What’s the Best Travel Stroller? Real Parent Picks for 2025

Key Takeaways

• The amount and frequency of travel you do will determine what kind of stroller you need

• Most parents are occasional to frequent travelers; they should choose a stroller that works well with their everyday life but is easy to travel with, like the Orbit Baby G5

• For parents who travel heavily with their children, they’ll want to choose a stroller primarily built for travel, like the Joolz Aer+

Traveling with kids is so different from traveling without them that it doesn’t even feel like the same experience. From the packing to the security line to the boarding process, everything becomes more complicated … and you haven’t even gone anywhere yet. 

Choosing the right gear can make a huge difference in how smoothly your travels go, but gear is expensive so it’s important to consider your needs. Most parents are either occasional or frequent travelers. 

They need a car seat and stroller that suits their everyday life, but it would be great if those items also traveled well. A much smaller subset of parents are heavy travelers. These jet-setters need baby gear that considers travel over lifestyle because travel is the lifestyle.

Once you’ve considered which group you fall into, read on for our top picks in each category.

Orbit Baby G5 Stroller: Best for Most Parents

For most parents, travel is a rare or occasional occurrence. They might need to plan for a flight or two per year, but they spend most of their time not traveling. It probably doesn’t make sense for this group to invest in a separate travel stroller that will see such little usage. 

Instead, these parents should look for a standard, full-size stroller that also has the ability to travel well when needed. When it comes to a top of the line full-size stroller, it’s tough to beat the Orbit Baby G5. 

Key features

• SmartHub base offers 360 degrees of positioning

• Adjustable handlebars, easy braking, and ample under seat storage

• Nesting, one-handed collapse allows stroller to fold up compactly

• Works seamlessly with Orbit Baby’s car seat and/or bassinet to provide a complete travel system

• SmartHub Base

360 degrees of rotation and 3 different recline positions ensure that you’ll have no time finding a comfy configuration.

• Use From Birth

With an included infant insert, you can use the G5 from birth all the way up to 50 lbs.

• Superior Suspension and Construction

Quadshock front wheel premium suspension system and a custom aerospace-grade,
anodized aluminum frame combine for a smooth and sturdy ride 

Pricing

The Orbit Baby G5 stroller is $1,199.

Where the Orbit Baby Stroller Shines

• Smooth, Sturdy Ride: Highly-refined suspension and frame provides a smooth ride over any terrain

• Ample positioning options: Face your baby forward, backward, or even sideways.

• Luxury fabrics and handling: Comfort for you and your baby

• Easy collapse: a full-size stroller that stows away easily

Where the Orbit Baby Stroller Falls Short

While its feature list is long, the Orbit Baby G5 does have a couple of drawbacks parents should be aware of:

• Heavy: this is a full-size, workhorse of a stroller

• Price: the premium features and ease of use come at a cost

Customer reviews

• “Seriously obsessed with their stroller system. Most convenient and feels sturdy.” - Trustpilot review

• “The body feels very premium and sturdy compared to what I have felt in stores and other strollers. Easy to fold and reopen.” - Reddit review

Who the Orbit Baby Stroller is best for

Orbit Baby’s G5 stroller is ideal for parents who want to use their everyday stroller for occasional travel. Its simple, compact fold stores easily, while retaining the smooth, nimble maneuverability that makes getting around a breeze.

Joolz Aer+: Best for Very Frequent Travelers 

For a small subset of parents, travel is their lifestyle. They spend all of their time on the go, and they need baby gear that accommodates this pace first and foremost. For these parents, a true travel stroller is the best bet—something lightweight, easily collapsed, with a minimal storage footprint. For these high-frequency travelers, the Joolz Aer+ is an ideal stroller solution.

Key features

• Lightweight and portable: at just 13 lbs, it is truly a lightweight, portable stroller

• Simple, intuitive folding mechanism: can be collapsed one-handed 

• Transferable warranty: good for 10 years, even if you resell or gift it to someone else

Pricing

The Joolz Aer+ starts at $499.

Where the Joolz Aer+ Shines

• Super lightweight and folds easily

• Offers a 10 year transferable warranty

• Can convert with bassinet attachment to accommodate babies under 6 months

Where the Joolz Aer+ Falls Short

• Items like a snack tray and leg rest are sold separately

• Struggles some with rough terrain

• Minimal storage

Customer reviews

• “The Joolz Aer+ is a fantastic option for parents seeking a lightweight, compact travel stroller with quality features.” - Stroller Mom Blog

• “It doesn’t consistently fit in plane overhead bins.” - Reddit

Who the Joolz Aer+ is best for

For high-frequency traveling parents, the Joolz Aer+ is the best stroller option on the market. It’s extremely lightweight and collapses fully (with one hand!) for easy storage in an overhead bin. But instead of feeling flimsy and insubstantial, this is a solid stroller with enough features to feel like more than a typical “bare bones” travel stroller. 

