Best Mainstream Strollers

Best full-featured strollers overall

Although reviewers seem to have a great time evaluating pricy designer strollers, most agree that there are some very nice, practical and stylish strollers out there that cost far less.

Inglesina, an Italian company, has impressed reviewers with the Zippy (*Est. $350), a midweight stroller with city-dwellers in mind. Experts say the Zippy has all the essentials -- a full recline for infants, an adjustable backrest, removable and washable padding, a universal car-seat adapter and a rain hood that completely encloses the stroller -- without succumbing to feature bloat. New for the 2009 version of the Inglesina Zippy are height-adjustable handles, rear-wheel suspension and one-hand steering. But the feature that elicits the most comments from pleased parents at Amazon.com, as well as at other opinion sites, is the one-hand fold. (The Zippy has umbrella-style handles, but it doesn't fold like an umbrella.) While many manufacturers claim their strollers can be folded with only one hand, the Zippy actually delivers, according to both testers and users. Flip a lever on the back, and the Zippy folds compactly. And it can be easily carried using the integrated handle. For parents who'll spend a lot of time in and out of the car, the Zippy stroller's great folding mechanism might be a deal maker.

Peg Perego pioneered the high-end stroller market a few years ago. Reviews say Peg Perego strollers are built better than many other strollers on the market. While Inglesina has refined the Zippy for this year's rollout, Peg Perego has left the similar Pliko P3 Classico (*Est. $365) largely unchanged. The Pliko is still the most popular Peg stroller, earning positive feedback from parents and experts. The Pliko, at just under 19 pounds, is similar in weight to the Zippy and has many of the same features, including umbrella styling, a five-point harness, a reclining seat, a large canopy with window, a swiveling child tray, a storage basket, a removable/washable seat cushion and car-seat compatibility. Parents posting to opinion sites like Amazon.com say that the Pliko folds up just as compactly as the Zippy; however, the Zippy gets more raves for its one-hand fold. The Pliko also has adjustable handles, a feature the Zippy now shares.

While it hasn't upgraded the original P3, Peg Perego has added a new model to the mix: the Pliko Switch (*Est. $500). Similar to the original P3, the Switch's fully reclining seat can be used forward- or rear-facing. Early user reviews are promising, although there are some complaints about the weight (23 pounds) and lack of maneuverability. Still, blogger and media darling Janet McLaughlin, better known as Stroller Queen, praises it as "the stroller I always wish I had." It will be interesting to see how owner feedback evolves as this stroller is put through its paces in everyday use.

Maclaren is a popular brand with urban parents, although this company is known more for its lightweight umbrella-type strollers. Several of Maclaren's strollers recline fully, making them appropriate for newborns. The full-size 14-pound Maclaren Techno XT (*Est. $280) receives excellent feedback in terms of sturdiness and weight, although some parents had issues with the braking and harness system. You'll find more discussion of Maclaren strollers in our report on umbrella strollers.

How much stroller can you get for less than $200?

If $300 is more than you plan to spend on a stroller, there are several less-expensive strollers that also do well in reviews. We found praise for Graco's most full-featured stroller, the Quattro Tour Sport (*Est. $170). This stroller can accept a SnugRide or SafeSeat car seat (not included), and the stroller's seat reclines to a flat position, making the Quattro Tour a good choice for newborns. Additional removable padding and a flip-up bassinet are also included for newborns. There's a large basket, a good-sized canopy with peek-a-boo window, and parent and child trays with cup holders. The drawback is weight: It weighs in at 26.5 pounds (before adding a baby).

The Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe (*Est. $150) is almost identical to the Quattro Tour Sport, but with a slightly bulkier frame. Both models get generally positive feedback from parents on Amazon.com, but one large professional review ranks the Deluxe version well behind the Sport for ease-of-use and maneuverability.

Another budget contender, the Chicco Cortina (*Est. $150), weighs a more-reasonable 22 pounds. The Cortina doesn't quite measure up to the Quattro Tour in professional reviews, but it does get a handful of good early ratings on Epinions.com and Amazon.com. The Cortina comes with one-hand fold, full recline, a height-adjustable handle and a large storage basket.

We also found good reviews for the Kolcraft Contours Options 4 Wheeler (*Est. $170). This model has a reversible seat that reclines fully in both directions, making it appropriate for both newborns and toddlers. Parents posting to Amazon.com are almost unanimously positive about the Contours Options 4 Wheeler. Owners say it's roomy and easy to operate, with a generous canopy and easy-to-access storage. It even gets some favorable comparisons to more expensive designer strollers. Experts at "Baby Bargains" say it's a pretty good knock-off of a Bugaboo stroller. At 29 pounds, the Kolcraft Contours Options stroller is heavier than just about every other single-occupancy stroller on the market.