A travel stroller is designed with one primary mission: to make your life easier when you’re travelling. These strollers are lightweight, foldable, and often come with travel-friendly features like easy-to-maneuver wheels, one-hand folding mechanisms, etc. Unlike full-sized strollers, travel strollers don’t take up half your trunk space. They’re designed to be space-efficient, which makes them ideal for families who love road trips or city adventures. Overall, travel strollers are the secret ingredient to smoother, more enjoyable family adventures. Let’s get to know everything about travel strollers: when you need them, advantages, disadvantages, and more.
What Is A Travel Stroller?
A travel stroller is a smaller, lightweight, and more compact baby stroller designed to keep traveling with kids in mind. Travel strollers are typically easier to fold and unfold than full-size strollers and weigh less than typical regular strollers. It makes them ideal for travel, as they can be easily stowed in the overhead compartment of an airplane, carried on public transportation, or transported in the trunk of a car.
Best For Travel: Umbrella Strollers Vs. Travel Strollers
When it comes to strollers for your little one, the choices can be overwhelming. One common dilemma parents face is whether to go for an umbrella stroller or a travel stroller when it’s time to hit the road. Let’s break it down in simple terms without all the jargon.
Umbrella Strollers
Umbrella strollers can be your trusty sidekick for everyday use. They are lightweight, easy to carry, and a breeze to fold up. That’s why many parents might think they’re the go-to option for travel. But hold on, they have limitations.
Umbrella strollers are not exactly tailored for globetrotting. They are designed for quick errands and short outings, like a trip to the mall. These strollers typically lack a spacious storage basket. When traveling, you need that extra room for baby essentials, snacks, and souvenirs.
Travel Strollers
Travel strollers are a parred version of a full-sized stroller, including all the necessary amenities must-have for travel purposes and at the same time offer benefits of an umbrella stroller: lightweight and compact folding. Here’s why they might be your best bet:
Light and Compact: Just like umbrella strollers, travel strollers are lightweights that fold up neatly. They won’t weigh you down during your adventures.
All the Essentials: Travel strollers are a trimmed-down version of full-sized strollers, but they don’t skimp on the essentials. You get that spacious storage basket for your travel gear, and some even have nifty extras like a child tray and parent console.
Ready for Anything: These strollers are designed with travel in mind to handle different terrains and conditions. Whether you’re strolling through a city or trekking through a park, they’ve got you covered.
In the battle of travel strollers vs. umbrella strollers for your family adventures, the choice depends on your needs. If you’re planning short trips to the grocery store or around the neighborhood, an umbrella stroller might do the trick. But if you’re gearing up for some serious travel with your little one, a travel stroller is the way to go. It offers the convenience and storage space you need while keeping things light and compact.
Why Do You Need a Travel Stroller?
Many parents opt for a traditional stroller for everything, even traveling. But a lite, more agile travel stroller makes it more practical: for airports, airplane storage, narrow walkways, public transportation. A travel stroller is a must-have for families who love to travel. It is a lightweight and compact stroller that is easy to fold and carry. Moreover, travel strollers are also typically less expensive than traditional strollers – a great value for your money.
Still not convinced whether you need a separate travel stroller? Let’s go through the pros and cons of three major types of strollers, assuming you travel too often:
Full-sized stroller:
Pros:
- Everyday strollers with lots of storage and great features
- It comes with large canopies
- Some may also have all-terrain wheels
- Some have room for an infant car seat or bassinet
Cons:
- Typically, it is heavy and bulky
- Not easy to fold
- It does not fit in narrow spaces, airplane overhead bins, or small car trunks
Umbrella stroller:
Pros:
- Ultra-lightweight
- Easy to fold and carry
- Fit in narrow spaces, easily fits on airplane overhead bins
Cons:
- Non adjustable seats and cup holders
- Comes with short canopy
- Seat is less comfortable
- Not easy to drive with one-hand
- Most strollers are not compatible with adequate storage, parent console etc.