Doona+: Great for Infants

The Doona+ differentiates itself by being a car seat and stroller in one. The wheels collapse up into the seat itself, which makes it great for travel in urban environments with public transit or rideshares.

Key features

• All-in-one design: the Doona+ collapses from a stroller into a car seat

• Suitable up to 35 lbs and 32 in: traditionally outgrown in height faster than weight

• No frills frame: The Doona+ lacks the adjustable handlebar, ample storage, and more refined suspension that make a stroller useful outside of travel

Pricing

The Doona+ is priced at $600.

Where the Doona+ shines

• Easy Conversion: Because it’s designed to regularly collapse and expand, it transitions easily between the two states

• Simplicity: The 2-in-1 design reduces the bulk that parents have to pack and plan for.

Where the Doona+ falls short 

• It’s heavy. Lugging all 17 lbs of it (plus your baby) down an airplane aisle isn’t for the weak.

• It’s not adjustable. It sits comparatively low to the ground and the handlebar isn’t adjustable, so tall parents may struggle. There’s also zero storage.

Customer reviews

• “Great for travel, especially if you’re going to travel by plane pretty often.” - Reddit

• “It's primarily a car seat which means you have to adhere to the 2-hour rule regardless of whether or not you're using it in the car. That means you can't take it out for long outings and is really best suited for quick trips with short drives.” - Reddit

Who the Doona+ is best for

• Urban dwellers or frequent travelers who need an all-in-one solution

• Parents who don’t mind replacing their car seat and stroller when the Doona+ is outgrown (typically around 9-12 months)

Bugaboo Butterfly: Great for Toddlers

Like the Joolz Aer+, the Bugaboo Butterfly can fold up compactly enough to fit into most airplane overhead compartments. With a wider seat and higher weight limit, it works well for toddlers of heavily-traveling parents.

Key features

• Easy folding mechanism: a “one second,” one-handed fold is great for traveling parents

• Roomy storage basket for travel stroller class

• Extra large canopy

Pricing

The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 starts at $599.99.

Where the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 shines

• Foldability: “One-second” one handed fold

• Storage: Sizeable storage area

• Seat size: Wider seat than average accommodates older children more comfortably

Where the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 falls short

• Positioning Limitations: It does not fully recline and it also doesn’t sit fully upright

• Stability: Some parents say it doesn’t always feel sturdy, especially on tight turns

• Doesn’t work for youngest babies: No bassinet or infant seat insert, so it cannot be used for babies under 6 months

Customer reviews

• “It is a great stroller and I had no issues with it from Africa, Asia, Middle East and US travels.” - Reddit review

• “The fold itself can be tricky at first .... Bugaboo advertises it as a one-hand fold, but I’ve found two makes it easier.” - Stroller Mom Blog

Who the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is best for

The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is designed to be a travel stroller first and foremost, so it’s a good option for parents with a heavy travel schedule. It works best for children over 6 months of age.

How to Choose a Great Travel Stroller

When it comes to choosing the best travel stroller for you, it’s worth considering first how and how often you’ll need to use them. From there, consider which features you value the most and prioritize accordingly.

Overall Usage

How often do you plan to travel? Parents with a very heavy travel schedule might value a stroller specifically calibrated for travel (lightweight, able to store in an overhead bin, easily collapsible). For more infrequent or moderate travelers, they might value a stroller that shines in their day-to-day routines but is also equipped to travel well by folding easily and stowing in a travel bag at gate check.

Size and Weight

Keep in mind the give and take involved in prioritizing these. A small, lightweight stroller might seem ideal … until you need to push it over uneven terrain or utilize it for a full day of walking around. Small, lightweight strollers can be great, but they do have some drawbacks.

Foldability (Yes, it’s a word)

A stroller that collapses easily and fully is a traveler’s best friend. Look for features like a one-handed collapse or a nesting structure that allows the stroller to fold in on itself to shrink its profile.

Travel Smarter with Orbit Baby’s Stroller

For the average traveling parent, a travel system like Orbit Baby’s simplifies the process. Our stroller meets airline requirements for gate checking and collapses easily and completely to make storage a breeze. 

We recommend our travel bag for frequent travelers to keep your stroller protected from damage or debris during travel. Utilizing a full-size stroller like Orbit Baby’s that also travels well allows parents to have the best of both worlds.