Our YOYO2 Review For Everyday and Travel
This was a stroller I had heard so much about and wanted to know if it matched the hype. We needed something for everyday use – but as lightweight and compact as possible for travel. I knew this fitted as cabin baggage which meant for any long haul flights with airport transit stops, this pushchair would be incredibly useful with a baby or a tired, jetlagged toddler.
We’ve used the YOYO travel stroller several times abroad now and out and about at home. If liek me you wanted to know: Can it really fit in into an airplane overhead locker? Can I fold, unfold, push with one hand? Would I be allowed it on as hand luggage? Is the newborn pack insert worth it? Then my review of our experience is for you!
I also cover everyday ease of use, accessories and its size and weight to help you decide if it is also the right pushchair for you!
Our score:
9.2/10
Overall, we scored it very highly giving it a 9.2/10 when comparing lots of different pushchairs; finding it compact and lightweight enough to easily fit in the car, on public transport and on the plane, but durable enough for everyday use. It is recognised by many airlines, so you are less likely to be challenged with bringing it on board a flight.
Our Review
I wrote this review initially after using it for our first trip to Portugal and around town. I have since updated it with newborn and toddler experiences of using it, along with other flights and trips abroad. It’s been packed up in different cars or public transport and pushed along many different surfaces.
The YOYO2 needs to be set up when it arrives in it’s box, but it is very easy to do. My box contained the frame with carrying strap, protective bag, the shopping basket, seat pad and backrest (and the fabric bundle in a colour you pre order.)
Also included is the canopy, the harness, canopy wires (for babies 6m+.) The newborn pack is also an add on – this includes a mattress with head support and a footcover. Note there is no rain cover or bumper bar included unless you purchase those.
If you have a newborn, you have two options – purchase the newborn pack (what we did) or buy the bassinet. The newborn pack is slightly cheaper than the bassinet option.
The main difference is the bassinet has handles to easily carry baby from the pram, whereas the newborn pack is attached with wires and tags so it is not quick to remove. The shell of the bassinet is very similar to the newborn foot cover, aka foot muff for colder weather. But here are the full details of each to compare.
Newborn pack or bassinet?
They attach to the YOYO very differently: The Newborn Pack attaches directly to your stroller frame with Velcro tabs and wires to give it shape around the side and bottom. We didn’t bother with the wires around the bottom and the structured fabric around the bottom, as we felt we didn’t need it. You can fold the stroller with the newborn pack in place.
The YOYO Bassinet has a fully formed, structured shape with a zipped cover or apron to give added protection from the weather. It comes with carry handles so you can easily add it to the frame or remove it. You need to remove it to fold the YOYO.
With the newborn pack, you get a mattress with head support and a cosy foot muff for cooler weather. You need to remove the footmuff if you want to fold the YOYO.
When you get the stroller you just attach the newborn pack and leave it until they have grown out of it. Although it is a bit of a faff attaching/ removing the newborn pack, we only needed to once and felt that the bonus of being to fold the pram with it on, was worth it and it was a quite a bit cheaper (around £90/$70 difference) than the bassinet option.
Once the YOYO2 is set up, you can see how compact it yet sturdy enough for everyday use.
Below I’ve given my thoughts and opinion on how it folds and unfolds, all the specs and how it handles for day to day life as well as travel.
Pros
- Can use from birth. (with purchase of newborn insert or bassinet)
- Compact and lightweight
- Brilliant for travel
- Has compatible car seats (see which ones first if you decide to use it for everyday)
- Easy to fold
- Easily copes with city life
Cons
- Price is the higher end
- Not suitable for fields or very bumpy terrain.
- Basket can be a faff to get things in and out of.
This model builds on the original design with a bigger storage/shopping basket, sturdier chassis, improved suspension and longer sun hood. There is an option for the 0+ insert to use from newborn, but it does cost extra. The newborn pack comes with a long padded mattress, a removeable cosy sherpa fleece foot cover, and an extended sun canopy with “wings” plus the newborn pop canopy.
YOYO2 Measurements
It weighs in at a very light 13lbs/6.2kg in the 6+ version, 6.6 kg (14.5 lbs) with the newborn pack or 8.1 kg (17.8 lbs) with the bassinet. It only folds up as cabin baggage size for most airlines with the newborn pack or 6m+ set up.
This is lightest around for such a compact stroller with lots of perks. (In comparision, the gb Pockit+ All City weighs in lighter at 12.5lbs/5.7kgs but lacks so many of the features that the YOYO2 has.)
The YOYO can be used in parent-facing mode from birth and front facing from 6+ months up until 22 kg (48.5 lbs)
Dimensions when folded are : 52 x 44 x 18 cm / 20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1 in. The Gb Pockit is L19 xW 33 x H48cm (7.5 x 13 x19″) and the Bugaboo Butterfly is 45 x 23 x 54 cm (17.72 x 9.06 x 21.26 “)
Folding and unfolding
The stroller is not one hand fold. You press the white marked buttons and fold the canopy and then pull the lever at the back of the stroller to fold it.
Unfolding is one handed.
Here is a video of the folding and unfolding process:
Shoulder strap and bag.
The stroller has a shoulder strap attached but also come with a travel bag – so it can be easily and quickly transported. It’s first flight travel road test was an early 4am start with two other suitcases, a cabin bag, a Trunki, and a diaper/changing bag. Loading the taxi was seamless as we could manage between us all this – plus holding a baby in one go.
At the airport, it was only my second time using a stroller through all the formalities. I did prefer a baby carrier but my youngest is now 20 months and becoming rather heavy. But having a cabin sized stroller makes all the difference!
