Strollers for Days
When you're expecting a baby, buying a stroller is like shopping for a car. Low-end, high-end, singles, joggers, doubles, lightweight: The choices are endless and overwhelming. But have no fear, we're here to help! We've rounded up some of our favorite strollers and given them to real moms to test, because we know that what may be the best stroller for one mom may not be the same for another. So in addition to the many pros all of these strollers have, we've shared moms' cons as well so you can be well informed in your big purchase. Read on to see our picks!
JOGGER: Baby Jogger Summit X3
The Pros: It was very easy to assemble and the colors and design are clean and attractive. It has great suspension/shocks for rough terrain—I can even take it down shallow stairs while keeping the toddler comfortable. I love how it's easy to push and a nice height for me. The seat is roomy and extremely comfortable for my daughter. She looks like Cleopatra laid out on a Lazy Boy recliner ready to be fed grapes when she rides in it. There's nice storage space below. The canopy provides great coverage and I love the option to expose the ventilated panels on the side of the canopy to give more fresh air. It folds up smoothly and easily in two steps. You simply pop off the safety snaps on each side and pull the handle on the seat.
Cons: It's big, definitely not one you easily carry on the subway while toting a child.
The Bottom Line: This is an awesome jogging stroller for a mom who doesn't live in an overcrowded city where you'll have to take public transportation.
To buy: Baby Jogger Summit X3, $430
JOGGER: BOB Revolution
The Pros: It is a very smooth ride. The wheels are a great size and make it easy to take bumps and turns smoothly. I love the hand strap on the push bar. This way I can jog with ease knowing that there is no way I’ll be accidentally letting go of the stroller, since I’m connected to it via the wrist strap!
The handlebar is padded and super comfortable and the shade with see-through window is great for when I want to peek in and see my baby while jogging. The seatbelt also has a little ring that’s connected to it that my baby loves to hold onto and play with. It is attached to the stroller so I know it is always there and it keeps him occupied and happy!
The Cons: It doesn’t come with a cup holder. I’m sure there is an accessory you can buy separately for this, but as a jogging stroller, I feel that a cup holder is essential, and should thus be included.
It skids a little when taking sharp turns, which is to be expected but is definitely a bit jarring. I have to be careful when turning to make sure I don’t startle my baby! And for a stroller meant for jogging and moving quickly, this isn’t something I expected.
The Bottom Line: This solid stroller is awesome for active parents! It has allows me to get out and be active with my baby in tow. I have taken it on several jogs in various environments, including street, sidewalk, dirt trails and grassy parks and it has held up well and worked great in all places!
To buy: Bob Revolution SE, $345
JOGGER: Chicco Tre Performance
The Pros: The Tre is perfect for gravel roads and trails and pushes well on grass—we live on a farm and often walk down our drive and back to get the mail and this stroller was PERFECT for it. Our others would have never made it, let alone kept Baby from bouncing around. It's very sturdy and easy to clean and has great storage underneath. It also has a comfortable incline for Baby. My baby wasn't 100% sitting on her own when we first used it, but was easily able to ride along. The brakes are super tight and the canopy blocks wind really well which was another HUGE thing for me. Our favorite thing about it: how smooth it is. Why don't all strollers come with tires like these?!
The Cons: It's pretty bulky and heavy so it's definitely an ideal stroller to keep at home, not one to have to load and unload often. The buckles are hidden under fabric and can sometimes make it hard to clasp.
The Bottom Line: This is a great option for parents in the market for a jogging stroller, especially those that live in areas with varied terrain.
To buy: Chicco Tre Performance Jogger, $380
SINGLE: Baby Jogger City Mini GT
The Pros: The easy one-handed maneuverability and narrow design makes it easy to enter and exit doorways (it's also especially easy to open a door and push the stroller through without getting help from strangers). And while we didn't use it this way, I liked how you can add an infant car seat adaptor and just snap in the car seat. The hand brake, near the handle, makes locking the stroller a breeze and the ability to lower and raise the backrest to any position means naps on-the-go are super convenient. Not to mention, for anyone looking for a space-saving option, this stroller folds flat in seconds with just a pull of a strap. Seriously, the easiest fold EVER.
