Umbrella Strollers: Reviews

Updated October 2010

Anyway you fold it, umbrella strollers are light, compact and easy to lug around. And the array of choices are dizzying -- more so than the teacups at Disneyland. After careful analyses of expert and user reviews, the editors at ConsumerSearch have decided that the four umbrella strollers listed below are as sweet as cotton candy. If you want to discover more strollers, scroll to the bottom of the page to search through more than 200 reviews of all types of stroller models.

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Best lightweight umbrella stroller

UppaBaby G-Lite

*Est. $100 Compare Prices

The UppaBaby G-Lite is not only the lightest full-size umbrella stroller you can buy (8.3 pounds), but reviews say it's also one of the most stylish and comfortable. The G-Lite impresses both experts and parents with its… expandbreathable mesh seat, washable seat cushion and ability to stand on its own when folded. Its ergonomic design proves comfortable even for tall parents, and owners also praise UppaBaby's excellent customer service. The UppaBaby G-Lite has a 40-pound weight limit, and since the seat doesn't recline at all, it's not a good choice for babies younger than about 6 months. The UppaBaby G-Luxe (*Est. $160) reclines to accommodate babies as young as 3 months and adds some more features and heft, as do the Maclaren Triumph (*Est. $170) and much heavier (but fully reclining) Chicco Liteway (*Est. $125). collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Baby Bargains: This baby-gear book includes a lengthy section on strollers where editors highlight the choices for each brand, including newcomer UppaBaby.

ConsumerReports.org: The editors of ConsumerReports.org evaluate the UppaBaby G-Lite alongside about 16 other umbrella strollers; dozens of strollers of other types are rated in adjacent charts, making it easy to compare the UppaBaby with many of its competitors.

Babble.com: After testing 24 strollers with a 16-month-old baby, Babble.com's Nicole Feliciano names the UppaBaby G-Lite the best lightweight stroller overall.

Parenting.com: Here's another vote for UppaBaby G-Lite, with praise for its light weight, standing fold and cool mesh seat with removable cushion.

Amazon.com: The UppaBaby G-Lite averages 4 stars out of 5, with about two dozen user reviews posted here.

Buzzillions.com: Buzzillions.com gathers reviews from other websites, organizing them logically in one place.

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Buy from Amazon for $129.00
BabyEarth for $129.99	Healthcheck Systems for $129.00	JustKidsSto- re.com for $129.99

Best upscale umbrella stroller

Maclaren Triumph

*Est. $170 Compare Prices

You could pay more for a luxury umbrella stroller -- we cover a few in this report that cost more than $300, including some Maclaren models -- but experts say the 11.5-pound Maclaren Triumph includes all of the features… expandmost parents will want, including a washable seat, sun canopy, basket, carry strap, rain cover and reclining seat suitable for babies as young as 3 months. Recently, Maclaren recalled all of its strollers sold between 1999 and 2009 -- more than a million strollers -- after 12 children reportedly had their fingers amputated in the hinges. Maclaren now includes protective hinge covers with its new strollers (you can also get them if you own an existing Maclaren stroller), and parents and top experts continue to recommend Maclaren. If you need to use your umbrella stroller for a newborn, reviews recommend the Chicco Liteway (*Est. $125) instead. If you're looking for something lighter, try the 8.3-pound UppaBaby G-Lite (*Est. $100). collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests dozens of strollers, including the Maclaren Triumph, for safety, ease of use and maneuverability.

Consumer Product Safety Commission: This government website publishes official information about the Maclaren hinge recall, including which models are affected and how to get protective hinge covers if you already own a Maclaren stroller.

Baby Bargains: "Baby Bargains" has excellent coverage of baby strollers with brand ratings based on product research, performance history and parent feedback.

Baby-Gaga.com: Baby-Gaga.com has a good selection of stroller reviews, including more than a dozen on single umbrella strollers.

Amazon.com: Amazon.com is generally a good place to go for baby-gear reviews, but you'll have to hunt for stroller reviews.

