Today’s parents are out and about, and their babies are, too. That’s why a baby travel system is totally essential to a parent’s ability to be busy.
The best baby travel system? Depends on your needs.
Best Double Stroller Travel System
Although the Graco Uno2Duo Travel System is bigger than single stroller systems, it offers more flexibility for your family.
Graco Uno2Duo Travel System
Great for Growing Families
No matter if you are just beginning your family or expanding it, flexibility is key. The Graco Uno2Duo Travel System offers the ability to work as a single or double stroller so that you can adjust according to your needs.
The Car Seat
Graco makes some of the best infant car seats, and the SnugRide SnugLock 35 that’s included with the Uno2Duo system is no exception. Here is a quick overview of the specs of the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 infant car seat:
- Holds infants from 4 to 35 pounds, and up to 32 inches
- SnugLock technology means you can install the base tightly every time
- Click Connect compatible with Graco strollers
- Weighs only 7 pounds
- Adjustable reclining base connects to vehicle with latch connector straps for added security
- Meets or exceeds all US car seat safety standards
- Made with EPS foam for safety, and has particularly good side impact protection
- 5 point safety harness with one hand adjust system
- Large canopy to protect baby from the sun
- Removable infant support pillow
At this point, you’re probably wondering if Graco is secretly paying me to give all their products rave reviews. While I wish they would, they aren’t. I have simply compared Graco products to other products and they hold their own. This lovely travel system is no exception. It’s gotten outstanding reviews on many websites.
You can check out our full review of the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 30, which is an extremely similar car seat model that can be bought separately.
The Stroller
Graco has taken the best of the single stroller world and combined it with the best of the double stroller world. Graco says that this stroller “is ready for 1 and grows for 2.” And that’s exactly what it does.
It has a lightweight design. This stroller frame alone weighs in at 23.2 pounds, which is not too bad, considering that it can hold two children. The car seat adds an additional 7 pounds, and the toddler seat adds 6.5 pounds, so, all told, this stroller weighs 36.7 pounds before babies and bags are added.
As for that flexibility we talked about, there are 18 total ways to configure the stroller – 10 for one child and 8 for two children. Think about it this way: you have a toddler seat that can sit in front or back of the stroller. That same toddler seat can convert into an infant bassinet, which can sit on the front of the stroller. There’s a standing platform for an older child. And finally, the car seat can attach to either the frame, front or back, or it can click into an extra toddler seat. For those who like math, that second toddler seat (sold separately) adds an additional 4 ways to ride, for a grand total of 22 ways to ride!
It sounds like that second seat is really going to crowd the stroller, but not when you expand the frame! The frame expands out 5 inches and locks into place, which allows for 2 kids to ride comfortably and not be squashed. And if you are only rocking with 1 baby and need a little extra storage? Go ahead and expand that frame and get 5 extra inches of room out of the big storage basket. It’s amazing!
A double stroller needs double storage, that’s just baby science. Thankfully, while the Uno2Duo doesn’t have a parent console, it does have a dishwasherable cup holder and a parent phone caddy that clicks onto each side of the handle. And don’t worry, baby has their own snack tray and double drink holder, so they won’t be hogging up your precious space. This snack tray also acts as the adapter for clicking the car seat in and out if you choose to use it with the seat and not just on the stroller frame.
Some double strollers require super-human strength, a full-length truck bed, and a Ph.D. in mechanics to fold. Graco is well known for their “fast action fold,” which is supposed to take one second and be done with one hand. This stroller can definitely be folded easily. While most strollers fold in half at the seat, this stroller collapses down upon itself. Just pull the release lever on the handle and push down, and you are left with a compact stroller ready to store. Bonus: no handle drags on the ground when folded!
For your baby’s comfort, there’s a convertible 5 point safety harness to 3 point safety harness. This is nice, since baby can stay in the toddler seat until they reach 50 pounds. There’s also a multi-position reclining seat that can recline to be almost all the way flat (that’s how you get that bassinet, remember?). It’s got a large canopy that’s extendable with a visor and has a peek-a-boo window.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 35 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 32 inches
Car seat weight: 7 pounds
Stroller weight: 23.2 pounds frame, 29.7 pounds with toddler seat
Stroller weight limit: 50 pounds per seat
Areas for Improvement
- Tires need some work – they get stuck and start to wear down easily
- Bigger price tag
- Configuration can be awkward with second seat in the lower back – not much space to get in/out and can’t see ahead
- Bigger and bulkier than other single stroller systems
Here’s the full breakdown of the Graco Uno2Duo stroller.
Best Baby Travel Systems
The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 and Doona Infant Car Seat are best for travel, while the Evenflo Pivot Travel System and Safety 1st Smooth Ride Travel System are more affordable options for your family.
UPPAbaby Vista + Mesa Travel System
Pricey-But-Plush
The Car Seat
Let’s start with the biggest thing for the UPPAbaby Mesa + Vista travel system: safety. The UPPAbaby Mesa infant car seat has a big head pillow that provides both comfort and an additional level of side impact protection for your growing child. The EPP foam helps absorb the energy of the impact away from your child and also helps them stay comfy.
This best car seat was awarded the NHTSA 5-Star rating for ease of use. That means that this seat makes it simple for parents to get a safe and secure fit every time. The Smart Secure system helps you to get the car seat in and ready in just a few seconds. It has an adjustable base, self-retracting latch connectors, and a tightness indicator. It even has levels on each side and a smooth, finished base for no vehicle seat indents.
Oh, and to get it out of the base? The release button is on top of the carrying handle. Genius!
Babies of all sizes will fit in this seat thanks to the 5 position adjustable and no-rethread harness. It’s even padded! You can move the bottom buckle to one of 2 positions to get the perfect fit.
The merino wool fabric of the UPPAbaby Mesa is stylish, naturally fire resistant, and even moisture wicking. The canopy is huge. You can wash both the seat cover and the canopy. One note: despite the cool fabric, babies tend to get hot in this seat.
At just 17 inches wide, the UPPAbaby Mesa Infant car seat fits well in smaller vehicles. The size of the UPPAbaby MESA car seat, together with the adjustable straps and plush infant insert, makes it perfect for preemies as small as 4 pounds.
The Stroller
Like the Mesa car seat, the UPPAbaby Vista Stroller has a ton of features.
