Top Picks for Travel Systems in 2026
These stroller and child car seat combos impressed our testers
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Anything that reduces decision fatigue is a win for parents, so it’s no wonder that travel systems—also known as stroller and car seat combos—are popular with so many families.
With a travel system, one purchase gets you both a stroller and a compatible infant car seat, which clips into the stroller frame to accommodate younger babies. These two key pieces of baby gear work together or apart, and buying them as a combo often saves money, too. “Many infant car seats can be bundled with a stroller as part of a travel system, which also streamlines car rides with your infant,” says Jessica D’Argenio Waller, who reports on baby content for CR.
When it comes to shopping for travel systems, there are some key questions you’ll want to ask, according to Joan Muratore, who oversees product testing for babies and healthy living at Consumer Reports, and Emily A. Thomas, PhD, and Michael Bloch, who lead child car seat testing.
- Where you live and how you’ll use a stroller car seat combo: Certain features may be more important depending on your lifestyle. If you often drive, you may prefer a stroller that can fold easily to fit into your trunk, as well as a lightweight car seat you can regularly move into and out of the car.
- Storage space in your home: “Will your stroller take up some of your living space? You’ll want to consider a smaller, lighter model if so,” Muratore says. If storage is limited, a stroller that can collapse and fit in a closet is a plus.
- Storage space on the go: Consider how much onboard storage you’ll need. “City residents might do food shopping with their baby in a stroller—they will want enough space in the basket for their purchases,” Muratore says. “At minimum, you want space for a diaper bag and your other essentials.” Some strollers offer additional storage options, such as a parent organizer, a snack tray, or cup holders.
- Crash protection ratings and safety: The first few times you put your newborn into an infant car seat can seem nerve-wracking, to say the least. Knowing that the car seat included in your travel system has been tested to offer the highest possible margin of safety can offer peace of mind.
- Ease of installation and use: You’ll learn how to function on new levels of sleep deprivation during your baby’s first year—a car seat that’s easy to use and install is a must. Strollers score extra points for being easy to maneuver and straightforward to fold.
Top Picks for Baby: See more top performers in bassinets, cribs, diapers, high chairs, infant car seats, convertible car seats, all-in-one car seats, strollers, lightweight strollers, and double strollers.
Consumer Reports tested 18 travel systems, including those from Chicco and Nuna, assessing the strollers for ease of use, safety, and maneuverability, and the car seats for crash protection, ease of use, and vehicle fit. The three travel systems that impressed our testers the most are our Top Picks for Travel Systems for 2026.
CR’s Top Pick for Travel Systems, below, is the highest-rated widely available model from our rigorous lab tests. We’ve also designated a Value Pick for Travel Systems; it offers a great score for a good price. And because every family’s needs are different, our Expert Pick is for families that specifically want a travel system with a jogging stroller that can handle rough terrain better.
Top Pick for Travel Systems: Nuna Swiv + Pipa Aire RX Travel System
Graphic: Consumer Reports, Nuna Graphic: Consumer Reports, Nuna
The Nuna Swiv stroller paired with the brand’s Pipa Aire RX infant car seat makes an impressive car seat stroller combo. This travel system earned top scores for car seat performance in our tests and near-perfect ratings for the solid, sturdy stroller. In addition to excellent safety scores, the Swiv and Pipa Aire Rx have a long list of unique features. “The Swiv has a unique feature: Just press and hold the drift button, and all four wheels swivel 360 degrees, making tighter turns and sideways movement much easier,” Muratore says.
The Pipa Aire RX “is a balanced performer,” Bloch says. “The addition of a load leg on this seat makes it one of the better performers in our crash protection tests.”
The stroller features our testers appreciated include:
- Mesh back on the stroller seat to increase airflow on hot days (plus a fabric insert to cover it up when temperatures drop)
- UPF 50+ extendable canopy with a flip-out eyeshade and peek-a-boo window
- Easy-adjust harness with a helpful magnetic buckle
- Two seat configurations
- Ring adapter to clip in any Nuna Pipa car seat or Nuna Lytl bassinet
- Self-standing when folded
- One-handed, compact fold
- Large storage basket and two additional zippered pockets
The car seat features that impressed our test team include:
- Easy-to-use, rigid LATCH connectors
- Easy to install as carrier-only, without the base, thanks to clear belt paths, ideal for those who need to use their car seat in multiple cars or for travel
- UPF 50+ canopy with flip-out eyeshade
- Excellent ease-of-use and fit-to-vehicle scores
- Excellent crash protection with load leg
- Handle can be locked in any position for travel
- Magnetic buckle holders to keep straps out of the way when buckling baby in
- Machine-washable fabric and removable inserts
- Connects with all Nuna strollers (not just the Swiv)
One downside is that while the Swiv maneuvers well on most terrain, it does feel a little heavy and large, and some testers found it difficult to steer with one hand. The Pipa Aire RX’s recline adjustment is based on a child’s age, which some might find more intuitive, but other parents may prefer a recline indicator for installation. And the higher price “may be a deterrent for some, but at least it has performance that may warrant the price,” Bloch says.
Our testers’ Value Pick in Travel Systems for 2026 is a top-rated stroller from a popular brand paired with an infant car seat that’s practically synonymous with car seat safety. Our Expert Pick is a great choice for families that specifically want a travel system with a jogging stroller. Depending on your family’s needs and budget, one of these travel systems might be right for you.
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