GB vs Babyzen: Full Comparison of the Pockit and YoYo Umbrella Strollers

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There are plenty of lightweight, umbrella strollers for you to choose from. But there are two fairly recent additions to the market that can be folded up small enough to take onto airplanes as cabin baggage: the GB Pockit and the Babyzen Yoyo.

Why Trust Us?

Because my full-time job is being mom to 2 precious daughters, and I know a thing or two about strollers. Besides personal experience, I get feedback from other moms who use these strollers every day and put all that research into our unbiased stroller buying guides

- Kyli

These strollers fold up so small that you can fit them into the overhead lockers on a plane! So, if you and your family are frequent flyers or often travel by train, you really must check out our comparison of these two revolutionary strollers.

The GB Pockit and the Babyzen Yoyo are both small enough to be taken onto a plane as hand baggage, but there are some important differences between them.

Let’s take a closer look at both brands and their super-compact strollers.

Table of Contents

GB: Future Perfect

Western and Asian cultures collide in the form of CYBEX founder, Martin Pos and his mentor and founder of Goodbaby, Zhenghuan Song to create the GB brand. 

The pair reject traditional technical boundaries, and focus their creative efforts on modern industrial design techniques and current fashion trends to produce innovative designs that are perfect for the modern parent.

The GB Pockit stroller

Pockit Lightweight Stroller
  • WORLD’S SMALLEST FOLDING STROLLER - With its innovative two-step folding design, the Pockit is the 2014 Guiness World Records most compact stroller folding down to 11.8” x 7” x 13.8”...
  • SMALL BUT STRONG - Built using high quality, durable materials, the Pockit can hold a child from 6 months up to 55 pounds as well as 11 pounds of gear in its convenient storage basket
  • PERFECT FOR DAY TRIPS OR EXTENDED TRAVEL - For families with a passion for local or overseas travel and exploring, Pockit is the quintessential choice as it stows away easily in any plane or...

The GB Pockit is a seriously innovative, extremely compact stroller that will be the perfect fit for parents who are looking for a space-saving, travel-friendly way of transporting young children around town.

This contender is the world’s most compact folding stroller (Guinness World Records 2014). In just two simple steps, the stroller is transformed into a feather-light, ultra-compact package, weighing just over nine pounds!

The stroller fits easily into any train or plane overhead compartment, giving you ultimate flexibility and convenience when you’re out and about with your child.

For those looking for a style, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Pockit comes in a nice range of colorways.

Things we like

  • Ultra-compact fold, perfect for parents who travel a lot, especially by air and train
  • Easy to store
  • Very lightweight
  • Suitable for older kids
  • Removable, machine-washable seat fabric
  • Easy to navigate and steer with one hand
  • Slim and compact construction, perfect for narrow and crowded places 
  • Storage basket is easy to access
  • Handles are very comfortable for short and average parents and allow for one-hand pushing

Things we don’t like

  • Requires two hands to fold and unfold
  • Storage space is limited
  • There’s no rain cover, making the stroller unsuitable for use in inclement weather
  • Handles are not adjustable and are too low for taller parents to push comfortably

Features that matter

Assembly and unpacking

The Pockit comes in a package that measures just 13.7 x 7.08 x 11.8 inches! 

There’s no assembling to worry about because the stroller comes already assembled. All you need to do is unfold it, and you’re good to go! However, the manufacturer does recommend washing the fabric sling seat before you use it for the first time.

Folding and unfolding

You can fold the Pockit in two ways. Unfortunately, both these methods require two hands to complete, which could be tricky if you have a wriggling child in one hand.

Your first fold option is the quickest, leaving the back wheels of the stroller protruding a little, making this fold perfect for when you’re in a hurry. If you have a little more time, you can fold the stroller by folding the back wheels first, and then allowing the frame to concertina down. Although it’s a bit fiddly, that’s the fold you need to master if you want to compress the stroller to its tiniest size.

Pockit Lightweight Stroller

However you decide to fold the Pockit, you must double check that you’ve locked the frame in place when you open the stroller.

Storage

Although there is a storage basket on the stroller, its capacity is pretty small. And you can’t safely hang your shopping onto the handlebar either, because the super-light frame isn’t built to take the weight and the stroller could tip over.

So, if you want a stroller that you can take on shopping trips, you’ll need to look at other lightweight umbrella strollers instead.

Handlebar

The Pockit doesn’t have one handlebar, but has two handles to allow for one-handed pushing. Although the stroller is easy to steer and turn, it’s not suitable for people over 6 feet tall who will find the handles too low for comfort.

Seat comfort

Although there’s no seat recline feature and the padding is fairly minimal, the sling seat and backrest are pretty comfy, rather like a hammock. The seat back is not very thick, so it’s only suitable for a child who can sit unassisted and hold their head up.

The Pockit is designed to take a child up to 55 pounds in weight. The backrest is fairly long (around 24 inches) and can be adjusted for torso length, so the stroller is suitable for a tall toddler.

The seat doesn’t have a recline feature, so it’s not so good for naps on-the-go. And there’s no footrest or calf rest either.

Like the Yoyo, the Pockit’s seat has an adjustable five-point harness with well-padded straps for extra comfort.

Canopy

One major drawback of the Pockit is its lack of rain cover. Also, GB specifically state not to use a rain cover with this stroller. You can get around the problem of a lack of rain cover or canopy by putting your child in a rain poncho, but that’s really only suitable for light showers, as any really wet weather would leave him sitting in a wet seat.

