Choosing a stroller sounds simple until you actually start looking. There are hundreds of options, and they all claim to be the lightest, the most compact, or the smoothest ride.
We cut through the noise and tested four of the most popular strollers on the market right now. Whether you need something tiny enough for an airplane overhead bin or a daily driver that can handle city pavements, one of these will fit your life.
Here is what we found.
What we looked for
Continuing from our previous post on What to look for in a stroller, below are the 10 things we prioritised:
1. Weight and portability
2. Fold mechanism
3. Wheels and suspension
4. Canopy and sun protection
5. Storage basket
6. Harness system
7. Recline positions
8. Handlebar
9. Seat size and weight limit
10. Price
How we narrowed down the best strollers
We began with over 100 hours of in-depth online research to identify the most popular and highly reviewed models on the market. From that extensive search, a handful stood out, so we decided to put them through hands-on testing ourselves. By narrowing the field based on collective user feedback first, we were able to focus our efforts where it mattered most — we’ve found that crowd consensus is one of the most reliable starting points for finding the best products.
Cybex Libelle 2 – Best ultra compact fold
Weight and portability When we tried the Cybex Libelle 2, we were really impressed by how small it folded and is probably the most compact or one of the most compact strollers we have ever tried. When collapsed, it measures just 32 x 20 x 48 cm — small enough to slide under an airplane seat or toss into an overhead compartment. It is cabin-approved on 99% of airlines. We also noticed how light it was when we tried to carry it in the folded form, coming in at only 6.2kg (13.7lbs)!
Fold mechanism However, you will definitely not be able to fold this stroller one handed so you have to plan if you are out and about alone with your infant, handling the stroller and carrying him altogether. I would imagine that you will probably have to put the infant into the car seat first before folding and keeping the stroller. Here is a video of how I folded the stroller two handed.
Multiple review sites recognise the Libelle as one of the most compact travel strollers on the market. MadeForMums calls it “very good value for the mechanics involved”, while Kid Travel ranked it as the “best performing stroller in their vibration and bumpiness test.”
The handlebars are placed at a good height. For context, my wife and I are around 164cm (5 ft 5 in) and the handles are placed around waist level which is a good height for us. Do note that the handlebar is a fixed height and can feel short for taller parents pushing one-handed. However, if you are comfortable pushing the stroller at a lower height then this will not be a deal breaker.
Canopy and sun protection The thing that struck us was that the canopy and sun protection is very decent (UPF 50+) but the cover does not extend sufficiently. You can be sure that when it rains or the sunrays are coming in at an angle that the infant will definitely be exposed to the elements. Depending on where you are from and your lifestyle, this may or may not be an issue for you. For us, we come from Singapore where it is usually sunny with occasional rain, this will definitely be a consideration for us.
Next, the storage basket is on the smaller side. You can probably fit the essentials such as milk bottles, a few diapers, some cream, pee pad etc but you are going to find it challenging to squeeze in anything more than that. For us, we love to bring our strollers to the supermarkets for our weekly shopping and tend to stuff our shopping into the storage basket. So now with a smaller storage, this means that we will definitely need to bring extra bags or bring a different stroller for our shopping. The decision is really lifestyle-dependent.
Harness system The Cybex Libelle 2 also features a padded 5-point harness with adjustable straps and will definitely keep your precious one safely tucked in the seat.
The stroller also has several recline positions. We personally tested the mechanism to recline the seat and tested how far back it can recline – at the fully reclined position, it still does not lie fully flat (around 45 degrees) and therefore, best for babies 6 months and up.
Also, when we tried to tighten and loosen the strap to change the reclining position, the buckle felt a little stiff and wasn’t as easy to move the buckle along the strap. So if you have an infant sleeping and you want to adjust the position of his recline, you could potentially disrupt his sleep. Below is a short video of me adjusting the strap.
