In all of our travels with our daughter, there has been no other single product that has been more helpful than the GB Pockit Stroller. In this review, I will cover how the Pockit is the best available for its size, weight, and ease of use.
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Updated
When I was first in the market for a stroller I was shopping purely based on easy fold-and-go travel systems that would make sense for our travels abroad. For my first stroller, I had the JJ Cole Broadway 360 and as a first-time mom, I thought this was the bee’s knees. It folded down easily and it had the ability to click into a base as a car seat or used as a bassinet that also transformed to a toddler seat. You can read a little bit more about this stroller system here. I did love certain features the JJ Cole had but as my daughter grew and outgrew her car seat, it was no longer a convenient system and it felt big and bulky. To be fair the JJ Cole had also traversed 15 countries over 4 continents. It was tired and time to find a better solution, that solution was the GB Pockit Stroller.
The GB Pockit Review
I saw this video circulating Facebook via the Baby Guy and it featured the GB (GoodBaby) Pockit stroller being folded down in seconds and then opened again just as quickly. It fits into a tote bag compact folded that could easily slide in overhead bin or under the seat in front of you – no more gate checking. I was sold.
How to Buy
Getting your hands on one of these strollers when they came out wasn’t easy, at least not for those shopping in the U.S. It would be a good six to nine months before they were expected to launch in the US. and I knew there would be a lot of travel for us before then. I couldn’t (wouldn’t) wait that long so I did some research and found that “Toys R Us” in Hong Kong (HK) had them available for about $140 USD.
We would have a couple of days in HK on an upcoming trip and would try to score one if these highly coveted strollers. We decided to order the stroller online and have it sent to our hotel in HK for ease instead of trying to find a store with them in stock. We ordered the stroller with a delivery address of the Hyatt Regency Sha Tin and notified the concierge to accept the package. Some hotels charge for acceptance and holding a package, however, Sha Tin has always treated us well and there was no charge for holding the package. It was waiting in our room when we arrived.
Now available in US
Unlike our experience (nefariously purchasing in Hong Kong and importing without paying duty for a product not yet licensed to be sold in the US), the GB Pockit is now available for sale here in the US. The price comes in around $179-$250 which is on par or under-market for an everyday stroller, but more expensive than a traditional umbrella stroller. In my opinion, it is worth every penny.
Stroller Specs
When folded into it’s most compact folded size, the Pockit Plus folded measures 11.8″ x 7″ x 13.8” and was named “The World’s Smallest Folded Stroller” by the Guinness Book of World’s Records. The newer models are able to hold a child up to 55 pounds and 11lbs of “cargo” below the seat in the storage area. The seats harness is also adjustable which helps the travel stroller to grow with your child.
What I love about it
- The size is easily one of the most attractive features about the GB Pockit. When it’s folded away, placed in the bag, it will fit easily under the seat in front of you regardless of the cabin. This is an important fact to know, because gate agents will not believe you, they will insist on tagging it (my husband may have gotten into an argument about this after a long trip.) Just prove it if they challenge you by folding it into the bag.
- The Pockit is also incredibly light. The website lists the weight at 9.5 pounds but that sounds a lot heavier than it feels. I frequently throw the bag over one shoulder when we are out and about. It’s also worth noting that the Pockit’s lightweight is helpful when pushing our daughter around too, especially on cobblestone streets and uneven surfaces. This compact stroller is so easy to carry it could even fit inside a diaper bag.
- It is easy to clean. The satin black fabric makes spot cleaning the inevitable stains of a toddler no problem.
- We can take it everywhere – and we do.
- Folding it away really is as easy as they say. While there are two ways to fold it away, one takes a little more effort (tucking the back wheels inside first) to get it into its smallest fold, but the time difference is negligible. You can unbuckle your child and have it in a bag in less than 60 seconds with ease.
Cons
While I love the stroller, there are a couple of drawbacks. The stroller is very light, but that’s because the supports are hollow. Usually, this isn’t an issue, but it’s so light that for really difficult terrain you might be better off having your child walk than struggle with the roads. The Pockit is just fine for cobblestone roads, but off-road and dirt paths cause issues for both the front wheel and rear wheels. The canopy of the stroller is one small square piece, which is conveniently lightweight, but it is mostly ineffective.
The padded handlebars were a little thin as was the storage basket below, our netting ripped.
The price is also a little high for some consumers. If you have a regular stroller and the Pockit is just for travel purposes then its value may be diminished for you. That being said, if you have ever tried to fold one of those larger strollers or waited at the baggage carousel for an extended period of time – it pays for itself. If you are ready to grab one, we have an affiliate link here.
