In-depth reviews guided by a Pediatrician

Phil and Teds Traveller Review

Very portable but hard to use and uncomfortable
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Price:   $200 List | $150 at Amazon
Pros:  Super lightweight, eco-healthy
Cons:  Hard to use, uncomfortable, lower quality
Manufacturer:   Phil and Teds
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Oct 3, 2017
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53
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#4 of 8
  • Ease of Use - 35% 2
  • Portability - 30% 10
  • Comfort - 15% 3
  • Quality - 15% 5
  • EcoHealth - 5% 8

The Skinny

Phil and Teds Traveller is the lightest and smallest option we tested, and it fits in a small backpack you can carry over one shoulder with ease. This crib has a unique side panel that unzips for snuggling little ones, and the materials have been Oeko-Tex certified making it one of the healthiest options we tested. However, this product is ridiculously convoluted in its opening and closing method and is more of an assembly project than the competition. Even after repeated testing, it still took over four times longer to set up than the competition. This setup time, coupled with a self-inflating mattress that never laid flat, hurt the Traveller during testing and cost it a potential award for its great portability.


Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award  Best Value Award 
Price $200.00 List
$149.99 at Amazon - 25% off		$300.00 List
$299.99 at Amazon		$250.00 List
$209.00 at Amazon - 16% off		$300.00 List
$299.99 at Amazon		$80.00 List
$58.72 at Amazon - 27% off
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Super lightweight, eco-healthyEase to use, eco-healthy, portable, comfyEco-healthy, portable, comfyEasy to use, nice qualityPrice, average comfort and quality
Cons Hard to use, uncomfortable, lower qualityPriceAverage for ease of useHeavy, large, harder to transportLarge, heavier, not eco-healthy
Bottom Line Very portable but hard to use and uncomfortableNice, cozy crib that is easy to transport and very eco-healthyHealthy and eco-friendly choice that isn't as easy to use as someEasy to use option that is harder to lift and carryBudget friendly with average functionality but it isn't as portable
Rating Categories Phil and Teds... BabyBjorn Travel... Lotus Everywhere 4moms Breeze Graco Pack 'n Play...
Ease Of Use (35%)
10
0
2
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
6
Portability (30%)
10
0
10
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
2
10
0
4
Comfort (15%)
10
0
3
10
0
7
10
0
7
10
0
5
10
0
6
Quality (15%)
10
0
5
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
9
10
0
6
EcoHealth (5%)
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
10
10
0
1
10
0
1
Specs Phil and Teds... BabyBjorn Travel... Lotus Everywhere 4moms Breeze Graco Pack 'n Play...
Weight 7.4 lbs 12.8 lbs 13.9 lbs 23.9 lbs 20.3 lbs (includes bassinet)
Crib Dimensions - assembled 26.9"H x 53.2"L x 31.3"W 25.5"H x 43.8"L x 32.5"W 25.5"H x 47.9"L x 32.1"W 29"H x 45.8"L x 32.6"W 28.8"H x 41.1"L x 28.6"W
Crib Dimensions - closed 6.5"H x 27.2"L x 8.8"W 19.5"H x 23.6"L x 6.6"W 12.6"H x 24.8"L x 9.3"W 12.1"H x 30.7"L x 12.2"W 10.6"H x 27.7"L x 10.3"W
Age/Height/Weight Limit 3 Years or
35"		 3 Years or
35"		 3 Years or
35"		 35" or
30 lbs		 35" or
30 lbs
Special Features Removeable Fabric, Fitted Sheet, Side Zipper Opening Removeable Fabric BackPack Straps on Carry Bag, Removeable Fabric, Fitted Sheet, Side Zipper Opening Bassinet Bassinet, Toy Bar, Storage Bag
Cleaning Method Mattress Fabric: Spot Clean
Travel Crib Fabric: Spot Clean		 Mattress Fabric: Machine Wash
Travel Crib Fabric: Machine Wash		 Mattress Fabric: Machine Wash
Travel Crib Fabric: Machine Wash		 Mattress Fabric: Spot Clean
Travel Crib Fabric: Spot Clean		 Mattress Fabric: Spot Clean
Travel Crib Fabric: Spot Clean
Flame Retardant Free Yes (Oeko-Tex Certifed) Yes (Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified) Yes (GREENGUARD GOLD Certified) No No
Set Up Time 8:34 min:sec 1:37 min:sec 2:13 min:sec 2:22 min:sec 1:47 min:sec
Warranty 1 Year 2 Years 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Traveller is a lightweight travel option that isn't as easy to use as the competition.
The Traveller is a lightweight travel option that isn't as easy to use as the competition.

