Gear

Best Travel System Strollers for the Family on the Move

by Bethany Braun-Silva


Best Travel System Strollers for the Family on the Move
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When deciding on what must-have items you need for a new baby, you’ll definitely want to put a travel system at the top of your list. Of course you know you will need both a stroller and a car seat  for baby, but did you know that you can get both with just one purchase of a travel system? Yes, you read that right! Simply put, a travel system is a car seat and a stroller that are fully compatible with each other — no adapter required. That means you can safely click the car seat in and out of the stroller in a snap, with little fear of waking your sleeping baby. How awesome is that?

 

 

 

Types of Travel Systems

Just like regular strollers, there are different types of travel systems with many different features, including:

 

        • Four-Wheel Travel Systems

The most standard model and also the best for traveling on rougher terrain. The wider the wheels are set apart, the more ease you will have turning corners and going over a bumpy road.

 

        • Three-Wheel Travel Systems

These travel systems are narrower, making them perfect for navigating busy city streets.

 

        • Jogger Travel Systems

If working out with your tot is your thing, a jogging travel system will essentially act as a one-stop shop for all your stroller needs. The wheels on these strollers are large, making it easy to tackle any terrain. They also provide a pretty smooth ride for your baby.

 

        • Double Travel Systems

If you’re expecting twins or even your second child, a double travel system is a great option. Many of them can be positioned to accommodate a newborn in a car seat and an older child in a regular seat or standing. For twins, a tandem stroller is a great option, rather than a double wide.

 

Why You Need a Travel System

Because you’ll need a stroller and a car seat, many parents opt for buying it together as a set. This ensures that there will be no doubt as to whether the stroller and car seat are compatible, and often there are different ways of using them together: many strollers can act as frames for car seat carriers and can change to fit you and your baby’s needs. Keep in mind, however, that you will likely only use the travel system for baby’s first 6 to 9 months, as your little one will be sitting up on their own around this point and will prefer to be looking around while in the stroller rather than being strapped down.

 

There are many travel system options out there, so check out this list of the best travel systems for baby, and decide which one fits your family’s needs.

 

Image Credits: Amazon

Best Travel System for Easy Installation

Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System

Price:$380.00

This stroller is a favorite among parents for being very easy to put together and install. You may have heard just how daunting a task installing a car seat can be, and this system helps alleviate that a bit. When using the stroller, the seat can be removed, making it just a frame for the car seat, and subsequently very lightweight, which you will really appreciate in those first few months. The seat can be added back when your baby gets older, and the car seat can still snap in even when it’s there. The car seat uses Chicco KeyFit 30 technology and features a leveling bubble to let parents know when it’s installed properly — phew!

Specifications:
Car seat weight: 10 lbs.
Car seat range: 4 to 30 lbs.
Stroller weight: 23 lbs.
Stroller range: 6 months to 50 lbs.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
Set up of the system took no more than 20 minutes and was very easy to accomplish. Once set up, my wife and I started to play with it to see how easy it was to fold it up and then put it back together. IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE EASIER.

I love the car seat it is easy to get in and out of the car. The base was easy to install and the the car seat is easy to adjust to fit my baby as she grows.

It’s very easy to install the car seat base with the latch system in our car. Even easier to click in the seat and go! And I love being able to click the seat right into the stroller when it’s time to walk the dog.

Image Credits: Amazon

Best Travel System All-Around

Britax B-Agile 3/ B-Safe 35 Travel System

Price:$400.00

When it comes to car seat safety, Britax Travel System tops the list of the most safe brands time and time again. The car seat features two layers of side impact protection, a steel frame and an impact absorbing base — they take this stuff seriously! The stroller itself is lightweight, easy to maneuver and features a one-hand fold, plus the car seat snaps into the stroller seat via Britax’s Click & Go system.