The big draw of this stroller is that you can fit up to 3 kids in it. There are 2 seat options and a stroller board option. Both seats can face either forward or backward and can be reclined. The only downside is that you have to have the second seat and the stroller board removed in order to fold and store the stroller.
Speaking of folding, it’s really easy to do. And once you get it folded, the stroller will lock and stand on it’s own.
For when there’s just one baby, you can attach the cozy bassinet. It has a lot of padding, and a complete coverage sun shade. The bassinet can be detached and used as a carrier to keep baby sleeping. (Note: we said carrier, NOT car seat)
The toddler seat has inifinite recline, a massive sun canopy, and removable/washable fabrics.
As for working as a travel system, it’s the stroller base that accommodates the Mesa Infant Car Seat. Just click in the adapters and click the car seat down in. You can even haul around 2 bassinets or 2 car seats if you have 2 little ones! Many parents have complained that it can become crowded with the second seat, though.
For this price, you get more than just plastic wheels on a frame. Both the front wheels and the rear wheels have suspension and no-puncture tire design. The result is the baby stroller Cadillac equivalent. Like riding on air.
The storage for this stroller is so-so. The under seat basket is big and easy to get to. But that’s all there is. No drink holders or snack trays here. At least the telescoping handle bar and child arm bar are swaddled in real leather!
See how the Vista stroller compares to the Cruz stroller in our Uppababy comparison.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 35 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 32 inches
Car seat weight: 10 pounds
Stroller weight limit: Up to 50 pounds
Stroller frame weight: 19.3 pounds (26.6 pounds with toddler seat attached)
Areas for Improvement
- Luxury features mean very high prices
- Car seat gets pretty hot (not breathable)
- Second seat must be removed in order to fold and store stroller
- No snack or drink trays on stroller
- Crowded with second seat attached
Evenflo Pivot Travel System
Small-Budget Friendly with Great Features
The Car Seat
The Evenflo Pivot travel system features a fantastic car seat: the Evenflo SafeMax Infant Car Seat. This best infant car seat works for babies that are 4 to 35 pounds and up to 32 inches tall.
The SafeZone base and has an anti-rebound bar (similar to some Britax models). It reduces the amount of movement that can happen after impact.
You can install the base with Evenflo’s very user-friendly latch system. Simply hook on the two lower anchor hooks (with button release!), tighten, and use the integrated belt lock off system to lock the base tightly into place. If you are using the vehicle belt, you’ll get just as secure of an installation because of this lock off system.
The base also has recline to get it at the right angle. You can use the built-in knob to adjust the seat until the built-in indicator level is in the right spot. With all these base safety and convenience features, it’s almost impossible to install it wrong.
The seat clicks easily into the base and the stroller and has an easy to access release latch on the back of the car seat. It might take you a couple tries to line it up, but once you do, it clicks into the base or stroller tightly.
Safety is most important. Like all Evenflo car seats, this seat has been designed and tested to meet or exceed all US safety standards two times over. It’s also got extra rollover and side impact protection to keep baby safe in any scary scenario.
The SafeMax has lots of padding, including an infant pillow insert, and uses breathable fabrics, so baby stays comfortable. There’s a 5 point safety harness that has an easy front adjust and padding, a big 3-panel canopy, and a padded handle for better carrying.
The Stroller
The stroller is the main attraction when it comes to this modular travel system. This one stroller actually functions as three different strollers: a baby carriage, an infant stroller, and a toddler stroller.
The Pivot stroller features 6 different ways to ride. How does it do this? Well, within the three different modes that I just mentioned, you can have the baby facing you or facing the world.
That means that as a baby carriage, which is probably the first mode you’ll use, you can have the baby bassinet facing toward you or toward the world.
This is not a totally unique feature but there aren’t that many bassinet stroller travel systems.
Then when you have a toddler on your hands, You can put them in the toddler seat, complete with padded harness, reclinable seat, and huge, 3 panel canopy with peek-a-boo window. You’ll have a convenient snack holder for baby too.
(I love seats that can face both ways! Check out my Urbini Reversi review for another great travel system that has a flippable seat.)
But do you want to hear the best part of the Evenflo Pivot? The toddler seat and the baby carriage are the same piece of gear. You can convert it from one into the other with just a buckle and a strap. It works as a seat until baby reaches 50 pounds.
Finally, there is frame stroller or infant stroller mode. This is when you detach all seats from the stroller frame and use the frame itself to carry the SafeMax car seat. You can attach the car seat so that it faces you or so that it faces away from you. No adapters needed– it simply attaches to the frame itself on the sides.
The Pivot stroller is foldable. All you do is click the button on the sides of the frame, and the frame folds in half on itself. It can be folded with the toddler seat on, or when its just the frame alone. It is then pretty flat and easy to load into a trunk. It weighs in at about 15 pounds, so it’s not terribly heavy to fold and move. Maneuverability is nice, with front swivel wheels that are nice and thick. The back wheels feature a two-step (aka not linked) braking system.
Besides the amazing versatility and easy use of the stroller, you’re going to get a stroller that has very stylish design. Anyone looking at this stroller would have no idea that it’s an Evenflo. It honestly looks like an expensive boutique purchase.
The storage basket at the bottom has ample room and can be accessed from both the front and the back. There is a simple parent cup holder that can be placed anywhere on the handle.
Bonus: The Evenflo Pivot Xpand
I want to mention another version of this stroller really quickly. The Evenflo Pivot Xpand Travel System has all the same features and user-friendliness of the single version, but with a bonus seat.
There are just as many ways to ride with the double version. There are up to 22 configurations with the second seat option. You can turn the seats in several different ways and you can adjust it with the amazing slide-and-lock feature that attaches the seat to the frame.
You still get a big storage basket, a peek-a-boo canopy, large tires, standing fold, adjustable handles, and other great extras. If you might expand your family some day, and love the idea of the Pivot, then the Pivot Xpand is definitely for you.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 35 pounds
Car seat height limit: 17 to 32 inches
Car seat weight: 8.9 pounds
Stroller weight: 15 pounds
Stroller weight limit: Up to 50 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Frame is a bit large, even when folded
- Front wheels get stuck
- Requires 2 hands to fold/unfold
Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System
A Reliable and Very Traditional Stroller Combo
The Car Seat
The seat included with this travel system is the Chicco KeyFit 30 car seat. This best infant car seat is one of the safest on the market. It meets or exceeds all safety standards and also has EPS foam and a contoured shell for outstanding protection in an accident.
