The Best Stroller Travel Systems That Parents Say Make Life Easier

This travel system includes two of our favorite products together: The Uppababy Vista V2, the full-size convertible stroller that's won Best Stroller in our What to Expect Awards four years in a row; and the brand’s Mesa Infant Car Seat, one of our picks for best car seats.

At $1,300, this travel system is undeniably on the expensive side. But it includes everything you need to travel with your baby from day one through the toddler years — and it can expand, should your family do so in the future. The Mesa car seat attaches directly onto the Vista V2 stroller frame without adaptors, as does the included bassinet. Once your baby outgrows the bassinet, she’ll graduate to the toddler seat, which she can ride in until she reaches 50 lbs. And should you have another baby before that point, the Vista can convert to a double with the addition of the brand’s RumbleSeat V2 (sold separately).

“I love that there are seat options for every stage of your baby’s growth, and that you can convert it to a double down the line,” says Leah Rocketto, What to Expect’s Associate Commerce Director, who has this Uppababy travel system.

Both the Vista V2 and the Mesa boast high-end features you’d expect at this price point: The stroller has one-handed folding, a height-adjustable canopy, 100% full-grain leather accents, superior shock absorption and an ultra-roomy storage basket (“It’s very spacious, which is super helpful if you’re going to be out for an afternoon or even just running errands,” says Leah). And the car seat is exceptional in its own right, with a UPF 25+ canopy, an infant insert that’s safe for preemies and the brand’s SMARTSecure system for fast installation.

An innovative take on the travel system is the Doona, which combines an infant car seat with a sleek stroller frame that’s incredibly flexible and convenient. Unlike other travel systems on this list, the Doona is a little more streamlined: You get an infant car seat (it can be used until baby is 35 pounds or 32 inches, whichever comes first) and a lightweight stroller frame — there’s no additional seat.

The Doona’s one-piece design makes it ideal for travel during the infant stage. Together, the car seat and frame weigh just 16.5 pounds, making it one of the most lightweight options on this list. And transitioning from car seat to stroller mode is a breeze. You simply click a button and the Doona converts to a car seat or stroller with wheels that fold in. 

There are two downsides to the Doona worth considering. One is that because it’s on the smaller and lighter side, it doesn’t perform quite as well and lacks some of the conveniences of a full-size stroller. For example, the wheels don’t take bumps quite as easily and there’s no storage basket. Because it’s not a true stroller, it’s also not the best place for your baby to sit for prolonged periods of time.

The second consideration is its lifespan. Once your baby reaches 32 inches or 35 pounds, you’ll have to retire the Doona and switch to a stroller that has a dedicated toddler seat (such as any of the other ones on this list). For most children, that’s somewhere around 1 year old, though some infants will hit one of those milestones sooner. Some families find the convenience of going from car to sidewalk for the first year of baby’s life well worth the purchase, though others may prefer to buy a travel system that’s more of a long-term investment.

It’s hard to beat the value of Graco Modes travel systems, a popular choice in the What to Expect community. Although all of the brand’s stroller/car seat combos are excellent, the Graco Modes 3 Lite DLX model has some unique benefits. This travel system includes the line’s jogger-style stroller along with the Graco SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat. The price for all three products (stroller, car seat and base) is just $320, which is incredible considering some car seats alone cost that much. 

Because the two front wheels are positioned close together on the stroller, it’s surprisingly easy to maneuver, particularly when turning corners, says Kimberlee Beck, What to Expect’s Engagement Marketing Manager. 

She also raves about the stroller’s one-handed fold and ease of use. “I can close it with one hand and it stands up on its own when closed,” she says. “I like the versatility — there are nine ways to ride, and it’s not too heavy to handle, such as loading it into the car and carrying it in or outside.”

Although it maneuvers nicely, some reviewers do say the wheels don’t perform quite as well on bumpy surfaces, which is something to consider if you think you’ll need an all-terrain stroller.

Chicco Bravo travel systems are a popular pick among What to Expect parents — all of the brand’s stroller/car seat combos are well-priced and well-made. But the Chicco Mini Bravo Plus is particularly great if you’re after a lightweight travel system that’s ideal for, well, traveling.

One sacrifice parents often have to make when choosing a lightweight stroller is the ability to use it when their baby is still a newborn, as most lightweight models can’t accommodate a car seat or bassinet attachment. So the Chicco Mini Bravo Plus really stands out in that it’s a lighter-weight stroller that’s compatible with the brand’s top-rated KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat (our pick for overall best infant car seat).