Specifications:
Car seat weight: 10 lbs.
Car seat range: 4 to 35 lbs.
Stroller weight: 18 lbs.
Stroller range: 4 to 55 lbs.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
We ordered this for our first child and we were totally surprised with how quick and easy assembly is! The base of the car seat has little levelers to tell you if it's installed properly or not and as first time parents I believe that feature is so important.

As far as ease, this system is top-notch. I can get the stroller out with one arm while holding my baby and easily set it up. I also love that the car seat clicks in and out with no problem.

This is a great travel system for new parents that don't want to worry about buying the car seat and stroller separately. The safety features are to notch and it's very simple to use. Love the folding ease of the stroller. I didn't give 5 stars because the car seat is a bit heavy.

Image Credits: Target

Best Travel System for Versatility

Graco Modes Travel System

Price:$350.00

Parents love this stroller because not only is it affordable, but it will truly grow with your baby. The stroller fully reclines allowing your infant to lay flat, which is perfect for nap times on the go. The infant car seat is easily snapped in with Graco’s Click Connect technology. When your child grows to a toddler, the stroller can be used as either rear- or forward-facing, giving you plenty of options. Parents love that this stroller is super easy to assemble, which is great, as you will be putting tons of things together to prep for baby.

Specifications:
Car seat weight: 7.5lbs.
Car seat range: 4 to 35lbs.
Stroller weight: 21lbs.
Stroller range: Birth to 50 lbs.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
I did so much homework to figure out which system to get. While this is the newer model set, and is more expensive, it is worth the cost because of all the options. It is lightweight and offers many positions for baby/toddler.

The winner for me was the ease of folding and unfolding. Simply just push down to fold, pull up to unfold, and that really is all it takes! The car seat and child's seat disconnects from the stroller just as easily!

I loved the car seat and stroller connect option while my son was younger than 6 months. It was easy and a smooth transition so he didn't even wake up when we took him out of the car. Easy to clean, easy to carry.

Image Credits: Amazon

Best Jogging Travel System

Baby Trend Expedition Jogger Travel System

Price:$210.00

Bicycle wheels replace traditional stroller wheels in this travel system, making it one of the best jogging travel systems out there. Whether you are hitting the trails, the beach or navigating city streets, the Baby Trend Expedition Jogger will work on any terrain. The front wheel also locks, making it less likely to swivel and bother baby. Like other travel systems, the car seat can be easily snapped in and out of the stroller and has EPS energy-absorbing foam for superior side-impact head protection.

Specifications:
Car seat range: 5 to 30 lbs.
Stroller range: Birth to 50 lbs.
Combined weight: 41 lbs.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
The tires are great and are easy to maneuver. It really does give it a nice ride. Assembly was extremely easy. Also, I like the design of this version compared to the older model.

The tires are all terrain, so I can drive it on grass, gravel, pavement, dirt. It's very versatile!

I really like the design and colors of this stroller as well. The front wheel (by the use of 1 button) locks for when you are running and unlocks for easier mobility. It is extremely easy to do.

Image Credits: Walmart

Best Travel System That’s Cheap and Chic

Urbini Omni Plus 3 in 1 Travel System

Price:$200.00

The Urbini Omni Plus is stylishly chic and very safe, plus it costs just under $200, which no one would ever guess. The stroller seat reclines to a full bassinet and can also be positioned to be rear- or forward-facing. It comes in several coordinating colors that make it look like a high-end model. It also has a large storage basket and parent cup holder. If you want the look of luxe, without spending a ton, this is a great option.

Specifications:
Car seat range: 4 to 35 lbs.
Stroller range: Birth to 50 lbs.
Combined weight: 45 lbs.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
The stroller is assembled with no tools and great ease. Everything just clicks in place and you are to roll ... Literally. The stroller is a big spacious stroller with plenty of room. It has adjustable straps which make it nice for different size children or adjustable as your child grows.

The car seat is very substantial in and of itself. It has padding to keep the infant cosy secure and safe.

