Best Travel Strollers for Your Little Rebel

Travel Strollers And How To Pick The Best One

Traveling with toddlers can be challenging, especially when it comes to choosing the right stroller. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to find a travel stroller that meets your needs. Whether you're heading to the airport or exploring a new city, having a reliable stroller can make the journey much more enjoyable for both you and your little rebel. In this post, I've compiled a list of the top five best travel strollers for toddlers that are convenient for airplane travel. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of them, but I'm sure you will find one that fits your needs.

Best carry-on hand luggage travel buggies at a glance

• Best for a tiny fold: Cybex GB Gold Buggy Pockit+ All Terrain

• Best for sleek design: Cybex Libelle

• Best for newborns: Maxi-Cosi Lara2

• Best luxury cabin-approved stroller: Cybex Gold Beezy

• Best for storage: Bugaboo Butterfly

• Best for comfort: Ergobaby Metro+ Deluxe

1. Cybex GB Gold Buggy Pockit+ All Terrain

Age suitability: From 6 months to 17 kg | One-handed fold: No | Folded dimensions: H 42cm x W 34cm x L 20cm | Weight: 5.6 kg

This Cybex travel buggy has the most compact fold of all the pushchairs on this list, with a three-step fold that condenses down to an amazing 42cm x 34cm x 20 cm. This means it is small enough to slide into a shoulder bag or a backpack. It's also extremely lightweight: at 5.6kg, so it should be fairly painless to carry around.

You do sacrifice the stability and some of your child’s comfort to achieve the tiny fold size. Since the buggy is not the most solid, there is also no footrest, and the top of the seat has open sides when reclined, which could affect naps on the go.

2. Cybex Libelle

Age suitability: From 6 months to 22 kg | One-handed fold: No | Folded dimensions: H 48cm x W 32cm x L 20cm | Weight: 5.9 kg

This buggy is very similar to the first one on the list, looks chic, and has a clever, compact fold that helped it win a Red Dot product design award for its compact construction. It is very lightweight, weighing just 5.9kg. It does not have a one-handed fold, as you need to fold it in on itself with both hands, but it does fold quite easily and rather dynamically. This results in a compact box measuring only 48 x 32cm x 20cm.

3. Maxi-Cosi Lara2

Age suitability: From newborn to 22 kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 51cm x W 50cm x L 26cm | Weight: 6.4 kg

Maxi-Cosi Lara2 is compact, lightweight stroller with automatic folding and is suitable for children from birth and up to 4 years (up to 22 kg). It's perfect for families living in the city or for traveling - rain cover is included. The stroller has an ultra-compact format in a folded position of 51 x 50 x 26 cm and a lightweight design of 6.4 kg, the stroller is easy to store in small spaces.

It has a quick one-handed folding which allows you to fold Lara2 in an instant, by pressing the handle. It then folds automatically - perfect when you need to put it away quickly!

4. Cybex Gold Beezy

Age suitability: From newborn to 22 kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 58cm x W 43cm x L 26cm | Weight: 8.1 kg

A compact stroller with practical features, suitable from birth to around 4 years (max 22 kg). Perfect for travel. The belt can be adjusted with one hand to quickly secure the child in a body-friendly position. It also has an adjustable back and leg rest for an ergonomic flat angle when your little one needs to rest.

Folds into a compact shape (58 x 43 x 26 cm) for easy storage and weighs just over 8 kg. Compatible with all car seats manufactured by Cybex for greater flexibility on the move, All wheels are sprung for greater freedom of movement and comfort.

5. Bugaboo Butterfly

Age suitability: From 6 months to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 54cm x W 45cm x L 23cm | Weight: 7.3 kg

Bugaboo’s pushchairs have a reputation for being well designed and the Butterfly is no exception. It folds down into a slender package and boasts a range of smart features. The Butterfly offers Bugaboo’s smallest fold, collapsing to 54 x 45 x 23cm. It follows the trend among newer travel strollers to feature a well-cushioned but minimal seat and hood, so there is no excess fabric to deal with when folding up small.

What stands out is the huge amount of storage promised in comparison to other buggies with a compact fold. Bugaboo says the basket will hold 8kg of weight.

6. Ergobaby Metro+ Deluxe

Age suitability: From 6 months to 22kg | One-handed fold: Yes | Folded dimensions: H 54cm x W 44cm x L 25cm | Weight: 8.3 kg

The Metro+ Deluxe is the perfect travel companion as it folds with one hand (54 × 44 × 25 cm) to fit in most airplane overhead bins. The stroller weighs only 8.3 kg and its practical carry handle makes it easy to take with you. The stroller has a large comfortable seat with multi-zone padding. The newborn nest provides extra comfort and safety.

The seat can be adjusted from an upright (95°) to a reclined (175°) position in no time. The backrest with the mesh material serves for better air circulation. It can be fully covered to protect against cold and wind.

What to look for when buying a travel stroller

Finding the right travel stroller for your toddler can make a world of difference when it comes to hassle-free travel. Consider your family's needs and the different features of each stroller as you make your decision. From the highly portable to the affordable, there’s a perfect travel stroller waiting for every family.

The most important points to keep under consideration when making a decision are:

Fold – A major feature of all travel strollers is a compact fold, but each will fold in a slightly different way. Several models now have special gravity-assisted 'magic' folds that can be done with just a flick of the wrist. However, these won't fold quite as small as those with two-handed or multi-step folds.

Comfort for your rebel – Travel strollers may have limited padding so they can fold up small, so look at the fabric on seats and straps, and decide if you require leg rests or calf supports before you buy.

Ease of steering – A small fold means small wheels, which means they are not designed for off-road use. Most of them will be fine at the airports, along pavements, and maybe on grass.

Durability – Due to their lightweight nature, these strollers won't feel as solid as a traditional trolley as the frame is designed for easy to pick up and fold. The more budget lightweight strollers might not be able to handle as much.

Suitable age – Many lightweight strollers are designed for use from 6 months. If you're looking for a stroller to use from birth, look for one that offers the ability to convert the seat or add a carrycot. On the other end of the scale, some lack the leg rest that older children may need. Some have a 15kg weight limit, which means some children will outgrow them by the time they turn 2.

Hood coverage – Some travel buggies have shorter, non-extendable hoods with minimal fabric. They're designed not to add weight or get in the way of the compact fold, but you may want full coverage during hot weather or at nap time.

Storage – Travel strollers usually only have room for small baskets, so you won't be able to keep as much in one of these.

Weight – When choosing a portable stroller it must be light to carry, also most airlines allow only 8 or 10 kg for hand luggage.

Happy travels!