The Cybex Libelle 2 stroller supports infants from 6 months up to a young child of 22kg which is around ages 3-4. Therefore, you can be sure that for the price of around $200-$300, you will be getting good value for your money (this means that you will be depreciating this asset for $100/year which is less than $10/month!).
We took the stroller for a ride around the shopping centre and the small wheels handle smooth surface very well but i wouldn’t recommend you to try this on very rough terrains. Personally for us, we live in the city and this stroller would be perfect for our lifestyle. Overall, no complains over the wheels and suspension.
For parents, you will be glad to know that the polyester fabric covers the seat and backrest. The fabric is machine washable, so spills aren’t an issue.
Finally, you will be glad to know that the Cybex Libelle 2 does become a versatile 2-1in-1 travel system with the seat unit and any Cybex infant car seat using the included adapters but the car seat and units are sold separately. So if you purchase the car seat then this stroller becomes suitable even from newborn. See here for the car seats available from Cybex.
| Criteria | Score | Notes |
| Weight & portability | ★★★★★ | At 6.2 kg, one of the lightest on the market |
| Fold mechanism | ★★★★ | Folds incredibly small but requires both hands — not a true one-hand fold |
| Wheels & suspension | ★★★ | Small wheels handle smooth surfaces well but feel every bump on rough roads |
| Canopy & sun protection | ★★★ | Canopy offers decent shade |
| Storage basket | ★★ | Fits the essentials but it is on the small side |
| Harness system | ★★ | Padded 5-point harness with adjustable straps |
| Recline positions | ★★★ | Reclines but does not lie fully flat — best for babies 6 months and up |
| Handlebar | ★★★ | Fixed height — can feel short for taller parents pushing one-handed |
| Seat size & weight limit | ★★★★ | Supports up to 22kg, comfortable up to around age 3–4 |
| Price | ★★★★ | Around $200-$300 — excellent value for what you get |
Bugaboo Butterfly 2 — Best Premium Travel Stroller
The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is what happens when a premium brand designs a travel stroller. Multiple expert sites name it a top pick — Fathercraft calls it the “clear winner” among travel strollers, while NBC News Select praises its “premium design with real-world practicality.”
The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 folds to 44.8 x 24.5 x 55.5 cm and is fully IATA-compatible. The first thing that caught our attention is how extended the canopy was that we are very confident will be able to provide your little one with the shade from both sun and rain. However, there are reviews online that found the extended canopy to be a little too close to their toddlers. So depending on the age of your little one, this may or may not be an issue. Since our little one is only 7 months old at the time of writing, this wasn’t an issue for us.
One of the biggest wins with the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is the under-seat storage. It’s spacious enough to swallow a baby carrier, a stack of diapers, and your milk bottles without breaking a sweat. When you’re traveling, having your gear within arm’s reach instead of strapped to your back makes the whole trip feel a lot less like a workout and more like a vacation. The storage basket is cleverly designed with a tapered shape—wide at the front for easy access and deeper toward the back. This ‘sloped’ design is a lifesaver because it lets you shove your gear in quickly while ensuring your items don’t slide out the back when you’re pushing over curbs or up ramps. It is the attention to small details like this that speaks volumes about the quality of the stroller from Bugaboo.
The Bugaboo Butterfly 2 carries an extra-padded 5-point harness with adjustable straps that is the most comfortable among the 3 options. We also tested the recline on this stroller. While it does not go completely flat when fully reclined (approximately 147 degrees), Bugaboo lists it as suitable from birth. We recommend that you use it in combination with other products such as the Bugaboo Baby Nest to turn your ultra-compact stroller into a more cozy space for your newborn from birth. When trying to recline the backrest of the Bugaboo Butterfly 2, we noted the recline mechanism was smooth and we could easily use a single hand to recline it downward. Just hold the button on the lever and lightly tug it down to slide the backrest down. Bringing the backrest upward still requires both hands and it still felt a little stiff to push the lever along the strap.
