Your Cart is Empty
In the battle over which stroller is smallest, lightest and easiest to use, the Babyzen YOYO2 and Nuna TRVL have emerged as two of the top competitors.
Babyzen pioneered the category of tiny travel strollers more than a decade ago when it introduced the YOYO—a stroller that's compact enough to fit on your shoulder and in many airplane overhead bins, yet well-made enough to handle the bumpy streets of its native France.
Nuna upped the game in 2021 by introducing the TRVL, another high-quality and compact stroller that adds convenient features like an automatic fold and adapter-free compatibility with Nuna PIPA infant car seats.
Both strollers simplify travel and daily life as they grow with your child from infancy through toddlerhood, and both have pros and cons to weigh, depending on whether you're relying on the stroller primarily for air travel or using it as your all-purpose daily driver.
We'll review the differences between the Nuna TRVL and Babyzen YOYO2 in this comparison.
At $529.99, the Babyzen YOYO2 costs $80 more than the Nuna TRVL.
However, you can lower the price of the YOYO (at least temporarily) by purchasing only the stroller frame for $479.99. Babyzen sells the canopy and seat fabrics, known as the 6+ Color Pack, separately for $49.99. Nuna sells the TRVL with seat attached.
If you plan to use Nuna car seat with your stroller, the TRVL becomes an even better value. The TRVL doesn't require a car seat adapter, while the Nuna adapter for the YOYO adds $54.99 to the overall price.
Compared with the Nuna TRVL, the Babyzen YOYO2 is both lighter and smaller, making it an ideal choice for air travel.
Technically, neither stroller is a perfect fit for common airline carry-on requirements, but the YOYO2 is close—and Babyzen advertises that its stroller is accepted as cabin luggage by most airlines.
Nuna's stroller is too large for the overhead bin, but both the TRVL and YOYO come with a carry bag that makes gate-checking safe and convenient. (Be sure to check with your airline to understand its stroller policies.)
The seats for both the TRVL and YOYO2 can be used for the same length of time, from 6 months until your child reaches approximately 50 pounds.
Both strollers can be paired with an infant car seat, while the YOYO offers two additional configurations for a newborn when you attach the hard-bottomed YOYO Bassinet or the soft, foldable 0+ Newborn Pack.
If you remove the canopy and bumper bar from the Nuna TRVL, the two strollers are the same weight: 13.6 pounds. You'll need the bumper bar when attaching a car seat to the TRVL.
The YOYO is more narrow but longer than the TRVL, while the TRVL sits a few inches taller.
The TRVL stands when folded, while the YOYO collapses to a flat position. That reduces the height of the folded YOYO by 17 inches, but its length is 9 inches longer than the TRVL.
The YOYO is closest to the carry-on requirement size of airlines like Delta and American (22" x 14" x 9").
The Nuna TRVL and Babyzen YOYO2 are among the top-performing travel strollers for both maneuverability and comfort, thanks to features like all-wheel suspension and a multi-position recline.
Both stroller canopies offer ample sun coverage with UPF 50+ protection, as well as a peek-a-boo window that's plastic for the YOYO and mesh for the TRVL. And both models include water-repellent fabrics and a leatherette handlebar.
The TRVL has these features not seen on the YOYO:
The YOYO has these features not included on the TRVL:
If you're planning to use your stroller during baby's first months, the Babyzen YOYO2 offers more versatility in its configurations.
Both strollers can be paired with an infant car seat, but Babyzen also offers two types of bassinets that allow your newborn to lie flat in the stroller.
The Babyzen 0+ Newborn Pack is a soft fabric set that attaches to the frame and can fold with the stroller. The Newborn Pack includes a harness and a removable apron with a sherpa lining.
The Babyzen Bassinet fulfills the same purpose, but with different functionality. Unlike the soft 0+ Newborn Pack, which can't be used off the stroller, the bassinet has a hard bottom that allows it to rest on the floor when you're visiting a restaurant or a friend's house. Because the bassinet is structured, your baby doesn't need a harness to rest safely inside. While the bassinet can't fold with the stroller, it collapses into two half-shells for storage.
The Nuna TRVL does not have a bassinet option. See the differences between the 0+ Newborn Pack (left) and Bassinet (right) in the photo below.
With either stroller, you'll probably catch an envious glare from another parent when you fold it at an airport.
The TRVL self-folds in a single one-handed motion, allowing you to hold your baby while the stroller does the work for you.
Simply slide the handlebar button with your thumb while pressing with your fingers, then let go and let the stroller fold itself into a standing position. Lift the stroller by its bumper bar, and repeat the same motion to unfold it.
The YOYO's two-step fold requires more of a learning curve—but after just a bit of practice, you can transform it from stroller to shoulder accessory in only a few seconds.
The first step, which can be completed while your child is still seated, involves pressing two buttons to fold the canopy. For the second step, you'll need just one hand to press and slide a button under the stroller seat until the frame collapses. Unlike the TRVL, the YOYO has a padded strap that allows you to wear it on your shoulder.
True to its name, a "travel system"—or an infant car seat attached to a stroller—is especially convenient when you're traveling, whether you're heading through the airport or just popping into a store.
The Nuna TRVL is one of the only compact strollers that doesn't need adapters to attach a car seat. While adapters aren't necessarily difficult to use, they create an extra step in your process—and an extra opportunity to lose a key piece while you're traveling.
The catch? The TRVL is only compatible with Nuna infant car seats, so you can't attach any other brands. See the differences between Nuna PIPA models in this comparison.
The Babyzen YOYO2 fits car seats from a few different brands, including Nuna, with the use of adapters sold separately. The adapter is made of two components: One piece attaches to the side of the frame, while the other clicks on top. The top piece must be removed before folding.
If you're looking to use just the stroller frame and car seat in your baby's first months, it's easier to do so with the YOYO, as the frame is sold as a standalone product. The TRVL comes with seat fabrics and canopy attached, so you'll have to attach the car seat on top or disassemble the fabrics for a cleaner look.
Babyzen offers only one type of car seat adapter, which fits the following car seats:
* Although the Cybex Cloud Q fits on the stroller, Babyzen does not recommend its use, as the weight of the car seat and the child (at maximum weight) exceeds the capacity of the YOYO.
Both the Nuna TRVL and Babyzen YOYO2 come with a lightweight carry bag intended to protect the stroller from debris and scratches. Padded travel bags offering extra protection and storage are sold separately.
The TRVL includes one feature that's sold as a separate accessory for the YOYO (a leg rest) and one that isn't available from Babyzen (a bumper bar).
Otherwise, the YOYO offers more accessory options, including two types of bassinets, a ride-along board for a toddler, and weather gear like a footmuff or parasol.
Both strollers offer high-quality fabrics that are water-repellent, as well as a leatherette handlebar that's black for the Babyzen YOYO2 and brown for the Nuna TRVL. The TRVL includes a matching bumper bar, too.
You can choose from a white or black frame for the YOYO2, which also offers a rainbow of color choices for the seat or bassinet fabrics. The TRVL is offered in two neutral colors.
The YOYO2 offers these color choices:
The TRVL comes in these colors:
So which stroller is better: the Nuna TRVL or the Babyzen YOYO2? Only you can decide which is best for your family, but here are the benefits and drawbacks we see.
Strolleria is an authorized retailer of Babyzen and Nuna products dedicated to making the baby gear buying experience less overwhelming for parents.
If you have more questions about the Babyzen YOYO2 vs. Nuna TRVL debate, feel free to contact us at 480-442-9433 or customercare@strolleria.com.
