Traveling with children is not a very enjoyable experience, to say the least. After our recent trip to the ocean with our three-year-old daughter, my husband said he is not going anywhere till she is 5! LOL. Right….
We thought that by three she would have a little more patience and be able to entertain herself a little better.
Nope! Didn’t like the ocean, couldn’t sit in the car for 3 hours, didn’t want to eat any of the stuff we brought, played in the sand for only 5 minutes, and started to whine asking to go home.
Oh… Vacation with kids … And this was only a 3-hour drive to the ocean! Can you imagine flying with a three-year-old?
That being said, you have to be prepared when traveling with little ones. One thing that can make your trip easier is a good quality lightweight stroller. The compact fold and lightweight will allow you to carry it over your shoulder when not needed.
The good size canopy will protect the little passenger from unwanted UV rays. And when your bundle of joy is finally tired, you can recline the seat and let him/her take a long nap (hopefully).
If you are traveling by plane, a compact stroller that you can take with you as a carry-on is a huge plus! Also, it will easily fit into the trunk of a small car leaving plenty of room for groceries.
So, today I want to give you a side-by-side comparison of the most popular travel strollers that have a SUPER compact fold and could even fit into the overhead luggage area on the plane.
You’ve probably already guessed that I am talking about Mountain Buggy Nano, Babyzen Yoyo 6+, and GB Qbit. These three strollers are known for their lightweight, VERY compact fold, and high quality. Let’s look at them side-by-side.
Mountain Buggy Nano | Babyzen Yoyo | GB Qbit | |
 |  |  | |
| Stroller weight | 13 lbs | 13 lbs | 14 lbs |
| Weight capacity | 44 lbs | 33 lbs | 50 lbs |
| Canopy size | Medium | Medium | Large |
| Canopy height | 26″ | 26″ | 25″ |
| Handle bar height | 38.5″ | 42″ | 41″ |
| Recline | Deep (not flat) | Deep (not flat) | Deep (not flat) |
| Seat accommodation | from 6 months | from 6 months | from 6 months |
| Back window | Mesh window no cover | Window with cover | No window |
| Adjustable leg rest | Yes | No | No |
| Basket size | Medium | Medium | Large |
| Wheels | 6″ | 5″ | 5.5″ |
| Suspension | Rear-Wheel | All-Wheel | Rear-Wheel |
| Brakes | Flip-flop-friendly | Flip-flop-friendly | Regular |
| Fold type | Two-hand, two-step | Two-hand, two-step | One-Hand, one-step |
| Folded size | 20″L x 12″H x 22″W | 20″ W x 17″ L x 7″H | 19″ W x 21″ L x 13″H |
| Automatic lock | Yes | Yes | No |
| Travel system | -Mountain Buggy Protect -Phil&Teds Alpha -Graco Snugride Click Connnect 22 + 35 -Peg Perego -Primo Viaggio -Maxi-Cosi Pebble -Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix -Maxi-Cosi Mico -Safe ‘n’ Sound Unity -Chicco Keyfit (love this car seat!) | No | -GB Asana35 -Maxi Cosi Mico -Cybex Aton |
| Adapter type | Straps in | No | Clicks in |
| Accessories included | -Car seat adapter -Travel bag | -Travel bag -Rain cover | -Cup holder -Travel bag -Car seat adapter |
| Pros | -Travel system option -Adjustable leg rest -Good price | -Most compact fold -Newborn nest option -All-wheel suspension | -Large canopy -Large basket -Good price -Travel system option |
| Cons | -Low handle bar -No cover for the back window | -Expensive -No travel system option | -No peekaboo window -Covered back panel -No mesh in the canopy -Short seat back (only 17″) -No automatic lock |
| Price | $299 | $470 | $269 |
| My review | My review» | My review» | My review» |
Detailed comparison
Now that you’ve seen my comparison chart, let’s talk about each feature in more details.
-Canopy. All three strollers have a good size canopy. Since the Qbit is a little bit larger than the other two, it gets the win. Nano and Yoyo both have two panels with a small pop-out sunvisor, while Qbit has three panels. Also, since the Nano has the highest canopy, it provides less protection for small babies that are not that tall.
-Peekaboo window. Yoyo is a winner in this category since it’s the only one that has a peekaboo window. Qbit has nothing. Nano has a mesh panel in the back that you can use as a peekaboo window.
-Seat. All of them have roomy seats with a width between 13″-14″. When it comes to the canopy height, Nano wins with a measurement of 27″ from the back of the seat to the top of the canopy. For comparison Yoyo is 26″ and Qbit is 25″. As you can see they are very close in seat size.
-Weight capacity. This one goes to Qbit since it has a weight capacity of 50 lbs! Nice for a lightweight stroller. Nano got second place with a weight limit of 44 lbs and Yoyo has only 33 lbs. If you have a larger child, he/she can be 33 lbs at 3 years old.
-Recline. All three strollers have a strap recline system. Out of three, Qbit has the smallest recline. Nano and Yoyo are pretty close. They both have a deep nearly flat recline that is perfect for long naps. Since the recline on Nano is a little easier to operate than on Yoyo, it gets the win.