Travel stroller:
Pros:
- Designed to be lightweight and compact
- Easy to fold and compact in size while collapsed
- Easy to push and steer
- Easy transfer of the baby from the pushchair to the car and vice versa
- Typically less expensive than traditional strollers
Cons:
- A bit expensive than umbrella strollers
What to Look Up In A Travel Stroller?
When it comes to choosing a travel stroller, there are several important things to consider, such as the weight, seat, and much more. Let’s take a closer look at the things to consider for your travel stroller.
Lightweight
You need a stroller that won’t add unnecessary bulk and won’t feel like you’re lugging around a ton of extra weight. Unlike bulkier alternatives, which can be quite hefty, many travel strollers are specifically designed with weight in mind. They typically weigh between 10-20 lbs. Lightweight makes these strollers easy to handle, even on the go.
Comfortable Seat
A comfortable seat is a must-have for your baby’s comfort during your travels. Your baby might spend extended periods in the stroller, so having a cozy seat with soft padding is essential. Moreover, consider adjustable seats as a top priority. Adjusting the seat ensures your kid is sitting in the correct position, which allows them to relax and enjoy the ride without any complaints.
Easy-to-Fold
Travel often involves hopping between different modes of transportation. You’ll find yourself folding and unfolding your stroller frequently. That’s where a travel stroller that easily folds into a compact shape becomes your best friend. Most travel strollers are designed to make your life easier in this regard, so look for one that simplifies the folding process.
Extendable Canopy
When you’re on the move with your baby, you’ll encounter all kinds of weather, including sunshine. Look for a travel stroller with an extendable canopy that provides full coverage. It’ll shield your baby from the sun’s rays and keep them safe. Bonus points if the canopy has good ventilation to keep your baby cool and a peek-a-boo window so you can check in on the little explorer without disturbing their nap.
Swivel Wheels
One thing you should look for in a travel stroller is swivel wheels. With swivel wheels, you can rotate the stroller a full 360 degrees for smooth and effortless navigation. When you are trying to navigate through tight corners, narrow spaces, or bustling crowds with a stroller that doesn’t have swivel wheels – it can quickly become a nightmare. Swivel wheels offer the flexibility and control you need to effortlessly shift directions and avoid obstacles.
Car Seat Compatibility
When your little one is sound asleep in their car seat, you don’t want to wake them up, but you also need to get moving. Many travel strollers are designed to fit infant car seat carriers securely. It means you can seamlessly transfer the sleeping baby from the car to the stroller without disrupting their nap time. It’s a feature I absolutely loved when picking my first two strollers. However, keep in mind that strollers with car seat compatibility can be a bit bulky.
Storage Space
Traveling with kids often means hauling around a mountain of essentials: diapers, wipes, snacks, and the list goes on. Having a spacious storage basket under your stroller can be a lifesaver. A basket keeps everything you need within easy reach. Here’s a tip: remember that you’ll have to remove everything from the basket before folding the stroller, so keep it organized.
How to Fly with a Stroller
Carrying a stroller on road trips is challenging. How about bringing a stroller during a flight? Will it be added to your carry-on and luggage allocation? What if you packed the stroller yet have to use it at the airport? The answer is you can do that! There are a few options:
- Check stroller as baggage: Many parents use the stroller during check-in and move up for a baby carrier while at the airport. In case you have a large stroller, it may add to your baggage. Note that a lightweight travel stroller will not add up to your baggage allocation.
- Check the stroller at the gate: You may need to use the stroller till they board the plane. In this case, you should check the stroller with the gate agent and get it tagged. If you have a connecting flight on the way, holding back your stroller on the jet bridge would spoil your time.
- Onboard the stroller on the airplane: Many travel strollers are compact-fold that they fit easily in the overhead bin. If you can carry the stroller with you, it will save waiting time to get it on the jet bridge.
Final Words
Traveling with little ones is tricky enough, a stroller may be pile-on! If you’re a travel enthusiast, a travel stroller is a must-have for your family adventures, whether you’re jetting off on an airplane, hopping on a train, or using public transport. The beauty of these strollers lies in their lightweight, easy-to-fold up, and storage capabilities. They can effortlessly fit into overhead compartments on airplanes or snugly into the trunk of your car to make your travel experience hassle-free.
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