Epinions.com: Epinions.com has some well-balanced user reviews of the Maclaren Triumph.

About.com: Robin Elise Weiss, About.com's guide to pregnancy and childbirth, includes reviews of a number of baby products on her popular site.

ReviewCentre.com: ReviewCentre.com is a British site that allows contributors to post reviews of products they've had experience with.

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Buy from Amazon for $180.00
Albee Baby for $185.00	Diapers.com for $184.99	BabyEarth for $185.00

Best umbrella stroller for newborns

Chicco Liteway

*Est. $125 Compare Prices

The Chicco Liteway does something few umbrella strollers can: It reclines fully, so that newborns (who need to lie flat) can use it. Reviews say the Liteway is also stylish and loaded with features, including an… expandadjustable canopy with viewing window, padded five-point harness, rear-wheel suspension, cupholder, a hideaway baby bunting for infants and a small storage basket that converts to a parent backpack. Like more expensive strollers, the Liteway can be folded with one hand, and it locks closed automatically. We did find some warnings from experts and owners about the Chicco stroller's durability; furthermore, the 17-pound Liteway stroller weighs significantly more than any of the other Best Reviewed strollers. If you're buying an umbrella stroller for a baby older than 6 months, the 8.3-pound UppaBaby G-Lite (*Est. $100) costs less and gets better reviews for durability. The Maclaren Triumph (*Est. $170) costs more, but it can accommodate children from 3 months to 55 pounds (the Liteway and G-Lite max out at 40 pounds). collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Baby Bargains: The Chicco Liteway had just hit the market when the latest edition of this baby gear book was published, and we didn't find an updated review on the book's website.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests the Chicco Liteway alongside dozens of other strollers in this recent review.

Which? magazine: Which? magazine -- the U.K. equivalent of ConsumerReports.org -- names 41 best buys after testing 135 strollers (including the Chicco Liteway) for ease of use, ease of car seat attachment, capability on rough terrain and general handling.

Choice magazine: Choice magazine is ConsumerReports.org's equivalent in Australia.

Buzzillions.com: The Chicco Liteway is one of the best-liked strollers in user reviews here, maintaining an average rating of 4.4 stars (out of 5) with nearly 200 reviews posted.

Parenting.com: Margaret Williams praises the Chicco Liteway's smooth ride, easy folding, fully reclining seat and more, naming it one of the nine best strollers you can buy.

Diapers.com: The Chicco Liteway is one of the top-rated umbrella strollers at this retail website, with an average of 4.5 stars (out of 5) in about 30 reviews posted by customers.

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Buy from Amazon for $129.99
Diapers.com for $129.99	Target for $139.99

Budget umbrella stroller

Kolcraft Tour Sport

*Est. $50 Compare Prices

Experts say the Kolcraft Tour Sport probably won't prove as durable as strollers costing twice as much, but parents and professional reviewers don't hesitate to recommend it as an excellent value. The Tour Sport weighs 11… expandpounds -- not much more than the featherweight UppaBaby G-Lite (*Est. $100) -- and it includes a padded, reclining seat, cupholder and adjustable sun canopy. Parents say it's tall enough to push comfortably, plus it steers smoothly and folds up compactly. But it has a few drawbacks -- namely, its three-point lap harness (pricier strollers use a more secure five-point harness), dinky storage space and low weight limit (35 pounds) compared with more expensive umbrella strollers like the UppaBaby. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Baby Bargains: "Baby Bargains" includes a good overview of Kolcraft strollers, including the brand's inexpensive umbrella models.

About.com: Sturdy and rich in features for its price, the Kolcraft Tour Sport makes this list of the best lightweight strollers.

Buzzillions.com: Small storage space is the only real downside to the Kolcraft Tour Sport, according to user reviews consolidated here from retail sites such as Strollers.com and CSN Baby.

Amazon.com: With 13 customer reviews posted, the Kolcraft Tour Sport stroller maintains an average 4.5-star rating out of 5.

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