, not marketing claims.
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The best travel stroller depends on how you travel. Some families prioritize a super-compact fold for flying, while others want a lightweight stroller that still handles daily walks well. In this comparison, I break down the best travel strollers based on weight, fold, ease of use, and real-world travel experience so you can find the best fit for your travel style.
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A travel stroller is designed to be lighter, more compact, and easier to fold than a full-size stroller. Most travel strollers weigh under 20 pounds, fold quickly (often one-handed), and are easier to carry through airports, public transportation, and tight spaces.
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Yes—most travel strollers can be taken on airplanes. Many are designed to fit in overhead bins or can be gate-checked for free. Airline rules vary, so it’s always smart to check your airline’s stroller size guidelines, especially if overhead bin compatibility is important to you.
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Some travel strollers are compact enough to fit in overhead bins, but not all. Models like ultra-compact or “airline-friendly” strollers are more likely to meet overhead size limits. In this comparison, I note which strollers are commonly considered overhead-bin friendly and which are better suited for gate-checking.
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Yes, many travel strollers work great for toddlers—but weight limits and seat comfort matter. If you’re traveling with an older or taller toddler, look for a stroller with a higher weight capacity, good recline options, and solid sun coverage. I call out which strollers perform best for toddler travel specifically.
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Some travel strollers are sturdy enough for everyday use, while others are best reserved for trips. If you walk long distances daily or deal with rough sidewalks, a more durable travel stroller with better wheels may be a better choice. This comparison highlights which strollers work well beyond vacations.
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Many travel strollers are suitable for babies once they can sit independently, usually around 6 months. Some models offer near-flat reclines or are compatible with infant car seats using adapters. Always check the manufacturer’s age and weight guidelines before using a travel stroller with a baby.
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Not necessarily—but many families find having both helpful. Full-size strollers are great for daily use, while travel strollers shine in airports, hotels, and compact destinations. A travel stroller can reduce stress and make trips much smoother.
Did I miss one you’ve been looking at? Let me know if you have one you’d recommend!
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