gb Pockit Stroller Review (The Ultimate For Travel)

Traveling with a baby or a small child is pretty tiring on its own. And when you add a bulky and unpractical stroller into that equation, things only get worse. It won’t fit through the door, you’ll have to pay extra fees for it because it’s so heavy and it definitely won’t fit into your carry-on. Or will it?

A regular stroller won’t. But the gb Pockit stroller will easily fit into pretty much any bag you own – except maybe a clutch. It’s lightweight, very practical and it is the smallest travel stroller ever! It even broke the Guinness World Record in 2014, which only makes it better.

In this review, we’ll go into all the details about the GB Pockit stroller. We’ll talk about its basic specs, the good features but also the bad ones. And if you want to learn everything about it, then you’ve certainly come to the right place!

What Makes Pockit The Ultimate Travel Stroller?

The perfect travel stroller should be really lightweight so that it’s easy to carry around. It should also be really small when folded – small enough to fit into your suitcase or purse, and also in the overhead compartments on trains and airplanes. Additionally, it also needs to be easy to fold in just a few minutes – a stroller that you can’t fold in less than five minutes is certainly not practical.

If you think that all of the above applies to the Pockit, you are certainly right. With only 9.5 lbs, this travel stroller from gb is the lightest one on the market. When folded, its dimensions are 11.8” x 7” x 13.8”, which also makes it the smallest collapsible stroller on the market.

In terms of air travel, this is pretty much the perfect stroller you can get, precisely because of all the various luggage weight regulations airlines have. The GB Pockit Stroller will save you from paying fees for checked luggage that come with bulky, collapsible strollers. And, even if you’re just driving somewhere with your car, it is much easier to find a spot for the Pockit in your trunk, than for a different, large stroller.

Who Is It For?

The GB Pockit stroller is a must-have for people who often travel with small children. It is designed to fit a baby older than six months, or a toddler that weighs up to 55 lbs. Which pretty much means that you’ll be able to use it for years, if you get it when your child is still very young.

This stroller was designed to fit into overhead compartments on all trains and airplanes, which is a huge bonus. Additionally, it’s the perfect stroller to have in your car, since it takes up so little space. Or if you want to have it handy at all times just add a luggage strap to it and carry it on your shoulder. All in all, the carrying possibilities are endless.

Even though it’s primarily a travel stroller, you could also use it if you’re going for a walk with your little one, or taking them out for lunch. In any case, it is awesome to have a stroller that you can just fold and put in your purse when your child decides to get out for a little while. And that’s certainly better than pushing around an empty stroller.

Another thing to note is that the height of this stroller is about four feet. That basically means that people who are of average height should find this to be easy to push around. But if you’re really tall, you will have to bend over slightly, since the height of the handles is not adjustable. And that could strain your shoulders and make you sore the next day. In that case, you might want to check out some other awesome travel strollers.

The Important Features

A stroller has to be equipped with certain features, in order to be considered a good stroller. After all, there are certain compromises that you can’t make, for the sake of your little one. So, let’s check out what features the gb Pockit has, and whether or not they are good enough.

• An adjustable harness. Since your child is going to grow up rapidly, you definitely need an adjustable harness. That way you will be able to keep them comfortable inside the stroller regardless of their size. The thing you need to know about the harness of the Pockit is that it features a 5-point safety harness system. It will ensure that your little one stays in the same place where you left them and that they won’t be able to fall out and hurt themselves under any circumstances. In addition to that, there are also shoulder and crotch pads on the harness, so that your baby is not only safe but also very comfortable.
• Swivel-lock wheels. Swivel wheels are very similar to spinner wheels that you see on luggage – each wheel can turn 360 degrees, which makes it incredibly easy to maneuver the stroller in any direction. They glide smoothly, and you shouldn’t have any issues with them. But, you should avoid pushing the stroller on uneven terrain for a long time, because that could easily damage the wheels. Additionally, gb advises that you lock the wheels when you’re using the stroller on uneven surfaces, to maximize its performance. When you lock them, they basically turn into regular wheels that can only roll, but can’t swivel in every direction.
• A convenient storage basket. Whether you’re going for a walk or going out for dinner while you’re on your trip, you have to bring some essentials for your little one. Therefore, it’s a really good thing that the Pocket is equipped with a large storage basket under the seat, which has a capacity of 11 lbs. It is not a lot, and definitely not nearly as much storage space as your large everyday stroller has, but I think it’s enough for this type of stroller.
• Rear wheel parking brake. From time to time you’re going to want to park your stroller, and the worst thing that can happen is that those wheels just wander away on their own. But that is not going to happen because the Pockit is equipped with a rear parking brake. So, when you want to ensure that the stroller stays in place, be it for a minute or an hour, just use the rear foot brake to lock those wheels.
• Padded handlebars. Even though the comfort of your child is the most important thing, you should not disregard the importance of your own comfort. After all, you are the one that is going to be pushing the Pockit around, be it at the airport, bus stop or around the town. And to ensure that you too are comfortable when you’re pushing this stroller, gb incorporated padded handlebars into its design.
• Sturdy aluminum frame.It is important for a stroller to have a good and sturdy frame. If it doesn’t have one, it could easily collapse or fall apart, which could harm your child. But you don’t have to worry about such things with the Pockit, since it has a really sturdy aluminum frame. Additionally, aluminum is an incredibly lightweight material, and so it makes sense that this stroller weighs less than 10 lbs.

