Best compact strollers and lightweight buggies for travel

If you all you need to get you and your baby from A to B is a compact and lightweight pushchair, without all the bells, whistles and price tag of a standard pushchair or travel system, you may want to opt for a stroller.

They can be very useful if you need something to take on holiday and when travelling abroad, especially models that are cabin luggage-compatible.

In this guide, we'll take a closer look at the pros and cons of strollers, give an overview of how much you can expect to pay, and offer our expert tips on how to choose the perfect stroller for your child.

Our round up of the best pushchairs will help you choose the right model for you.

Best strollers

We run a series of rigorous tests in our lab to uncover the best pushchairs for your budget. Discover how we test pushchairs.

What is a stroller?

A lightweight stroller is a pushchair that's not too big or bulky. It probably won't take a carrycot, but it may take a car seat.

Strollers are also known as buggies or lightweight buggies, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from the lightest, most basic strollers to more robust models with lots of added features.

Often parents buy a pushchair or travel system first when their baby is young - then either move to a stroller when their baby is older, or keep a stroller in the boot as a spare pushchair for trips out in the car, as it's lighter and easier to pack and use than bigger pushchairs or travel systems.

If it's not a from-birth stroller, you'll usually begin to use one when your baby reaches around six months old, as that's when they start sitting up unaided and can support their own weight. 

The small size and light weight of strollers make them a must for urban parents who regularly use public transport and are a good choice to take on holiday or on day trips.

Compare all our stroller and pushchair reviews. 

Stroller pros vs cons

Pros

• A good stroller or buggy will be light and nippy to push, as well as easy to manoeuvre.
• It should be simple to fold down and easier to store than larger pushchairs.
• They're usually cheaper than more elaborate travel systems, so they also make a good second pushchair to leave with grandparents or for travelling with.

Cons

• Not all strollers are suitable for babies under six months old as the backrest won't recline far enough, or they won't have enough padding to support a young baby. 
• Strollers tend to have small, hard wheels, which means they're more suited to pavements than off-road or rough terrain.
• Storage capacity tends to be smaller on strollers with smaller baskets and lower weight limits.

Can you take a compact stroller on a plane?

Many airlines will let you bring a collapsible pushchair with you on a plane, but the size of the pushchair when folded could determine where it is stored in the plane.

Some pushchairs are cabin luggage-compatible, which means that when folded, they will fit in the overhead baggage storage. 

However, if you have a pushchair with an 'umbrella fold', which usually means that it's a long, thin shape when folded, then it will need to be stored in the hold of the aircraft.

Pushchairs on planes: check these airline restrictions.

How much does a lightweight stroller cost?

You can pick up a cheap stroller for less than £100 – just don't expect much more than a frame, a fabric seat and some wheels.

A mid-range model will likely set you back around £150 to £200 and will have a few more features, such as a shopping basket, possibly some extra pockets for storage and an adjustable leg rest or a seat back that will recline to make daytime naps a bit more comfy.

Top-of-the-range models can cost much more - potentially around the £300 mark. But for this you'll get a pretty sturdy stroller that you can use from birth, a nice padded seat, larger wheels with some suspension, and a whole host of adjustable features.

Double strollers start at around £150 for a basic lightweight model that can carry twins or two children.

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What's the difference between a lightweight stroller and travel system?

These are more sturdy than the traditional buggy, can be used from birth and can take a car seat or sometimes a carrycot.

They are pricier than your average lightweight stroller, but as they’re suitable for newborns, you should get more use out of them than a cheap stroller that's only suitable for babies over six months.

Don't miss our travel system pushchair reviews or our guide to choosing the best travel system.

Are strollers suitable for newborns?

There are some strollers that can be used from birth. This means the seat back can be reclined to a lie-flat position or you'll be able to buy a newborn accessory pack to convert the seat into a carrycot or newborn snug.

It may sound tempting to buy a stroller or buggy to use from birth right up until you no longer need to use a pushchair, but there are a few things to consider: 

• A stroller can be less sturdy than a pushchair, or may not have much suspension, so tend to give a bit more of a bumpy ride. 
• On some strollers for newborns, your baby can actually be closer to the ground which means more bending down for new parents.  
• Check whether the seat unit is reversible, otherwise you'll be using a forward-facing seat with your baby and you'll miss out on eye contact and interaction, which is very important in those first few months.

How to choose the best lightweight stroller for you

1. Think about your lifestyle

If you're sticking to pavements, the park and shops, a basic stroller will be fine, but fans of long country walks should look for a model with bigger wheels and suspension for a more comfortable ride. Car users should choose a model that can take a car seat.

2. Do you want to use your stroller from birth?

If you want to use your stroller from birth, look for one that has a seat unit that reclines far enough, or has a newborn accessory pack to convert the seat to a lie-flat position. Otherwise most strollers can be used once your baby reaches six months of age.

3. Think about storage

Will the buggy fit in your car boot when folded, and will it fit in your home unfolded? Also check that the buggy has a large enough shopping basket for your needs – strollers don't usually have much storage space. Our reviews will tell you the weight capacity and whether the basket is a good size.

4. Check what's included

The cheapest and most basic buggy may not even include a hood, while some buggies won't come with a rain cover, and you'll probably have to fork out for a footmuff to keep your baby cosy. Check any accessories before setting your heart on a model – you could end up paying a lot extra.

5. Try before you buy

If you can, head to the shops and try out the model you want. Try folding and unfolding it, using the brakes, reclining and the seat, checking whether the handlebar is adjustable or is the right height for you if it's a fixed one. Walk around with it and try to get a feel for the suspension (if it has any) or the kind of ride it might give your baby.