What we like is that it's very lightweight, collapsible, and easy to assemble. The wheels rotate 360 degrees making it very easy to maneuver. All four wheels lock easily with the tip of your shoe to prevent roll off.

Image Credits: Amazon

Best Travel System to Grow with Your Child

Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System

Price:$280.00

This travel system offers six postions for baby to ride in. It can be positioned to be rear- or forward-facing in any configuration — in bassinet mode, car seat mode or stroller seat mode — which will give you added peace of mind as your child grows.The stroller seat is also fully detachable, making it a lightweight frame for the infant car seat. The canopy extends for extra protection for baby, and it also features a large storage basket. We love this travel system for its bassinet option, which is not standard on many other models.

Specifications:
Car seat range: 4 to 35 lbs.
Stroller range: Birth to 50 lbs.
Combined weight: 20 lbs.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
The car seat is very lightweight, even with my newborn in it. I have yet to feel strained while toting her. The stroller and seat are very easy to use and maneuver.

The babyseat is very light weight (but doesn’t feel cheap in quality or easy to break). It clicks in and out if the base very easy and is also very easy to attach and detach to the stroller. “Very stylish, easy to set up, Light weight. I love the fact that it gives me options to view baby as well as to let her see where she’s going. The switch from the toddler seat to the infant seat is very easy and very convenient for traveling

Image Credits: Amazon

Best Lightweight Travel System

Chicco Viaro Travel System

Price:$350.00

The Chicco Viaro Travel System weighs just under 30 lbs., making it very travel friendly. A parent can easily carry the folded stroller in one hand and the car seat (and baby) in the other, so solo trips to the pediatrician are a breeze. Moms and dads rave about how easy it is to snap the KeyFit car seat in and out of the base and stroller, which has a three-wheel configuration, making for a smooth, easy-to-maneuver ride.

Specifications:
Car seat weight: 9.6 lbs.
Car seat range: 4 to 30 lbs.
Stroller weight: 18 lbs.
Stroller range: Birth to 50 lbs.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
This stroller rides so smoothly, is easily maneuvered, and the car seat is easy to install. Everything works so well together, and the design is very smart. Everything always feels safe and secure once clicked in.

The stroller is very easy to use. The car seat snaps in place very easily and was great as she trains is my daughter transitioned into sitting in it without the car seat. It’s very lightweight and doesn’t take up much room in the car trunk and is easy to fold up.

The design is sleek and attractive. I love how lightweight all of the components are! I put the base in both of our cars and found that it was very easy to take in and out of each vehicle. I also really like how the travel system will work for the many stages of our baby's life, from infant to toddler.

Image Credits: Pottery Barn Kids

Best Double Travel System

Nuna Demi Grow

Price:$800.00

With 23 different configurations, the Nuna Demi Grow is a perfect double stroller to fit all your family’s needs. It not only can hold two bassinets and two toddler seats, but two car seats, as well, making this a great double travel system stroller. The dual-suspension, foam-filled tires makes for a smooth ride while carrying your precious cargo. It can also accommodate one car seat and one toddler seat and can be used as a single stroller. This stroller really was designed to “grow” with your family.

Specifications:
Car seat weight: 8 lbs.
Car seat range: 4 to 32 lbs.
Stroller weight: 26.5 lbs.
Stroller range: Birth to 50 lbs.

What Reviewers Are Saying:
We love the Nuna Demi Grow Stroller. Now, having a 21 month old and a newborn this product is perfect for our needs. It is a smooth ride just like our other Nuna stroller.

I absolutely love this stroller! Smooth ride, exceptional quality materials, giant basket (my toddler loves to sit in it when she gets tired), super comfortable padded seat. Leather features make it look so expensive and chic - I get compliments all the time. It's very easy to fold. Works great with my Nuna pipa lite car seat (adapter was included!)

Love this stroller! Its light, easy to maneuver and folds very easily. I also like that it's one of the only double strollers I've found that adds a second seat without adding length to the stroller. The seat is underneath and makes it easier to get around