In short: A 2-in-1 pram comes with a chassis, carrycot and pushchair seat; a 3-in-1 travel system adds an infant car seat. By use: for the city Cybex Balios S Lux 2-in-1, for all terrain Joolz Geo 3, for travel the light KikkaBoo Mia 3-in-1, for tall parents Joolz Day 5, and for best value KikkaBoo Ava 3-in-1. The ranking is based on manufacturer data.
Author: Eva Birsa, mum and co-founder of Evitas · Updated: 28 September 2026
A combination pram is one of the biggest purchases before birth, so we have ranked the models in our range by what you will use them for: city streets, forest trails, travel, tall parents or a tighter budget. If you are still deciding between stroller types, start with our guide on how to choose a stroller.
2-in-1 or 3-in-1: what's the difference?
- 2-in-1: chassis + carrycot (usually up to 9 kg or about 6 months) + pushchair seat (up to 22 kg, about 4 years).
- 3-in-1 (travel system): all of the above + an infant car seat (i-Size, 40–87 cm) that clips onto the chassis with adapters. Handy for short car trips, but a car seat is not a place for long sleeps – use the carrycot for walks.
- Most 2-in-1 sets can later be upgraded with a car seat. Check the product description for exactly what is included (adapters, rain cover, footmuff).
How we ranked them
We only included 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 prams currently in our range, and only data from product descriptions or manufacturers. We did not lab-test the prams. Criteria:
- weight and fold (kg, folded dimensions),
- wheels and suspension (all-wheel suspension, puncture-proof wheels),
- ergonomics for parents (handlebar height, high carrycot),
- what's in the set and age limits,
- price band in our shop.
We only cite independent tests where we could verify the result: in the German Stiftung Warentest pram test (07/2025, 12 prams) no model was rated "good"; the Cybex Balios S Lux, rated 2.8 ("satisfactory"), was one of the two best in that round. Newer results (test 08/2026) are published on test.de.
Best 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 prams by use
1. For the city: Cybex Balios S Lux 2-in-1
The Cybex Balios S Lux 2-in-1 weighs 11.2 kg, folds to 45 × 60 × 77.5 cm and has a reversible seat, a 10 kg shopping basket, frame and front-wheel suspension and puncture-proof wheels. The foldable carrycot (4.7 kg) is for babies up to 9 kg or about 6 months. Accessories and colours are in the Balios S Lux collection.
Alternative: Joie Finiti Signature 2-in-1 – 11.21 kg, one-hand self-standing fold (68 × 63 × 43 cm), lie-flat seat from birth, EN 1888-2 compliant.
2. For all terrain: Joolz Geo 3 2-in-1
The Joolz Geo 3 has independent suspension on all four wheels, large puncture-proof foam wheels and the biggest shopping basket in this comparison (15 kg). It weighs 13 kg with the seat; the carrycot weighs 4.4 kg. Add a second seat or carrycot and it becomes a pram for two.
Alternatives: Cybex Gazelle S (suspension on all 4 wheels, 12.6 kg, two baskets up to 23 kg combined) and Anex Mev or Eli 2-in-1 (triple suspension, EPP carrycot, 10 kg basket).
3. Light and for travel: KikkaBoo Mia 3-in-1
The KikkaBoo Mia 3-in-1 (2026) chassis with seat weighs just 8.3 kg and folds to 37 × 53.5 × 62 cm – the lightest and most compact travel system in this comparison. The set includes a carrycot (5 kg, EN 1466:2023) and an i-Size 40–87 cm infant car seat (3.6 kg). Find it in the 3-in-1 travel systems collection.
Alternative: Anex IQ 6-in-1 – according to the manufacturer, its buggy mode folds to cabin-bag size. If you fly often, a separate travel buggy from lightweight strollers is still more practical.
4. For tall parents: Joolz Day 5 2-in-1
The Joolz Day 5 has an extendable handlebar up to 113 cm and a high carrycot position; optional adapters raise the carrycot by a further 6 cm. It weighs 12.5 kg with the carrycot, the basket holds 10 kg and the seat reclines fully flat.
Alternatives: UPPAbaby Vista V3 with a telescopic leather handlebar, and Anex Mev/Eli with carrycot height adapters (+8.5 cm).
5. Best value: KikkaBoo Ava 3-in-1
The KikkaBoo Ava 3-in-1 sits in the lowest price band of this comparison but includes the most: chassis with seat (10.2 kg, birth to 22 kg), carrycot (3.6 kg), i-Size 40–87 cm car seat (3.1 kg), footmuff, changing bag and adapters. It has 12"/9" rubber wheels and a 9-position handlebar.
Alternatives: Cybex Talos S Lux with the Soft Cot included (12.5 kg, 4-position handlebar) and KikkaBoo Thea 2-in-1 with a 14-position handlebar.