The included base has latch connectors and an easy tightening system to make sure that it’s installed properly. It does have clear belt routing and integrated lock-offs to install it easily without the base in place.
This car seat can hold an infant from 4 to 30 pounds and up to 30 inches in height. It has a newborn head and body support. It also has a nice, large canopy, and it’s easy to tighten and adjust five-point safety harness. It’s also easy to clean.
This seat is also relatively narrow. If you have multiple kids and need a narrow seat, there are quite a few good options.
See the different Keyfit versions in our complete Chicco car seat analysis.
The Stroller
They call this the Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System because it has a trio of modes for use. The first mode is a car seat carrier. You can completely remove the seat, footrest, and canopy of the stroller to have just a frame to attach the car seat carrier. You do have to have the adapter, which is included when you purchase the travel system, in place to be able to click the KeyFit 30 car seat into place.
The next mode is a travel system mode, where you can have the Bravo stroller with the adapter for the car seat. This allows the baby to either sit in the car seat or sit in the stroller, as long as you remember to bring the adapter with you.
The final mode is the toddler stroller which is just the regular Bravo stroller. In this mode, the stroller can hold a child up to 50 pounds.
Besides these modes, it has a multi-position recliner for the back of the seat. It has an extra-large canopy with a peek-a-boo window. There’s a fantastic folding system that can be done one-handed. You just grab the handle under the seat and pull it up, then the auto-swivel wheels rotate inward automatically, and the stroller folds to a small and compact standing form. It’s basically foolproof.
The brakes of the all-wheel suspension stroller are linked, which means that braking one wheel in the back will also brake the other wheel. This stroller has two front wheels that can be swiveled or locked into place as you need.
The Bravo Trio stroller does weigh about 23 pounds. To finish out, the stroller also features a very large storage basket that’s easy to access in any mode, a small parent tray with two cup holders, and a 3-position adjustable push handle.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 30 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 30 inches
Car seat weight: 9.6 pounds
Stroller weight limit: 5o pounds
Stroller weight: 23 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Bigger price tag
- Stroller seat only faces out (can’t switch)
- Uses adapters for travel system (included)
Graco Modes Travel System
Lots of Flexibility and Features
The Car Seat
The seat included with the Graco Modes combo is the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Infant Car Seat. It’s really similar to the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 car seat that’s included with most Graco travel systems.
The big difference is that is uses the SnugLock installation instead of Click Connect. But the good news is that the Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 is compatible with Click Connect strollers, just in case you ever change strollers or have a separate jogging stroller or something.
The SnugLock tech still gives that comforting and very audible “click!” when the car seat is attached to the base or stroller. You can install the car seat using the latch system or the seat belt. Either way, it takes 3 steps and it’s in nice and tight because of the unique locking arm that keeps the base in place.
The install is made even easier by the 4 position recline base and the bubble indicator that’s simple to read and use.
You’ll know it’s safe because it meets or exceeds all Federal safety standards. It also has EPS foam to keep baby comfortable and safe in any situation. This foam also keeps this best car seat lightweight, with it weighing just 7.5 pounds.
It’s got ample newborn head and body padding and an easily adjustable safety harness. There’s also a large rotating canopy. It’s meant for babies from 4 to 35 pounds and up to 32 inches.
Oh, and one last cool thing! It has a storage compartment to keep the product manual and latch straps in place for when you need them. I love little extras like this!
The Stroller
This stroller can function as 3 different types of stroller: an infant car seat carrier, an infant stroller, and a toddler stroller. Between those 3 functions, there are a grand total of 10 different ways to ride in the Graco Modes stroller.
Here’s a breakdown of the 10 modes:
- Infant car seat carrier with car seat facing parent
- Infant car seat carrier with car seat facing outward
- Travel system with both stroller seat and car seat attached, facing parent
- Infant stroller with seat facing parent
- Infant stroller with seat facing outward
- Little toddler stroller (footrest all the way up) with seat facing parent
- Little toddler stroller with seat facing outward
- Older toddler stroller (footrest all the way down) with seat facing parent
- Older toddler stroller with seat facing outward
- Big kid stroller, with no snack tray and footrest extended
There are a ton of cool features on this versatile stroller. The 3 position leg rest is what really helps give this the many modes, because it can be folded all the way up to enclose an infant, or folded down flush with the seat for a big kid.
The reclining seat helps, too. It can be folded up straight, or it can be laid down flat to make the bassinet-like infant enclosure.
The wheels have suspension and do a pretty good job at turning. The front wheels have locks to make keeping on the straight and narrow (sidewalk) easy.
The standing, one-hand fold is really nice. Just click down the button on the handle and fold down. There’s a kickstand that keeps it up and there’s a lock that keeps it shut. Just undo the lock and pop it back open when you need it again.
You’ll also find a 3- or 5-point safety harness with removable pads. There’s a parent tray with drink holders and a covered compartment. There’s a similar snack tray for the kiddos. This snack tray and the supporting arm rests can both be removed when your baby gets big.
Finally, there’s a big canopy with a peek-a-boo window and a large under-seat storage compartment with both front and rear access.
If you have 2 kiddos (or might some day), check out the version that can hold two seats: the Graco Modes2Grow. There’s also a straight-up double version called the Graco Modes Duo.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 35 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 32 inches
Stroller weight limit: 50 pounds
Stroller weight: 21 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Harness is hard to buckle and unbuckle sometimes
- Can’t fold the stroller when in infant mode
- Handlebar can’t be adjusted
- Plastic wheels aren’t ideal, but still handle well
Baby Jogger City Mini GT Travel System
Tiny Fold for Easy Travel
The Car Seat
This travel system comes with the Baby Jogger City GO infant car seat. This rear-facing car seat has a fully adjustable stay-in-car base with integrated belt lock-offs. The push-button latch hooks are so much easier to use when installing and removing the base! And if you want to go baseless, you can use the taxi-safe seatbelt path to secure the car seat in the vehicle.
This safe car seat meets or exceeds all safety standards. It has been side impact tested to ensure maximum safety. It uses EPS foam for both comfort and protection. It’ll fit a baby from 4 to 35 pounds and up to 32 inches.
This best car seat only weighs 10.2 pounds on it’s own, and even more with the base attached. This makes it one of the heavier, more solid car seats on the market.