What sets it apart from cheaper compact strollers is the ride quality. Bigger, tougher wheels with full suspension mean it handles pavement cracks, cobblestones, and shopping centre floors without rattling your child awake.
The handlebar of the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is not adjustable but we found it a comfortable height for us and we are confident that it will be suitable for parents between 152 cm and 178 cm (5’0″ – 5’10”).
Folding the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 was pretty simple and you should be able to do it with one hand ensuring that it is possible to keep the stroller while carrying your baby with the other. Once compacted, we carried the stroller to test its weight and found that the stroller isn’t the lightest travel stroller that we have tried. At 7.3kg, it is much heavier than the Cybex Libelle 2 and we wouldn’t recommend that you carry this stroller on hikes etc. Bugaboo provides a carry strap that is stretchable which is meant to make it more comfortable to carry on your shoulder but we wonder if this will mean that over time, the strap could lose its shape and soon the stroller could be brushing against your knees.
Fortunately, Bugaboo provides a transport bag which is durable with water-repellent fabric. It also has a reinforced bottom, made of tear-proof and padded fabric, protecting the structure of the stroller when it’s put it the bag.
Finally, we tested the wheels and suspension of the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 and it was a smooth ride. The full suspension with bigger, tougher wheels ensures that this stroller handles cobblestones and rough pavement well.
Overall, the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is a quality built stroller and we like the one-second fold which is very efficient and convenient. It comes with a 4 years international warranty which is double the typical 2 years warranty seen in most strollers. However, at this price tag, it could be a significant investment for some and we would have expected more accessories to be included such as the rain cover.
| Criteria | Score | Notes |
| Weight & portability | ★★★★ | 7.3 kg — heavier than Libelle but still cabin-approved, shoulder strap included |
| Fold mechanism | ★★★★★ | Genuine one-second fold — the fastest and easiest we have tested |
| Wheels & suspension | ★★★★★ | Full suspension with bigger, tougher wheels — handles cobblestones and rough pavement |
| Canopy & sun protection | ★★★★ | Improved canopy coverage with the extended shade. Less than perfect score due to how it could be too close for some. |
| Storage basket | ★★★★★ | Generous underseat basket holds up to 8 kg — impressive for a travel stroller |
| Harness system | ★★★★ | Extra-padded harness — the most comfortable of the three |
| Recline positions | ★★★★ | Multi-position recline with one-hand adjustment, but not fully flat |
| Handlebar | ★★★★ | Comfortable grip with good height for most parents |
| Seat size & weight limit | ★★★★ | Supports up to 22kg, comfortable through toddler years |
| Price | ★★ | Around $670 with the transport bag is steep |
UPPAbaby Minu V3 — Best Feature-Rich Travel Stroller
The UPPAbaby Minu V3 is what you get when a premium full-size stroller brand shrinks everything down without cutting corners. BabyGearLab ranked it #2 out of 11 travel strollers tested, with an overall score of 82 and a near-perfect 9.0 for build quality — the highest in their test group.
Multiple reviewers praise the push quality. The Stroller Mom notes it “shines with smooth pushing and kid comfort features that many travel strollers lack”, while Mumsnet highlights the “thoughtful design, high-quality materials, and well-crafted joints that feel built to last for years and multiple kids.”
When we first picked up the UPPAbaby Minu V3, we immediately noticed it was heavier than the Cybex Libelle 2. At 7.6 kg (16.7 lbs), it is noticeably chunkier — for context, the Libelle 2 is only 6.2 kg. You will feel the difference when carrying it through the train or lugging it up a flight of stairs. That said, it is still IATA cabin-approved and fits in most overhead bins. The extra weight comes from stronger materials, dual suspension, and a larger frame — all of which contribute to a sturdier, more planted feel when pushing. So whether the extra weight is a deal breaker really depends on how often you will be carrying the stroller versus pushing it.
