A travel system is a car seat and a stroller that attach to each other. Since they’re sold as a pair and are both the same brand, travel systems are guaranteed to work together. Just unclip the car seat from its base in the backseat, snap it into the stroller and you’re off.

A travel system can be purchased in two ways:

• As a package deal from the same brand (the type of travel systems we’re reviewing here), or
• As a “make your own” set that combines a stroller and a car seat from different brands using adapters.

Package deals tend to be more economical than the DIY version and are guaranteed to work together—no adapters required. If you’re eyeing up a stroller and a car seat from different brands, however, don’t stress. Just keep in mind that not all brands work together and you’ll often need to buy separate adapters. Check out Babylist’s Infant Car Seat and Stroller Compatibility guide to learn more.