10 lightweight strollers that make traveling with kids (slightly) less stressful

Traveling with a child can often feel like the chaotic airport scenes in the Home Alone movies. But instead of running through the terminal with your extended family and too many carry-on bags, you're pushing a little one in a stroller. Everyone is sweaty. The snacks meant for the plane ride are already near depleted. And there’s a smelly diaper waiting to be changed.

Thankfully, your life is not a movie, and there are travel strollers meant to make your time at the airport and beyond more pleasant. Most are designed with the magic word—lightweight—in mind, but there are a few things to consider before perusing the list below: Are you traveling with another adult or older child (ie. someone to help push the stroller or carry bags)? Are you bringing a car seat and related stroller adapters? Will the stroller be used exclusively for navigating the airport or will it also tackle public transportation and unpredictable sidewalks once your plane lands?

While most airlines will check one stroller and car seat free of charge at the gate, it’s always best to confirm beforehand as there can be weight and size limits. (Related: Anticipate manual inspections if your folded stroller doesn’t fit the TSA conveyor belt.)

For families always on the go—whether it’s air travel or daily use of public transportation—the Nano is a breeze to carry when folded up, thanks to its sturdy shoulder strap and accompanying satchel. It does have a slightly awkward fold, but one of the best qualities of the Nano is the fact that it comes with a universal car seat adapter (ie. no add-ons required) so you can easily lock in your newborn babe.

This compact option from Bugaboo is infant car seat–compatible with adapters (sold separately), so you can use it from birth through toddlerhood. The stroller’s four-wheel suspension technology supports a spacious seat complete with a sun canopy, near full recline, and footrest—perfect for your little one's precious moments of relaxation. The Butterfly also folds up in lightning speed (one second, with only one hand) and comes with a comfy shoulder strap so you can tackle the other 53 items on your travel to-do list.

Things can get stressful when it’s time to pick up your stroller after landing, only to find that you own one of the seven black strollers lined up at the gate door. With the Babyzen YOYO2, you can customize the fabric colors (eight refreshing choices, including pink Ginger and dusty green Olive), add a footmuff (also in eight colors), a parasol (you never know), or mittens (for the stroller pusher). While these add-ons can increase the price of the stroller quite quickly, your YOYO2 will stick out like a beautiful thumb. If you’re traveling with a newborn, the YOYO2 can also be customized with a Newborn Pack ($180) or bassinet ($250).

The seamless one-handed fold of The Traveler will make you wish there was a reality competition series solely dedicated to how fast people can collapse their strollers. Besides that party trick, The Traveler was designed to survive frequent trips to and from the airport and fits into most overhead bins when folded. While the stroller is not compatible with any car seats, it does fit behind the passenger seat of most cars, freeing up trunk space for your other bags. Consider opting for the machine-washable seat liner, an add-on available in four colors.

Weighing even less than the standard-sized dachshund, the German-designed gb Pockit+ All-City is one of the lightest strollers on the list. The shock-absorbing wheels actually work better than the brand's other popular All-Terrain version, according to a number of parents we spoke to, and the stroller folds neatly into a giant purse or tote bag. Yup, when folded, the whole thing is small enough to fit into the overhead bin if you haven’t already maxed out your carry-on quota. The All-City comes with a sun canopy, a small basket, and is compatible with Cot to Go and Cybex car seats if your child traveler is less than 6 months old.

The Dutch design of the Aer is so sleek you’ll be tempted to display it like a sculpture at home when you’re not on the road or runway. The Aer offers a smooth ride thanks to four-wheel suspension and is available in seven earth tones, including sage green and taupe, but arguably its best feature is its one-second, one-handed fold. Plus, it’s so comfortable, your child might not want to get out of the ergonomically designed seat when it’s time to board.

Now in its second iteration, the Minu has a better folding lock system (compared to the 2018 version), a leather bumper bar, adjustable leg rest, and extendable canopy. With shock absorbing all-wheel suspension, this stroller can conquer any cobblestone or uneven sidewalk without interrupting a ride (or nap, with its multi-position recline feature). Like other UPPAbaby strollers, the Minu is companion friendly, meaning a second young traveler (up to 45 pounds) can safely ride along on the Piggy Back board attachment while you push the stroller with plenty of legroom (for you).

If an older toddler sibling isn’t into the idea of a ride along board, perhaps a traditional side-by-side double stroller—lightweight edition—is the better choice. Enter: the Kolcraft Cloud Plus double. The Disney-approved ride (meaning it meets the amusement park’s stroller restrictions) includes independently reclining seats, removable snack trays for easy cleaning, and a parent tray for two drinks. Plus, it stands on its own once folded.

While this traditional umbrella stroller isn’t designed for everyday use, the 3D Lite is a winner when it comes to airport travel. Sure, it doesn’t come with any bells or whistles, but the stroller gets the job done, as long as the surface remains mostly smooth or the walk to dinner is a short one. The 3D Lite has a decent-sized storage basket, folds up vertically, and comes with a long shoulder strap.

In terms of the fold, the Cloud Plus is a delightful hybrid of everything mentioned on this list: While it folds like an umbrella stroller and remains on the bulkier side (read: not minimalist), the fold can be achieved by one hand. The Cloud Plus is also the lightest of our picks and features a large storage basket, making it all that much easier to enjoy your vacation.