What’s more, despite its affordable price, the Chicco Mini Bravo Plus doesn’t lack top-of-the-line features. There’s a roomy storage basket, three reclining settings, a built-in parent organizer with two cup holders and a detachable snack tray (you have to pay extra for that with many travel systems). Parents say the whole system works very well together and is easy to fold and store as well as highly maneuverable, thanks to front-swivel wheels. Because it also has a full-size toddler seat, you can use it for years to come.

The Nuna brand prides itself on products that are both practical and beautiful, and Mixx Next Stroller and Pipa RX Infant Car Seat work together to check both boxes. Though they're often sold separately, the brand assures that they're perfectly compatible. The car seat is appropriate for babies weighing 4 to 32 pounds, or up to 32 inches, while the stroller will work until your child weighs 50 pounds.

This travel system is popular among parents in the What to Expect community as well as our editorial team. “It drives super smooth and has a great suspension,” says Tika Fender, What to Expect's Senior Art Director.

For a full-size stroller, the Mixx Next is fairly compact, especially when folded. It offers an impressive four modes of use — rear- and forward-facing toddler seat, as well as the same options for the infant car seat — delivering tons of versatility. For many families, a big plus is how lightweight the Pipa car seat is — at just 7.6 pounds, it adds barely any weight to the stroller when you clip it in (which reviewers say is very easy to do). Other notable features include a true-flat recline, UPF 50+ canopy and peekaboo window.

“It’s easy to pull on any type of road,” says Grace Pann, What to Expect’s Product Designer. “It has a fairly big basket that is friendly for quick grocery shopping. The seat also can recline to five points.”

At $1,230, this is one of the more expensive travel systems on our list. Parents who have it say it can be worth the splurge, especially if you can find it on sale. “For me, the ease of use and the overall quality of the stroller makes it worth it,” Tika says.

Still, she has a few smaller complaints to keep in mind: “For the price, this stroller should come with a cup holder and snack tray,” she says. “Also, when folded it takes a lot of space in the trunk. I wouldn't recommend it for a family with a sedan.”

One of the most affordable travel systems on the market is also a top pick in the What to Expect community. Parents say the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System represents excellent value, thanks to an easy-to-use stroller and included top-of-the-line car seat.

A highlight of the Evenflo Pivot is the impressive six modes of use, which offer tons of versatility for parents to configure the seats front- or rear-facing, depending on preferences. This functionality is available for the infant car seat, toddler seat and newborn bassinet. (The latter is notable, as most strollers don’t let you change the position of the newborn bassinet.) It’s relatively lightweight and easy to switch between the different modes, parents say.

Plus, many parents also note how nice it feels to handle and use, so you don’t have to sacrifice convenience for price. And there are a number of nice-to-have features you don’t always find on more affordable brands of car seats and strollers, such as a parent cup holder, bumper with snack tray and a large undercarriage storage basket. Clipping in the infant car seat is also a breeze.

The only downside: Some parents say that the stroller that comes with this travel system doesn’t have the best maneuverability and can be tricky to turn on certain surfaces.

Traveling with one baby is hard enough, but two? You need some truly special gear for that. Enter the Evenflo Pivot Xpand Modular Travel System: This multiple-friendly stroller-car seat combo includes the brand’s full-size Pivot Xpand stroller with the SafeMax Infant Car Seat. It has an impressive number of possible configurations, and for parents of twins or two under 2, it’s a must-have.

There are 22 different ways you can set up the seats, depending on whether you’re using SafeMax Infant Car Seat and/or the included toddler seat. As a result, you can use this same stroller/car seat combo (with the addition of a second seat and/or riderboard) to push up to three children until the toddler years. For less than $500, that’s an incredible value.

Size aside, What to Expect parents appreciate the Evenflo Pivot Xpand Modular’s impressive list of features, including self-standing fold, front wheel swivel, peekaboo canopy, adjustable handle and a surprisingly roomy basket. Another bonus is that there are no tools or extra parts needed to convert the stroller from a single to a double. Reviewers find that it’s easy to install and a breeze to push.

Some reviewers do say that the stroller doesn’t feel like it’s made with as high-quality materials as others on the market. If having a luxury travel system is important to you, you might prefer one of the other options on this list.