Compact Pushchair Reviews
A compact stroller that is lightweight will be an ideal option for you if you travel frequently via public transport or by car. These strollers are simple to fold and store, and less likely to be damaged by baggage handlers.
These lightweight travel strollers offer modern convenience and are easy to navigate on cobblestones. They can also be easily stored in overhead compartments of planes.
Lightweight
The most compact pushchairs are lightweight to carry, and even more importantly, they are easy to fold. They are usually simple to fold with just one hand and take up less room when folded than large buggies. This makes them a great option if you have limited storage space at home or are worried about space restrictions when traveling, especially by plane.
Some models have a smaller footprint when closed, which makes them perfect for 037810 spaces that are tight. They are the ideal choice if you have an apartment or you want something light and agile for walking around. They can be uncomfortable for older children who have to extend their legs to move around.
There are many different types of folds available, some can be done with one hand and others require two hands or a bit more effort. Some are designed to be as small as possible, meaning they will fit into the cabin baggage allowances of many flights or be carried on your shoulder with a strap or handle.
Silver Cross Dune is our most loved lightweight pushchair. The Silver Cross Dune is compact and offers all the thoughtful features and a smart design you’d expect from this brand of the past. It has an easy-to use fold and, just like the Contours Itsy comes fully assembled inside the box. It’s a good choice for parents who plan to travel a lot with their baby, and fits into the majority of car boot spaces and trunk spaces.
Another good alternative is another option is the Cybex Mios, which straddles both categories of pushchair as an all-purpose travel system that has nimbleness and a small fold. It can be utilized from birth in a parent-facing mode, but then switched to a world-facing mode as your child gets older. It also comes with a comfortable recline that’s nap-friendly. It’s not as compact as the Libelle however it’s smaller and is more suitable for use on flat surfaces. It is not suitable for rough terrain. The price is reasonable and the durability tests are top-notch.
Easy to store
The Joie Pact Pro is the ideal travel stroller, folding down so small that it can be tucked away in an overhead compartment for luggage, and weighing so little you’ll not even notice it in your car boot. It’s also a great stroller for everyday use. Our tester Hollie discovered that it was easy to steer, even when carrying a baby of just one year old. She was impressed by the adjustable handle as well as the lockable wheels and reclined seat. However, she did note that it was not very comfortable. She also likes that you can add other features like a reversible and washable seat cover, rain cover, and a foot muff.
The Babyzen YoYO fold pushchair is a similar stroller that folds compactly. It’s not as sleek as the Cybex Libelle but it’s still an attractive package that can be easily slid into car boot and trunks. It also has more options for babies than other buggies, including the option of adding a bassinet or newborn cot, plus a bespoke ride-on board for older kids and a double seat adapter.
It’s not the most compact buggy to drive on rough or uneven terrain, and its tinier wheels don’t perform as well as the other models we’ve tried. It is still a very easily maneuverable pushchair, and YOYO is great at in narrow aisles and muddy pathways. It’s ideal for holiday or city break.
The Cosatto Bee6 is a compact travel buggy that offers a host of features for a price that is surprisingly low. It can be folded down to the size of a large backpack and weighs just 6kg, making it an ideal travel buggy to carry on planes and trains. It’s also very easy to steer and our MFM tester Matt found it to be an absolute joy to steer even when a heavy toddler was riding along. The hood is another plus, as it can be lowered to shade you and protect from sun and rain. It’s also great for napping. The only drawbacks are that it has no storage under the seat and you’ll have to carry or delicately hang a bag on the handlebar (against our expert advice!). You can also buy a separate changing bag holder for this buggy to make it a fantastic holiday buggy.
Easy to Manoeuvre
Wheels on compact pushchairs might look small, yet they are often surprisingly good in navigating narrow aisles and rough terrain. The Micralite is an excellent example, despite having small wheels it handles bumpy pavements with ease, turns sharply on narrow streets and even can handle some small gravels without a lot of difficulty. It also has a slick steering system that is a breeze to steer with just one hand. It folds into a very neat and compact package which can be easily tucked away into its carrying bag.
The majority of compact pushchairs are designed for toddlers and older children, but an increasing number offer a lie-flat seat or the option of adding an extra carrycot (or 037810 baby car seat) to allow them to be used from the time of birth. These innovative concertina or Z-fold buggies tend to be very light at 6-8 kg and are cabin-approved on a variety of airlines, making them perfect for travel. MFM Editor Gemma has used hers many occasions and says it’s incredibly easy to use and pack away.
If you are looking for a compact fold then the YOYO is a great option. It was the first buggy that offered this feature. It’s still a very popular option, with a lot of parents favouring it over its imitators because of its unique features and its superior performance. It’s a great choice for frequent travelers, particularly those who want to avoid the stress of waiting in lines at baggage pickup by bringing their stroller with them.
The YOYO is also extremely compact and can fit into the carrying bag easily and with some room to spare. It’s a great choice for frequent travelers, especially those who have to pack a lot of things in their suitcase. Additionally, it’s extremely versatile. You can purchase an array of accessories for it including baby bassinets, a bespoke ride-on boards and a twin travel bundles to transform it into the form of a tandem. You can also get an umbrella and rain cover for extra peace of mind.
Confortable
Hollie is our reviewer who recommends the Silver Cross model to parents seeking a light and compact pushchair. It’s simple to use and fits into the trunk of your car. Its maneuverability and reclined seat are among the best we’ve seen in our tests. It also boasts a useful tray for parents as well as a storage basket that fits small backpacks, and it’s got great sun cover options (including the hood) and straps that are cushioned to help your child be comfortable.
Some compact-fold strollers fold so small that they are cabin approved for air travel. This makes them perfect for those who frequently travel or are limited in your car boot. They’re typically lightweight and compact, making them easy to carry and can be used in conjunction with a travel system, if you opt for a model with a lie-flat seat unit or comes with an optional newborn ‘pod’ or one of two luxurious foldable carrycots.
When looking for a excursion, it’s important to remember that not all buggy models are created to be the same. Some brands claim their compact-fold pushchairs are able to be folded with one hand, whereas others require more involvement or two hands to work out how to fold it into the folded position. Examine if the seat reclines. Some are flat, while others only have a slight recline. This could be okay for toddlers, but not suitable for younger children.
It’s also important to determine whether the model you’re considering is specifically designed for the kind of travel you’re doing, for example, when you’re heading to a hot destination you should look for one that has a vented mesh fabric to keep your little one cool. If you’re planning to travel somewhere that is windy or rainy it is important to ensure that your pushchair comes with a cover designed for it. Generic covers will not fit and may let water in.