-Back panel. Once you recline the seat, you will see a back panel. The best back panels have mesh for better ventilation and a cover for windy weather. On Nano there is a mesh but no cover. The Qbit has a permanently attached panel without any mesh. The Yoyo has a large opening without a mesh, but with a large cover. This one goes to Yoyo! Although there is no mesh, there is a large opening that will provide your child with good air circulation and will not get in the way of a taller child. When the weather gets chilly, you can cover it with a velcro closure.
-Adjustable leg rest. The only stroller that has adjustable leg rest is Nano. Wining!
-Handle bar. None of these handle bars are adjustable. The Yoyo has the highest one at 42″ from the ground, while Qbit has it at 41″ and Nano at 38.5″. I think that 38.5″ is on a lower side. If you are very tall, test Nano before getting it.
-Basket. I don’t expect to see a large basket on a travel stroller, but it’s always a big plus. Most compact strollers have useless baskets that can only old a few essentials. The Yoyo has the smallest basket out of three. Surprisingly, Nano and Qbit both have large baskets that is easy to access.
-Wheels. The wheels on lightweight strollers range from 4.5″ – 6.5″. Wheels on Yoyo are 5″ while Nano has them at 6″ and Qbit has it at 5.5″. The front wheels on Nano and Qbit have locks while Yoyo does not. Honestly, I never use the locks because I find it hard to turn the stroller when the wheels are locked straight. So, lack of locks doesn’t bother me. Now, when it comes to maneuverability all three strollers are great. I can easily push any of them with one hand. It’s a tie!
-Suspension. The Yoyo has all-wheel suspension while Nano and Qbit have rear-wheel suspension, so Yoyo is the winner. I also found Yoyo a little smoother despite smaller wheels.
-Travel system option. The Nano and Qbit accept car seat while Yoyo does not. If you want to use Yoyo from birth, you can get a newborn attachment Yoyo 0+ that will turn Yoyo into a pram. I like that Nano accepts a wide range of different car seats, but I am not a big fan of using a strap to attach the car seat. Qbit on the other hand, accepts only a few car seats, but you can click them right into the frame. It feels a little more secure to me. So it’a a tie for me between Nano and Qbit.
-Fold. The fold is definitely easier on Qbit because you can do it with one hand. The other two are easy, but require both hands. I just wish there was an automatic lock on Qbit. Unfolding process is the same on all.
-Compactness. The Yoyo is a winner! It’s super duper compact and is allowed as a carry-on by most airlines.
-Shoulder strap. The Yoyo and Nano have a carry strap while Qbit does not.
-Weight. Since Nano and Yoyo weigh 13 lbs, it’s a tie. The Qbit is 14 lbs.
-Cup holder. Only Qbit has included cup holder.
-Style. All three are great looking strollers, but my favorite is Yoyo! While other strollers are mostly black with some accent colors, Yoyo has bright and colorful canopy and the seat. You can also choose between black and white frame. Speaking about frames, I think that Yoyo has the most interesting frame design out of three.
-Price. The price difference is huge! The Yoyo 6+ retails for $470, while Nano and Qbit are more budget friendly retailing at $299 and $179.
Total: Qbit – 8 wins, Nano – 8 wins, and Yoyo – 9 wins.
I think that all three strollers have a lot of great features, so it’s very hard to choose a definite winner. The choice really depends on your priorities. If you have a very tall child, I would go with Nano since it has the tallest canopy. Here is my full review»
If you need the most compact fold and pram option, then Yoyo would be a great option. Here is my full review»
Now, if easy fold and travel system that clicks in is more important for you, get Qbit. Here is my full review»
Video comparison
Here is a great comparison video from BabyGizmo. Note: I am not sure why they say in the video that Nano handle bar is 40″. I have checked on Mountain Buggy site and it’s 38.5″. Also, the wheels on Nano are 6″ and not 5.5″.
If have any questions or need help narrowing down your choices, let me know by using the comment box below and I will do my best to answer it as soon as I can. I am here for you!
Could you take a look at “Recaro Easylife Stroller”? Also, how do you think of Mountain Buggy Nano 2016, which has some improvements than the old one. Thanks.
Qbit Plus also has a new and improved version just released recently.
Maybe you can consider an updated comparison between these strollers again?
Hi Katrin! Can I ask your advice between the mountain buggy nano and the 3D zyre (or one convenience)? I am looking for lightweight, compact to leave in car, and maybe one airplane trip a year (baby will be 9 months for first flight), and would like to have more children. I already own a jogging stroller but dislike fitting into trunk of sedan. Love the price point, canopy, and full recline of the zyre, but love the idea of fitting overhead bin (I considered the qbit but baby doesnt look comfortable in the furthest up recline and flimsy back) and car seat attachment of the nano. My first baby so not sure all places I would use yet but maybe mall, store, beach, travel, anywhere. Thank you!! Love your site.
Hello, can you please add Recaro Easylife to this comparison list? I’ve heard some great things about it and would love to know what you think! Thank you!