The Downsides Of The Pockit

Obviously, there are a few things that you won’t like that much about this particular travel stroller. But are they a reason to not buy it? Let’s find out.

• The sunshade is pretty much useless. Because it is really small, it won’t do a good job at protecting your child from those nasty UV rays. And you won’t mind that in the winter, but it will be a nightmare in the warmer months. You want to protect your little one from the harmful effects of the sun at all times, and in order to do that, you are going to have to buy an additional sunshade. I recommend the Summer Infant Rayshade Stroller Cover because it is very practical, well made and affordable.
• Does not recline. The front-facing seat of the Pockit is static, and it is not really adjustable – you can adjust the height of the seat, but you cannot recline it. This means that you will have a hard time putting your child to sleep in this stroller. But that should not be an issue if you’re only using it for short periods of time.
• Not suitable for babies who cannot hold their head up. Even though gb says that this stroller is suitable only for babies older than 6 months, that is not really the case. In fact, if you have a baby that is four or five months old, but is able to hold its head up, you can go ahead and get this stroller. But if your baby can’t hold their neck straight, then definitely do not get the Pockit, even if they are older than six months.
• Takes some getting used to. So, all the video clips and ads show that you can pretty much collapse this stroller with your eyes closed and one of your hands tied behind your back. But that’s not the case. Yes, the Pockit is easy to use, but just like everything else in life, you have to get used to it. You have to learn how it works if you want to be able to collapse it on the go in just a few minutes. And that is something that you need to be prepared for.
• Remember, it’s a travel stroller. And as such, it is pretty darn pricey. You can’t really use this as your everyday stroller, since it lacks a few important features that would make your toddler comfortable on a daily basis – like the ability to recline. This is fine because we are looking at this like a travel stroller that you would bring on a vacation or just a trip with your little one. And with that in mind, the Pockit is still pretty pricey. Sure, you can get it for some $120 in plain black, but if you want to get a different color, the prices skyrocket. And if you decide to get the accompanying sunshade, it could easily set you back more than $200.

Is The gb Pockit Travel Stroller Worth It?

This depends on what you are looking for. If you’re looking for a regular, everyday stroller, I would not recommend you get the Pockit. Because it was designed as a compact travel stroller, it lacks a few features that are a must for an everyday stroller – like a reclining seat.

But if a collapsible and practical stroller is exactly what you are looking for, I would say that you won’t find a better one than the Pockit. Its feather-like weight is one of its main selling points, along with its incredibly small size. And those two features are the most important things you should consider when purchasing a travel stroller, because it needs to be light and easy to transport.

In addition to that, the Pockit was designed to easily fit into overhead compartments of trains and airplanes, which is a huge bonus. It will save you money in the long run, since you won’t have to pay any additional fees for checking your stroller.

The stroller is easy to fold, but not as easy as advertised. It does take some getting used to, but after a few first times, you should be able to collapse the Pockit in just two steps. After all, practice makes perfect.

That is pretty much all you need to know about the Pockit travel stroller. If you’re interested in purchasing it, head over to Amazon. You can check out the prices there, find a really good deal and see what people are saying about it – or rather how much they are praising it.