Ashley Tisdale and Serena Williams Swear by Colugo’s Compact Stroller—So We Tried the New Model

One of the biggest frustrations with travel strollers is the fold. If it isn’t seamless, it doesn’t matter how innovative the rest of the design is—you’ll still end up cursing at the curb. That’s why the first thing Pam noticed was how actually one-handed this fold was. “It truly is one-handed,” she says. “I was skeptical, but the fold-down is SO easy. I could hold my baby in one arm and collapse the stroller with the other without breaking a sweat. It’s so lightweight that I could sling it over my shoulder with the strap while still carrying her.”

Opening it takes a small learning curve—“you have to grab and hold the top bar button, then pull up and out so the stroller pops open”—but Pam swears by the second try, it was “extremely simple.” For a parent juggling a diaper bag, snacks and a squirmy toddler, that’s a win.

Where the Compact Plus really flexes is its portability. Per Pam, “I love that this stroller can fit down an airplane aisle with your kid in it, then fold to fit in the overhead bin. I haven’t flown with it yet, but I feel confident it’ll make travel so much easier.” Until then, it’s already proven itself on long drives and everyday errands. “We’ve used it for car trips, and the backpack carrier it comes with is genius—it’s truly lighter than my diaper bag, and everything fits seamlessly without a fight.” 

And for her family, who regularly drives from Maine to New Jersey, that’s a big deal. “Our old stroller took up the entire trunk of our Subaru. Now I’m so excited this one fits with the rest of our stuff. It makes traveling so much easier to have a stroller when you arrive instead of baby wearing (which you can only do for so long with an 18-pound baby!).”

But the biggest surprise came when she compared it to her Uppababy Vista V2, one of the most respected (and heaviest) strollers on the market.  “I was seriously impressed by the maneuverability of this stroller. I expected it to feel flimsy compared to the Vista—it absolutely did not. Sure, it feels lighter and maybe bounces around slightly more, but it handled gravel, grass and uneven sidewalks with no problem. With the Uppababy, because it’s much heavier, you really have to push on grass. The Colugo doesn’t require nearly as much effort, which is nice.”

Add in tight spaces, and Pam says, “The Vista is wide and heavy, but the Colugo fits down grocery aisles easily.” For her, that combination of travel readiness and everyday usability was the game changer.

When it comes to the details, Colugo didn’t cut corners. First up: the canopy. “I absolutely LOVE the sunshade. It has three different lengths and then a breathable top flap you can open. Other travel strollers do not have as long a canopy, and I feel like I’m always struggling to keep the sun from beating down on my baby in them. This one had plenty of coverage and was super simple to use.” Then, the brake also earned quick praise. “Extremely easy foot pedal—again, so simple and easy to use.” As for extras, Pam was relieved not to be nickeled-and-dimed: “I loved that the cup holder was included and wasn’t an add-on.”

That said, while the basket isn’t huge, it still proved more functional than most. “It’s a tight fit to squeeze my diaper bag in underneath, but that’s the tradeoff for something this lightweight. What I appreciated was the height between the basket and the seat—it made it more useful than other travel strollers I’ve seen.” 

While the recline system is clever, there’s a bit of a learning curve. “Other strollers lock into preset positions. This one uses a pull tab, so you can recline your baby to any angle. My baby is on the smaller side, and I’ve felt like some other travel strollers put her in awkward recline positions. With this one, I almost wanted a preset first and then to tweak from there… I wasn’t really sure she was in the ‘right’ spot. But this may be a first-time mom problem, LOL.”

The Compact Stroller Plus proves you don’t have to choose between portability and performance. From the truly one-handed fold to the surprisingly sturdy maneuverability—even against her full-sized Uppababy Vista V2—Pam was impressed by how much this stroller could handle without adding bulk. The thoughtful upgrades, like the extended canopy, backpack carrier and included cup holder, make it feel like a travel stroller designed by parents who get it.

Even her daughter seemed to approve. “Once I adjusted the recline, she looked comfortable and secure. The five-point harness held her perfectly, which made me feel at ease. And after hours in the car, having a stroller that’s ready to go when you arrive is everything.”