A travel stroller has one job: get small enough to disappear into an overhead bin or a tight trunk, while still rolling comfortably once you land. After testing a dozen, the winners share a few traits.

What separates a real travel stroller - Cabin-bag fold. The best ones collapse to roughly carry-on dimensions and many airlines let them go in the overhead bin. - One-hand operation. You will fold this while holding a baby, a bag, or a boarding pass. Two-handed folds are a dealbreaker at the gate. - Light enough to carry. Anything over about 17 pounds stops being a travel stroller the moment you hit airport stairs.

Our top pick The PackJet Travel Compact folds to genuinely cabin-bin size with one pull, weighs around 13 pounds, and still has a deep enough recline for an in-flight nap. It is not the plushest ride on rough pavement, but for travel that is a fair trade.

The runner-up The Glydr Urban Lite folds nearly as small and rides noticeably smoother on bricks and curbs, making it the better choice if you will use it as your daily stroller too, not just on trips.

What to skip for travel Full-size strollers with big wheels ride beautifully but will be gate-checked, which means rough handling and waits at the jet bridge. Save those for the neighborhood. For airports, smaller and lighter wins almost every time, even at the cost of a little comfort.