Compact Pushchair Reviews

A compact stroller that is lightweight will be an ideal option for those who travel frequently via public transport or by car. These strollers are easy to fold and store, and less likely to be damaged by baggage handlers.

These strollers that are lightweight provide modern convenience and are easy to maneuver on cobblestones. Plus, they fit easily into overhead compartments on planes.

Lightweight

The most compact pushchairs are easy to carry and, more importantly, easy to fold. They're usually simple to fold with just one hand and take up less room when folded than full size buggies. This makes them an excellent option for those with limited storage space in your home or are worried about space limitations when travelling, especially by plane.

Some also have a very small footprint when closed, which helps you to navigate tight spaces. They are the best option if you reside in an apartment or just want something nimble and lightweight for day-to-day walking. They aren't ideal for older children who need to extend their legs in order to move around.

There are a variety of different fold styles available on the market that are one-handed, while others require a little more effort or two hands to complete. Some are designed to fit in the baggage allowances for cabin baggage on a variety of flights, or can be carried on your shoulder with a strap or handle.

In terms of a very lightweight pushchair, our favourite is the Silver Cross Dune. The Silver Cross Dune is a compact pushchair that offers all the thoughtful features and smart design you'd expect from this brand of the past. It also comes with an easy to fold, and, similar to the Contours Itsy, it comes in the box fully assembled. It's a great choice for parents who will be traveling a lot with their baby. It can fit in most car trunks and tiny trunk spaces.

The Cybex Mios is another option. It is a bridge between the two types of pushchairs to provide a fully functional system that is nimble. It can be used in parent-facing mode from birth and then changed to world-facing when your child grows older. It also comes with an adequate reclining feature that is nap-worthy. It's not as compact as the Libelle but it is smaller and is more suitable for use on flat surfaces. It's not suited for rough terrain. The price is very affordable and the durability tests are top-notch.

Easy to store

The Joie Pact Pro makes the perfect travel buggy. It folds up so compactly that it can fit into an overhead compartment for luggage and weighs so light that you won't even notice it in your boot. It's also a great day-today stroller, and our test-driver Hollie found it easy to steer even when she was juggling her toddler. She liked the adjustable handle and lockable wheels however, she noted that it's not an extremely comfortable seat. She also likes the fact that you can add additional features like a reversible, washable seat cover, rain cover and a foot muff.

The Babyzen YOYO is a similarly compact foldable pushchair. It's not as sleek as the Cybex Libelle but it's still a great product that is easy to slide into trunks and car boot. It also offers more newborn options than some other buggies, including the option of adding a bassinet or newborn cot as well as a custom ride-on board designed for older children and a double seat adapter.

It's not the smallest buggy for driving on uneven or rough terrain, and its small wheels don't perform as well as some other models we've tried. It is still a very mobile pushchair, and the YOYO does a great job of navigating narrow aisles and muddy paths. It's ideal for holiday or city break.

The Cosatto Bee6 is a compact travel buggy that offers numerous features for a very low price. It can be folded down to the size of a large backpack and weighs just 6kg, so it's an easy to transport on planes and trains. It is 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 on board. He also liked the hood, which is down low enough to shield from sun and showers and facilitate naps. Its only downside is that there's no under-seat storage and you must carry or hang your bag over the handlebars (against the advice of a professional!). You can also purchase a separately sold changing bag holder, making this a great buggy for holidays.

Easy to maneuver

The wheels on compact pushchairs may look small, but they usually perform surprisingly well, navigating narrow aisles of shopping or rough terrain effortlessly. The Micralite is a perfect example - despite having very small wheels, it can handle rough roads with ease and is able to turn sharply on narrow streets, and is able to handle lightly sand without much difficulty. It also has a slick steering system that is easy to steer with just one hand. It folds into a neat and compact package which is easily fit into its carrying bag.

Most compact pushchairs are designed for toddlers and older infants, but an increasing number of them offer a lie-flat seat or the option to add an additional carrycot (or baby car seat) to allow them to be used from birth. These Z fold buggies are typically very light and weigh between 6 and 8 kg. They are also approved for cabin use by a number of airlines. MFM Editor Gemma has used hers numerous occasions and says it's extremely easy to use and take away.

If you're in search of a truly small fold one, the YOYO is the ultimate model in the compact category and was the first buggy of this kind. It is still a popular choice for parents who prefer it over its competitors due to its unique design and superior functionality. It's the ideal option for frequent travelers particularly if you want to avoid the stress of waiting for baggage checkpoints and instead bring your stroller along with you.

The YOYO is extremely compact and fits into the carrying bag easily and with plenty of room. This makes it an ideal option for frequent travelers and those who need to carry a lot of stuff in their suitcase. It's also extremely versatile. You can buy many accessories, including a baby bassinet, bespoke riding boards and twin travel bundles that turn it into a tandem. You can also buy an umbrella and rain cover to give you added security.

Confortable

If you're a parent looking for a light, compact pushchair that's easy to operate and fits into the trunk of their car, our reviewer, Hollie, recommends this Silver Cross model. The Silver Cross model's maneuverability and reclined seat were among the best of our tests. It comes with a tray for parents and the storage basket which can be used to fit the size of a backpack, and fantastic sun cover options.

Some compact-folding pushchairs buggies fold down so small that they're suitable for air travel in a cabin and are ideal for when you're travelling often or have a tight car space in the boot. They're typically light and compact, making them easy to carry around, and can be used in conjunction with a travel system, if you choose a version that features a lie-flat seating unit or comes with an optional newborn pod or one of two luxurious folding carrycots.

One of the most important things to consider when looking for a travel buggy is that not all models are to be the same. Some brands claim that their compact-folding pushchairs fold easily using just one hand. Others may require more effort or two hands to fold it. It's also worth checking whether the buggy has a seat recline - some are fully flat and others have slight recline, which could be suitable for toddlers but not younger babies.

You'll also want to check whether the model you're considering is designed specifically for the kind of travel you're doing, for example, in the event that you're going to a place that's hot, look out for one that has a vented mesh fabric to help keep your little one cool. Also, if you're planning to go to a place that is windy or rainy, ensure that the pushchair you purchase has an appropriate cover designed to go with it - generic covers aren't suited to the conditions and could let water in.