Description
When travelling with small children, we know legs can tire easily. Having a compact, easy to fold stroller is a must if you have a fair bit of ground you’d like to cover and don’t want to be reliant on taxies or public transport throughout.
What do we look for in an awesome city stroller?
Stroller technology has advanced so much in recent years we now have a wide range of ultra-compact stroller options that can quickly fold for ease of use in crowded places. We also like the stroller to be large enough out littles can still nap on the move and we can store our essential items in the stroller without it toppling over.
In our quest to find the absolute best stroller for city travel, our City Experts have tested many brands and our top choice for 2018 city travel is the Baby Jogger City Tour.
Baby Jogger City Tour features we love
- It’s ultra lightweight
- Ability to fold small enough to fit on a plane
- Good sized and easy accessible storage basket with handy zipper pocket to keep the cover
- Reclines to a near flat position
- Good sized SPF50+ sun canopy
- Attractive unisex colour range
- Suitable from 6 months until 20.5kg (45lbs) so will last most children well past the toddler years
How compact is the City Tour?
This is a genuinely backpack sized stroller.
- The packed weight of the stroller in its bag is 14.21lbs (6.5kg)
- Dimensions folded are 21.4”x 16.5”x 7.8” (56cm x 23cm x 45cm)
- In use the stroller is 35.8″ x 17.7″ x 38.8″ (91 cm x 45cm x 98.5cm)
- The front wheels are 5” swivel while the rear wheels are a sturdier 6”
(NB small wheels are the major differentiator of most ultra-compact models. This is how they are able to fold up small enough for cabin baggage without completely being pulled apart like most popular market leading brands – a worthy compromise we think!)
- Optional extras not included with the product but available to buy from reputable retailers such as Amazon include a weather shield, belly bar and cup holder – they add very little weight but great extra comfort features.
How does the City Tour stroller work?
The wheels are small so it’s not going to handle any series off roading but it CAN handle cobblestones and works a dream on smooth, flat surfaces. Given its light weight, it can easily be carried on stairs too, or worn as a backpack.
Similar to many of the ultra-compact folding products, the City Tour has a quick fold mechanism that bends the stroller into three.
Simply release the red safety button, fold the handlebar downwards and lift in the seat strap and it will collapse in one hand to a carry size. See how easy it is here! (Don’t worry we don’t look that slick at it either!!)
The stroller comes with a travel backpack which we love too for easy carrying when not in use – ideal for when you don’t want to leave your stroller unattended.
Whilst folding can be done one-handed in theory, unfolding does really need two hands. There’s a small safety clasp to release on the side, then pull the handlebar and base apart to instantly construct.
Can the City Tour really be taken onboard an aircraft?
Absolutely. You should always check your carrier’s terms and conditions on cabin luggage, but given its dimensions, it fits in the overhead locker of most aircraft. Our experienced travel parents have never run into any problems using it in this way right up to the aircraft door. (You never be allowed to push any stroller through the plane!)
How does the City Tour compare to other Baby Jogger products?
This is a really good comparison to make as you may already be a Baby Jogger owner or considering one for their wide range of tough terrain strollers that can adapt to your family needs.
Our city experts have also been City Mini and City Mini Double owners, which are also relatively compact and easy to fold models. Here are the key differences to the City Tour:
- Folding mechanism – City Mini is a one-hand pull in half to fold, whilst the City Tour collapses in on itself in three parts, making it the more compact folding model
- Wheels – City Mini is an 8″ three-wheeler (front wheel is doubled with suspension) whilst the City Tour has four wheels 5″ front and 6″ at the rear. This makes the City Mini slightly better at tougher terrains and off-roading and ever so slightly more manoeuvrable
- Weight – City Mini is 18.4lbs (8.3kgs) while the City Tour is 14.21lbs (6.45kgs)
- Handlebar – the City Tour is shorter than the City Mini at (98.5cm vs 104cm). The City Mini GT has an adjustable height handlebar suitable for taller parents, though some shorter parents find the City Mini a little high – this is really personal preference
- Car seat – The City Mini and City Mini GT can be purchased as travel systems with the Baby Jogger City Go (or any leading brand of car seat) making these products suitable from newborn. The City Tour does not have car seat adaptors so only suitable from 6 months
- Comfort – The City Tour does need to compromise in places and the seat depth and height are the biggest differentiators to the City Mini – you lose an inch in the depth and 2″in height. For most, this is not an issue if the child will be in and out of the stroller during the day.
Check City Mini Prices Now Check City Mini GT Prices Now Check City Go Prices Now
City Tour vs Yoyo vs The Nano
So how does The City Tour compare to its closest ultra compact rivals on the market today?
In some ways, they are all really comparable products and we cannot fault any of them for their compact versatility. For us, the big difference is the price. For exceptionally similar looks and handling, the City Tour is a real winner.
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