Cabin Size Strollers: 7 of the Most Compact Airplane Strollers

The Pockit All Terrain is one of the lightest travel strollers.

The GB Pockit + All Terrain is an upgrade from the original GB Pockit and tweaks have it made it stronger, more robust, and even more practical for travel.

This newer version benefits from a recline function, a UV50 sun canopy whilst still folding up incredibly compactly, making it a fully collapsible stroller

It folds down in 2 simple steps and can be carried via the attached handle. It is considerably heavier at 12.3lbs/5.6kgs than its predecessor, but it is still a very lightweight travel stroller, which can be moved with one hand.

Although there is no travel bag or straps with the compact stroller, some people have bought backpack straps and carabiners to attach to the stroller and wear it as a backpack, as it is so lightweight.

The adjustable recline feature makes it possible for older babies and toddlers to sleep in but it does not go completely flat.

Included are adapters to click onto a CYBEX infant car seat.

• Really compact, perfect for immigration queues or day trips with a baby
• Reclines

• It may be hard at times on cobblestones in Europe
• Canopy could be better

"So useful for plane travel. We can fit it in our backpack as carryon"

Weight: 9.5lbs/4.3kg

Dimensions when folded:11.8 x7.1 x13.8 inches

Recline: Yes

Storage Basket: Yes

Travel Bag: No

Sun Canopy: Yes,

Compatible with Infant Car Seat: Yes - gb and CYBEX

Made for city life, crowded restaurants, small spaces on trains, buses and planes, the Pockit + All City stroller is designed for smoother surfaces, (so not ideal for cobbled streets).

It's compatible with the gb and Cybex car seat and has a much better sun-hood than the original Pockit, it reclines and is an upgrade on the Pockit Plus 2018 model.

• Weight 12.5lbs/5.7kgs
• Folded L19 xW 33 x H48cm (7.5 x 13 x19")
• Age suitable for: 9 - 17 kg/From 6 months up to approx. 4 years.
• For more information and latest prices see here.

The Silver Cross Jet 3 is an upgrade on the Silver Cross Compact. It boasts a coordinating, fully-extendable UPF 50+ hood with an air-flow ventilation system, rear wheel brakes, front wheel suspension and is very light thanks to the aluminium frame.

The fully extendable UPF50+ hood has an air-flow ventilation system with pop-out sun visor. Expect a full recline and adjustable footrest

Best of all, it folds small enough to fit in most cabin space on an airplane and can even be wheeled like a small suitcase!

The new Silver Cross Jet can be wheeled along like a cabin bag and the Jet 3 stands on its own when folded. 

Pros: Full recline and 1 Motion Fold and rain cover included.

UPF 50+ extendable sun protection canopy and pop-out sun visor

• Weight: 13.6 lbs/5.9kg
• Folded: ‎23 x 13 x 10 inches
• Unfolded: L90cm W45cm H96cm
• Age suitable for: Suitable for newborns, infants and toddlers up to 55 lbs (15kg approx. 3-4 years old)
• (Read more about it from Amazon worldwide here.

The Babyzen YOYO is another stroller, and arguably the best known – which meets most airlines cabin baggage allowances and can be used as a carry on baby stroller.

It is not as light as the original GB Pockit for plane travel – but it weighs in at a very light 13lbs/6.2kg only a fraction more than  the GB Pockit Plus City, but with a lot more functions.

It is consistently rated highly as a contender for the best lightweight travel stroller.

The YOYO comes with a storage bag and a shoulder strap so you can easily carry the BabyZen on board a plane.

Suitable for children up to 48.5lbs/22kg.

The YOYO comes with a storage bag and a shoulder strap so you can easily carry the BabyZen on board a plane. The YOYO comes with a storage bag and a shoulder strap so you can easily carry the BabyZen on board a plane.

It’s narrow enough to fit in most airplane aisles and will easily fit into the hat rack and meet many airlines cabin luggage requirements. 

This compact travel stroller feels sturdy and is often used as a daily stroller because of all its features; including multi recline, a sun canopy, rain cover and generous under seat storage.

It is on the pricey end of the market but if it is used daily and used for travel, then it may save you from buying a separate travel buggy.

These compact pushchairs are quite popular in Europe because they fit through narrow doorways. The YOYO, is on the pricier end, but saying that, it does have a lot more functions and could easily be an everyday stroller, not just for travel.

