Mockingbird Travel Stroller Review: Is This the Best Travel Stroller Under $400?

We took the Mockingbird Travel Stroller through Europe for two weeks with our three kids, using it on cobblestones, gravel, boats, metros, airports, and airplanes.

After putting a lot of miles on it, I think Mockingbird has created one of the best travel strollers in this price range, especially for families who want something compact without giving up the features they love about an everyday stroller.

At $399, it is not the smallest or lightest option you can buy. But you get a very upright toddler seat, a newborn-ready setup, an included universal-style infant car seat adapter, a 20-pound storage basket, excellent airflow, and a surprisingly smooth ride for a compact stroller.

I also love how versatile it is. We comfortably used it with my 2-year-old, but my very tall 6-year-old could fit in it too.

Disclosure: Mockingbird provided this stroller ahead of launch and partnered with us so we could put it to the test during our trip through Europe. As always, all opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. If you shop through them, you do not pay anything extra, but my family may receive a commission. Thank you so much for supporting The Stroller Mom!

Prefer to see the stroller in action? Watch my full review below.

Mockingbird Travel Stroller Pros and Cons

What I Love

• Excellent value for $399. Several accessories that cost extra with competing strollers are already included.
• Very upright toddler seat. This is one of my favorite features.
• Lots of room for bigger kids. My very tall 6-year-old could still fit underneath the canopy (28 inches of clearance)
• Newborn-ready. Infant Nest Mode allows you to use the stroller from birth (it is so flat).
• Universal car seat adapter included. It is not as smooth as peg adapters, per se, but it works well with many infant car seats. If you want peg adapters, they do sell them for several brands.
• 20-pound storage basket. Really good for a travel stroller!
• Really good push. It handled cobblestones, gravel, sidewalks, airports, and city streets throughout Europe.
• Excellent airflow. There are several mesh panels plus the reversible seat liner.
• Easy fold. A one-handed auto-fold that is smooth!
• Overhead Bin Approved. It’s IATA-approved and will fit in most overhead bins.

Things to Keep in Mind

• It weighs 17.7 pounds. This did not really bother me, and I prefer the sturdiness (some strollers are to light, in my opinion).
• The optional bumper bar adds a step when folding.
• Some don’t love how far forward the peekaboo window is. This is the same on their full size stroller and is not an issue when the canopy is extended.

What Comes With the Mockingbird Travel Stroller?

The stroller retails for $399, and what is included is one of its biggest strengths.

You get:

• The stroller
• Reversible seat liner with a mesh side
• FlexConnect universal infant car seat adapter
• Parent cup holder
• Carry bag
• + with my code you get a Rain Cover (add to cart and use EMSTROLLER)

Most of the time, you’d have to buy these accessories separately. It’s nice that they’re included!

Mockingbird also offers optional baby gear and accessories, including a snack tray (my favorite), bumper bar, and rain cover.

If you are traveling internationally, I would strongly consider bringing the rain cover. We learned quickly in Europe that weather can change, and having it packed with the stroller is much easier than trying to improvise once you are already away from home. I love that this one can clip to the stroller and even be folded with it attached.

Mockingbird Travel Stroller Quick Specs

The Toddler Seat Is One of My Favorite Parts

One of the compromises you sometimes see with compact strollers is the seating area.

To get the smallest possible fold, some travel strollers give you a shorter backrest or leave your child noticeably reclined even in the most upright of the recline positions.

I do not have that complaint here.

The Mockingbird supports children up to 50 pounds and gives you approximately 28 inches from the back of the upright seat to the canopy. On top of that, the seat depth and width are really good. It is 9 inches deep (Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus is 9.5 inches), and it is 14 inches wide (2.5 inches wider than the Butterfly 2 Plus).

My oldest is a very tall 6-year-old, and she was still able to sit comfortably underneath the canopy. We also used it extensively with my 2-year-old.

The upright seating position is really good, too! Toddlers often want to sit up, eat a snack, and see what is happening around them rather than lounge backward. This is one of the best upright seats in the travel stroller category.