The BabyZen Yoyo pram was an absolute breeze to use. Matilda happily sat in it during a very long bag drop queue, and we whizzed through security.
At Luton Airport, you don’t need to fold the buggy up to put through the X-ray machine, you can walk through the detector, but even if I had to, the whole process takes seconds.
Folding up the YOYO stroller on the Plane
Once airside, we breezed though to the gate, walked down some steps to board the plane. At the aircraft steps I removed my daughter from the Babyzen YOYO stroller (it’s so lightweight) and folded it up really quickly, slung it over my shoulder and marched up the steps with her in my arms. It easily slotted in with the other bags too.
Arriving into Faro was when this compact travel stroller REALLY came into its own for me. As per normal M, had fallen asleep on our final approach on landing which was not really surprising considering our 4am wake-up.
This was when I REALLY appreciated having it onboard – just look how happy I am below!
Unfolding the YOYO on The Airplane
This time, I simply whipped this compact pushchair from the stowage, walked a few steps off the plane, used one hand to unfold the pram, and transported her into the YOYO.
I even had a fellow Mummy ask me on the way to baggage reclaim, where I had picked up my stroller. She was amazed that it could fold up the size of hand luggage. (Hers arrived at oversize luggage quite promptly though).
Recline and Comfort
The recline is great. It easily reclines by releasing a strap at the back if you want little one to have a nap.
With the newborn insert or bassinet, it is fully flat.
With the 6m + mode its a decent recline and our toddler had no issues with sleep on the go. As you can see below, she napped by the pool aided by the Cozigo bassinet and stroller UV cover and a portable fan which we attached to the side to help her sleep.
The padded seat cover and harness seemed comfy enough and the canopy comes with a UPF 50+ sun protection; giving extra peace of mind. The canopy also has several adjustable positions.
I added a Cozigo UV sun protect with breathable mesh to make it darker and help keep her cool inside.
Cobbled streets VS the YOYO
On holiday/vacation, the BabyZen YOYO was really put to the test with steep inclines and descents (the brake definitely works!), and with the numerous cobbled streets not only at our resort, but all around hilly Carvoeiro in Portugal too. I was impressed with how durable it is, with the wheels and suspension handling the bumpy terrain.
Basket
The basket is a little awkward to access if you have larger bags but I found using a stroller hooks easier for quick access, and the basket useful for some smaller items when shopping or coats etc. We also liked the pocket at the back to quickly store items in.
Car seats and other Accessories
The YOYO is compatible with several car seats and you can purchase adaptors for your car seat. The M adaptors are sold with stockists in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Russia and South America and L adaptors are sold in North and Central America and suit car seats made for that market. Those under the airplane icon are suitable and approved for aircraft use.
- Cybex Aton Q (M)
- Maxi Cosi Pebble Pro (M)
- Bebe Confort aka MAXI COSI Pebble 360 Pro (M)
- Cybex Aton Q (L)
- Cybex Aton 2 (L)
- Nuna Pipa Lite (L)
- Nuna Pipa (L)
- Clek Liing (L)
- Maxi Cosi Mico Max Plus (L)
- BeSafe iZi Go Modular X1 (M)
- Cybex Cloud T (M)
- Cybex Cloud Z (M)
- Cybex Cloud Z2 i-Size (M)
- YOYOs own car seat by BeSafe® (M)
Good to know: Babies are advised not to be in a car seat for more than 2 hours at a time.
Other accessories:
The YOYO2 can have numerous bits added to it but you really don’t many. My absolute essentials would be:
- Raincover (you don’t need the branded YOYO one)
- Stroller hooks
- CoziGo (affiliate link) retails at AUS $99.95 and can be shipped worldwide and shipping is FREE to UK, Australia USA, Canada from their site. or the also great but cheaper option for strollers, a Snoozeshade.
- Cup holder – for me! Universal stroller cup holders which fit most travel strollers can be easily bought, you don’t need the branded one.
These items are good to have but only if you need them for your situation:
- Car Seat Adaptors
- Mosquito cover
- Stroller Fan
- Bumper Bar
- Footmuff for colder temperatures
- YOYO connect – if you have 2 babies or baby and toddler and want to have the option to wheel them as a double.
I wouldn’t bother with a parasol – it doesn’t offer that much coverage and means more bulk when you want to fold up the YOYO2.
FAQ
Q:Is the YOYO 2 handlebar height-adjustable?
A: No, but both my husband (6’1 and me 5’6″ found the handlebar height comfortable.
Verdict: The team at BabyZen/Stokke have really nailed it with this pushchair. It’s the perfect compact stroller for family travel as well as a good contender for an everyday pram. The convenience of having it on the plane as hand luggage made travelling through an airport a complete breeze. Here are a few pointers that sold it to me:
- It’s easy foldable, lightweight design makes it a breeze to carry it around and for storage or even in the car boot, perfect for all types of travels.
- I love the exceptional maneuverability, navigating tight spaces and crowded streets is effortless with this travel stroller. Built to last, it boasts durability while ensuring comfort for both parents and the little ones. The wheels and suspension can handle various terrains making it a comfortable ride.
- The ergonomic handle adds to the ease of use, it gives a comfortable grip for pushing with one hand.
- The adjustable harness as they grow
- Its compactness and portability makes traveling, especially when you are flying, SO much easier. Having it with me with a sleeping toddler was worth its weight in gold, compared to holding her in the immigration and passport control queue.
- There is something for newborns as well, you have an option to add the YOYO newborn pack, so your baby can use this travel stroller from birth right through toddlerhood.
Price
For latest prices of the updated Babyzen Yoyo 2 check here
You may be interested in reading about some other strollers parents have tried.
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