Joolz Aer+ Parent Review: The Stroller I Didn’t Know I Needed

Whenever our family is asked how we manage to travel with our three children without extra hands, one of our usual answers is the travel hack of a really good stroller. It's an important detail in traveling because kids will tire easily and need to be able to rest and a really good stroller will allow your family to continue with your itinerary.

But even if you are not traveling and are just on the lookout for a quality stroller that can grow with your newborn, this full review of the Joolz Aer+ just might help you decide.

Joolz Aer+ specs

The Joolz Aer+ (P31,999) is the next generation of the Joolz Aer. The Aer won the Red Dot Award in 2022 and was given a 98% satisfaction rating, according to its website. It weighs 11 lbs or 6 kgs, which doesn't exactly sound light compared to other strollers in the market, but that detail drops to the bottom when considering the buy after one experiences all the pros and benefits of the stroller.

It has a high seat for children, making it quite a bigger stroller, which some parents note is a pro because the developing child's view is closer to their parents' viewpoint. This is said to foster more confidence in the child. Here are other important details to note:

• one-hand one-second fold
• fully reclinable seat
• sun hood with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+
• adjustable five-point buckles
• four-wheel suspension
• premium materials
• fabrics made out of 100% recycled polyester
• 10 year transferrable warranty
• One tree planted per one Joolz stroller sold

Read on for the full review.

Joolz Aer+ Review

The ride

The Joolz Aer+ is the smoothest stroller I’ve ever used. Sharp turns, slight adjustments, and rotating in place can be done with such ease that my older kids (10 and 8 years old) easily manage to push the stroller. Hong Kong has sidewalks but its bustling city lifestyle can make it difficult to navigate a stroller if you’re not used to it–which my two kids were able to do. They would volunteer to push the stroller while in Disneyland, the busy streets of Tsim Sha Tsui, and the crowded Mong Kok MTR station during rush hour without running into anyone.

I was even able to push it around a very tight beauty store, one with very narrow aisles that were just as wide as the stroller. I did not knock any display case over. It was when I realized I encountered zero problems with pivoting the stroller when I knew that the Joolz Aer+ stroller was the best one I’ve used in my 10 years of pushing strollers.

Another testament to its movement: Despite being quite large, at least based on my experience, I was able to control and push it with just one hand when needed. At the end of a long day, our arms end up being filled with the kids’ things, shopping bags, jackets, and whatnot. Yet I had no problems carrying all of those and having only one hand to push the stroller–while my child was seated inside. We also took the trains to go to the airport and I was able to push the stroller with one hand while the other handled one large luggage.

Its four-wheel suspension is responsible for its smooth ride. If I had a newborn in the stroller, I would not worry about my child feeling bumpy sidewalks or parking lots in the Philippines. I have never used any stroller with suspension like this–we’ve owned American and China-made single and double strollers, and this one is unmatched.

Fold and unfold

Despite being one of the largest strollers I’ve used, folding and unfolding the stroller can be done with just one hand. These days I don’t have to carry a child often while folding or unfolding the stroller because my son is four years old but I imagine that if I had to place a baby on my hip while doing either, I would have no problems. I did try it while in the airport because my son had fallen asleep in it but we needed to pack the stroller for the overhead bin and I didn’t have to jerk or yank it “a certain way” just to get it to work.

Unfolding was also a breeze. Each time we would unfold it after alighting from the coaster, it took one swift motion to unlock its “one-handed quick fold” feature.

Comfort and safety for the child

Joolz Aer+ has a 5-point click including shoulder straps, which secures the child very well. Since the stroller is designed to be used from newborn to 50 lbs, it features more points than usual travel strollers. It can also do a full recline which in the toddler years is still useful when they take a nap. This was also when I told myself that if I had this from the time my son was a newborn, I would have been able to make the most out of its price tag because it could have grown up with him. For families who live in a small space or are minimalists , a single stroller that could be used for years and any occasion is a better choice than having to trade up once the baby can sit down unassisted or buying a separate travel-friendly stroller. Storing it at home is simpler.

RELATED: Avoid Hanging Bags on Stroller Handles to Prevent Accidents

Traveling

The ultimate test was taking the Joolz Aer+ with us on the plane. Full disclosure: We have taken many strollers on the plane. We’ve checked one in with our luggage, we have surrendered one once we reached cabin doors only to be returned either right after the flight or with the luggage, and once we’ve borrowed a friend’s travel stroller so we could use it while in the airport and store it in the overhead compartment during the flight.

The Joolz Aer+, though a bit bulkier and bigger than the travel pocket strollers, does fold into a size that fits into the luggage compartment of most airlines, as the brand says. When folded it is only 21" x 17.7" x 8.5" (inches) in size and it has a travel pouch that can be worn on one’s shoulder. We still went through the cabin crew’s checks at the airport (twice in Manila) because they could not quite believe that our stroller would fit the airline’s requirements. But once we had satisfied their inquiries, there was no problem packing it and storing it in the plane.

Due to a slight hiccup in our travel plans, I was left alone with my son and the stroller for our flight out of Manila. I initially planned to have my husband pack the stroller once we were in the plane but I had no choice when we flew out. It was heavy, but thankfully there were kind (and taller) passengers and flight attendants who helped me–a less than 5’ tall mother–to store away and pick up our stroller.

We’ve also had the unfortunate experience of having our older strollers damaged by the airline after we surrendered it to their crew upon entering the plane. Even if they packed it inside the plastic bags they provide, we are now biased and prefer to handle our strollers on our own. For those past experiences, we just got a weak “Sorry” muttered under their breath and a permanently damaged dual-stroller.

Another thing I loved about the stroller was the deep storage basket. It housed two kids' backpacks, water jugs, jackets, and even the occasional stuffed toy without losing its form or shape.

Conclusion

The Joolz Aer+ stroller is the stroller I wish I had sooner. If I had this when my youngest was born, we would have been able to use it for everything it is worth because it would have grown up with him and we would not have to borrow other strollers for our travels. If this was available when we were still adding to our brood, I also imagine its premium make would have allowed us to use the same stroller for multiple kids.

But even if I didn’t travel, the Joolz Aer+ is worth the price tag for its make: the smooth ride, child comfort and safety, and the flawless one-hand one-second fold. For parents who don’t have the support of a nanny or household help, high-quality items like this make taking care of your child simpler. The thoughtful design is felt in each detail and use of the stroller.

The verdict: Make the most of the Joolz Aer+ by purchasing it for your newborn. It’s the only stroller you’ll need for at least three years, more if you travel with it. Its price, divided by the number of years you would use it can be equal to buying multiple baby carriage items per year. But you make the big decision once, and then you just reap the benefits of that choice for the years to come.

The Joolz Aer+ retails at P31,999 and is available on Lazada. Visit Joolz's Lazada Store to know more about the brand.