Travel strollers, also known as lightweight or umbrella strollers, are designed for one specific purpose – travel. Initially, I didn’t think much of this category and assumed it was only suitable for long trips or flights. However, after testing various strollers, I discovered that travel strollers are actually quite versatile and can be used for everyday purposes as well.
Although they are smaller in size, travel strollers are not necessarily cheaper than regular strollers. In fact, some can be quite pricey, even more expensive than strollers designed for everyday use. During my testing process, I compared two lightweight strollers – the Nuna TRVL, priced at $500, and the Joovy Kooper, priced at $250. Surprisingly, the Joovy had more features and was half the price, including convenient storage space for my personal items such as water and keys, which was lacking in most other strollers I tested.
So why did I find myself unable to stop using the Nuna TRVL despite its higher price tag? After testing numerous strollers, I realized that there was one feature that mattered most to me – the ease of folding the stroller.
Choosing the right stroller can be a daunting task as there are various types available – jogging strollers, traditional strollers, city strollers, double strollers, wagons, and even trike strollers. The travel stroller category adds another layer of complexity to the decision-making process.
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Depending on your specific needs and lifestyle, you might require a stroller with a slim profile for navigating subway turnstiles or a spacious wagon for carrying a lot of stuff. It can become overwhelming to compare specifications and try to anticipate how your life will change in the coming months, especially if you are shopping for your first child while pregnant.
During my own stroller shopping journey, I focused too much on finding a stroller that was compatible with my infant car seat and offered infant options. Affordability was also a major consideration after purchasing other essential items such as a crib, mattress, car seat, sound machine, and playpen. Unfortunately, my baby quickly outgrew the infant stroller after using it only a few times. Even as someone experienced in comparing products, I found the stroller shopping experience overwhelming.
However, after a year of trying out different types of strollers, I discovered that the most crucial feature for me was the ease of folding and carrying the stroller.
There are a few reasons why this feature became so important to me. Firstly, I live in an apartment complex with a short but steep staircase, making it challenging to navigate with a stroller. Additionally, I realized that I am not particularly coordinated, and the last thing I want to do while holding my baby in the parking lot is struggle to unfold the stroller from the ground or pick it up from the ground after folding it, especially when there are stairs involved.
This is where the Nuna TRVL truly shines. It effortlessly folds itself with just a push of a button and a light push, transforming into a standing fold. The handlebar remains upright, allowing me to easily carry my baby in one arm while grabbing the folded stroller with the other. Weighing just 13.6 pounds without the canopy or arm bar, it is still easily manageable to carry single-handedly, even with those additional attachments.
However, the TRVL does not offer any additional special features beyond its lightweight design. It lacks the ability to turn the child to face backward, and while it is compatible with Nuna’s infant car seat without an adapter, it does not support other car seat brands such as Graco or Britax. It also struggles with rough terrains and only offers undercarriage storage. Considering its price, it may not be the best option for those with a garage or accessible walkway.
Alternatively, the Thule Shine is a well-rounded stroller that weighs just a few pounds (21.6 lbs) more than the Nuna TRVL. It also folds in a standing position. However, for me, those few extra pounds make a significant difference. The TRVL is perfectly suited to my apartment living and dealing with staircases. Now that my son is facing forward, it fulfills all our needs for running errands or taking walks to the park.
One of the challenges of being a first-time parent is realizing how much you don’t know. Babies grow up so quickly, and if I could go back and advise my pregnant self, I would tell myself not to worry too much about having an infant stroller and instead be prepared with the Nuna TRVL once my son was ready to face forward.