The Cons: A little heavier than I would have liked. Folding it up was a breeze (and an amazing space saver) but lifting it up to put in the trunk took some effort and would be an issue if I had any sort of staircase to deal with at my house or lived in a walk-up apartment.
The Bottom Line: This is a workhorse of a stroller and the one-hand fold is definitely rave-worthy. Perfect for the city mom who wants a full-featured stroller with a smaller footprint.
To buy: City Mini GT, $350
SINGLE: Bumbleride Indie 4
The Pros: Seriously the smoothest ride I’ve ever witnessed in a stroller—and as a mom of four, I have used a lot of strollers. I have two professional jogging strollers, a double stroller and some travel strollers, so it was kind of shocking how smooth it could be. We live on a dirt road too, so there are lots of bumps along the way. It’s also incredibly easy to navigate in stores.The stroller itself is pretty lightweight which was nice. I love the one-handed folding capabilities and it fit in my trunk, which is pretty small (I have a Traverse). It was really easy to figure out how to use it and I’m not the greatest at those sorts of things.
I really, really loved the easy one-pedal brake on this thing. It’s such a small thing, but we use our stroller a lot and I have an unhealthy fear about a stroller rolling away, so I loved being able to quickly lock the brake and SEE that it would stay.
The stroller base fits a Graco car seat, so if you already have a newborn carrier, it’s nice to not have to buy the matching one if you only want a new stroller.
The Cons: It was really complicated. I mean, honestly, there are so many bars and pieces to this stroller and to put the bassinette piece on and off was such a pain. I even let my friend borrow the stroller when she had a baby after me and we forgot about half of the pieces in my garage because there were so many! Personally, I prefer simpler functionality, but that could be different for you.
The Bottom Line: Overall, if you are really into the aesthetics of this stroller, it's a stylish stroller with a lot of features, but comes at a high price.
To buy: Bumbleride Indie 4 (w bassinet), $600; without bassinet, $530
LUXURY: Stokke Trailz
The Pros: The seat allows your baby to be closer to you which is a great feature and everything is adjustable so you can customize it to fit you and your baby's needs. Air-filled tires meant a super smooth ride while the two cup holders is a bonus, especially for those who take their coffee on-the-go. The basket is huge and could easily hold groceries or multiple diaper bags.
The Cons: It's pretty heavy once folded, and well, the price is high.
The Bottom Line: This luxury all-terrain stroller can easily be pushed on various surfaces, so if you're an adventurous family with a rather large stroller budget, the Trailz is one to consider.
To buy: Stokke Trailz, $1,300
LUXURY: Bugaboo Bee3
The Pros: This is one compact stroller — it's the lightest and has a small footprint compared to our other full-sized stroller — so it's super easy to navigate in stores and city sidewalks. The ride is very smooth and it drives like a dream. It's very sleek and stylish (comes with tons of color options) and the unique 5-point harness makes it easier to take Baby in and out. (No more shoving their arms under the straps if they're fighting it!) It's super easy to fold and can be folded with the seat facing either direction. It can even be unfolded one-handed! When folded, it's pretty small and easily fits in the trunk of our Prius.
The Cons: Because it's so customizable, it took longer to put together than other strollers we've had, but that's a one-time thing. The basket isn't huge, and can't be accessed from the back—so no hauling groceries home in this. I do wish for the price it came with a snack tray or cup holder for the parents. Because, coffee. There's also a bassinet option but it'll cost you extra.
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for the lightness and easy maneuverability of an umbrella stroller but want something a step up, with more features and comfortable seating, this is a good bet if you're willing to pay the luxury price tag.
