The City Tour 2 is a dedicated travel stroller that folds up tightly, allowing for easier travel while still providing a smooth, comfortable ride for the child. This compact, 14.5-pound stroller fits into a convenient package that’s ideal for parents who don’t have the space—in the car or in the house—to store and transport a large stroller. Our expert product testers put this stroller to use over the course of three months. First, we tested it alongside other leading travel strollers in the Verywell Testing Lab, where we evaluated everything from weight and size to maneuverability and durability. Next, we took it home and used it with an 11-month-old baby for everyday tasks like going to the grocery store, taking long walks, and quick trips to the beach. Our testers considered how it performed compared to standard strollers, and evaluated any special features that made it stand out. Most of all, we aimed to assess how convenient it is for parents, and how comfortable it is for babies.
Who It’s For
The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 folds easily into a compact package, so it’s ideal for families who travel often—by car, train, or airplane. It makes car travel easier by freeing up space in the trunk, and it’s easy to lift and carry with one hand. Like the name implies, this stroller can easily navigate crowded city streets or fold up when riding public transportation, so it’s an ideal option for families on the go. It’s great for smaller homes or apartments that can’t spare the extra space to store a bulky stroller. Keep in mind that it has minimal storage, so it won’t be able to hold groceries, a large backpack, or even some diaper bags. Overall, this is a great option for anyone looking for a smaller, more streamlined stroller that can be packed up and stowed away when not in use.
Design
A stroller that babies can easily nap in is essential for travel, so the ability to recline is a crucial design feature. This stroller reclines with the push of one button, so a baby can sit up or lay back comfortably. The large sun canopy is UV 50+ with a mesh peekaboo window for shade and increased air flow on sunny days. The straps are adjustable, and the padded clasp is secure and easy to latch and unlatch. We love that it has adjustable calf support, so it can adapt to your baby’s growing legs. However, this streamlined stroller has minimal storage underneath the seat. In fact, our testers weren’t able to store a backpack or diaper bag in there, which can make traveling with bags more cumbersome. Also keep in mind that the handle doesn’t have adjustable heights. Overall, it scored a 4.5 out of 5 stars for design.
Maneuverability
This stroller maneuvers exceptionally well across different surfaces, including grass, gravel, and carpet. In fact, our testers gave it a near-perfect 4.8 score for maneuverability. It’s easy to push and feels lightweight when doing so. Our testers barely notice the difference when transitioning from gravel to carpet or hardwood, so it provides a smooth ride with barely any bumps felt in the handle bar. The wheels turn quite well with a tight radius. The foot break is easy to latch and unlatch, providing extra convenience and safety.
Portability
During our lab test the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 received a 4.5 rating for overall portability. It folds up easily and doesn’t feel bulky. It almost feels like a briefcase when carrying it folded up by the handle. Although the stroller itself doesn’t have a shoulder strap, the included carry-bag does, so you can pack it up and have your hands free for other luggage and your child. In order to fold the stroller, you lock the wheels then slide the thumb button and press the handle button using your remaining fingers. Then you push the handle bar into the canopy to collapse it into itself, and lock it into place using the lever. Folding the stroller is intuitive and takes just a few tries to get the hang of it. Our testers appreciated that it could be done with one hand (though at first it took two hands to lock it into place). Our at-home testers were able to fold it and unfold it while holding a baby in the other hand. Once folded, it’s easy to pick up and maneuver with one hand. The wheels detach for added portability, which means it can squeeze into even tighter spaces if needed.
How We Tested
To test this stroller, we considered a number of different attributes like weight, design, durability, portability, maneuverability, and how easy it is to fold. We tested it alongside competitors in our lab, and used it at-home over the course of three months to gain real-world insight. We first recorded things like weight and measurement, then ran the stroller through a number of tests to determine its overall functionality and performance. First, we practiced opening and closing the stroller multiple times to determine how easy it is to fold. We considered any straps, buttons, or locks, and noted how intuitive or confusing it was to figure out. We paid particular attention to how easy it was to open and fold with one hand, considering the fact that most users will be holding a baby in the other hand. To test portability, we carried the stroller around using the included straps, and assessed whether or not they were comfortable, well-placed, and sturdy. To test maneuverability, we wheeled the stroller back and forth over carpet, gravel, hardwood flooring, and grass, then recorded its performance. To test durability, our testers folded up the stroller and dropped it from waist height, then we pushed it off a table. We recorded any signs of damage and took note of any changes in performance. After the initial testing phase, we continued to use this stroller in everyday applications over the course of three months. Our home tester used this as her primary stroller on car trips and train trips, on long walks along the road, and on the beach. She put it to use traveling alone with an 11-month-old baby, and gained real-world insight into its efficacy as a functional travel stroller.
Price
This is one of Baby Jogger’s most affordable strollers, and it retails for $250 at the time of this publication. Travel strollers are typically less expensive than standard strollers, but this is still one of the more cost-effective strollers we tested. Considering how easy it is to maneuver, how comfortable it is to use, and how easy it is to store, this is a fantastic value for the price.
The Competition
Nuna TRVL Stroller
Our testers found the Nuna TRVL to be easier to fold up with one hand than the Baby Jogger City Tour 2. We loved how easy the buttons are to push. Like the Baby Jogger, we found it to be incredibly easy to maneuver on grass, gravel, and carpet. It’s slightly more compact than the Baby Jogger and can fit into a standard overhead bin in an airplane. Although it’s more compact, the TRVL is slightly heavier (15.4 pounds compared to the City Tour 2’s 14.5), which could be because it boasts more storage. The Nuna has a storage bin that’s large enough to accommodate a backpack or diaper bag. However, it’s considerably more expensive and retails for about $450.