The 5 point safety harness is comfortable and easy to adjust. You don’t have to rethread the harness to adjust it, which is an incredible feature. It has a large carrying handle, a removable infant support insert, and a massive UPF50+ canopy as well. This car seat might not have a ton in the way of features, but it’s basic, simple, and safe. That’s all you really need!
The Stroller
This stroller will hold a child up to 65 pounds. This is nice since you’ll get many years of use out of it.
Your kiddo can relax in the reclining and padded seat. They’ll be protected by the large canopy with a mesh peek-a-boo window. The large basket at the bottom has plenty of storage for bags, toys, snacks, and anything else you need.
The braking system is hand-operated and works really well. You can easily click it in and you don’t have to worry about snapping a toenail off. The handlebar is adjustable as well. The front swivel wheels provide easy maneuvering for the sturdy frame. You can lock the wheels if you prefer.
There is no snack storage for kiddos. There’s also no storage for parents, aside from the bottom basket. You can purchase these items separately. You also have to use the adapters to put the car seat in, so that’s one more piece (well, technically 2) to keep track of.
The fold is incredible. It only takes one hand to pull the strap to fold it and lock it into place. It’s just as easy to unfold. The fact that it folds up to be smaller and is light means that you can carry it around with just one hand, too.
Exact Specifications
- Car seat weight limits: 4 to 30 pounds
- Car seat height limit: Up to 32 inches
- Stroller weight: 22 pounds
- Folded stroller dimensions: 29.53″ x 24.21″ x 10.24″
Areas for Improvement
- Stroller canopy is flimsy and comes undone easily
- Getting car seat lined up in car seat adapters is a learning curve
- Opening the folded stroller takes two hands
- Due to larger size overall, stroller is still pretty large when folded
- Name is deceiving; you can’t actually jog with this stroller!
Doona Infant Car Seat
All-in-One Option for City-Dwellers
The Car Seat
The Doona Infant Car Seat is a sensational, one-of-a-kind product that incorporates all the best of the car seat and stroller worlds.
As a car seat, this works for babies 4 to 35 pounds and up to 32 inches, just like every other car seat on the market. It’s also approved for use in the car and on airplanes, just like most other car seats.
This rear-facing only car seat has a unique carrying handle that turns into the stroller’s handle. It also acts as an anti-rebound bar while the car seat is installed in the vehicle.
One of the best things about this best car seat is that it’s super narrow. Even with the reclining base, it’s small. At only 17.3 inches, it won’t hog the whole back seat. This does mean that it is smaller in general, though, so big babies beware.
The Stroller
The car seat is the stroller. I know, your mind is blown.
This stroller works as a true travel system base: the car seat just attaches at the snack tray to get pushed around. The stroller’s peek-a-boo canopy means that you can cover baby and still keep an eye on them. It’s got a 3 wheeled design with durable plastic wheels and front wheel suspension.
The height adjustable handle and parent snack tray/drink holders are great to have. The bottom basket is large, but hard to get to if the stroller seat is reclined.
The child seat reclines to several different positions. There’s a 5 point child safety harness, too. All this is topped off by an awesome 2 drink-holding snack tray that can be clicked off.
You can fold the stroller relatively easily with just one hand. The folding mechanism takes some practice and some muscle, since the stroller still weighs 33 pounds. Once folded, it’s nice and compact.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 5 to 30 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 30 inches
Car seat weight: 9.45 pounds
Stroller weight: 33 pounds
Stroller weight limit: 50 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Less-than-perfect quality
- Front wheel is hard to maneuver
- Car seat buckle is annoying
- No infant insert for car seat
- Smaller height and weight limits on both seat and stroller
Britax B-Free & B-Safe Gen2 Travel System
Streamlined Safety and Style
The Car Seat
The seat included with the Britax B-Free and B-Safe Gen2 travel system is the Britax B-Safe Gen2 FlexFit. This is Britax’s newest car seat and an update to the much-loved Britax B Safe 35 Infant Car Seat. This seat will hold an infant from 4 to 35 pounds and 32 inches tall or shorter. For the smaller babes, it has a lovely head and body cushion that’s removable as baby grows.
The B Safe Gen2 meets or exceeds all US safety standards. This is one of the best infant car seats because it features Britax’s SafeCell impact protection. This little network of plastic honeycombs inside the base and the car seat itself does wonders for absorbing energy in a crash. The car seat was also designed with a steel frame to help stabilize the car seat at the connection point to the vehicle, which is where the most durability is needed. The car seat has a wonderful contoured shell design, now with more interior room for baby to sit. Not only does this make it smaller in your vehicle, but it also helps the car seat to move around less and also offers deep side impact protection.
The base has SafeCell impact protection, and it also has the SafeCenter latch feature. This is a set of center-pull straps that make tightening the base in the car a cinch. The latch connectors are created with an on/off button that allows you to make placing and releasing the anchors very easy as well. It also features built-in lock-offs for when you want to use your car seat belt to install it.
The Gen2 FlexFit, just like the B Safe 35, also features a quick-adjust harness. This allows you to move the safety harness and the headrest up as your child grows. You simply remove a lever and the entire headrest and shoulder strap system moves upward. There’s no need to rethread straps every time you need to make an adjustment.
Extras: In addition to the wonderful safety features, this car seat has perks like an extra-large canopy, spring-assisted recline, and ergonomic handle for comfortable caring, and an extra-padded 5 point safety harness. And as an added bonus, you can use this car seat with any Britax stroller, just in case you buy an additional one or buy a different one later.
Video Review of the B-Free B-Safe Gen2 Travel System
The Stroller
The B-Free is a high-quality and lightweight stroller. It’s got a light aluminum frame, weighing in at only 22 pounds. That makes the stroller both easy to carry and easy to push. This holds true all the way through the 65-pound child weight limit.
All-wheel suspension and a swivel front wheel give you additional ease of movement and a really tight turning radius. You can easily hit the brakes by using the linked parking brake. That will stop both rear wheels with just one push of the toe. And the no-flat wheels have the feeling of being air-filled without the hassel.
The stroller is both fast and easy to fold. You can do it with one hand, and it folds to be very compact. It has a frame lock that’ll keep the stroller together while traveling or while in storage.
