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All travel strollers weigh less than an everyday stroller, but the best are lightweight without skimping on quality and maneuverability.
A decade ago, Babyzen introduced its game-changing YOYO, a stroller that offered full-sized features like all-wheel suspension and car seat compatibility—while folding compactly enough to fit in the overhead bin of an airplane.
Now, an established luxury brand is challenging Babyzen for its place at the top of the travel stroller market. The Bugaboo Ant goes head-to-head with the YOYO as another carry-on-sized stroller with even more features, like a reversible seat, height-adjustable backrest and height-adjustable handlebar.
We'll review the differences, pros and cons between the two strollers in this comparison, which reviews the latest version of the Babyzen stroller, the YOYO2, which released in 2020. Neither stroller is undergoing updates for 2021.
The Ant features the same quality and maneuverability that Bugaboo strollers are known for—just in a smaller package.
Although the Ant is compact enough to be a carry-on, it offers several features typically reserved for larger strollers, like a reversible seat, reinforced seatback and height-adjustable handlebar.
The Ant is newborn-ready when you attach an infant car seat or bassinet, and it can grow with an older toddler up to 50 pounds, thanks to its height-adjustable backrest and high weight capacity.
The Babyzen YOYO2 was born in France, where its sturdy frame and all-wheel suspension can tackle anything from grassy parks to cobblestone streets.
The YOYO2 folds in a flash and can be carried by an integrated shoulder strap, then stored in its included carry bag.
Use the same frame to attach two different fabrics to the stroller: the 0+ Newborn Pack offers a bassinet that can be used from birth, while the 6+ Color Pack includes the seat fabric to be used when your baby is sitting upright.
In 2020, Babyzen released the YOYO2 version with upgraded suspension for a smoother ride and a leatherette handlebar. Learn more about the updates in this Babyzen YOYO+ vs. Babyzen YOYO2 comparison.
The Bugaboo Ant and Babyzen YOYO2 are comparably priced, with both strollers starting at $499 for a complete stroller that includes the frame and seat fabric.
Both strollers offer two choices in frame color: aluminum and black for the Ant, and black and white for the YOYO2. For the Ant, the black frame is priced $50 higher than the aluminum frame.
In both cases, the frame of the stroller can be purchased separately, allowing the option to attach only an infant car seat or carrycot/bassinet for a newborn before investing in seat fabrics later on.
The carrycot/bassinet is sold separately for both strollers, and the YOYO2 offers two infant choices: a hard-bottomed bassinet that can be placed on the floor, and a newborn pack with soft fabrics that folds with the stroller.
Features like a reinforced backrest and sturdier seat make the Bugaboo Ant about 2 pounds heavier than the Babyzen YOYO2, which is one of the lightest strollers on the market at less than 14 pounds.
When folded, both strollers are tiny enough to qualify as a carry-on item. The Ant is about 2 inches shorter and 2 inches more narrow when compared with the YOYO+.
Despite their tiny size, both the Bugaboo Ant and Babyzen YOYO2 are strong enough to support your child through toddlerhood, with a weight limit of 50 pounds and 48.5 pounds, respectively.
As neither stroller offers a flat recline, the manufacturers recommend using the Ant or YOYO2 stroller seat once your baby is around 6 months and can sit upright. However, both strollers are newborn-ready if you attach an infant car seat or bassinet.
In a unique feature, the seat height on the Ant is adjustable, allowing the stroller seat to grow alongside your child. As a result, the Ant offers an extra 5 inches in its backrest compared with the YOYO2 seat, making the stroller a better fit for taller kids.
The seat depth of the two strollers is nearly identical, and both manufacturers offer a leg rest accessory sold separately to add calf support for a growing toddler.
Both the Bugaboo Ant and Babyzen YOYO2 offer a variety of seating options, allowing parents to start with a car seat or bassinet before transitioning to a stroller seat for babies 6 months and up.
But the Ant is one of the only travel strollers with a reversible seat that allows your child to face you when she's younger and forward when she's older. Because the seat is a freestanding unit, it's also easier to pop off the seat and replace it with an infant car seat or bassinet.
Because the YOYO2 seat is fabric attached to a frame, it can't be as easily removed and replaced. The YOYO2 seat only faces forward, offering less versatility compared with the Ant.
Both strollers offer the smallest folds you'll find on a stroller, and both are easy to transport through airport security: The Bugaboo Ant can be wheeled like a suitcase when folded, and the Babyzen YOYO2 has a built-in shoulder strap.
But the YOYO2 has the edge for ease of use with its two-step fold, while folding the Ant is a multi-step process.
To fold the Bugaboo Ant, push in the sides of the canopy until you hear a click on both sides. Push the seat down so it’s at its shortest height.
Pull the lever on the back of the seat and push it forward until it fits into the frame. Disengage the lock on the side of the stroller, then push the wheels in to collapse the frame. Finally, lower the handlebar until it locks in place.
See how to fold the Bugaboo Ant in the video below.
To fold the YOYO2, first press the white buttons at the top of the frame to collapse the handlebar and canopy.
Then, find a red tab and black button located on the underside of the stroller. Press the button while pulling the tab, then grab the metal bar to allow the stroller to collapse and lock in place.
See how to fold the Babyzen YOYO in the video below. While the video depicts the prior-model YOYO+, the YOYO2 has the same fold.
Streamline your travel gear by attaching a car seat to either the Bugaboo Ant or Babyzen YOYO2 using car seat adapters sold separately.
For both strollers, the car seat adapters must be removed for the most compact fold. On the YOYO2, the portion of the adapters that lock onto the frame can remain in place when folding, but the actual adapters should be removed.
Customize both stroller for your needs by adding accessories like a ride-along board for an older sibling, a cup holder for your beverages, a protective travel bag or a rain cover.
So which stroller is better: the Bugaboo Ant or the Babyzen YOYO2? Only you can decide which is best for your family, but here are the benefits and drawbacks we see.
With Bugaboo's travel stroller debut, the Bugaboo Ant and Babyzen YOYO2 become the two highest-quality compact strollers on the market.
The strollers are similarly sized and priced. Both are compact enough to fit in an overhead bin on an airplane, and both can be used from Day 1 with an infant car seat or bassinet throughout your toddler's travels.
The Ant offers more features, like a reversible seat, height-adjustable seat and handlebar, and a self-standing and trolley function. But the YOYO2 is 2 pounds lighter and is easier to fold, making for faster transitions between the plane, airport and car.
Parents looking for the highest-quality travel stroller can't go wrong with either choice.
Strolleria is a family-owned and operated retailer dedicated to making the baby gear buying experience less overwhelming for parents.
If you have more questions about the Babyzen YOYO2 vs. Bugaboo Ant debate, feel free to contact us at 480-442-9433 or customercare@strolleria.com.
