Is the Joolz Aer2 Worth Buying? I Tried it to Find Out!

Friends, I am on a constant search for the best travel stroller, particularly that can fit in the overhead bin of an airplane.

I’ve searched high and low, trying several in my quest to find the best. I originally had the OG model of the Joolz Aer, and recently tested out the Aer2 to see if it could truly be named the best travel stroller that fits in the overhead bin of an airplane. Here’s what to know before buying the Joolz Aer:

TL;DR – The Aer2 ticks all the boxes – single handed fold, near full recline, bassinet compatibility, and a nice, big canopy. They took customer feedback to heart and created a stroller I find almost no fault with. GET IT.

My Overall Impression of the Joolz Aer2

I’ve tried a few strollers that can fit in the overhead bin now, including the GB Qbit (which is a stretch, the Pockit would be more accepted on any flight), and the Ergobaby Metro Deluxe (read my Metro+ review).

The Qbit would be almost perfect if it were small enough to fit the overhead dimensions, and the Metro+ would be perfect if it had a larger canopy and could be folded with one hand. Could the Joolz Aer2 shine where those two failed?

Yes, the Joolz Aer2 is small enough to be cabin approved for most flights, and folds super easily with one hand. It has a huge canopy and seems like a comfy ride for my son. The updated Aer2 has a near horizontal recline and it’s super smooth to push as well.

Joolz Aer2 Dimensions

The Joolz Aer2 is on the higher end of travel strollers, coming in at $579 new

It’s delightfully lightweight, comes with a carrying bag, and folds down nice and small:

• Approximate price: $579 (or less open box or secondhand on GoodBuy Gear)
• Weight: 14.2 pounds
• Folded dimensions: 20.8” long by 17.3” wide by 9.2”
• Open dimensions: 32.7” long by 17.7” wide by 41.5” high
• Suspension: All-wheel
• Stroller seat age and weight range: 6 months to 50 pounds
• Under-seat storage capacity: 11 pounds
• Patent pending extra-large comfortable seat.
• Made from recycled plastic bottles.
• UPF 50+ canopy with peek-a-boo window.
• Tall back and adjustable 5-point safety harness.

You can also use it with a car seat (it’s compatible with the Nuna Pipa, Pipa Lite, Pipa Lite XL, Pipa RX and Pipa Lite R, Cybex Cloud Q (plus), Aton Q (i-size) and Clek Liing) with the purchase of adapters, or compatible carrycot bassinet.

Joolz Aer2 Specifications

In the first iteration of this post, I had lists of pros and cons of the stroller. With recent updates to the Joolz Aer2, the cons I listed have all been taken care of (I didn’t love that there was not footrest – there is one now, or that the recline wasn’t so great – it also is now!)

My favorite aspects of the Joolz Aer2 are the all-wheel suspension, the smooth ride and handling, the adjustable handlebar for tall parents, and how comfortable and plush it feels. These are what else stood out to me:

Canopy

We can all stop looking, this is the best canopy on a travel stroller. Not only is it wide, it has a possible zip-to-open extension with a peek-a-boo mesh window to extend coverage down further if needed.

The canopy is sturdy as well. It’s one of the biggest missing elements on the Ergobaby Metro+, which doesn’t have enough coverage to prevent my son’s arms from being in the sun unless he has them in his lap. I love the material, which is thick and helpful if it rains. This one will be hard to beat in the canopy department.

Storage

The under stroller storage is decent on this one at 11lbs. I still haven’t found a travel stroller that can accommodate our large diaper bag backpack (really, only the Guava Roam we use at home can), but it’s sturdy enough for us to strap to the handles if needed.

Fold

I love how simple it is to fold this stroller. I can easily do it with one hand while holding my son, which is essential for solo travel, and a nice bonus even when traveling with others. It makes getting through TSA much simpler!

Wheel Lock

The wheel lock is really simple to activate on this one. I like that it’s so quick and easy, but that does mean I’ve tripped it on accident before. Still, it’s nice that it can be activated or deactivated even when using flip flops.

Handling

I didn’t even notice if the Joolz Aer2 had issues handling any sidewalks or bumps in the pavement, which means there was nothing to notice, and therefore that’s a great thing. For such a lightweight stroller, the four wheel suspension and the ease with which the stroller moves made it easy to push around. It was really an afterthought while simultaneously pushing our heavy bags through the airport. The fact that it made things so easy is a pretty big plus!

I also didn’t see my son pulling up and forward as much in this stroller as he does with the other travel strollers we have, meaning it’s a more upright seat. This is a plus for him.

Recline

Recline used to be my biggest gripe with this stroller but now I’m delighted to report it’s almost horizontal! The way you recline it is a bit different as well. Unlike most strollers that recline by releasing straps on the back, this one is reclined by unzipping a back compartment. While you can’t adjust as easily as other strollers, there are several recline options if you’d like slightly less of a recline or the full recline.

I like that once reclined, it creates a little cocoon where your child is surrounded by fabric (with some mesh) on all sides. I don’t like when there are gaps (like most of GB’s Pockit lineup). The Aer2 has a much better recline than previous versions which makes this much easier for nap time in conjunction with the big canopy.

Footrest

My son clearly wants to be able to put his feet up when he sleeps. The new Aer2 comes with a footrest, which solves one of my previous gripes with the

The Ergobaby and Qbit both have an adjustable one, and since this one doesn’t it feels like a big downside. Most of the GB Pockit strollers and the Babyzen Yoyo also lack a footrest.

Harness

The 5-point harness is easy enough to use for parents, but requires a little too much coordination for little hands to undo. It’s also enough straps to keep kids in place for safety.

If multiple straps tend to throw you off, you can always paint the lower ones bit a bit of nail polish to signal which goes where.

Lap bar sold seperately

There’s no lap/bumper bar sandard on this one, which isn’t a huge deal for us, but the good news is if you need it for your kiddo(s) you can purchase one to attach easily to the stroller.

Multiple kids? Get a footboard with a seat here.

Final Thoughts on the Joolz Aer

Overall, I like the quality of this stroller. It feels sturdy and luxurious enough to be an everyday stroller, especially with the bassinet option. It’s one of few I feel comfortable strapping our heavy diaper bag to.

I absolutely love that the recline is a deeper now, and the addition of the footrest. The huge canopy, premium materials, the fact that it’s made from recycled bottles, and how lightweight and easy to fold it is are huge bonuses. So far, it’s the best travel stroller I’ve found, and it is our go-to!

*Thank you, Joolz, for sending the Joolz Aer2 for us to review. All thoughts on the stroller I originally purchased and the newer version are my own!