Additional features include an extra large canopy with the ventilation window/peek-a-boo window and UV 50+ sun protection, a huge under seat storage compartment that can be accessed from the front, additional zippered pockets for storing parent items, a reclinable seat that can even adjust to be all the way flat for an infant, and a very padded and comfortable 5-point harness.
The click and go capabilities of the stroller mean that you can attach any other Britax car seat, as long as you have the adapters. It does require 2 tower adapters, which are 2 small plastic pieces, to get the car seat to click in. This personally isn’t my favorite way to click a car seat into a stroller, but it does work. Just come up with a smart system of keeping the adapters with the stroller so you don’t lose them.
I haven’t had the pleasure of using this exact system myself, but I can tell you that thousands of parents swear by this system and this company alone. And with a 1 year warranty on the car seat and a 2 year warranty on the stroller, you can see why.
You can read our Britax B-Lively review to see another 3-wheel stroller from this brand.
Or, if you prefer a 4 wheeled stroller, but love the Britax brand, check out the Britax Pathway stroller review from Experienced Mommy.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 35 pounds
Car seat weight: 9 pounds
Stroller weight: 22 pounds
Stroller weight limit: Up to 65 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Car seat is heavy
- No storage for parents
- Bigger price tag
- Known to have recalls on parts
Safety 1st Smooth Ride Travel System
Modern Look with Small Price Tag
The Car Seat
The Smooth Ride Travel System comes with the Safety 1st OnBoard 35 LT Infant Car Seat. This is a comfortable and safe car seat for babies up to 35 pounds.
For starters, it has exceptional safety with side impact protection and a deep shell design. It meets and exceeds all Federal safety standards in the US.
It’s a good choice for small babies, since it has soft and thick newborn padding. The head and body inserts are removable as baby grows. You can also adjust the harness to one of 4 different heights as baby grows. And to tighten the harness? Just use the easy adjustment strap in the front.
The base is fully adjustable thanks to the recline foot, This helps make sure that you get a safe and secure fit in your vehicle. It has easy-to-use latch straps of the normal kind (just plain hooks).
The best infant car seat attaches to both the stroller and the base with Safety 1st’s QuickClick technology. It stays in the stroller very securely, and the loud noise helps you know when it’s in place so that you don’t have to wonder if it will fall out of place.
Finally, the soft seat pad on this lightweight, 7.6 pound car seat is removable and machine washable. There is a canopy to keep everything shaded as well.
The Stroller
Let’s start at the bottom of the Smooth Ride stroller. It has decent wheels that, while small, actually do a pretty good job at maneuvering. The best part of the wheel system is that the separate back brakes are flip-flop friendly. The brake lever looks like a teeter-totter, so you don’t have to crack a toenail to release the brakes.
Then there’s the fold. It’s really easy- just pull the strap in the center of the seat and it folds and stands on its own. Once folded, you will need both hands to undo the lock and open it back up. But the fold is pretty flat and would work well for most trunks.
This stroller doesn’t lack in storage. It has a huge mesh storage basket at the bottom. There’s also a child tray with drink holder, and a parent tray with 2 drink holders and an open compartment. You can fit pretty much everything you need in here.
The canopy is thin, but it’s large. Your sitting child has a lot of headspace even with the canopy open. You can also completely cover the car seat’s opening when used as a travel system. The canopy has a mesh window for spying and for airflow on a hot day.
Your child will be comfy in the padded 5 point safety harness and the soft fabrics.
Overall, while a very cheap option, it works well for most parents that don’t want anything too fussy.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 35 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 32 inches
Stroller weight limit: Up to 50 pounds
Stroller weight: 18.2 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Car seat latch straps are tiny and so hard to get undone once clicked in
- Shell design means car seat is on the narrow side (kind of like Chicco)
- Not the highest quality materials overall
- Stroller doesn’t like to stay open
Chicco Viaro Travel System
One of the Top-Rated 3-Wheeled Strollers
The Car Seat
This Chicco Viaaro travel system comes with the KeyFit 30 infant car seat. Let’s get some quick stats on this best car seat:
- For babies 4 to 30 pounds and up to 30 inches
- Meets or exceeds all safety standards
- Deep, contoured shell design
- EPS foam lining
- Base has button release latch connectors and SuperCinch easy belt tightening
- Integrated lockoffs and clear belt routing for use with vehicle belt
- Newborn support pillow
- Large canopy
- 5 point safety harness with padding and easy tightening
The Stroller
The Chicco Viaro stroller is a lightweight and sleek stroller. It weighs only 18 pounds. The 3-wheel design makes it easily maneuverable and easily pushable. The nice suspension gives a smooth ride for baby.
The front wheel swivels to allow for better movement and a tight turning radius. However, the plastic wheels don’t seem as durable. The wheels are thin and soft and get peppered by rocks or gravel. At 7 inches for the front wheel and 8.75 inches for the back wheels, they’re big enough to tackle a lot of terrain.
It has a two-step braking system. This means that you have individual toe top brakes to lock the back wheels individually. This makes quick stops easy, but it requires more effort and isn’t foot friendly.
The fold on the stroller is fantastic. It’s my favorite feature. It’s a truly one handed fold. All you do is push a release button under the seat of the stroller, pull up on the strap, and you have a compact and self-standing folded stroller. It doesn’t lock once folded, so you have to be careful when getting it in and out of the trunk. The perk of it not locking is that you can reopen the stroller quickly and easily with just one hand as well. Just pull up on the handle and click it open.
Chicco claims that this is their most lightweight stroller. And even though it’s light, it can still hold a child up to 50 pounds. The multi-position backrest (which unfortunately can’t lie flat) and the adjustable 5 point safety harness easily grow with your child for many years of use.
The stroller features an extra large canopy. It’s made from a thick and sturdy material that shades the baby well. And the best part is that it can completely shade the baby when used with the KeyFit Car Seat. This protects baby from nosy people and hot sun alike! I do wish that the canopy had a spy window, since it’s so big and blocks the parent’s view of baby.
This stroller features great storage for being so sleek. There’s a parent storage area on the push handle with two cup holders and a middle tray. There’s a child snack tray with two cup holders and a place for food. The bottom storage basket is wonderful. It’s deep and big. It can also be accessed from the rear, like a normal stroller, or it can be accessed from the front by lifting up the seat’s footrest. I like this added convenience.
The Chicco Viaro travel system has a lot of fantastic features. See our full review of the Chicco Viaro Travel System.