The Pockit does have a very small canopy, but it’s just a flat hood over the child’s head. There’s no protection from the sun, unlike the Yoyo that offers very good shading with a generous canopy.

Portability

Pockit Lightweight Stroller

If you have a toddler who likes to spend part of your outing on foot, the Pockit is perfect, as you can quickly move from stroller to handholding and back again.

 The Pockit can be lifted while containing a sleeping child and carried easily up a flight of stairs with no problem.

Age suitability

You can’t use the Pockit for a newborn up to six months, as it doesn’t have a seat recline feature. Your child must be able to sit up unaided with full head control for the Pockit to be used safely.

Also, the small frame might be a tight squeeze for large toddlers, especially tall ones.

Pockit Lightweight Stroller

Ride quality

The Pockit’s simplistic design does not include any form of suspension system. Because of that, the ride can feel rather rough and bumpy. Also, thanks to the Pockit’s narrow width, you’ll need to take care when cornering, as there is a risk that the stroller could topple over.

That said, the Pockit’s tiny 4.5-inch wheels do make the stroller surprisingly maneuverable.

Babyzen: The one you need

Babyzen is a French company that manufactures and markets baby products, including baby strollers, internationally.

The Babyzen Yoyo was the first stroller that was compact enough to fit into an airplane overhead locker.

Babyzen Yoyo

Babyzen YOYO+ Stroller - Black/Grey
  • Includes frame and 6+ color pack
  • Extremely compact when folded (52 x 44 x 18 cm).
  • Fits in the smallest spaces and in the overhead compartment of an airplane

The Babyzen Yoyo stroller is designed to go anywhere you want to go with your child. The stroller folds and unfolds quickly and easily, can be carried like a bag, and can be pushed with just one hand.

Like the Pockit, the Yoyo will fit into most airline and train overhead lockers. 

You can use the Yoyo from birth. The stroller comes with a flat nest for infants, a five point safety harness, a two-position pop-up canopy, a foot cover, and a head rest.

What we like

  • Super-light and great, innovative design
  • Compact build
  • Easy to maneuver and steer one-handed
  • Stylish stroller with a good range of colors to choose from
  • Seat folds flat, making the stroller suitable for a newborn

What we don’t like

  • Seat depth is skimpy
  • Small storage basket

Features that matter

The Babyzen Yoyo is certainly innovative and lightweight, making it perfect for getting around a busy city environment, especially if you need to travel on trains and buses.

The Yoyo measures 20.47 x 17.3 x 7.08 inches when folded down, making it pretty much the same size as a large purse.

Ride quality

The Yoyo is very easy to push and maneuver one-handed, and its four-wheel suspension makes it a surprisingly smooth ride over bumpy pavements. However, the Yoyo is not intended for use as an all-terrain stroller and won’t cope with very uneven ground.

It’s also worth noting that the seat depth is less than you’ll find on many other strollers. That means that your child could be thrown forward when negotiating bumps, even when the safety harness is fastened tightly. 

However, in comparison, the Pockit falls short of the ride comfort and maneuverability offered by the Yoyo. The Yoyo’s ride is much smoother, thanks to its shock absorbers.

Style

The Yoyo is a good-looking stroller that offers a choice of five seat and hood colors and two chassis colors.

Age suitability

Unlike the Pockit, the Yoyo is advertised by the manufacturer as being suitable for a newborn right up to a toddler. 

Portability

The Yoyo has a comfy, padded shoulder strap, making it highly portable and easy to carry.

Babyzen YOYO+ Stroller - Black/Grey

Harness

The harness straps are easy to adjust but are rather flimsy, so they may come up short if you have a large child or one sporting some particularly bulky clothing.

Storage

The Yoyo has an underseat basket but, like the Pockit, storage space is minimal.

Canopy

Unlike the Pockit, the Yoyo has a two position rain cover to keep your child dry on wet weather outings.

The Yoyo’s canopy offers UPF 50+ solar protection, covering half the front of the stroller and giving your child excellent protection from those damaging rays on hot days. There’s also a transparent rain cover included with the Yoyo, something you don’t get with the Pockit

Compatibility

Unlike the Pockit, the Yoyo is compatible with other infant carriers from Cybex and Maxi-Cosi, which can be fitted to the stroller with special adapters that you must buy separately.

Foldability

The Yoyo can only be folded one way and involves a two-step process. You fold the handlebar, and then unlatch the bottom of the stroller to fold the chassis. That’s slightly fiddlier than the two-option folding system of the Pockit.

Seat comfort

The seat of the Yoyo has a recline feature that’s lacking on the Pockit. 

However, when it comes to cleaning the seat fabric, which you will need to do from time-to- time, removing the Yoyo’s seat cover is something of a hassle. In comparison, the Pockit’s simple design makes it a breeze to detach and reattach the seat fabric. 

Wrapping it up

Both these strollers are wonderful for parents who need to travel a lot with their child, especially by air or rail.

Of the two strollers, the Yoyo gives the smoother ride for your child, having suspension and shock absorbers fitted that the Pockit does not. Also, the Yoyo has a reclining seat, a rain cover, and a sun canopy, so your little one will be comfy and content whatever the weather. 

We recommend the Babyzen Yoyo stroller, based on its superior design and more practical features that it offers. However, you will pay a lot more for the Yoyo, so if you’re on a limited budget and just want an easy to fold, lightweight stroller that you can take anywhere, the GB Pockit might be the way to go.

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Alison Page