To buy: Bugaboo Bee3, $719
LUXURY: Nuna IVVI
The Pros: As a first-time mom I was really impressed with this new brand of stroller! And can I just rave about the Dream Drape? No more loose blankets to cover Baby when she falls asleep! The IVVI folds easily and there's even a handle in the basket to help pick it up to load it in the trunk. It goes up curbs easily and pushes smoothly. We have a matching Nuna infant car seat and it clicks in easily and Baby stays asleep for the stroll (score!) The generously sized basket is a must-have.
The Cons: Unlike many of the other full-featured strollers, the IVVI doesn't yet have the option to expand to accommodate a second child, which is surprising considering the hefty price tag. When you fold up the stroller, the handlebar hits some part on the wheel which leaves dents on the fabric covering the handlebar.
The Bottom Line: This is definitely a new contender in the luxury stroller market and one to consider if that's your price point. It's sleek-looking, pushes like a dream and has ample storage.
To buy: Nuna IVVI, $800
SINGLE TO DOUBLE: Uppababy Vista
The Pros: Smooth ride and a giant basket — the biggest we've seen. We love how the seat is reversible so Baby can face you or out, and the sun canopy is amazing! The recline is awesome for naps. We loved the idea of the stroller growing with us so that you can add a second seat on later. It also comes with the bassinet included (and a pretty nice one at that, which could be used around the house) — something we haven't seen with other strollers. It fits comfortably in the trunk of a mid-size sedan. I also love how easy it is to adjust the height of the handlebar for my husband (tall) and I (short). And with the addition of the PiggyBack standing board it can even accommodate a third child (or a toddler that no longer wants to sit!).
The Cons: Folding it is somewhat cumbersome, although not difficult once you get used to it. It's definitely on the heavier side to pick up and lift into a stroller, and if you're using the extra seat, you'll have to remove that first.
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a quality and versatile stroller that can grow with your family (there's even a ride-along board you can purchase), it's hard to beat.
To buy: UppaBaby Vista, $860
SINGLE TO DOUBLE: Baby Jogger City Select Double
The Pros: We love the multiple configuration options there are for the two seats and how easy it is to remove and adjust the second seat (which is just like the first seat — full size canopy and recline). It drives really smoothly, especially for having a second seat on it, and the basket is large and easily accessible, thanks to some smart zippers. There's even extra storage on the back of each seat! Wish we had gotten this from the start when we just had the first one, so we could take advantage of the bassinet option (sold separately.) The adjustable handlebar is a must-have for parents of varying heights.
The Cons: While the concept of folding it seems easier than most (you just lift these two things on the side), in practice it doesn't function smoothly and often takes me multiple tries to do it successfully. And it is heavy to lift into the trunk, although that's the case with the other full-size stroller we have.
The Bottom Line: This is an awesome stroller for the family that knows it's going to expand. So use it as a single and expand to a double easily!
To buy: City Select (w/ Double Seat), $600
SINGLE TO DOUBLE: phil&teds DOT
The Pros: My husband and I really like the handling the DOT. The three-wheel design is smooth, and the stroller takes bumps, sidewalk cracks and rough terrain like a pro. For city living, it's definitely a nice ride for our 2-year-old. It's very easy to place our son into the stroller—no bulky front piece to unlock or open. The brake is also really easy to use. There's only one lever (instead of two), which is both wide and sturdy, and it's easy to push down with one foot. We also like how the stroller handle folds down and how the DOT automatically locks when it collapses. That way, when you pull it out of the car, it doesn't unfold on you unexpectedly.
The Cons:
While I appreciate that the safety bar in front of the seat is minimal and streamlined, I wish it had at least one compartment to place either a drink or a snack for my son. On a similar note, I wish there were an included cupholder for me and a small compartment to store keys or wipes. The DOT is designed to accommodate a second seat behind and below the main part of the stroller, but since we don't need that part, we're left with a basket that's not too roomy. If we want to walk to the store, there's not a lot of space to place bags — even a large diaper bag.