You also get:

• No-rethread harness
• Padded harness covers
• Magnetic buckle
• Adjustable calf support (only needs on hand)
• Lower footrest
• Padded carry strap

The magnetic buckle is easy to use, but the pieces need to be lined up pretty precisely before they click together. I noticed this more while traveling, when I was often trying to buckle a child in while also managing bags or helping one of my other kids.

Can You Use the Mockingbird Travel Stroller With a Newborn?

Yes! The stroller reclines flat and converts into Mockingbird’s Infant Nest Mode for newborn use.

I especially love this for families traveling with a newborn. On long days of sightseeing, you may not want your baby spending hours in an infant car seat just because that is the only newborn-compatible setup. With Infant Nest Mode, you can use the stroller seat from birth and give your baby a much more comfortable setup for walking around all day.

You can also attach a compatible infant car seat using the included FlexConnect adapter. If you want the more traditional peg-style adapters, you can also buy those here! I recommend giving the included ones a try first, though!

The straps wrap around the sides rather than blocking the normal belt path. That makes it easier to get your child in and out without constantly working around an adapter strap.

I also really like that the car seat adapter is included. With a lot of travel strollers, that is something you have to purchase separately, so it is nice to have it included in the $399 price.

Canopy, Peekaboo Window, and Airflow

The canopy has really good coverage, and I love the mesh peekaboo window. One thing Mockingbird did that I really appreciate is that you can still see your child even when you extend the canopy. When we were traveling, I found myself checking on my kids all the time, especially in airports and crowded places, so I really liked having that visibility.

There is also another large mesh ventilation panel behind the backrest, and the flap stays open with magnets.

Between the mesh peekaboo window, the ventilation panel on the back, and the mesh seat liner, there’s a lot of airflow. I think this would be a great travel stroller for Disney, summer trips, or anywhere you know you’ll be spending a lot of time outside in the heat.

Handlebar and Parent Features

The leatherette handlebar is fixed rather than adjustable, which is normal for a travel stroller. I am 5’5″ and found the height comfortable. My mother-in-law is 5’3″ and did not have any issues either, although it is a little higher than some other options.

Taller parents should have plenty of stride clearance too. The rear wheels and frame are positioned far enough back that we never had an issue kicking the stroller while walking, even after putting a lot of miles on it.

There is also a small pocket behind the backrest that works well for a phone or keys, plus the included cup holder. I used both quite a bit while we were traveling, and I like that the cup holder is included instead of being another accessory you have to buy.

Storage Basket, Wheels, and Push

The basket holds up to 20 pounds, which is excellent for a stroller this size. We were able to load it up for full days of sightseeing.

One thing I learned in Europe, though, is that having a huge basket can encourage you to bring too much.

If your day involves frequently folding the stroller for metros, taxis, stairs, or trains, everything underneath eventually has to come out.

I still love having the capacity, but on transportation-heavy days (up and down stairs) I would pack strategically.

Traveling to Europe soon? Check out this video with all the things we learned!

The brake is simple and flip-flop friendly.

The push was also one of the biggest surprises for me. We used it on cobblestones, gravel, pavement, airport floors, sidewalks, and uneven city streets, and it did really well on all of them. I would not take it on rough trails all the time like an all-terrain stroller, but for the places we actually used it while traveling, I was really impressed.

How Does the Mockingbird Travel Stroller Fold?

The fold is super easy. With the push of two buttons, the stroller automatically folds down.

Folded, it measures 21.5 × 18 × 10 inches, and Mockingbird says it meets IATA standards for cabin luggage. That does not mean every airline will allow it in the overhead bin, which I’ll talk more about below, but it is designed to be compact enough for air travel.

There is also a padded shoulder strap, which we used quite a bit going up and down stairs and getting on and off public transportation.

At 17.7 pounds, it is a little heavier than some other travel strollers. I definitely noticed the weight if I had it on my shoulder for a while, but overall I found it very manageable during our trip.

Opening it is just as easy. Push the same two buttons, and it pops back open.

