Joolz Aer Stroller Review

Joolz Aer

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How it Compares

The Joolz Aer is one of the more expensive lightweight strollers priced at around $450. It received our Editor’s Choice award with the highest overall score of the 20 strollers we tested.

Most Common Complaints

The Joolz has a few negative customer reviews. We’ve listed the most common complaints and how our experience compares with the criticism.

Criticism	Our Experience
Storage basket is very small	The Joolz has .49 cubic feet of storage capacity which is less than most of the strollers we tested.
Leather comes off	We’ve used ours quite a bit and haven’t had any pealing problems with the handle or bumper bar
Bulky and not travel friendly	The Joolz is only 1.96 cubic feet folded, which is tied with the smallest folded size we’ve seen. It is also a very light 13.4 lbs.
No longer stays folded	The inner mechanism that keeps the Joolz folded works fine for us.
Folding mechanism broken	We have not had problems with the folding mechanism.
Doesn’t handle gravel or rough terrain	Agreed. It didn’t do well in our rough terrain testing, although few of the lightest weight strollers handle bumps or gravel.
Canopy comes loose	The canopy is sturdy.
Reclining mechanism awkward	True. To recline the back you have to unzip around the whole back and then adjust a strap that doesn’t allow much of a recline.
Doesn’t recline far enough for sleeping	It reclines to 33 degrees (0 degrees would be flat). So kids can certainly sleep at 33 degrees incline but it doesn’t go back as far as many strollers do.
Customer service is not responsive	We haven’t contacted customer service. Several people have complained that the warranty hasn’t been honored and the company requires a “restocking” fee to accept returns.
No snack tray	Correct, only kid cupholders
Turn radius wide	The wagon is 2″ wider than the Wonderfold W4, but we did not find the turning radius to be wider than other wagons.

Testing and Research

We ran the Joolz through over 100 tests and measurements, comparing it directly to 19 other strollers over several months. We used it with kids one-year-old up to five, and with parents of different heights.

Weight and Folded Size

The Joolz Aer is only 13.4 lbs and folds down to 1.8 cu ft. This makes it ideal as a travel stroller. It is one of the lightest and smallest strollers you can buy.

Steering and Maneuverability

My favorite part about this stroller is how easy it is to push and turn. I thought having the rear wheels closer together than the front wheels might make steering more difficult, but it doesn’t.

We pushed this stroller over flat sidewalks, bumpy sidewalks, grass and an obstacle course. It steers and turns easily on flat surfaces. Steering and maneuverability ratings:

The Joolz is not made for offroad travel. The smallish wheels easily get stuck between stones and don’t jump over larger sticks.

We also found that the force required to jump curbs is greater than most other strollers.

Lightweight strollers often have wheel vibration, especially at a fast pace or over bumps. The Joolz had among the lowest in wheel vibration measurements. This made it more comfortable to push and provided a smoother ride for the kids.

When pushing straight on a flat surface the Joolz was similar to other strollers in its tendency to veer.

Tendency to Veer

Joolz Aer	155 in	155 in
Britax B-Lively (high)	299 in	299 in
Average	165 in	165 in
Dream On Me (low)	90 in	90 in

Ease of Use

The Joolz Aer has an easy-to-reach storage basket that is .49 cubic feet which is small compared to many other umbrella strollers. It holds a maximum of 11 lbs.

You can access the basket from both the front and the back. The sides of the basket are low so you have to be a bit careful about things falling out.

Storage Capacity:

There is a pocket on the back of the stroller that is very tight but works well for storing small items like mobile phones and car keys.

Without purchasing accessories the stroller doesn’t come with any other storage. There is no parent console, no parent or kid cup holders or snack tray.

The handle is fixed at 40 inches high which is a good height for both taller and shorter parents. It is comfortable and classy looking, made of faux leather.

The handle and frame feel solid. It doesn’t bend or give like the gb Pockit+’s handle.

The peekaboo window is thin but adequate to see through and its mesh fabric allows some airflow through the canopy.

We performed tip-over testing and found the Joolz more likely to tip over from a child leaning out over the side than most strollers we tested.

The Joolz arrived fully assembled and it only took a couple of minutes to get it unboxed. The user manual is not fantastic, but adequate.

The brake is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It toggles up and down. You don’t have to use the top of your foot to release the brake so it doesn’t hurt even when barefoot.

The single brake pedal stops both rear wheels. The brake engages the first time, unlike some strollers that require a couple of tries.

The stroller back does recline but the recline mechanism is not particularly convenient. It requires unzipping around the back of the stroller and then adjusting side straps. You’ll only have to adjust the straps one time.

Once the seat back is reclined, there is some mesh fabric that lets air in.

The buckle on the 5-point harness requires clicking in four different straps. Most buckles have a way to only clip twice, one on each side. This only adds a couple of extra seconds to the process but is still a hassle.

The hip harness straps adjust smoothly. The material is silky and the clips slide easily.

However, the shoulder harness straps are a bit more challenging to adjust. They work the same way as the hip straps but it takes some practice to get them to slide up. Fortunately, the shoulder harnesses don’t have to be rethreaded.

There is a nice travel bag that comes with the stroller. It has a long, adjustable strap. The strap is not padded but is not too uncomfortable.

The stroller also comes with a rain cover that attaches with velcro to the frame.

While it is nice that it comes with a travel bag and rain cover, if you want car seat adapters, a footboard, cup holder, bassinet, bumper bar, leg rest, or parent console, you will have to purchase them separately.

