Travel strollers are specifically designed for travel, but their convenience extends far beyond just trips and flights. When I began exploring strollers, I initially thought of travel strollers as a niche category, only relevant for long journeys. However, after testing various models, I realized that lightweight or umbrella strollers, despite their focus on portability and fewer features, offer everyday practicality I hadn’t anticipated. While compact, I was surprised to find that some travel strollers come with a significant price tag, even rivaling the cost of full-sized, everyday strollers.
To put this to the test, I compared two lightweight strollers: the premium Nuna TRVL travel stroller, priced at $500, and the more budget-friendly Joovy Kooper, available for around $250. The Joovy Kooper offered more features for half the cost, including parent-friendly additions like cup holders and storage for keys – features surprisingly absent in many strollers I tested.
Yet, despite the Joovy’s value, I found myself consistently reaching for the Nuna TRVL. Through extensive stroller testing, I discovered that one feature truly stood out as paramount: the ease of folding.
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Navigating the Stroller Jungle
The stroller market is vast and varied, presenting parents with a bewildering array of choices. Jogging strollers, traditional strollers, city strollers, double strollers, wagons, and even trike strollers each cater to different needs and lifestyles. Among these categories, the travel or lightweight stroller aims to simplify mobility.
Each stroller type promises unique advantages, forcing parents to consider how they navigate the world with their child. Frequent subway commutes? A slim, agile stroller is essential. Need to carry a lot of baby gear? A wagon might be the answer.
While these considerations seem straightforward, stroller shopping quickly becomes a deep dive into specifications, comparisons, and anticipating future needs. This is especially true for expectant parents, particularly first-timers, trying to envision life with a newborn.
What will daily life with a baby truly look like? How will needs evolve as they grow from infant to toddler? What features will genuinely make a difference for you?
When I was initially stroller shopping, I overemphasized infant car seat compatibility and newborn-specific features. Budget was also a major concern, after investing in a crib, mattress, car seat, sound machine, and playpen. However, my baby quickly outgrew the infant stroller setup after only a few uses. Even as someone who professionally evaluates products, navigating the stroller market felt incredibly overwhelming.
The Undeniable Power of a Seamless Fold
My child is now a year old. Over the past year, I’ve experimented with nearly every type of stroller and discovered that the most crucial feature, for my lifestyle at least, is how effortlessly a stroller folds and carries.
This prioritization stems from a few key aspects of my daily life. I live in an apartment building with a short but steep staircase leading to ground level, with no ramp access. I also came to the realization that I value convenience and simplicity above all else. The last thing I want to struggle with while holding my baby is wrestling with a complicated stroller fold in a parking lot, or awkwardly maneuvering it down stairs after collapsing it.
This is where the Nuna TRVL truly shines. My favorite aspect is its almost magical self-folding mechanism. With a simple push of the handlebar buttons and a gentle nudge, it effortlessly folds inwards into a compact, self-standing position. The handlebar, often explored by my teething son, becomes a convenient handle, allowing me to carry the stroller in one hand while holding my baby in the other. Weighing just 13.6 pounds without the canopy or arm bar (slightly heavier with these additions, but still incredibly manageable), carrying it one-handed down the stairs is a breeze.
The Nuna TRVL doesn’t boast an extensive list of specialized features beyond its lightweight and compact design. The seat doesn’t reverse to face the parent. While compatible with Nuna infant car seats without adapters, it lacks adapters for other brands like Graco or Britax, limiting car seat pairing options. It’s not designed for rough terrain and offers only undercarriage storage. Furthermore, it’s a significant investment, costing twice as much as the Joovy Kooper, which offers more storage and broader infant car seat compatibility.
If you have garage access or live in a home without stairs, the Nuna TRVL might not seem as indispensable. The Thule Shine (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a more versatile and robust stroller, only slightly heavier at 21.6 lbs, and also features a standing fold. However, for me, those few pounds make a significant difference. The Nuna TRVL is uniquely suited to apartment living and the daily challenge of navigating stairs. Now that my son faces forward, it’s become our go-to stroller for errands and park visits.
One of the biggest lessons of early parenthood is realizing what you don’t yet know. The infant stage is fleeting. If I could offer advice to my pregnant self, it would be to worry less about the initial infant stroller setup and prioritize the convenience of the Nuna TRVL for when my son was ready to face the world.
