14 Smart Ways To Spend Your Left-Over Strollers Budget

The Lightest, Most Compact and Easiest to Fold Travel Strollers

This stroller is among the lightest and compact. It's also the easiest to fold. It is a great stroller and a fantastic sun canopy, and multi-position recline.

With a price of less than $100 it's an excellent value. It's lightweight and easy to fold, making it ideal for public transport, or even slinging over your shoulder.

1. Lightweight

When it comes to travel strollers, lightweight and easy-to-fold are key. The top models we tested fold down using just one hand (and sometimes two hands) and can be tucked away in overhead luggage compartments. They also have a good roll and are small enough to maneuver easily in tight spaces. Some models come with an adjustable hand for parents of varying heights. If you're planning a short trip with a newborn or a long-haul getaway with a toddler, you'll need an easy-to-pack stroller that makes the journey -- and return -- easier for your family.

To find the best travel pram travel strollers, we evaluated nine strollers that were able to meet our weight and size requirements. Each model was tested on city streets as well as on country side walks and in the airport terminal to determine its ability to maneuver, its ease of folding pushchair and carrying and overall comfort for the child.

Our top picks include the Babyzen YoYo2 ($320) that has the simplest fold of the travel strollers we tested and can fit into airplane overhead bins. The seat reclines nearly flat and is compatible with car seats and is suitable from birth. Other parent-friendly features include a deep undercarriage storage basket and a bag hook attached to the handle, and a UPF 50+ canopy that provides ample coverage for your little traveler.

The Cybex Orfeo (320) is another option. It features an articula fold that can be operated with one hand and is extremely light. Its five-point harness, padded and crotch straps keep your child secure, while the reversible seat as well as a hefty undercarriage basket ensure there's room for all of their possessions. It's also compatible with the brand's infant car seat, making it a viable option for families who start from birth.

The Coya TRVL ($320), an all-hands, one-step fold that is also compatible with car seats and comes with a large canopy. It's more expensive than other models in the category, but offers additional features such as a large cupholder and parent pocket, a movable handlebar to accommodate parents of different heights, and a comfortable carrying strap. Its simplicity is sacrificed for some durability when compared to other models in this category, however.

2. Folding is easy

When you're on the move, a travel stroller needs to be simple to open and close. You do not want a stroller that is difficult to close when you have groceries or children in your arms. The best travel strollers fold up easily and compactly, even with just one hand. Many come with a padded strap that can be comfortably placed over your shoulder.

In our tests, we awarded the Libelle stroller high marks due to its compactness and ease of folding. But it also has other nice features: It rolls effortlessly over all surfaces and has a generous canopy that offers plenty of coverage. Plus, it's surprisingly lightweight and free-standing when folded, which makes it easier to store.

For parents who want to stroll right up to the gate and pop their stroller into an overhead bin, we suggest looking for an option that will fit into. The Munchkin Sparrow, for example, fits nicely into the smallest fold and comes with a handy travel cover, but it has no reclining seat and a narrow cargo area that can accommodate a small bag or diaper bag (no backpacks).

Another option is the Babyzen Yoyo 2, which folds up into a concertina-style but also has the option of a reversible seat to allow face-to-face or back-to-back riding. Our editor in chief was able to open and close, although she wasn't thrilled by the way the handle folds up behind the seat when folded.

The most recent type of stroller that is a travel model is the tri-fold. It folds in thirds and provides the best combination of compactness and features. The UPPAbaby Minu for instance, comes with a convertible seat, an unstructured rear storage pouch, and a lockable clasp to keep it folded. It's a bit bigger than the umbrella models made by the brand however it folds more compactly than its G-Luxe and G-Link counterparts, and comes with an adjustable carry strap that can be worn over your shoulder.

3 in one pushchair. Easy to store

The best travel strollers can be folded down to a small size that is easy to store. They can be easily stowed in the trunk of a car or the overhead bin of an airplane. Some models come with a strap can be used to carry the stroller over your shoulder, so that your hands don't get exhausted. They're also lighter than standard strollers. This makes them easier to lift or carry for a stroll in the neighborhood or at the airport.

When we tested this stroller, it performed exceptionally well in our tests of durability and was easy to maneuver on all kinds of surfaces including smooth hardwoods to shag carpeting. Some of our test subjects found it a bit flimsy and the handlebar was not padded to ensure your hands were at ease. The size of the storage basket should also be considered. It's on the small side and some parents have found it difficult to fit a large diaper bag into it.

In general, we recommend calling your airline prior to time to confirm their specific guidelines for bringing on board strollers as they may differ. This is particularly crucial if you plan to gate-check your stroller, which would allow you to navigate the airport without it, and then be able to use it once you're on the plane (though this isn't a viable option for families who require a car seat or toddler booster).

The Contours Itsy travel stroller is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a compact travel stroller, lightweight stroller. It's almost fully assembled out of the box and the only thing you have to do is snap the bumper bar into the appropriate spot. It has a cup for parents holder and a back pocket, but no oversized basket, which could make it difficult to carry essentials for long trips.

If you're a frequent traveler we suggest you consider a more robust stroller that has better features and is able to hold more cargo. The UPPAbaby Mini for example has many of its G-Luxe or G-Link siblings' features, but is smaller and folds much faster. It's also a bit stronger than an umbrella stroller and it has a padded carrying strap that takes some of the burden off your shoulders.

4. Comfortable

It is important to be comfortable when using strollers for extended periods of time. Look for seats with ample padding and a recline feature that lets you set it at various angles. Note if the canopy extends for sun protection and if mesh windows promote airflow. You should consider a model that comes with an organizer for the parents or a cupholder, as well as an ample basket under the seat if you need to carry things with you. If you're shopping for a stroller for older children, look up the age range and assess whether your child will be comfortable in the seat without a car seat for infants.

How a stroller rolls is also vital. It needs to maneuver easily over various surfaces including smooth hardwoods and shag carpets to cobblestones, cheap Pushchairs (www.entropiaplanets.com) and gravel. It should also be able to navigate stairs and curbs with ease. Pick a stroller that is lightweight when you plan to do a lot walking throughout your trip. This will help to prevent back and leg pain.

A quality stroller for travel is one that is easy to use, as well. It should be assembled in less than 30 seconds and snap up securely when popped in the correct place. It should fold flat enough to fit in the boot of your car or in the overhead compartments on a plane. It should also remain upright when folded, so that you can reach it up with one hand while holding your baby in the other.

If you are a parent looking for a high-quality, lightweight travel stroller the Joie Tourist is a great alternative. It has several recline positions, which means your child can sleep comfortably, and its extended canopy offers plenty of sun coverage with UPF protection. Plus, it comes with a lot of other accessories; a footmuff, cup holder, and rain cover are included. Charlotte is thrilled that the car seat is suitable for newborns to four years old and doesn't require a separate adapter.