Folding and Transport

Our “How to fold the Joolz Aer” video:

The Joolz Aer is a true one-hand-fold stroller. You push in the small release button, squeeze the big white fold button and push forward. It folds in 2 seconds and opens in 3 seconds.

The Aer is a good alternative to an umbrella stroller because of its weight and compact folded size.

This stroller came out on top in the Folding and Transport category:

The stroller stays folded until you release it with the “fold button” on the handle. Some customers have complained that the stroller got stuck when folded and wouldn’t unfold. We haven’t had this problem.

It stands on its own while folded. It will roll when folded but you have to lean over to pull it, so it’s easier just to carry it by the included strap.

This stroller is 21″ x 17.7″ x 8.5″ folded. This is slightly larger than the maximum carry-on bag dimensions of 22″ x 14″ x 9″, published by most US-based airlines. The stroller fits fine in an overhead bin, but you may or may not get away with it. Travel strollers like the gb Pockit+ or Cybex Libelle should always be accepted by airlines.

Despite the possibility that some airlines might make you gate check the Aer, we still consider it one of the best travel strollers available.

The Joolz Aer comes in the following color options:

• Mighty Green
• Delightful Grey
• Elegant Blue
• Lovely Taupe
• Ocean Blue
• Refined Black
• Sage Green

Kid Comfort

We tested every stroller for the level of bumpiness and vibration in the ride. I was surprised that the Joolz Aer has a smoother ride than even the larger strollers with big wheels.

The seat has soft and thick padding on the bottom and back. The crotch strap is padded but not the harnesses. This doesn’t make too big of a difference since the harnesses are smooth to the touch.

The seat back in its upright position reclines just slightly more than we would like at 56°. 70° for older kids lets them sit up enough to be able to see out fully.

The seat reclines to 33° which is certainly enough to take a nap but is not even close to being flat. To get a flat sleeping surface you need to purchase the Joolz Aer Carrycot (bassinet) as shown below.

The pram does not include a kid cup holder or snack tray. Cup holders and a car seat adapter can be purchased separately.

The car seat adapters are currently compatible with the following infant car seats:

• Clek: Liingo, Liing
• Nuna Pipa: Pipa, Pipa Lite, Pipa Lite R, Pipa Lite LX
• Cybex; Aton2, Cloud Q, Aton M

The canopy provides basic sun coverage but is not as large as those on some strollers that extend over the child’s knees. The canopy is rated UPF 50+ by the manufacturer.

The mesh, peekaboo area of the canopy can be zipped up and collapsed.

I like the sturdiness and operation of the canopy. It retains its shape well and stays in place.

The seats are 10 inches deep and 13.5 inches across. This is large enough for bigger kids to feel comfortable in the stroller. The maximum weight and height limits are 50 lbs and 42.5 inches.

Quality and Safety

The Joolz Aer is a pricey stroller that supports the price with high-quality parts, materials, and design. It feels and looks like a high-end stroller.

The wheels are made of polyurethane and solid plastic. The Joolz was average compared to other strollers in the decibel level of sound generated in our noise testing.

The frame is aluminum and feels solid. There are a couple of zippers that operate reliably as do the buckle and harness clip.

The most important moving part is the folding mechanism which hasn’t caused us any problems but we don’t yet know how well it will hold up with heavy, long-term use.

One of the highest incidents of stroller-related injuries is from pinching and amputation related primarily to hinges. We tested the folding hinges and canopy hinges for pinching potential. While it is possible to pinch yourself, this stroller had good results compared to most other strollers.

A study published in 2016 found many stroller injuries related to children falling over or falling out of strollers.

It is never recommended to hang diaper bags on prams because of the risk of tipping them over. The Joolz Aer tips over with a 12 lb weight hanging from the push handle while the stroller is empty.

Joolz Aer vs Bugaboo Butterfly

The Bugaboo Butterfly scored just slightly below the Joolz Aer overall in our testing. Both are excellent strollers. The Butterfly is 2.7 lbs heavier and about 9% larger when folded.

Neither one technically fits in the typical 22x14x9 carry-on size requirement for an overhead bin, but both are very close and may be accepted by some airlines.

Although you can’t tell from the picture above, the Butterfly storage basket holds .75 ft³ vs the Aer’s .49 ft³.

Both strollers are highly maneuverable, and both fold and unfold fast and easily. See our full Bugaboo Butterfly Stroller Review.

The Bugaboo recline mechanism is simpler than the Aer’s, and the Bugaboo’s seat reclines back a little farther for better napping. Unfortunately, the seat reclines in its fully upright position reclines a bit too much for children who would prefer not to be leaning back.

Joolz Aer vs Babyzen YoYo2

The Babyzen YoYo2 is a popular, high-end stroller that competes with the Joolz Aer. The YoYo2 is similar in weight to the Aer, and its folded dimensions are more likely to meet airline size requirements for fitting in an overhead bin.

The downside to the YoYo2 is folding. The first stage of the folding process requires two hands pressing simultaneously on buttons on each side of the frame. The second stage requires reaching under the stroller and depressing a button, then pulling a plastic lever, then grabbing and pulling the frame. Even with practice, it takes about twice as long to fold as the Aer.

Our full review of the Babyzen YoYo2.

The YoYo2 has a better seat recline mechanism than the Aer and a slightly more difficult-to-use brake system.