Zoe - Traveler

I started my stroller journey by buying a highly recommended stroller and hating it... and ended up with multiple ones, which turned into testing over 100 models and reviewing them :) That said: NOT LOVING: Uppababy Vista - rides smooth, but too big and bulky Mockingbird - awful, scary with recalls, doesn't drive smoothly as all Cybex Orfeo - too flimsy Cybex Coya - where do I even begin with this bad fold GB Pockit - not worth your fingers Ergobaby Metro - too heavy for a travel stroller and unfold feels meh SummerInfant 3d quickclose - too good to be true, super flimsy Nuna TRVL - too short seat, too big to take into the cabin and too expensive for what it is Uppababy Minu - too big for a travel stroller model, weird bumper bar and flimsy canopy LOVING: Cybex Priam - amazing, especially the e-version. If I were to get a one full-size stroller this would be my top choice Stokke Yoyo3 - most well-known and guaranteed on board Joolz Aer - smooth ride, great accessories Joolz Hub2 - solid mid-size option Cybex Gazelle - good for 2 under 2 Bombi - good mid-size option Bugaboo Butterfly 2 - didn't like the first version, but these upgrades made it better Mamazing - good budget option Zoe Traveler - amazing canopy and solid stroller Inglesina Quid - cute solid compact stroller

We got a Peg Perego Ypsi travel system and I can’t understand why they aren’t more popular here. Size of a Vista, but two-kid flexibility. I like the clever fold better (no annoying button in the middle of the handle bar). Big basket, nice suspension, Italian quality; great car seat that just clicks into the stroller, with a European belt path so it’s extra safe in cabs and Ubers without a base (we did this in lieu of a bassinet attachment—yes, you don’t want your baby in a car seat for more than two hours, but they pretty much never are anyway since you take them out to feed them or whenever they cry, and naps typically aren’t that long in the early days anyway). If you go to Albee Baby, the Agio 4 is the same stroller as is in the Ypsi system. I think they still carry it. Most people we know (including us) just got a second, smaller travel stroller and use whichever one was better suited for the day. If I had to take the subway alone, I took the Zoe instead, which I also think is great! But if I had to get just one stroller and wanted something light and was willing to give up basket space, I would do an Uppababy Minu! 

When we found ourselves in a similar predicament, we moved and I admit I never regretted having an elevator and a bit more space for the additional expense. That said, if money is a bit tight right now and you aren't already hugely bothered by the climb, I think you can do this. There will probably be months ahead where it peaks in annoyance and being a bit debilitating, like when you're so pregnant you're easily winded and can't see your feet or early-early postpartum, but you're also already acclimated in general, so the hardest part is behind you. Loving your place and knowing you can save money really tips the balance toward staying put, I think. This is really a logistics problem: think strategically and minimalistically. What you won't be able to do is use your stroller like a walking living room / personal vehicle, which is something lots of families do when they've got an elevator. It would be somewhat easier if you have a place to leave a stroller downstairs on the first floor. But even then, you won't have tons of hands/strength for carrying your baby, their stuff, your stuff, a full stroller basket of groceries, etc etc from the stroller downstairs to the apartment. Invest in a single, very lightweight, easy-to-fold, ACTUALLY one-handed-fold stroller like a Zoe or a Joolz Aer or a Minu. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about its "infant compatibility" unless it too is compactable -- like, don't worry overmuch about a big bassinet or carry cot or whatever components that don't lend themselves well to that easy fold/carry. Your baby will be strong enough for a regular stroller seat by month 4-6. Instead, put the bassinet money into an extra baby carrier or two and plan to baby wear a lot more, at least in the early days. Get a backpack and maybe also a fanny pack to use as a baby bag. You can have a baby on the front carrier and the bag on your back, or your baby in a ring sling and some baby stuff in the fanny pack, etc etc. And then bet on the fact that you'll probably want to make certain errands separate from walking your baby and stroller upstairs and down (like, with the money saved by not moving, can you get groceries or laundry delivered to your door, tipping that delivery person for the extra walk up?). Later down the line as your baby turns into a toddler, you'll still be carrying them (in your arms or in a toddler carrier) up and down, but there will be days when they're on an independence kick and insist on slowly climbing every stair themselves. But I wouldn't worry too far into the future. In a year or two, you might be in a different position and feeling more/new urgency about moving. Or not.

