Mamazing Ultra Air Travel Stroller Review

About the Mamazing Ultra Air

• Weight: 11.6 pounds
• Dimensions: 20.5 x 18.5 x 11 inches (folded)
• Weight limit: 50 pounds
• Colors: Black, green, gray
• Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

How we tested the Mamazing Ultra Air

I have a toddler. Enough said?

Usually, I write about tech, but two years (and two kids) into the journey of parenting has given me a pretty good idea of what makes a good stroller—and what makes a sub-par one. Before we had our first child, I did plenty of research on strollers, so I have a good understanding of their build and features.

Testing the Mamazing Ultra Air involved using it as any parent would. I folded it up and unfolded it countless times, hauling it into the car and around town, and doing my best to convince my toddler that indeed, she did want to sit in the stroller instead of running the equivalent of a marathon in the span of 20 minutes. For the record, I asked her if it was comfortable too, though the reserved "yeah" response didn't instill much confidence that she had learned the word "comfortable" yet.

I paid close attention to details like how often zips got caught (actually never), how wheel locks felt in terms of durability, and how the stroller compared to the much more expensive benchmark of the Uppababy Vista V2 (a winner in our Best Strollers guide) that I was using before. It got much closer than you'd think, given the price.

What we like

Lightweight and portable

At 11.6 pounds, the Mamazing Ultra Air is significantly lighter than many alternatives. The vast majority of even portable strollers weigh more, and that matters a lot when you're looking for something to travel with.

Not only is it light, but it's also compact enough to fit in overhead bins on planes, making it even more useful for traveling parents. Parents who have travelled before know the dread of being told to check their stroller, as it means hours of baby-carrying/chasing through an airport. I've certainly been there.

Easy to fold up

The Mamazing Ultra Air isn't just compact and portable—it's also easy to fold and unfold. I was skeptical when I saw the company's claims of one-handed usage on their website. But once I got the stroller, I found that it was incredibly easy to get the hang of folding and unfolding it. Like, “first try” kind of easy. There are some things you'll need two hands for, like putting it in its carry bag for storage, but in day-to-day use, many parents will be able to hold their child in one arm, and fold up the stroller with the other.

Putting the stroller in the carry bag isn't quite as simple, but that's to be expected. I got the hang of it after a few tries—you just have to remember which way is the front.

Sleek design despite the low price

One of the more unexpected things about the Mamazing Ultra Air is how put-together it looks and feels for what you're paying. The whole thing feels relatively premium. Sure, it's not as solid-feeling as the Uppababy Vista V2 stroller I have, but much of that comes down to the extra bulk and size of the Uppababy. The Mamazing Ultra Air has a durable cushioned seat, faux-leather handle, and clicky-feeling buttons and latches. Speaking of, the wheel lock mechanism is different than some strollers, but I actually quite like it. It separates locking and unlocking between the two sides, so you won't accidentally lock when you mean to unlock. It means you'll have to remember to hit one side instead of the other depending on what you're trying to do, but despite thinking I wouldn't like it, I actually ended up liking it a lot.

Even better, it ships with more accessories than some competitors. It comes with a lap bar and leg rest, which some alternatives charge extra for.

What we don't like

Not as smooth as some strollers

The Mamazing Ultra Air rolls on plastic wheels instead of air-filled ones, and while it's perhaps unfair to compare it to the far more expensive Vista V2, you can definitely notice a difference. On smooth surfaces, like airport floors, well-kept sidewalks, and so on, the ride is perfectly fine. But on things like gravel or cobblestone, you'll feel the bumps. So will your child, which can be fun sometimes, but not so fun if they were sleeping.

In fairness, this isn't an unexpected trade-off for a lightweight travel stroller, and the ride is smoother than much of the competition. But it's still something to keep in mind.

Not very versatile

The biggest limitation here is the lack of compatibility with infant car seats. The Ultra Air can't accommodate a car seat attachment, so it's strictly for kids who can sit up on their own—six months and older. If you want one stroller that covers you from newborn through toddler, this isn't going to do it. You'd need a separate setup for the infant stage, which adds both cost and complexity to the equation. Realistically, this is for parents who want a "travel" or "on the go" stroller to use alongside their larger, bulkier stroller — or for those who have kids who have outgrown the baby stage and seemingly rarely want to sit anyway.

On top of that, the underseat storage basket is small. That's par for the course with ultralight travel strollers, but if you're used to cramming a full diaper bag underneath, you'll find it tight. Plan on carrying a bag separately or packing lighter than you might like.

Warranty

The Mamazing Ultra Air comes with a 5-year limited warranty, which covers manufacturing defects. It does not include things like normal wear-and-tear, so don't expect to be able to trade it in or get repairs for damage that wasn't there when you unboxed it. The warranty is only valid for purchases through the Mamazing website or through authorized retailers.

Should you buy the Mamazing Ultra Air?

Yes, if you want a lightweight and portable stroller at a great price

If what you really need is a lightweight, packable stroller for flying and getting around cities, the Mamazing Ultra Air (available at Amazon) is an excellent option. At under $300, you're getting features and build quality that genuinely compete with strollers that cost considerably more. For parents of kids six months and up who don't need car seat compatibility, it's one of the strongest picks in the budget-to-mid-range travel stroller space.

If you want to go even lighter, the updated Mamazing Ultra Air X drops to just 9.9 pounds with a slightly slimmer profile, though you give up a bit of canopy coverage and seat height to get there. It's worth a look if maximum portability is your priority and your kid isn't on the taller side.

It's perfect for those who already have a bigger stroller, or who want something lightweight to keep around for kids who mostly prefer to walk on their own anyway. That happens to be my toddler—so for me, the Mamazing Ultra Air is a perfect way to get the best of both worlds: a stroller when needed and its lightweight design when it's not.