We’ve talked about both the Chicco Bravo and Chicco Viaro strollers as part of travel systems. Want to know which is best? Read our Chicco Viaro Stroller vs Chicco Bravo Stroller article.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 30 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 30 pounds
Stroller weight: 18 pounds
Stroller weight limit: Up to 50 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Stroller doesn’t lock when folded
- Takes up lots of space when folded
- Cheap wheels and fabrics
- No peek-a-boo window on huge canopy
You can check out how the B-Agile stacks up against the Chicco Bravo in our Chicco Bravo vs Britax B-Agile article. There’s also a head-to head battle of the lightweight B-Agile and City Mini in our Britax B-Agile vs Baby Jogger City Mini review.
Maxi Cosi Zelia Max Travel System
High-End Features and a Lifetime Warranty
The Car Seat
The Maxi Cosi Zelia Max travel system comes with the Mico Max 30 car seat. This is a highly-rated car seat that meets or exceeds all federal safety standards. The Air Protect side shields offer strong protection, and the included base has an anti-rebound bar to direct any impact force away from baby in a crash.
The base is safe and easy to use, but you can also install this car seat safely without the base. That makes it ideal for travel.
This car seat works really well for all babies up to 30 pounds. This big upper limit means that your baby can stay rear facing longer -well after their 1st birthday- since that’s the safest position for babies to travel in. But since the weight limit is so low, at just 4 pounds, it is nationally recognized as a good car seat for low birth-weight babies, too. The Cozi Dozi infant padding gives head and neck support and is also reversible.
The seat padding itself is both moisture-wicking and comfortable. And if baby makes a mess, which they will at some point, you can remove the entire pad and machine wash and dry it, all without having to unthread the harness!
The 5 point safety harness has 4 different shoulder positions for baby’s comfort. The easy adjust harness controls are front and center by baby’s feet. All of this is shielded by the very large canopy with flip-out visor.
This best car seat is made from heavy duty and durable plastic, making it 25% lighter than other car seats in the same category. It weighs in at just over 8 pounds! That includes the large, contoured carrying handle, with multiple positions for carrying and convenience.
The Stroller
The Maxi Cosi Zelia stroller has 4 wheels, like a traditional stroller. The rear wheels are larger, which helps with steering and durability. This smooth riding stroller will fit a child up to 50 pounds for use well into the preschool years.
You can fold the Zelia in half with the folding system. The folding system is more complicated than some other models, but it does break down each part of the stroller. Once folded, it is small enough to fit into most trunks. It’s self-standing, too.
Because this is a modular stroller, there are 5 different modes. You can easily turn the stroller seat into a carriage by reclining it and zipping up the sides. It can then face in or out. You can carry the car seat on the frame and you can switch the stroller seat to face inward or outward.
Parent features include a large underseat storage basket with front and back access, adjustable handles with vegan leather details and a flexible cup holder on the handle. Kiddo features include a 3 to 5 point safety harness with padded straps and buckle, reclining seat, adjustable foot rest, a moveable bumper bar for safety, and a large, full-coverage canopy with peek-a-boo window.
The whole thing is wrapped up with a lifetime warranty. You seriously can’t beat that.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 30 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 32 inches
Car seat weight: 9 pounds
Stroller weight limit: 0 to 50 pounds
Stroller weight: 21.5 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Expensive
- Drink holder is flimsy and falls off when folding stroller
- Need two hands to fold or transition to different modes
- Wheels seem flimsy and can get stuck
Best Baby Jogging Travel Systems
The car seat included in the Baby Trend Expedition system supports up to 30 pounds, while the BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 can be combined with the car seat of your choice.
We have a comprehensive review of jogging baby travel systems here Best Jogging Stroller Travel System, but these are the leading products:
Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Travel System
Works on All Terrains
The Car Seat
The best car seat included with the Baby Trend Expedition travel system is the Baby Trend EZ Flex Loc infant car seat. This is a top rated infant car seat that’s designed to hold a baby between 5 and 30 pounds. It will accommodate your child until they reach 30 inches. It comes with a small and soft head support for those little tiny babies.
Made with EPS foam, it provides superior protection in a car accident. It even has extra padding that helps with side impact protection. It meets or exceeds all safety standards in the US.
It’s called EZ Flex Loc because of the latch system that it uses. The base has flexible latch hooks as opposed to rigid, one-piece latch hooks. If you look at the latch connectors, you can see that they’re hinged. This means that once they’re hooked in, you can adjust the seat to get a secure fit without having to re-attach the anchors.
Besides having the Flex Loc, the base also has a push-button that allows you to adjust the height to 4 different positions for correct installation. It even has a level indicator that let you know when you have it at the proper level for installation.
This car seat has a small and lightweight design. It weighs just over 7 1/2 pounds, and the car seat is about 16 1/2 inches at its widest spot. This means that it takes up less room in your car and makes it really easy to put more than one car seat in the back of your car. This is definitely a good choice for parents that have to do two or more car seats in the back.
The way that you release this car seat from the base and stroller is unique. Usually, there’s a lever at the front of the car seat, behind where the baby’s head is, that you will pull to get the car seat to pop out. With this one, it’s down by baby’s feet. This is both good and bad. It works really well in smaller cars where you don’t have a lot of headspace for the car seat, but it does make it tricky because you have to put your hand down between the car seat and the backseat of your vehicle to get the car seat free.
The harness system of this car seat is good, but it can be frustrating. It’s a 5 point safety harness with some good qualities. You can adjust the car seats harness straps by simply turning a knob on the back of the car seat. This makes it nice because you won’t have to rethread harness straps every time your baby grows. It also has a one-handed release mechanism in the front. The biggest pain about this harness system is that you have to stack the buckles in order to buckle them in.
Finally, the best car seat has the delta multi-grip carrying handle. This is a smooth carrying handle with a triangle shape. It’s designed to not irritate your arm and make it much easier on your back and arms. I personally love this type of car seat handle, because it makes holding the car seat in both your hands and on your arms a lot easier in nearly any position.
The Stroller
The Expedition Jogging Stroller is included with this travel system. This stroller is specially designed for running or jogging on nearly any surface. It has 16 inch rear tires that are air-filled bicycle tires. It’s got a 12-inch front tire with swivel or locking capabilities. Having it locked is great for going for a run, while being able to swivel will make this stroller be able to go from the trail to the mall in a snap. And having such large, air-filled tires means that you get a smoother ride on any surface. This translates to the stroller gliding more easily during a run so that you don’t encounter as much resistance.
