Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNET
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As a parent and a tech commerce editor, I love trying out new gear with smart features, or that’s engineered in an interesting way to make your life easier amid the chaos and sleep deprivation. Enter the TernX: A stroller that folds up into a carry-on-size suitcase, for easier travel around airports with a little one and stows right on the plane.
When the opportunity to try out the TernX crossed my inbox ahead of a family trip, I was eager to take it for a spin on our flight from New York City to Indianapolis with a 1- and 4-year-old. And overall, this was an impressive piece of parenting gear that I’ll continue to use in the future — though with its high price tag of $699, it’s more of a luxury than a necessity.
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The TernX — which won a 2026 Red Dot Design Award and was previously named one of Time’s Best Inventions — is solid and hefty, weighing 17 lbs, and designed for toddlers up to 48.5 lbs. It feels like a premium product in terms of build quality.
Unfolding it from the suitcase into the stroller was easy, and only took me a few tries to master — there are three buttons to push, and you’re done. One downside, though, is that you need two hands to do it, so you’ll have to set your child down or have someone help hold them while you’re opening and closing it to go through TSA. Then it’s three steps again to fold it back up into a suitcase. I found it sometimes took a couple of tries to get it to fully snap back into place during the last step, but it wasn’t a big issue.
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Once in stroller mode, the TernX worked well. It handled curving around the airport security lanes easily, and was a smooth ride. The seat is on the smaller side compared to other strollers, so it probably wouldn’t be suitable for longer walks or non-smooth surfaces. But for the airport and traveling around the walkable college town we visited, it was perfect.
Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNET
There’s a decent amount of storage space considering the size of the stroller, with a small, flat area underneath the seat (which I found useful for stowing snacks) and a zippered compartment on the suitcase portion, which fits more upright. We used it to store our kids’ water bottles and jackets during the days out, and for extra clothing and items that didn’t fit in our main bag for the plane ride. A small sun shade is folded up in there as well, but takes up minimal space.
Both my 1-year-old and 4-year-old used the stroller at different times during our trip, and fit comfortably. (At one point, the 4-year-old climbed on the back and rode around that way, which is not an intended use but worked as a makeshift double stroller for a short distance.) The seat reclines, and served as a comfy spot for the youngest to take a nap while we walked around.
In suitcase mode, the TernX is a bit heavy, but rolls smoothly — the only slightly weird thing is you roll it with the handle on the outside instead of the inside like you normally would.
Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNET
Why I recommend this product
If you’re a frequent traveler and have the budget to spend $699 on a stroller, the TernX is a great product. However, it’s certainly not a necessity: You can also typically check a regular stroller or a cheaper travel stroller at your gate for free, and if you’re planning on doing a lot of walking (particularly on different types of terrain), you’ll probably want to bring a different option with you. But if you want something for trips that can be stored easily on a plane or in a trunk that is a really cool feat of engineering, I’d recommend it.