Phil and Teds is an award-winning international company and marketer of juvenile products. The company has been making baby gear for over 20 years across three brands including Mountain Buggy and Mokopuna. Phil and teds have received three Red Dot design awards and creates a variety of products including strollers, travel gear, high chairs and car seats.

Performance Comparison


Below is a comparison chart of the overall scores for the travel cribs we tested in this review. Phil and teds (in blue) earned a below average score.


The sections below include performance information on how the Traveller compared to competition during testing.

The Traveller must be assembled and disassembled every time you want to use it transport it. Assembly time takes over 8 minutes.
The Traveller must be assembled and disassembled every time you want to use it transport it. Assembly time takes over 8 minutes.

Ease of Use


The Traveller earned a 2 of 10 for ease of use thanks to the longest setup times in the group. It took us over 27 minutes on our first go which is three times the next longest setup time. Even after repeated efforts during testing we never set it up in under 8 minutes. The rest of the competition can all be set up in under 2:45 after you do them a few times. This could be very frustrating after a long day of travel.

This product has a side zipper that provides additional access to the crib. This somewhat unique feature enables parents to nap with the baby for added comfort or parents can use it as an open play yard to extend the room for play.

The Phil and Teds Traveller is very small and super easy to carry over long distances.
The Phil and Teds Traveller is very small and super easy to carry over long distances.

Portability


The Traveller earned a 10 of 10 for portability and is the top performer in this metric. This crib weighs 7.4 lbs folded in the travel bag. This weight is the lowest in the group making it the easiest one to carry over a long distance. It is also one of the few with a shoulder strap which makes carrying it more convenient than those with small handles.

The Phil and Teds Traveller has a unique self-inflating mattress similar to a camping mattress.
The Phil and Teds Traveller has a unique self-inflating mattress similar to a camping mattress.

Comfort


The Traveller earned a 3 of 10 for comfort. This score is the second lowest for the group. The Traveller has a unique mattress and is the only one in the review that is inflatable. It self-inflates like popular camping pads, but ours didn't seem to want to inflate fully, and we had to help it by inflating it by mouth.

Even though the Traveller mattress is attached to the bottom of the crib it still bows up and has trouble laying flat against the bottom which makes us worried about potential safety concerns.
Even though the Traveller mattress is attached to the bottom of the crib, it still bows up and has trouble laying flat against the bottom which makes us worried about potential safety concerns.

The mattress also had trouble staying flat with the sheet on and it curled up somewhat making a possible gap for entrapment despite attaching to the bottom with clips at the corners. Getting baby into and out of the crib is more difficult than the majority of the competition.

The Traveller earned a blow average score for quality with a flimsy final product.
The Traveller earned a blow average score for quality with a flimsy final product.

Quality


The Traveller earned a 5 of 10 for quality. This travel crib has an aluminum frame and nylon/polyester fabric. The mesh has a lot of give to it so the baby may be able to press it out significantly, but we didn't have any loose threading on our product. The frame seems sturdy but it shakes easily and pressing on the top bar will move the legs when you don't intend them to.

Eco-health


The Traveller earned an 8 of 10 for eco-health and is only one of three products that earned higher than a one in this metric. According to Phil and teds, the updated Traveller is flame retardant free, and the materials are all Oeko-Tex certified. Given that a significant number of the competition has not made efforts to remove harmful chemicals from baby gear we commend Phil and teds for going the extra mile and making an effort. The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) retains a list of popular brand name companies and their stance on flame retardants. Phil and Teds is not included on the list, but their website states the Oeko-Tex certification.

Manufacturer Video




— Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz