Source: Starr Rocque / Starr Rocque
Buying a stroller can be like buying a car. The purchase depends on size, shape, color, budget, lifestyle, personal style, and where you live. In fact, you might even get more than one as your needs change. In New York City, you need a compact stroller, one that’s travel-friendly, not only for going out of town, but also lugging it around NYC on subways and buses, in Ubers, and on foot. That’s how I ended up with the GB Pockit Plus (also stylized as the GB Pockit+).
The GB Pockit Plus is travel-system ready, so it’s compatible with certain types of infant car seats, it has an easily adjustable recliner, front swivel wheels, it opens and closes easily, and it can fit inside the overhead bin of an airplane. Now that my daughter is a toddler, lightweight strollers are the only way to get around with her so I decided to give this one a try.
Firstly, it comes in a beautiful array of colors. Though that may not be the most important thing for everyone, it’s still a detail that you don’t want to overlook. I’ve had my GB Pockit Plus for about two years (my daughter is 2.5) and I can say that it holds up to the brand promise.
Source: Starr Rocque / Starr Rocque
The GB Pockit Plus is compact but sturdy and can hold from 6 – 55 lbs (approximately the size of a 5 years old). My daughter, who is probably about 35 lbs at this point, rides around in it securely and I’ve never felt like the stroller would buckle under her weight. It travels well around the city and even holds up against our crappy broken sidewalks and inclement weather. For the most part, it feels like it’s gliding and takes very little effort to push. The wheels may need some WD40 or degunking occasionally, but it withstands a lot. For as durable as the Pockit Plus is it’s also surprisingly thin. I often have to carry the stroller up and down subway stairs, which is obviously dangerous. It was easier to get up and down the steps when my daughter was smaller, but now that she can walk, I usually have her get out of the stroller and walk. I keep her steady with one hand as I carry the stroller with the other, which brings me to how simple it is to open and close. There’s a button on the top handle that you press and then your stroller drops to the floor and becomes the size of a large book bag—something like a transformer.
Source: Starr Rocque / Starr Rocque
Of equal importance is the fact that the Pockit Plus is easy to clean. You can remove the cloth from the stroller body and seat and toss it in the washing machine for a refresh. I have to admit, though, that getting the cloth off to wash it can be a bit of a struggle — not to the point of frustration, but sometimes you really have to think about your next movement so that you don’t make a wrong move and rip the fabric. The removal process looks a lot easier in the demo videos though, so maybe that’s just me. Another complaint I have about the stroller is that there are no straps on it to allow for a better grip when it’s folded up, especially since it folds down to the size of a large book bag or duffle bag. To hold the stroller I basically have to get in where I fit in in terms of gripping it so the easiest way to get around with it when it’s not in use is to roll it around and only fold it when you need to.
Overall, the GB Pockit Plus has been a staple stroller that helps make life with a toddler easier. I haven’t tried it as a travel system, so I can’t speak to that component, but I suggest testing it out at a store near you that carries the brand.
