I’ve Tested All of Graco’s Baby Gear, and the Ready2Jet Travel System Is One of Its Best and Most Affordable

The Specs: Stroller

• Weight: 13 pounds without car seat; 21 pounds with car seat attached
• Weight/Ages: 4 pounds and up with the car seat; 6 months to 4 years without car seat
• Wheels: All-wheel suspension with never-flat wheels
• Materials: Polyester with leatherette handle
• Cleaning: Spot clean
• Folding: One-handed fold
• Fold Size: Fits in the overhead compartment on most airlines

The Specs: Car Seat

• Weight: 7.5 pounds without base; 12.3 pounds with base
• Height and Weight Limits: 4 to 30 pounds and 30 inches tall
• Materials: Polyester
• Cleaning: Machine-wash materials on gentle cycle with gentle detergent; lay flat to dry; wipe straps and hard goods
• Attachments: One-click attachment to stroller and base
• Install: With or without base

Like every stroller I test, I took this thing out on the streets of New York, through its malls, its bodegas, its crowded subway and bus system, and in and out of my car. I have used it with a baby in the car seat in the stroller, and the baby seated directly in the stroller. I took it out in rain and shine, mostly in very warm weather. But having tested it on slick mud and very wet granite, I am confident that the environment mimics ice enough that I can say it would handle reasonably well on slick surfaces.

I assembled this stroller and car seat in under 4 minutes from opening the box. Sometimes strollers are really complicated and difficult to put together, but all the Ready2Jet requires is that you attach the wheels and crossbar. Everything else is ready to go. I will say that I do wish that the wheels were a tad wider, but I’m not even sure that’s possible for a stroller designed to fit in overhead compartments.

Pushing the stroller, I was impressed with its solid, easy ride that goes from the street to the grocery store to the car with no problem. This isn’t a luxury stroller that relies on heavy suspensions to coast baby over obstacles, but instead it’s a nimble, easy-to-maneuver conveyance that gives you the flexibility to avoid them. To collapse the stroller for storage, you literally just click a button and push the handle forward. The rest is done for you by the stroller. It’s pretty great.

The car seat is fairly bare bones and basic, but that doesn’t mean it’s not safe. The SnugRide is consistently well-rated by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The cover comes off easily for washing — far more easily, in fact, than the soft materials of the stroller. It’s also a simple install in your car with or without the base, and it clicks into the stroller with barely a touch. I do wish that it had an infant cushion insert, and an anti-rebound bar or load leg (or both), but overall it’s still a quality seat.

The stroller is spot-clean only, which is a pain, and the materials don’t zip off. Also, I wish that the under-stroller storage basket was removable and was a bit bigger. However, the included cup holder is one of the best on the market thanks to its solid bottom and sturdy attachment to the stroller, and the stroller seat and canopies are generously sized.

If you’re looking for a solid stroller system for under $300, it’s going to be hard to beat this new Graco Ready2Jet. I would also suggest it for a grandparent stroller and car seat that they keep for themselves to use, or for families to use as a travel stroller. It’s convenient, steady, and not so pricey that you’re going to be precious about it if airlines get as airlines get with your stuff.

Buy the Graco Ready2Jet Travel System