We tested the fold and it is a one-hand fold — you pull a strap and push down simultaneously. It works, but we found that it requires a bit more hand strength and dexterity compared to the Bugaboo Butterfly 2, which collapses in literally one second. It is not difficult by any means, but if you are juggling your little one in one arm and trying to fold the stroller with the other, you may need a little practice to get it right. Once folded, it stands upright on its own which is a nice touch when you are waiting at the boarding gate or storing it in a closet at home. The folded dimensions measure 25 x 46 x 55 cm which is compact enough for overhead compartments on most airlines. Here is the link to UPPAbaby’s official video on how to fold the stroller.
This is where the Minu V3 really separates itself from the other strollers we tested. It features front suspension paired with independent rear suspension — a setup you almost never see on a travel stroller. We took it for a ride around the shopping centre and then outside on the pavement and the difference was immediately noticeable compared to the Cybex Libelle 2. Where the Libelle rattled a little over uneven tiles and kerb edges, the Minu V3 just glided over them. BabyGearLab gave it 8.0 out of 10 for maneuverability and we can see why. For us, living in Singapore where you are constantly going between smooth mall floors and rougher outdoor pavements, this suspension makes a real difference to how comfortable the ride feels for your little one.
The Minu V3 comes with a zip-out extendable canopy rated UPF 50+ which provides excellent shade coverage. When fully extended, it covers your child well — even when the seat is reclined for napping. What we really liked is the mesh peekaboo window on top. You can check on your little one without stopping or bending around the side, which is something we found ourselves doing constantly with other strollers. The mesh panel also doubles as ventilation on hot days, allowing airflow into the seat. Compared to the Cybex Libelle 2 where we felt the canopy did not extend sufficiently and would expose our little one to rain and angled sunrays, the Minu V3’s canopy coverage is noticeably better. For parents in Singapore or any tropical climate, this is a meaningful upgrade.
The underseat basket on the Minu V3 holds up to 9 kg (20 lbs) — by far the largest capacity of any travel stroller we have tried. With the Minu V3, we could comfortably fit a full-size diaper bag, a jacket, a water bottle, and still have room for a bag of groceries. For us, we love to bring our strollers to the supermarkets for our weekly shopping and tend to stuff our shopping into the storage basket. So having this much storage in a travel stroller that still folds small enough for an airplane feels almost unfair to the competition. The basket is also easily accessible from both the front and the rear, which matters more than you might think when you are trying to grab something while your little one is seated.
UPPAbaby equipped the Minu V3 with a no-rethread 5-point harness, which means you never have to pull the straps out and feed them back through a different slot as your child grows. You simply adjust the height with a single pull. If you have ever wrestled with rethreading harness straps on other strollers, you will appreciate how much frustration this saves over months of use. The harness has two crotch buckle positions so you can move the buckle forward as your child gets taller, keeping them snug and properly secured at every stage. Compared to the standard padded harness on most strollers, this is a noticeable step up in both comfort and convenience.
The Minu V3 offers a deep multi-position recline that can be adjusted with one hand. What impressed us is that the recline goes deep enough for newborns, making this one of the few travel strollers that works from birth without needing a separate car seat or bassinet accessory. A built-in foot barrier keeps newborns secure in the flat position. As your little one grows, you can set the seat to multiple angles — from fully upright for snacking and looking around to a near-flat position for napping on the go. It also comes with a three-position adjustable footrest which adds another layer of comfort as your child’s legs grow longer. We should note that the recline is not as completely flat as a full-size bassinet stroller like the Bugaboo Dragonfly, so for extended naps it may not be quite as comfortable. But for a travel stroller, this is as good as it gets.
UPPAbaby fitted the Minu V3 with a full-grain leather handlebar that looks and feels premium. For context, my wife and I are around 164 cm (5 ft 5 in) and the handlebar height was very comfortable for us — placed at a natural position where we did not have to hunch over or reach up. From what we have read, parents ranging from 5’5″ to 6’2″ report pushing comfortably without kicking the rear axle. The handlebar is not adjustable in height, which is worth noting, but the fixed height hits a sweet spot that works for most parents.