Do you have a family travel item that you swear by?
We have this same stroller purchased May of 2016 and it is amazing! We fold it up in 2 seconds before getting on the plane and unfold very fast when off the plane. It is a lifesaver and has held up very well for the 1st yr.
Everyone is amazed at it when they see how small it folds up!
@PointsPinnacle- The ease of using it gate to gate is definitely a big advantage for us too. Glad to hear of your positive experiences with this stroller as well!
Very timely piece 🙂 We just used it for a week long trip to Barcelona. Made our life very easy. On our way back to US we put it in one of our checked bag. The wheels are a bit wobbly for the cobblestone streets. But held up well. I recommend this one as well.
@Joe – I’m happy to hear that you have also had a great experience with this stroller. I remember trying to push my old bulky stroller through the streets in Europe and while the tires were a bit larger and may have handled the roads better, I felt like it just took up so much space everywhere and constantly bumped into everything. When you are on small streets or just want to pop into a little cafe, the Pockit stroller has been a much better and more comfortable solution for us. Thanks for the comment!
We have this stroller and love it! My lady wanted to return the stroller because of cost, ($180 USD), but she loves it now. Small, light, extremely portable. We have taken it to Vegas, Grand Canyon, Paris, and our usual everyday use. I wish the storage pocket was bigger.
Also, triple dipped in points teehee. . Bought egift card for buy buy baby on MileageX App with reward credit card and went through Alaska Airlines shopping portal to earn Alaska points.
@Marvin – I agree that the price can be a bit hard to swallow at first but once you compare it to the other strollers on the market and see it in action, it makes it a lot easier to justify. I also wish the storage was bigger and the canopy too but overall I am quite happy with this stroller. Great tips on the triple dip mileage earning!
I really should look into one of these. Even when road tripping, full size strollers are a PITA. Inevitably we’d forget something we needed when stopping for lunch, and my mom and I would then have to unpack and then re-pack half the cargo area because what we needed was behind the stroller. One possible downside I see is no sunshade? Or does it have one that pops up from the back?
@MeanMeosh – We use this stroller even when we are at home because I love how easy it is to just throw it in the car and go and it takes up so little space in the trunk. The sunshade does fold over from the back but it is a very small square piece and not very effective at all. I definitely think this is something that GB will need to improve on a future model.
Hi carley thanks for the great feed back can u suggest a sunshade that can fits with the stroller and of not what would you do in case of sunny days ? Is it ok for naps ?
@Nour – I have not personally tried any attachable sunshades with this stroller but after a quick google search it seems that there are a few on the market that would work with this stroller. A couple I found are the “Dreambaby Extenda-shade” and the “Manito Sun Shade” which also looks nice and compact! My daughter (age 3 and about 36″) hasn’t had any problems taking naps in the stroller and seems to find it comfortable. I hope this was helpful!
Hi Carly,
Thanks for writing your experience about the GB Pockit. It’s really useful. Now we are located in the UK and in november we are travelling to Hong Kong and Thailand. We have a holiday pushchair but to be honest even though it’s practical, it’s not that great in size as it’s an umbrella stroller. We were thinking of either getting the GB Qbit plus or GB Pockit Plus. I want the Qbit, my partner the Pockit but what we are uncertain is how this buggy will feel in the streets of Hong Kong and Thailand. Even though Thailand is really busy, even if we try to use it, I don’t know how it would be like. How did you feel it in Hong Kong? Have you travelled somewhere else where the terrain was different and you can attest the experience. Any suggestion would help!
Thanks
Gaby
@Gaby – There are so many coincidences. I just got back from Hong Kong and Thailand (we also used to live in the UK) so I have some practical tips for your specific situation. The Pockit was particularly helpful in most of those city situations but not as well on the beach or really difficult terrain. If you are just going to be in Bangkok, you will be very happy with the Pockit, if you are going out to the islands and using it over rocks and sand – your experience may vary from mine. The hidden advantage of this [pram] is how quick and easy it is fold back up and then roll out especially for crowded situations. Getting onto the MTR in Hong Kong during rush hour was much easier when we held our daughter and the stroller in our arms to get on rather than trying to roll a stroller onboard. We love the Pockit, and our only hesitation is that for truly challenging terrain, it can feel a little strained – though we rarely find ourselves in those places when also needing to use a stroller.
Enjoy your travels and if you are looking for recommendations for either city, feel free to reach out (carly@extra-shot.com) or search the blog for hotels and things to do in keywords: Bangkok, Thailand, Hong Kong.