One thing to know if you buy the optional bumper bar is that you have to fold the bumper bar down before you fold the stroller. This is pretty common with travel strollers, but when we were constantly folding it for metros and stairs, it was one extra step. In hindsight, I probably would have left the bumper bar at home for that kind of trip.

Does the Mockingbird Travel Stroller Fit in an Airplane Overhead Bin?

The stroller is designed to meet IATA carry-on size guidelines. We personally put ours into an Air France overhead bin during our trip.

That said, I would never promise that any stroller will be allowed in the cabin on every flight.

Airlines have their own baggage policies. Aircraft have different storage spaces. And airline employees ultimately have discretion over what can come onboard.

We experienced this ourselves.

Air France initially told us that the YOYO was the only stroller they allowed onboard. We explained that the Mockingbird was also a compact travel stroller and that we were using it within our carry-on allowance, and they allowed us to bring it onboard.

That is exactly why I recommend traveling with a padded stroller bag even when you are planning to use the overhead bin.

If you unexpectedly have to gate-check it, you have some protection.

Mockingbird Travel Stroller vs. MINU V3, Joolz Aer2, Butterfly 2, and Quid 3

I know a lot of you are also looking at the UPPAbaby MINU V3, Joolz Aer2, Bugaboo Butterfly 2, and Inglesina Quid 3, so here’s how they compare with the Mockingbird.

Mockingbird vs. UPPAbaby MINU V3

The UPPABABY MINU V3 may be the closest competitor on paper.

The two have essentially identical folded dimensions, support children up to 50 pounds, and have 20-pound baskets.

The MINU V3 is about one pound lighter.

I also think it makes a lot of sense for families who already own UPPAbaby products, particularly an UPPAbaby infant car seat.

But the Mockingbird costs about $100 less and already includes its infant car seat adapter, cup holder, and carry bag.

I also prefer the very upright toddler position and ventilation on the Mockingbird. This is my community’s number one complaint about the Minu V3.

Mockingbird vs. Joolz Aer2

The biggest advantage of the Joolz Aer2 is definitely the weight. At 14.3 pounds, it is more than three pounds lighter than the Mockingbird and folds a little smaller.

I also think the Aer2 feels more premium overall. The materials are nicer, and Joolz gives you several ways to use it with a newborn. The stroller seat itself can be used from birth, and you can also purchase the bassinet or Nest2Seat separately if you want a different newborn setup.

That said, I much prefer the recline on the Mockingbird. The Aer2’s recline mechanism is one of my least favorite things about that stroller, while the Mockingbird is much easier to adjust and gets really upright for a toddler.

The Aer2 also costs $579, compared with $399 for the Mockingbird.

So for me, the Aer2 makes more sense if you really care about keeping the stroller lightweight, want the nicer materials, or like having multiple newborn configurations. But if you care more about price, included accessories, basket space, and an easier recline, I would lean toward the Mockingbird.

Mockingbird vs. Bugaboo Butterfly 2 Plus

The Butterfly 2 Plus and Mockingbird are pretty close in weight and folded size. The Butterfly weighs 16 pounds compared with 17.7 pounds for the Mockingbird.

I think the Butterfly feels more premium overall. The materials are nicer, the push is great, and the fold is incredibly easy. It also now has a newborn recline, so you can use the stroller seat from birth without relying on an infant car seat.

The seating dimensions are interesting because they are better in different ways. The Butterfly has a much taller 24-inch seatback, compared with 20 inches on the Mockingbird. But the Mockingbird actually has about 2 inches more clearance from the seat to the canopy, which is part of why my very tall 6-year-old could still fit comfortably in it.

The Mockingbird also works with a wider range of infant car seats, and the adapter is included. That is a nice advantage if you already have a car seat and do not want your stroller choice to dictate which brands you can use.

The biggest difference is price. The Butterfly 2 Plus is $579, while the Mockingbird is $399 and also includes the car seat adapter, cup holder, and carry bag.

I would give the Butterfly the edge in materials, weight, seatback height, and overall premium feel. The Mockingbird gives you more canopy clearance, more car seat compatibility, more included accessories, and a much lower price.