I also have a full review of the original BabyZen YOYO here.

The Babyzen Yoyo2 is an upgrade with these measurements:

• Lightweight for a scalable stroller: 6.2 kg (13.6 lbs) in the 6+ version, 6.6 kg (14.5 lbs) with the newborn pack or 8.1 kg (17.8 lbs) with the bassinet
• Folded cabin baggage dimensions*, dimensions: 52 × 44 × 18 cm (20.5 × 17.3 × 7.1 in)
• Unfolded dimensions: 106 x 86 x 44 cm (41.7 x 33.8 x 17.3 in) in the 6+ and newborn pack versions, 106 x 96 x 44 cm (41.7 x 37.8 x 17.3 in) with the bassinet
• YOYO² protects your child up to a weight of 22 kg (48.5 lbs)
• Carry over the shoulder with its padded shoulder strap
• Supplied with a carrying bag

The Baby Joy is a great option if you are looking for a cabin size stroller and comes with a sturdy bag for convenient carrying, making it a backpack pushchair. It doesn't recline fully but 150 degrees is close.

The Baby Joy is so small in measurements that it meets most airline cabin baggage rules when folded. This compact stroller weighs 15 lbs and measures 20" x 10" x 28.5" (L x W x H) when folded.

Pros:

• 3 seating modes including 150 degree recline
• 3 footrest modes
• This lightweight stroller is suitable for 6-36 months babies and toddlers.

• Weight: 15lbs 
• Folded 20" x 10" x 28.5" (L x W x H)
• Age suitable for: 50 lbs/22.6kg This lightweight stroller is suitable for 6-36 months babies and toddlers.

• Super lightweight frame is easy to maneuver, lift and carry
• One-hand fold transforms the stroller into an ultra-compact and free-standing package in seconds
• Breathable mesh seatback helps regulate your child's body temperature on warm days
• 2-in-1 Travel System using the seat unit and CYBEX infant car seat (sold separately) with the included adapters
• Includes rain cover
• Dimensions Folded : 17 L x 10.4" W x 22.8" H,
• Age Range : 0 - 55 lbs., from birth (with infant car seat) up to 55 lbs. (approx. 4-5 years)

The stroller has an easy one handed fold using two buttons pressed together and it can be done with one hand. As you flick it open it often goes straight into place, but other times I have to push the back of the seat to click it all into place (I can use my knee so still one handed).

Folding it down is also done with the same two buttons pressed together and pushing down on the handle.

It doesn’t lie flat and therefore is only suitable from 6 months but it lies back enough to look comfortable for longer sleeps (111°-145°). There are two positions, upright and reclined and it can be changed one handed between the two. The seat is only forward facing.

This Bugaboo stroller is designed for children up to 22kg/around 4 years which is bigger than most in the travel stroller category. My petite 6 year old (21.5kg) has ridden in it on some longer days and it is still easy to push and tall enough in the seat to handle her. At 5 foot 9, I often struggle with stroller’s that don’t have a height adjustable bar, but I find the Butterfly is still comfortable to push.

The basket is a reasonable size and I can fit our changing bag under there. Officially, it can carry up to 8kg and I found it easier to access from the front rather than the back.

Once folded, the stroller is a very compact 45 x 23 x 54 cm which means it fits in most car boots (we have a Ford S Max 7 seater and with all 7 seats up I could fit in several folded Butterflys).

It it also approved as cabin luggage and can slide into the overhead lockers easily..

We have tried it so far on Air India, British Airways and Vietnam Airlines and it was a comfortable fit in the lockers – something that made a stopover much more comfortable for all of us! It is unusual to be given your pushchair or stroller back for stopovers as you will usually collect any stroller at your final destination. Being able to use a super compact foldable stroller in-between connecting flights was incredibly useful! Read more on the Bugaboo Butterfly here.

• Weight: 7.3 kg
• Dimensions when folded: 45 x 23 x 54 cm
• Recline: Yes
• Storage Basket: Yes
• Travel Bag?: No
• Sun Canopy: Yes
• Max Weight Capacity: 22kg
• Age suitable for: 6 months – 4 years
• Compatible with Infant Car Seat: Yes - with adaptors available separately. Compatible with Bugaboo Turtle One and Air by Nuna & other Maxi-Cosi® infant car seats.
• Dimensions unfolded 92.5 x 45 x 102.4 cm