Hi Carly,
I’ve just seen your answer! Yes, incredible as I’m going there now at the end of the month. I’m trying to find a canopy or umbrella for it as I can see the canopy is totally useless. Have you done something about it? The thing is, whatever I use, if I have to fold it, then it means extra luggage with an umbrella or a canopy.
I’m going to write an email to you as it’ll be much be easier as I have so many questions!!!
I’ll be in touch sono. Thanks Carly
Hi , can anyone tell me if it’s possible to buy new fabric for gb pockit + ?
I have a pink color and I would like to have anoter one for boys .
@Tamara – I was unable to find any information about this on the web but reached out to the brand for clarification and will report back results once I have them.
How long can I expect to use this stroller before it starts break down
Hi Jen- In my experience, we have had our stroller for almost two years and it is still in good working condition. It has suffered a few scrapes and minor cosmetic damages from all of our travels, but nothing that has caused it to stop functioning. I don’t see any reason why this stroller couldn’t last us a few more years if it’s taken care of.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a carry bag (preferably backpack) for this stroller? We haven’t had any luck finding anything locally that fits (and that’s not RIDICULOUSLY huge). We’ve tried ordering a couple online as well, to no avail. Just need something to carry this around Disney in the fall…So, big enough for the stroller and a few incidentals, but not HUGE. Thanks!
Hi Danielle, we haven’t used a backpack for this stroller, but just the carry bag that it came with. I do like the idea of a backpack also, because it would add the additional space to carry other items. If you find a great bag, please let us know!
I realize this was posted a long time ago, but we are currently at Disney with 2 GB pockits for our kids. We did not use a bag, we just attached a carry strap to the handles. I took 2 straps off of duffle bags that we were not using and used them to carry and it was very convenient. Having an added bag to take them in and out of seemed like an extra hustle, but the strap was the perfect solution. Having them made our trip so much easier.
Great idea! We are heading to Disney soon and will give this a try. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Carly, how hard is it to open and close in real life? I’ve been practising on a floor stock model and I found it really difficult although the saleslady did say it was because too many people had been playing with it so it wasn’t closing properly. I will be hopping in and out of taxis with it so I need it to be a quick and easy open and close. Thanks for your help.
Hi Len, It took us a few times to get the hang of it, but we are often in those quick fold and go situations as well and have found it to be relatively easy to get it into the “quick fold” size. If you are trying to get it to its most compact size and back into the bag this takes just a little longer, but still relatively easy. I have found it helpful to use to top of my foot placed under one of the bars of the storage basket and try to fold it downward while pulling my foot upward. (A little difficult with open toe shoes but possible.)
Opening the stroller is much easier but again from the “quick fold” size. The most compact size requires unfolding the front wheels and unlocking them where as from the “quick fold” size it’s just a simple release and almost like a throwing motion downward, then a click/lock into place.
I hope this was helpful but please feel free to reach out if you need additional help.
Dear Carly,
Thanks for the review, can you suggest me rain cover that suitable for this stroller?
and can this stroller use in the daily activities as well?
Thanks Carly,
HI Carly,
Thanks for sharing the fantastic info! Is your pockit the reclinable version?
No. I have the first generation, but the ability to recline would be fantastic!
Hello Carly, thank you very much for your great review and tips!
We’re just about to buy a small pram for travelling (have another one for everyday use), but our daughter is only going to be turning 7m when we fly in a month time. Do you think Pockit (or Pockit+ with a little shade) would give her enough back support?
We’re not going to fly a lot – usually 2-3 times a year, but we live in London and this might be good for city trips when she’s older. I wonder if this pram is the right choice for us..
Hi Victoria, thank you for reading and for your kind words. The pockit without the recline says it can be used from 6m- I believe the recline helps for smaller children, but I’m not certain on the exact age/size. I think this pram would do well in London. We travel to Manchester often and use it all over the city.
I absolutely love how light it is and how easy it is to fold and carry when my daughter is not riding in it. (Busy cafes, subways, small spaces are much less intimidating with this stroller)
If you are still unsure I would try to find a shop where you could put your daughter in the seat and see how it works for you first.
I hope this was helpful and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!
Great review which prompted me to buy this stroller!
I travelled with my then 6 month old from Heathrow to Montreal last December and despite British Airways telling me my pushchair would be waiting for me when I got off the plane I had to wait until I got to the oversized luggage collection.
As soon as we got back to London I went to John Lewis and purchased this stroller!
Happy to say I just did this trip again last month and it was a BREEZE with my now 15 month old and the pokit.
Day to day we still use our icandy raspberry as I find it much more sturdy and the handle extends upwards enough for my husband to push it comfortably.