Tossing another challenger into the ring: look at the Zoe with the upgraded all-terrain wheels.  The challenge of NYC vs travel stroller are the small wheels on uneven pavement; you want something really light and easy to fold down but little wheels just don’t have as good “curb pop.” I love the huge sun canopy and accessories on the Zoe and the fact that it really does have a one-handed fold. We have the bi-fold model, the Tour, not a trifold Traveler. We tried both. They are actually about the same weight, if I recall, and the bi-fold’s fold is so, so easy, I can literally just tug the center strap mid-stride and one-handed to close it. But if that extra level of compactness matters to you, I remember the trifold being decently easy (just not sure it’s compatible with the beefier wheels). My model is too old for the all-terrain wheels, but I have been eyeing them lustfully since they came out—they would solve my one small beef with this stroller and, I think, put it over the edge for other competition, which generally all also have the small wheel, curb pop issue.

Thank you! Hi! I just got the Zoe Traveler. I thought I was going to love it but I don’t. The basket is hard to access, I’m having lots of trouble with the opening mechanism, baby slides in the seat, and when baby isn’t in it the stroller tips backwards every few seconds. I do like the canopy tho lol. I’m worried if Bombi will have same issues?

I used the Zoe traveler stroller for my oldest several places in Europe. I could push it down plane aisles and it fit in the overhead bin. It held up really well and I never had issues with it.

Zoe Traveler is slept on. It’s just not a super popular brand (at least where I live in the US) but it’s my everyday as well as travel stroller.

Yes! It has a little slider you can adjust on the back of the seat for laying down vs upright. My 9 mo old loves naps in there, too

We got the Chicco Bravo Primo off FBMP because it was the travel system that went with our carseat. It was very big and clunky and looking back, wish we would have gone with the Mockingbird or Zoe Tour v2 — something that was lighter but still compatible with the carseat to make a travel system. We also recieved the Zoe Traveller off our registry and I love that so much I ended up getting an old Zoe Tour v1 off FBMP for our main stroller now and will probably stick with that brand going forward. It is light weight, compact, and easy to fold/unfold and push one handed. I am a big advocate for buying second hand (FBMP, consignment sales/shops, etc.) it is so much cheaper and there are a ton of lightly used baby items out there!

Came to suggest the Zoe traveler. Our very large 3.5yo napped like a champ in this stroller earlier this year at WDW. And it’s super easy to push and fold down in a jiffy.

We upgraded from a secondhand Evenflo to a secondhand Nuna and the difference is very obvious. The features like the mesh back and sun shade are very useful for the heat, and the ride is so smooth and easy. We chose Nuna over other brands because it accommodates tall babies and we've got a 92% percentiler. I will say that our Zoe travel stroller is just as nice but only cost us $250 compared to the $500 we spent on the used Nuna (though obviously it is much smaller and has limited storage since it's a compact stroller). If you're looking for a very nice stroller that's not 4 figures, Zoe does a travel system with bassinet.

I have the bumbleride indie and we love it! We got it for a deal from rebel or goodbuy gear because it was new but slightly scratched. I live in an area where I can walk to the library, grocery store etc from our house. So we love just strolling out the door with the indie. We also have really bumpy sidewalks around so we needed the air tires and I do some very light jogging with it as well. The cork handlebar is awesome. It has an adapter for a variety of car seats but we never ended up using that because my baby hated the stroller until she was almost 6 months and we just did baby wearing on our walks. Also, the indie and I think the era recline flat so they are safe for less than 6 month olds without any adapter. We ended up with the Chicco keyfit 35 cleartex car seat because I just couldn't justify paying for the fancy Nuna ones even if they are lighter. And it's fine! However the indie is huge and heavy! We ended up getting a small zoe travel stroller (they have one made with recycled fabric!) as well because if we are traveling anywhere the indie takes up a ton of space. We got our zoe from one of those returned/open box websites as well and it was a great deal. I personally really like having two options, one big full size and one super packable travel stroller, but I know that isn't for everyone. I do highly recommend searching all the open box type websites for deals, or of course looking for used strollers if you live in a city or non-rural area. The "greenest" thing is not buying new in my opinion (and it saves $$)

We have the Guava and love it! We had the car seat attachment as well and it worked out great for us. It’s supposedly the smallest of the jogging strollers, and it does fold up nice and neat, but it’s still quite heavy and cumbersome to fold and carry around, so we still ended up getting a compact travel stroller (a Zoe), especially because I don’t think the Guava would be practical for air travel. Just want to point out that you definitely don’t have to get more than 1 stroller to start! You can always get a jogger and see how it works for you, and then add a travel stroller if you feel you need it later. If I had to pick just 1, I’d definitely pick the Guava over our travel stroller for everyday use though.