Zoe Traveler Review: The Best Stroller That Fits In an Overhead Bin

We’ve been traveling frequently for the last 5 years with our kiddos and I’ve gathered a few opinions about strollers over that time. However, in all of those years, I had never traveled with a stroller that fits in the overhead bin until just recently. And it was actually pretty amazing.

It was so nice to have ZERO wait time to receive our stroller after the flight. Plus we didn’t have to worry about our stroller getting banged up underneath the aircraft. Having our stroller with us in the overhead bin for the first few times has made our airplane experiences smoother than they’ve ever been.

*There are affiliate links in this post This is in collaboration with Zoe Strollers, however, I reached out to them because of how much I love our Zoe double stroller. I stand by everything I say! Read my privacy/disclosure policy to learn more.

So, this post is going to cover our experience with the Zoe Traveler stroller and why we recommend it as the best stroller to fly with.

Not only is this the best cabin-size stroller you can find, but it’s also a comfortable, smooth stroller that both we as parents and our kids enjoy.

How big is the Zoe Traveler: The Best Travel Stroller for Airplanes

When the Zoe Traveler is open, the seat is 11 inches wide and is tested for kids weighing up to 45 pounds. It works well for both our 4.5-year-old and our 1.5-year-old.

It’s not quite as roomy as the Zoe Tour stroller, however, the Zoe Tour doesn’t fit in an overhead bin. However, the small size difference is worth it for the Zoe Traveler if you are looking for the best stroller for traveling on an airplane.

When folded, the Zoe Traveler is about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage or 22″ (height) x 19″ (width) x 10″ (depth). If you compare this size to most carry-on luggage sizes, you’ll see that the width is a tiny bit bigger than what they allow. However, we’ve never had a problem with it and it has fit well in almost all overhead bins (it only hasn’t fit in one!).

Plus the Zoe Traveler only weighs 13 pounds- which means it’s super easy to lift with one arm.

I was able to carry a bag in one arm and my Zoe Traveler, folded in the other arm while encouraging my kids to walk down the aisle to find our seats.

On our international flights from the US to Europe, the stroller fit in the overhead bin with SO much extra room ( I was actually quite shocked with how small the stroller looked in the bin). And the stroller has also fit with no problem in the overhead bin on our flights within the US.

We’ve had a few small, city hopper flights within Europe, and the stroller fit in the overhead compartments of all of them except one.

The one flight where our Zoe didn’t fit had extremely small overhead bins and they just couldn’t quite shut with the stroller inside.

It wasn’t a big deal though. The flight crew was very chill about it and just had us carry it back to the front of the plane where they put it underneath for us. I think this is a possibility no matter which airplane-friendly stroller you buy because some airplanes have just tiny overhead bins.

But Do You Need A Stroller That Fits into the Overhead Bin?

For years, I didn’t understand why people wanted travel strollers that fit into overhead bins because most, if not all, airlines will let you take 1-2 children’s travel items all the way to the gate of the aircraft for free. For example, you can check out Delta’s policy regarding strollers and car seats here.

Once at the gate, they put a tag on your items and then take it underneath the aircraft.

So, no, you don’t NEED your stroller to fit into the overhead compartment, however, it can be quite nice to have it onboard with you instead of taken underneath the aircraft at the gate.

We recently got our Zoe Traveler that fits in the overhead cabin and I’m pretty converted to having a stroller that fits into the overhead storage on an airplane.

It was SO nice to be able to have it with us the entire time and never wait to receive it. We’ve just had a few too many flights where we end up waiting an hour or more for our stroller and to just walk off the airplane with our stroller was amazing.

Pros and Cons of Taking A Stroller Into the Airplane Cabin

So, what are the pros and cons of taking a stroller like the Zoe Traveler into the airplane cabin when you could just purchase a stroller that can only be checked at the gate?

There are good reasons for both options and it will be up to you to decide which is going to be best for you and your family.

PROS:

• ZERO wait time to receive your stroller after the flight when you carry on the Zoe Traveler (we’ve waited an hour or more at times to receive our stroller when it’s gone underneath the aircraft)
• Since the Zoe Traveler is the size of hand luggage when folded, it can easily go through the scanner at airport security rather than be hand-checked by a security officer
• There is no need to purchase or bring a bulky stroller bag with you since your stroller will be with you on the plane the entire time
• No risk of your stroller getting banged up or broken when tossed around by luggage handlers
• You don’t need to get a special gate tag for the stroller since it won’t be going under the airplane (not a big deal, but a bonus)
• Veryyyyy occasionally you will encounter an airport that doesn’t allow you to take your stroller through security and to the gate. This is the case for our town’s small, international airport that we fly out of. So this means that if we don’t bring our Zoe Traveler with us that fits onboard, then we don’t have a stroller with us for the duration of our journey because they make us check it before security (and that gets old quickly). As I said, that is quite rare, but in our case it’s a big deal

CONS:

• Since the stroller needs to be small enough to fit into an overhead bin, you lose a bit of extra storage underneath the Zoe Traveler compared to the everyday Zoe Tour that doesn’t fit in the overhead bin

• One more thing to carry down the airplane aisle when you are already guiding kids down the aisle

Why The Zoe Traveler is the Best Stroller You Can Take on a Plane

1. Easily fits into almost all overhead bins (most important feature)
2. SUPER easy one-handed fold
3. Very light (13 pounds) and can be carried easily with one hand
4. Super affordable ($249 for an amazing stroller? Are you serious?) And you can even save $15 if you use this link to purchase your stroller.
5. Can stand upright on its own (makes it easy to put against a wall without it falling over)
6. A durable, comfortable easy-to-push stroller once you’re off the airplane

non-airplane Related Features that Make the Zoe Traveler the Best Travel Stroller

1. Can easily be pushed with one hand and has a super smooth ride
2. Large canopy for shade or to cover up your little one for a nap
3. Seat reclines 130° for comfortable naps
4. Has an unbeatable turning radius- seriously, you can turn it on a dime
5. Super smooth, one-foot brake system that’s easy to use even with sandals
6. Comes with an easy-to-access (and removable) water bottle holder for the parent
7. Extra add-ons are available like a handlebar storage bag and a snack tray (I definitely recommend the handlebar storage bag). If you are traveling in the winter, you may also want to pick up the footmuff to help keep your kiddo’s legs extra cozy and warm
8. Again, the Zoe Traveler is super affordable! Only $249 for an amazing stroller that’s great for airplanes but also great in cities. Plus you can get $15 off any Zoe stroller if you use this link!

Overall, I highly recommend the Zoe Traveler as the perfect stroller for airplane travel. We’ve used it on multiple flights around the world including long-haul flights and short city-hopper flights. Remember to use this link for $15 off your Zoe stroller!

Not only have we used it in airports and on airplanes, but we’ve also taken it through big and small cities across the US and Europe. Let me know if you have any questions about taking a stroller on an airplane in the comments below! I’ll be sure to get back to you.

Check out these other posts, I know you’ll love them:

• The Best Double Stroller for Travel to Europe (From Personal Experience)
• Tula Preschool Carrier Review: Why it’s The Only Toddler Carrier You Need
• 3 Days in London with a Toddler: A Realistic Itinerary + Tips & Map
• The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Paris with a Toddler: Things to do + Top Tips

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