This stroller features 3 separate brakes. One brake is on the front wheel that allows it to lock in a straight and non-swiveling position. Both of the back wheels have their own brakes. This is somewhat inconvenient, but it is nice if you’re just going to make a quick stop, as you can just apply one of the brakes.
The stroller’s made with a lightweight steel frame. The overall weight of the stroller is about 26 pounds. Now, this is much more than a regular stroller, but you have to remember that you have much bigger tires and you need a bigger frame to support that. Still, at 26 pounds, this is one of the lighter ones on the market.
The Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Travel System is so easy to use.
Folding this lightweight stroller is a breeze, as it features a trigger fold that easily folds the stroller in half in a compact unit. You just pull the two triggers on each side of the handle and the stroller will fold in half, and then it can be locked into place. It does stand on its own as long as all three wheels are touching the ground.
The stroller features a lot of great safety features. For starters, it’s got a fully adjustable 5 point safety harness for the kid. This 5 point safety harness is a bit complicated to buckle, but it’s very secure. The stroller also features a tether strap for the parent to hold onto while running. This means that you won’t have a runaway stroller going downhill. Another safety feature is the footrest reflectors. This means that if you’re going for an early-morning or late-night jog, everyone will be able to see you and your stroller.
Some comfort features included are a seat that can recline to many different positions, including flat, and an adjustable canopy with a peek-a-boo window. The handle is extra wide and ergonomically shaped. It’s covered in a soft rubbery material that provides good grip during a run while also providing comfort. These features will come in handy across the life of the stroller, which will last you until your kiddo reaches 50 pounds.
The Expedition Jogger Stroller has no shortage of storage. For starters, it has a parent tray that has two cup holders and a covered compartment. There’s also a child tray that has two cup holders. This tray also doubles as the adapter that allows the car seat to click in. There’s an extra-large storage basket underneath that fits a lot of items, including a larger diaper bag. It’s also easy to access.
Read up on this system in our Expedition Jogger review.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 5 to 30 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 30 inches
Car seat weight: 7.5 pounds
Stroller weight: 26 pounds
Stroller weight limit: 50 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Newborn insert puts small babies at a weird angle
- Base is tough to get tight
- Have to align harness buckles to click them in
- Carrying handle is hard to push back
- Swivel wheel sometimes shakes when running
BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Travel System
Perfect for Active Families
The Car Seat
The setup for the BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Travel System is pretty simple. There’s a car seat, an adapter, and a stroller. The car seat is actually the freshly-updated Britax B-Safe 35 Gen2 infant car seat.
Since we’ve already gone over the B-Safe 35, here’s a quick look at the specs on the B-Safe Gen2, which is the roomier and softer update to the B-Safe 35:
- Safe Cell impact protection on the base
- Steel frame
- Safe Center latch installation
- FAA approved
- Huge canopy
- Clicks easily into stroller and base
- Spot clean only
- Base recline
- Ergonomic handle
- Padded 5 point safety harness
- One-hand buckle release
- No obnoxious tags!
- Roomier/wider seat design
The Stroller
The BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Travel System is for serious runners only! I’m talking training for a marathon, 7 miles a day type running.
That’s because it utilizes one of the best jogging/running strollers ever. Here are the outstanding features:
- 75 lb weight capacity
- Mountain bike-style suspension
- Locking front 360-degree swivel wheel
- Air-filled 12 inch tire on front and 16-inch tires on back
- 28.5 lb aluminum frame
- Easy fold (can even remove rear wheels to make smaller!)
- Linked rear parking brake that’s foot-friendly
- Hand strap for safety
- Padded seat with 5 point safety harness and recline
- HUGE UPF 50+ canopy with magnetic peek-a-boo window
- Under child storage basket and parent pockets
This stroller is wonderful. As a runner/hiker/walker/generally super-active person, I can’t sing its praises enough.
Check out more BOB strollers on our Best Lightweight Jogging Stroller list.
If you have the money and are serious about running, please DO NOT hesitate to get this system, because you’ll get a very safe car seat and base, together with a top-of-the-line jogging stroller.
Exact Specifications
Car seat weight limit: 4 to 35 pounds
Car seat height limit: Up to 32 inches
Car seat weight: 10 pounds
Stroller weight: 28.5 pounds
Stroller weight limit: 75 pounds
Areas for Improvement
- Much more expensive than non-jogging stroller systems
- Heavy car seat
- Can’t wash car seat cover
Comparing the Best Travel Systems
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| The Stroller | 9.5 | 9.8 | 799.99 |
| Baby Jogger City Mini GT Travel System | 3.9 | 9.6 | 689.99 |
| Maxi Cosi Zelia Max Travel System | 9.3 | 9.4 | 569.99 |
| Doona Infant Car Seat | 9.9 | 9.8 | 550.00 |
| Britax B-Free & B-Safe Gen2 Travel System | 9.0 | 10.0 | 509.99 |
| Bonus: The Evenflo Pivot Xpand | 9.5 | 9.4 | 479.99 |
| Chicco Viaro Travel System | 8.8 | 9.8 | 393.73 |
| Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System | 9.1 | 9.8 | 319.99 |
| Evenflo Pivot Travel System | 9.9 | 9.4 | 319.99 |
| Baby Trend Expedition Jogging Travel System | 9.9 | 9.4 | 212.49 |
| Safety 1st Smooth Ride Travel System | 9.8 | 9.2 | 199.99 |
| Graco Uno2Duo Travel System | 8.5 | 9.0 | 129.99 |
| Graco Modes Travel System | 6.5 | 9.6 | - |
| UPPAbaby Vista + Mesa Travel System | 4.8 | 9.4 | - |
| BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 Travel System | 9.5 | - | - |
How to Choose a Travel System
How would you pick a travel system?
If you’re anything like me, then you’d probably spend hours and hours online pouring over reviews from a bunch of different sites to try and weed out which travel systems are the best. You probably go to your local Target or Toys R Us and test out a few travel systems in person. You’d probably ask around and talk to all of your mom friends to see what they use and what they like and don’t like about it.
Well, that’s exactly what I’ve done here. I have looked at all of the big websites, from Amazon to Target to Toys R Us and beyond. I have spent hours reading through each and every customer review to see what people have to say about these travel systems. I’ve even looked at the strollers and the car seats separately and looked at their reviews to see what people say about them on their own.