The Minu V3 supports children up to 50 lbs (22.7 kg) with a maximum height of 40 inches — one of the highest weight and height limits in the travel stroller category. In practical terms, this means most children will comfortably fit in this stroller until age 3 to 4. The seat width is generous for a compact stroller and your child should have enough room to sit comfortably even in a winter jacket. The two crotch buckle positions also help here — as your child grows taller, moving the buckle forward prevents them from slouching down in the seat. Since our little one is only 7 months old at the time of writing, we have a long runway ahead and it is reassuring to know that this stroller will not be outgrown prematurely.
At $500, the Minu V3 is a significant investment. It costs nearly double the Cybex Libelle 2 ($200-$300) and sits in similar territory to the Bugaboo Butterfly 2. You are paying for UPPAbaby’s build quality, the highest in their test group — along with features like dual suspension, a no-rethread harness, a 9 kg basket, and full-grain leather touches. If this is your only stroller and you will use it daily plus for travel, the cost per use makes it very reasonable. Assuming you use it from birth to age 4, that works out to roughly $125 per year or $10 per month. The Minu V3 also holds its resale value well thanks to the UPPAbaby brand name, which softens the upfront cost if you plan to sell it after your child outgrows it.
| Criteria | Score | Notes |
| Weight & portability | ★★★ | At 7.6 kg, one of the heavier travel strollers — you will feel it when carrying |
| Fold mechanism | ★★★★ | One-hand fold but requires more hand strength than the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 |
| Wheels & suspension | ★★★★★ | Front and independent rear suspension — the smoothest ride of any travel stroller we tried |
| Canopy & sun protection | ★★★★★ | UPF 50+ zip-out extendable canopy with mesh peekaboo window — excellent coverage |
| Storage basket | ★★★★★ | Holds up to 9 kg — the largest basket of any travel stroller on this list |
| Harness system | ★★★★★ | No-rethread 5-point harness with two crotch buckle positions — the most convenient |
| Recline positions | ★★★★★ | Deep multi-position recline from birth with three-position adjustable footrest |
| Handlebar | ★★★★★ | Full-grain leather, comfortable height for parents 5’5″ to 6’2″ |
| Seat size & weight limit | ★★★★ | Supports up to 22.7 kg / 40 inches — one of the highest limits in the category |
| Price | ★★★ | $500 is premium but justifiable if used as a primary stroller from birth |
Our Verdict
There is no single “best” stroller — it really comes down to how you live and what matters most to your family.
If you fly often or need the smallest possible fold, the Cybex Libelle 2 is hard to beat. Nothing else folds this small and at $200-$300, the value is outstanding. We use it ourselves and can vouch for how easy it is to travel with — it practically disappears into an overhead bin.
If you are looking for a premium travel stroller that does not feel like a compromise, the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 earns its “clear winner” reputation. The one-second fold, full suspension, and build quality are in a league of their own. You are paying more, but you are getting noticeably more.
If you want the most features packed into a travel stroller, the UPPAbaby Minu V3 is the one. From-birth capability, the largest storage basket, dual suspension, and that no-rethread harness make it feel more like a full-size stroller that happens to fold small. It is heavier and pricier, but for parents who want one stroller that does it all, it is worth every gram.
At the end of the day, all three are excellent strollers and you really cannot go wrong with any of them. Our advice? Think about your lifestyle first. Are you taking the train every day? Get the lightest one. Flying every other month? Get the smallest fold. Using it as your only stroller for daily errands and travel? Get the most feature-rich one.
Whatever you choose, your little one will be riding in comfort — and that is what matters most.
If you would like to explore bottle sterilizers as well, we have a comprehensive buying guide here.
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