If budget is not a big concern, I think the Butterfly 2 Plus is a really compelling stroller. But at $180 less, the Mockingbird makes a very strong case for itself.

Mockingbird vs. Inglesina Quid 3

The Quid 3 is an interesting comparison because it is also $399, but there are some pretty big differences between the two.

The Quid 3 weighs just 14 pounds, so it is noticeably lighter than the Mockingbird. It also supports children up to 55 pounds and has a 22-pound basket (though the Mockingbird is bigger), which is really impressive for such a lightweight stroller.

One thing I really like about both of these strollers is how upright the seats get. They are two of the most upright travel stroller seats I have used, which is something I know a lot of parents with toddlers care about.

We traveled with the Quid 3 in Mexico, and I was really impressed with how well it handled cobblestones and uneven surfaces, especially considering how light it is.

The Mockingbird gives you more flexibility from birth. You can use the stroller seat in Infant Nest Mode, and the infant car seat adapter is included. The Quid 3 requires an infant car seat for newborn use.

So if keeping the stroller as light as possible or having that higher 55-pound weight limit matters most, I think the Quid 3 is a great option. If you want more newborn flexibility and like having the car seat adapter included, I would lean toward the Mockingbird.

Which Travel Stroller Would I Choose?

There is no single travel stroller I would recommend for every family.

If keeping weight as low as possible is your biggest priority, I would look at the Joolz Aer2 or Inglesina Quid 3.

If you already use UPPAbaby baby gear and don’t mind the reclined seat, the MINU V3 is an easy option to consider.

If you love Bugaboo’s design and want a premium compact stroller, the Butterfly 2 Plus remains a strong option.

The thing that makes the Mockingbird Travel Stroller stand out is how little it asks you to give up for $399.

You get:

• Newborn use
• A very upright toddler position
• Plenty of room for bigger kids
• A 20-pound basket
• Excellent ventilation
• Included infant car seat compatibility
• Compact automatic fold
• A capable push

Most importantly, we actually traveled with it for two weeks, and it handled everyday life in Europe extremely well. This is a travel stroller I can easily recommend to lots of families.

That is why I think it makes the most sense for families who do not just want an airport stroller. They want a compact stroller they can travel with and still happily use for errands, walks, Disney, and everyday outings at home.

Who Is the Mockingbird Travel Stroller Best For?

I would put it near the top of your list if:

• You want one compact stroller for travel and everyday use.
• You are starting with a newborn.
• You want infant car seat compatibility without immediately purchasing another adapter.
• You have a taller toddler or older child.
• Your toddler strongly prefers sitting upright.
• You want a larger storage basket.
• You travel somewhere warm and care about airflow.
• You want premium-style features without spending $500 to $600.

Who Should Choose Something Else?

I would look at another option if:

• You need the lightest stroller possible. The Aer2 and Quid 3 are several pounds lighter.
• You want the absolute smallest possible fold. Cybex Libelle or Stokke Yoyo3 fit the bill.
• You need an adjustable handlebar or reversible seat. You’ll likely want a mid-size or full-size stroller.
• You regularly use rough trails or very difficult terrain. Look at a jogging stroller instead.

Final Thoughts: Is the Mockingbird Travel Stroller Worth It?

After traveling through Europe with it for two weeks, I have very few complaints.

It is not the lightest travel stroller. It is not the smallest either. But I do not think Mockingbird was trying to win either of those categories.

Instead, it feels like they prioritized making a compact stroller that is genuinely enjoyable to use once you arrive at your destination.

The upright toddler position, newborn setup, tall canopy clearance, large basket, ventilation, included car seat adapter, simple fold, and smooth ride make it feel much closer to an everyday stroller than many ultra-compact options.

And at $399, I think the value is hard to ignore.

If you want a compact stroller that can realistically work from the newborn stage through the toddler years and handle both travel and everyday life, the Mockingbird Travel Stroller is one of the best travel strollers I have tested.

Did this post help you decide? Please consider shopping through my link and code for a free rain cover (EMSTROLLER)!

Mockingbird Travel Stroller FAQs