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    Top Picks for Travel Systems in 2025

    Three stroller and car seat combos that pair top-rated infant car seats with versatile strollers—and impress our testing teams

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    person wearing denim shirt and pants pushing Nuna Triv Next + Pipa Aire RX Travel System through airport with large glass windows behind them Photo: Nuna

    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. One purchase gets you two key pieces of baby gear that work together or apart. 

    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 car seat testing here at Consumer Reports.

    • Where you live and how you’ll use it: Do you walk or drive everywhere? Will you need a lightweight car seat you can regularly move into and out of the car? Does the stroller need to fold easily to fit into your trunk?
    • 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. 
    • Storage space on the go: Consider how much onboard storage you’ll need. “City residents might do food shopping with their baby in his 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.”
    • Crash protection ratings and safety: The first few times you put your newborn into their infant car seat can feel nerve-wracking, to say the least. Knowing your car seat has been tested to offer the highest possible margin of safety can offer peace of mind when you need it most.
    • Ease of installation and use: You’ll learn how to function on new levels of sleep deprivation during your baby’s first yeara car seat that’s easy to use and install is a must.

    Top Picks for Baby: See more top performers in Bassinets, Cribs, Diapers, High Chairs, Infant Car Seats, Strollers, and Double Strollers.

    Consumer Reports tested 17 travel systems, from Bob Gear to UppaBaby, 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 impress our testers the most are our Top Picks for Travel Systems for 2025.

    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 not every family’s needs are the same, our Expert Pick is for small-space families that specifically want a lightweight infant car seat paired with a compact, maneuverable stroller.

    Top Pick for Travel Systems: Nuna Triv Next + Pipa Aire RX Travel System

    Nuna Triv Next + Pipa Aire RX Travel System on pale yellow background

    Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports

    We love this combo because it excels in style, versatility, safety, and maneuverability. The Nuna Triv Next is easy to use, offers a smooth ride, and handles effortlessly. The Pipa Aire RX is top-rated for safety and scores high for fit to vehicle and ease of use. The stroller features our testers appreciate include: 

    • Very large, water-repellent UPF 50+ canopy with flip-out eyeshade and window.
    • Reversible seat that makes it easy to switch your child from facing towards or away from you. 
    • Easy one-handed fold. Plus, it’s self-standing once folded and has a small footprint. “It’s relatively light and easy to carry and store,” Muratore says.
    • One-touch brakes and height-adjustable handle—our “testers said the handle is especially comfortable, too,” Muratore says.
    • Easy-to-adjust five-point harness that converts to a three-point harness.
    • Large storage basket and a zippered seatback storage pocket. 

    The only downside is that the Triv Next doesn’t have a dedicated storage console for parents. That’s unlikely to be a deal breaker.

    The car seat features that impressed our test team include: 

    • Easy installation with rigid LATCH connectors 
    • Option to install without the base, ideal for those who need to use their car seat in multiple cars, or for travel
    • Three-position height-adjustable headrest
    • Load leg feature that provides excellent crash protection 
    • UPF 50+ canopy with flip-out eyeshade 
    • Magnetic buckle holders to keep straps out of the way when buckling baby in
    • Machine-washable fabric and removable inserts
    • Chemical flame-retardant free fabrics and foams
    • Connects with all Nuna strollers (not just the Triv Next)

    The only downside is that the Pipa Aire RX has a heavy base and no recline indicator for base installations. “Recline adjustments are based on the child’s weight rather than following a recline indicator, which may be more intuitive for parents but lacks the ‘check’ of a recline indicator to show if the recline position is appropriate,” Bloch says.

    Our testers’ Value Pick in Travel Systems for 2025 is a top-rated modular stroller from a justly 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 want a travel system but don’t have space for anything bulky. Depending on your family’s needs and budget, one of these travel systems might be right for you.

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    We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.