The Bottom Line: A versatile stroller that can grow with your family, especially if you don't want to break the bank with a super-fancy double stroller later. Also makes a lot of sense if you have kids that are not too close in age where the older child may only want to sit in a stroller on occasion.
To buy: phil&teds DOT, $400
DOUBLE: Bumbleride Indie Twin
The Pros: The kids LOVED being next to each other and being able to see out together. We loved the modern color combos of the fabric choices and it was a crazy-smooth ride, especially considering how wide it is. The basket below is generous and easy to access, which is a must for us. It came with the bumper bars included which was nice. The canopy was more than generous enough to shield both faces from the sun and the recline options were versatile.
The Cons: Like I imagine most side-by-side double strollers are, this thing is a bit of a pain to fold up and lift into my trunk by myself because it's wide and heavy. I also wish it were easier to recline the seats, like just pulling a latch and pulling back instead of having to fiddle with adjusting the straps.
The Bottom Line: If you have two kids or twins and are set on a side-by-side double, the Indie Twin will not disappoint.
To buy: Bumbleride Indie Twin, $730
DOUBLE: Mountain Buggy Duet
The Pros: Very sturdy construction. Even though this isn't considered a jogging stroller, I think it could definitely handle it. It was a really smooth ride, and easy to maneuver and less wide than other side-by-side double strollers. In fact, at 25" wide, it's supposedly the same width as a single stroller! It's very attractive.
The Cons: It's not the easiest to fold, you have to turn the wheels in to make it fold nicely. The seats are on the small side so it may not last years into toddlerhood (i.e., my average-sized 2.5- and 4-year olds didn't fit.) The tires need to be calibrated to the correct tire pressure which may be more step you don't want to take.
The Bottom Line: If you have your heart set on a side-by-side double and curb space is a serious issue, this is the narrowest side-by-side double on the market right now.
To buy: Mountain Buggy Duet, $600
UMBRELLA: Maclaren Quest
The Pros: Definitely a workhorse of a stroller, the Quest folds easily and fits in the back of our Mazda 5, even with the third row up! It's super lightweight and a great height — my husband didn’t complain that he had to hunch over to push the stroller. And he complained a lot about our other cheaper umbrella stroller. It fits both my 3-year-old or the baby comfortably. The two baskets for storage are invaluable and handles sidewalk bumps better than most umbrella strollers. It’s not an all-terrain, but definitely easy to maneuver over grass and bumpy sidewalks than other umbrella strollers.
The Cons: There are no cup holders included, although you can buy them separately. The buckle is ridiculously tricky for us to unsnap. The umbrella canopy is a little low, so that's something to consider if you have a really tall child.
The Bottom Line: A versatile and lightweight umbrella stroller with more bells and whistles than the very basic versions. A great everyday stroller!
To buy: Maclaren Quest, $290
UMBRELLA: Britax B-Agile
The Pros: My husband remarked that it was the easiest piece of baby gear he ever assembled! That's a plus in our books. The ease of use of the stroller is fantastic. It's super easy to fold up and unfold. It's a seamless transition. Adjusting the stroller to be more upright or recline is also super easy with the pull tabs in the back. The strap clips seem very secure. I don't even think my 5-year-old could unsnap Baby out of there!
I also really love the shade as it has two configurations for maximum protection from the sun. The Quest handles very well on all surfaces, including trumping through wood chips on the playground.
Finally, the storage! On the back is a removable (via zipper) big pouch to store things. It's very sturdy and I can see even putting diapers and wipes along with easy-access snacks. Plus there is ample storage underneath the stroller, which I'm not used to in a lightweight stroller.
The Cons: There's really nothing I don't like about the stroller.
The Bottom Line: This is not your run-of-the-mill umbrella stroller. While it may cost more than some of its counterparts, the extra features, upgraded comfortability and ample storage make it well worth the purchase.
To buy: Britax B-Agile, $200