I have been that lady in the middle of Target playing with a stroller. I have let my son push them around and even sat my baby in a car seat or two. This is all done in the name of research. Because, if at all possible, the best thing to do is actually get your hands on a travel system. Looking at pictures and videos is one thing, but actually using and manhandling the stroller and car seat is another thing altogether.
I’ve talked to all my mommy friends to see what they like and don’t like about their current travel systems. The mommy friends that I’m close enough to would let me try out certain features, like folding the stroller or clicking the car seat in and out, or buckling their baby in and out. I’d ask them what they would change about the stroller and car seat, and what they love. I’d ask them if they had to do over, would they buy that system again?
Basically, as part of my review process, I’ve done everything that you would do. I’ve done all the footwork for you, so that all you have to do is sit back, read my reviews, and decide for yourself if you like these top travel systems just as much as I do.
FAQ for Baby Travel Systems
How much should I pay for the best travel system?
Don’t get stuck on a certain number in regards to how much you want to pay. Instead, you’ll want to look for a good value.
Notice that I said a good value, not a good deal. There might be travel systems on the market that are really cheap, but you’re probably going to get what you pay for. You’ll probably get a system that’s not going to hold up and won’t have as many features as you want or need.
And while I don’t believe in just purchasing a cheap travel system, I also certainly don’t believe in spending oodles and oodles of money on a car seat and stroller. Especially because your baby is probably going to outgrow the whole thing in about 3 years.
That’s when you find the balance of getting a good stroller and car seat for your money and your budget. You want a car seat that is safe and effective, but not overly expensive. You want a stroller that has all the bells and whistles you desire, without costing as much as your monthly mortgage payment.
How do I choose a travel system for my baby?
It’s not easy to choose a travel system. Although it seems like such a straightforward purchase, it’s actually not. There’s many parts and pieces to consider and you also have to consider how they all work together.
Look at the car seat you’d like to get. Consider safety and comfort and size of the car seat, because it’ll be protecting your most precious cargo for about 2 years.
Then look at the stroller. You’re going to use the stroller a lot longer than one year, since most strollers will accommodate children clear up until they’re into preschool, so make sure you get one you like. Consider things like the number of wheels, weight limits, storage, and other things (more on that below).
Don’t overthink it – use your budget and your judgment and make the best choice you can! I’ve used all kinds of car seats and strollers from cheapest to most expensive. They all do essentially the same thing.
How do car seat and stroller combos work?
The stroller of a travel system will accept the car seat, either by clicking it onto the snack tray or bar or by clicking directly into the frame itself.
I look for a travel system where the car seat easily clicks in and out of the stroller. I don’t want it to be a 10-step process. I would prefer 1 or 2 steps that can easily be done.
You might want a car seat and stroller set up that is compatible with more than one brand of car seat. For example, I love the Inglesina USA Triolgy lightweight stroller, but it’s only compatible with a couple of expensive and hard-to-find car seats from one brand. I prefer the Uppababy or Britax approach, where you can mix and match from a few different car seats.
Also, there are a lot of car seats and strollers that you can make into a travel system on the market, but they aren’t designed that way. You have to use adapters or other special tools to make it work as a travel system. Keeping track of the extra parts is a pain, but I will go for this method if the car seat stroller combo is so great, that the extra parts are justified.
Do they make travel systems for twins or two kids at once?
If you are looking for more than one car seat, check out tandem travel systems.
If you have more than one child, these strollers are amazing! Most of them work as a travel system for your baby, while your bigger kid gets a seat somewhere else on the frame. Some also work for doing 2 car seats at once. I personally think that these strollers are smart for parents who might someday extend their family, or for those who already have a couple of kids to tow around.
Check out our Britax B-Ready vs UPPAbaby Vista article to see 2 of my favorite tandem travel systems. Or, if you like more high-end items, be sure to check out the Baby Jogger City Select stroller review.
Which is more important, the stroller or the car seat?
I think the car seat is arguably the most important part of the travel system. It’s what you need to keep your baby safe whether or not you’ll use the stroller.
So when I look for a good travel system, I look for a reliable and well-tested car seat. It has to meet or exceed all standards, and be completely safe for my child. I look for a best infant car seat that can be installed with the base and a latch system, or without a base using the car seat belt for when I’m traveling. I also look for a car seat that has high weight and height limits, as it means my child can stay in it and stay rear-facing for longer.
What are the best stroller features to have?
The stroller, while probably not quite as important as the car seat, still is extremely important. Here’s what you’ll want out of a great stroller:
Mobility: You want a stroller that can go where you want to go, so you may need an all-terrain or jogging stroller option.
Number of wheels: You can go with the traditional, 4-wheeled stroller, or, you can go with the newer model 3-wheeled strollers. The biggest difference in these is going to be stability and maneuverability, as well as weight and size. Also, it usually comes down to personal preference.
Tires: I look for tires that have good traction, good maneuverability, and a nice long life. Even if the tires are air-filled, I want them to be stable and not have to fix them constantly. And if they’re made from plastic, I want them to be a thick and sturdy plastic that’s not going to get tore up quickly.
Storage: I also look for a stroller that has good storage underneath the seat, as well as snack trays for both mom and child. Making sure that my kiddo can have a snack and drink when they need it and that I have a place to put my drink and keys and phone and snacks is very important to me. I love Britax strollers, but they always let me down in the storage category because of the lack of a child or parent tray. Like the Britax B-Free stroller– amazing underseat storage, but nothing else!
Canopy: I prefer a canopy with a peek-a-boo window, as I like to be able to keep a sneaky eye on my child. I also like a canopy that extends far out so that it shades them from rain or sun. This feature is really important when you have a newborn, and it still is important when your child gets older, because they get vocal about things like sun and rain in their face. One of my all-time favorite canopies is on an incredible stroller called the Joovy Ballon. You have to see it- it’s huge!
Braking system: Some strollers have single braking systems, while some of them have a bar braking system, while still more have a hand brake system. I personally prefer either a handbrake or a dual braking system with a bar. Single brakes are fine, and they serve their purpose, but I just feel like they’re a hassle. I personally want a braking system that’s really easy for me to use and doesn’t require me to crack a toenail every time I want to park my stroller.
