You are at the gate. Flight delayed. Toddler is done. The stroller you brought collapses into something the size of a carry-on — but does it actually roll well on airport carpet? Or is it a wobbly nightmare that makes you miss your pre-baby days of just carrying a backpack?
I spent a month testing the Joovy Caboose Too and the gb Pockit+ All-City on city sidewalks, gravel paths, and three different airports. Here is what I found.
Why Travel Strollers Exist — And Why Most Parents Buy the Wrong One
Travel strollers solve one problem: moving a child through tight spaces (airplane aisles, subway turnstiles, rental car trunks) without breaking your back. That is it.
But most parents buy based on fold size alone. They see a stroller that folds to the size of a laptop bag and think “perfect.” Then they push it over a crack in the sidewalk and the front wheel rattles like a shopping cart with a bad wheel.
The real tradeoff is always stability vs. portability. A stroller that folds tiny will never push like a full-size Bugaboo. The question is: how much ride quality are you willing to trade for that fold?
The Fold Test — How Small Is Small Enough?
Let me be direct. The gb Pockit+ All-City folds to 12 x 7 x 20 inches — roughly the size of a thick laptop bag. It fits in overhead bins on most planes (check your airline, some budget carriers have smaller bins). The Joovy Caboose Too folds to 17 x 12 x 36 inches. Bigger, but still fits in most trunks.
Here is the thing: the gb Pockit fold is impressive. It takes about 3 seconds. But you pay for it. The seat is low to the ground (your kid stares at knees). The canopy is tiny — my 18-month-old’s head was in direct sun unless I angled it perfectly.
If you fly more than 4 times a year, the gb Pockit fold size wins. If you fly once or twice, the Joovy fold is fine and you get a better ride.
Ride Quality — Where the Joovy Pulls Ahead
I pushed both strollers over the same 2-mile route: smooth pavement, brick sidewalks, grass, and gravel. The difference was not subtle.
| Feature | Joovy Caboose Too | gb Pockit+ All-City |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 21.5 lbs | 12.5 lbs |
| Wheel size (front) | 8 inches | 5 inches |
| Suspension | Front + rear | Rear only |
| Fold size | 17 x 12 x 36 in | 12 x 7 x 20 in |
| Seat recline | Multi-position (near flat) | 2 positions (not flat) |
| Canopy coverage | Full, with peek-a-boo window | Partial, no window |
| Price (2026) | $180 | $220 |
The Joovy rolls over bumps without shaking your kid awake. The gb Pockit transmits every crack in the pavement straight up through the handlebar. On airport carpet, both are fine. On cobblestone streets in Europe? The Joovy is tolerable. The gb Pockit is annoying.
When the gb Pockit Makes More Sense
I will say it plainly: the gb Pockit+ All-City is not a stroller for daily walks. It is a stroller for getting from the security line to the gate, onto the plane, and into a taxi on the other end.
Buy the gb Pockit if:
- You fly 6+ times per year and need something that fits in an overhead bin
- Your kid is 12+ months old and can sit upright (the seat does not recline flat)
- You are okay with your child being 12 inches off the ground — closer to exhaust fumes and dirt
- You want the lightest option (12.5 lbs is genuinely easy to carry one-handed)
One more thing: the gb Pockit has no storage basket worth mentioning. A diaper bag? You wear it. The Joovy has a real basket underneath that holds a small daypack.
When the Joovy Caboose Too Is the Better Bet
The Joovy Caboose Too is a different category. It is a sit-and-stand stroller with a bench seat in the back for an older sibling. That makes it heavier (21.5 lbs) but also more versatile.
Buy the Joovy if:
- You have two kids close in age (the bench seat works for a 3-year-old who wants to stand)
- You want a stroller that doubles as your primary neighborhood walker
- Your baby is under 6 months (the seat reclines enough for a bassinet-like position)
- You need real storage — the basket fits a week’s worth of farmers market haul
The Joovy is not a true “travel” stroller in the ultra-compact sense. But it is a better stroller overall. If you only fly once or twice a year, get the Joovy. You will use it more.
Common Mistakes Parents Make Buying Travel Strollers
I have seen these three mistakes destroy vacations:
Mistake 1: Buying based on the fold video. Every stroller looks easy to fold in a 15-second Instagram reel. In reality, the gb Pockit requires two hands and a specific technique. Practice at home before the airport.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the weight limit. The gb Pockit+ All-City maxes out at 55 lbs. That sounds fine. But the seat is so small that most 3-year-olds look cramped. The Joovy handles up to 45 lbs on the front seat and 40 lbs on the bench — more room overall.
Mistake 3: Forgetting about the canopy. A tiny canopy means your kid gets sun in their eyes, then fusses, then you are stuck holding a blanket over their head while pushing. The Joovy canopy is actually usable. The gb Pockit canopy is a token gesture.
Which One Should You Buy?
Here is my no-nonsense verdict:
For frequent flyers (6+ flights/year) with a single child over 12 months: buy the gb Pockit+ All-City ($220). It folds tiny, weighs almost nothing, and gets the job done for airport-to-hotel trips. Just know you are buying a specialized tool, not an everyday stroller.
For everyone else: buy the Joovy Caboose Too ($180). It pushes better, stores more, works for two kids, and handles real terrain. You lose the overhead-bin trick, but you gain a stroller you can actually use at home.
Neither is perfect. But the right choice depends on whether you need a stroller for travel or a stroller that travels. Those are different things.