Bonus: for a growing family
According to the manufacturer, the UPPAbaby Vista V3 2-in-1 offers more than 30 configurations for one, two or three children, and its carrycot is certified for overnight sleep. More models in prams for siblings.
Comparison table
| Model | Set | Weight | Folded (cm) | Use | Stand-out feature | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybex Balios S Lux 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | 11.2 kg | 45 × 60 × 77.5 | carrycot to 9 kg, seat to 22 kg | Stiftung Warentest 07/2025: 2.8 | €600–1000 |
| Cybex Talos S Lux | Soft Cot + seat | 12.5 kg | – | birth to 22 kg | 4-position handlebar | under €600 |
| Cybex Gazelle S 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | 12.6 kg | – | up to 22 kg | 2 baskets up to 23 kg, 23 configurations | €600–1000 |
| Cybex Eos Lux 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | 11.6 kg | – | carrycot to 9 kg, seat 6 m–22 kg | puncture-proof wheels | under €600 |
| Joolz Day 5 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | 12.5 kg (with carrycot) | 83 × 60 × 46 | carrycot to 9 kg, seat 6 m–22 kg | handlebar up to 113 cm | over €1000 |
| Joolz Geo 3 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | 13 kg (with seat) | 93 × 60 × 47 | carrycot to 9 kg, seat 6 m–22 kg | 15 kg basket, expands for 2 children | over €1000 |
| UPPAbaby Vista V3 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | 12.5 kg (chassis + seat) | 28.7–41.4 × 65.3 × 82–85.8 | carrycot to 9 kg, seat 6 m–22 kg | 30+ configurations, 13.6 kg basket | over €1000 |
| Nuna Triv LX All-Season 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat + footmuff | – | – | from birth | merino wool footmuff | over €1000 |
| Anex Mev / Eli 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | – | – | from birth | triple suspension, carrycot +8.5 cm | €600–1000 |
| Anex IQ 6-in-1 | carrycot + seat + buggy | – | buggy: cabin-bag size | carrycot to 9 kg, seat to 22 kg | 2 sets of wheels | €600–1000 |
| Joie Finiti Signature 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | 11.21 kg | 68 × 63 × 43 | birth to 22 kg | one-hand fold | €600–1000 |
| KikkaBoo Mia 3-in-1 | carrycot + seat + car seat | 8.3 kg | 37 × 53.5 × 62 | car seat 40–87 cm | lightest in comparison | under €600 |
| KikkaBoo Ava 3-in-1 | carrycot + seat + car seat + footmuff + bag | 10.2 kg | 39 × 59 × 102.5 | birth to 22 kg | most complete set | under €600 |
| KikkaBoo Thea 2-in-1 | carrycot + seat | – | – | birth to 22 kg | 14-position handlebar | under €600 |
"–" means the figure is not given in the product description. Weights are manufacturer figures; price bands refer to regular prices at the time of writing.
What to check before buying
- Boot and stairs: measure your car boot and think about stairs – at 12–13 kg the difference is noticeable.
- Carrycot sleep: lay your baby on their back on a flat surface, with no pillows or loose blankets near the head.
- Car seat: it is for the car and short transfers; for longer walks move your baby into the carrycot.
- Standards: prams should comply with EN 1888 and carrycots with EN 1466.
- Winter: for cold months see our guide to the pushchair footmuff.
Related guides
- Cybex strollers compared
- Cybex vs Nuna and Anex vs Cybex
- KikkaBoo strollers compared
- UPPAbaby Vista V3 vs Cruz V3 and Joolz Day vs Joolz Aer
Browse all models in 2-in-1 prams and 3-in-1 travel systems.
FAQ
Should I buy a 2-in-1 or a 3-in-1?
A 3-in-1 makes sense if you don't have a car seat yet and are happy with the one in the set. If you want to choose a car seat based on tests (e.g. ADAC), buy a 2-in-1 and get the car seat separately with the right adapters.
Which 3-in-1 travel system is the lightest?
In our comparison, the KikkaBoo Mia 3-in-1 at 8.3 kg (chassis with seat). Most combination prams weigh 11–13 kg.
How long can a carrycot be used?
Usually up to 9 kg, i.e. about 6 months, or until your baby starts to push up – the manufacturer states the exact limit.
Which pram is best for tall parents?
Look for a handlebar that adjusts to at least 110 cm and a high carrycot. In this comparison the Joolz Day 5 reaches 113 cm.
Which combination pram scored best in tests?
In the Stiftung Warentest test 07/2025, the Cybex Balios S Lux, rated 2.8, was one of the two best; no pram was rated "good" at the time. Check test.de for the newer 08/2026 results.
Sources
- Stiftung Warentest – Kinderwagen im Test
- ZDFheute – Stiftung Warentest prüft Kinderwagen (2025)
- EN 1888-1:2018+A1:2022 – Pushchairs and prams
- The Lullaby Trust – Car seats
- Technical data: product descriptions in the Evitas shop (manufacturer data).
