Best Umbrella Strollers

Maclaren, Chicco and UppaBaby lead reviews

Despite a massive safety recall in late 2009, Maclaren umbrella strollers once again receive the best reviews among lightweight strollers by a pretty wide margin. Most Maclaren strollers share the same basic design, with more features at each step up in price. All Maclaren strollers get excellent reviews for maneuverability and style -- many parents say they're well worth the extra money over low-cost umbrella strollers such as the Chicco Ct0.6 (*Est. $75) or Kolcraft Tour Sport (*Est. $50). In November 2009, Maclaren recalled all of its strollers sold in the U.S. since 1999 -- more than a million strollers -- after reports that 12 children had their fingers amputated in Maclaren hinges. Still, respected testing organizations have not yanked their recommendations of Maclaren strollers, which now include protective hinge covers in the U.S. For details about the recall and its aftermath, see the Introduction to this report.

Of all the Maclaren umbrella strollers, experts say the Maclaren Triumph (*Est. $170) includes all of the features most parents will need. It's a lightweight 11.5 pounds, folds one-handed, can recline enough for babies as young as 3 months and includes a sun canopy, basket, carry strap and rain cover. "The Maclaren Triumph is just shy of being the perfect lightweight stroller, as you can't put a newborn in it," says Baby-Gaga.com, where the Triumph gets the highest scores of any umbrella stroller for both parent rating and durability. We did find some complaints from parents who say the Triumph (and Maclaren strollers in general lately) aren't as durable as they'd hoped, but Maclaren now offers a limited lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship -- "lifetime" being the time that the original purchaser uses it for his or her children. Hand-me-downs, second buyers, accidents and wear and tear are not covered.

For buyers with different needs and wants, Maclaren offers a slew of other umbrella strollers. The entry-level Maclaren Volo (*Est. $125) weighs 8.8 pounds and includes a canopy, basket, sun shade and carry strap. The seat material is removable and washable, made of a polyester mesh rather than fabric. The Volo does not have a reclining seat, which makes it best for older kids (older than 6 months) who don't need to recline in their strollers as often. One review didn't find the Volo to be as sturdy and stable as other Maclaren strollers, however.

The 12.2-pound Maclaren Quest (*Est. $225) is nearly identical to the Maclaren Triumph. For the extra money, you get some reflective accents, a viewing window in the canopy and an extendable leg rest. The Quest does look snazzy, and it comes in two versions -- the Sport and the Mod -- which differ only in aesthetics. The 15-pound Maclaren Techno XT (*Est. $305) is the only Maclaren stroller that reclines fully for newborns, and also adds extendable handles -- helpful for accommodating parents of differing heights. The Techno XT also has a small sun visor and suspension for the wheels. The Maclaren Techno XLR (*Est. $360) weighs 16.5 pounds and has all the features of the Maclaren Techno XT, but the XLR has a higher 65-pound child weight limit. Other Maclaren strollers are rated for kids up to 55 pounds.

For Maclaren style and features at a lower price, experts and users point to the Chicco Liteway (*Est. $125). Like the Maclaren Techno XT -- which costs more than twice as much -- the Chicco Liteway reclines fully to accommodate a newborn, although its weight limit is lower (40 pounds). The Liteway also comes loaded with features for its price, reviews say: You'll get rear-wheel suspension, a padded five-point harness, an adjustable canopy with peek-a-boo window, a hide-away baby bunting, a cupholder for you and a storage basket that converts to a backpack for parents. Parent reviewers especially appreciate that they can fold the Liteway one-handed and it locks closed automatically.

The Liteway weighs 17 pounds, which is slightly more than the comparable Maclaren Techno XT, and it lacks the Maclaren's extendable handles. Some tall parents do find the Liteway too short to push comfortably, but others disagree and say it's good for tall people. One expert review source says Chicco's durability is inconsistent, and we did find some user complaints that the wheels wear out or don't roll smoothly after several months. But overall, the Chicco Liteway gets high marks from parents (it's a favorite of users posting at Diapers.com) and experts. Parenting.com names the Chicco Liteway one of the nine best strollers on the market. Another reliable testing organization gives the Liteway a good safety rating and finds it very easy to use and maneuverable -- a conclusion backed up by most of the parents who write reviews of this popular stroller.

If you want the lightest possible stroller, reviews recommend UppaBaby, which makes both the G-Lite (*Est. $100) and the G-Luxe (*Est. $160). The G-Lite gets reviewers' attention for its ultra-light 8.3-pound weight, breathable mesh seat and washable seat pad. Like the similarly-priced Maclaren Volo, the G-Lite doesn't recline, meaning it's best for babies 6 months and older. Unlike the Volo, which is rated for toddlers weighing up to 55 pounds, the G-Lite maxes out at 40 pounds.

The 11-pound UppaBaby G-Luxe has the same 40-pound upper weight limit, but it reclines to 120 degrees, which is enough to accommodate a 3-month-old. The G-Luxe also adds a parent cupholder and bigger wheels that can swivel-lock in front. Both strollers have extra-tall handles and elevated rear frames to keep caregivers from stubbing their toes as they walk. Although a few parents at Amazon.com complain that they accidentally kick the rear-wheel brakes as they walk, the majority of the two dozen or so reviewers love the UppaBaby G-Lite, giving it 4 or 5 stars out of 5. Parents especially appreciate that the G-Lite stands on its own when folded (so the stroller doesn't lie on the ground and get dirty or create clutter in the closet at home). Some report that when parts on their G-Lite have broken, UppaBaby has promptly sent replacement parts or even an entirely new stroller for free.

One of our top review sources recommends both Maclaren and UppaBaby as the two best stroller brands that offer umbrella strollers, specifically recommending the G-Lite as one of the top lightweight strollers you can buy. In another major independent test, the UppaBaby G-Lite and G-Luxe and the Maclaren Volo all prove very easy to use and extremely maneuverable -- but the UppaBaby strollers get higher marks for safety and stability (and no hinge recall), and the G-Lite emerges as the very best umbrella stroller. Babble.com's Nicole Feliciano also picks the UppaBaby G-Lite as the best lightweight stroller overall after testing 24 strollers, and Parenting.com names it one of the nine best strollers you can buy.

Runner-up umbrella strollers from midpriced and luxury brands

The very lightweight Inglesina Swift (*Est. $120) is a top pick at both About.com and Baby-Gaga.com, where it gets high marks for safety, convenience, comfort and durability. The Swift packs a good-sized storage basket, padded reclining seat, sunshade and five-point harness into its 12-pound frame. It holds children from 6 months up to 45 pounds. The Inglesina Swift is a little heavier than the UppaBaby strollers and costs a little more than the UppaBaby G-Lite, but it still "manages to be both a true upper-class stroller and a remarkably painless investment," Baby-Gaga.com says. Inglesina does offer some pricier umbrella strollers with more features -- the Inglesina Trip (*Est. $120) and Inglesina Zippy (*Est. $355) -- but our sources don't recommend these as often as the Swift. The Inglesina brand as a whole gets good marks from one of our top review sources, but we didn't find many expert or user reviews for Inglesina strollers overall.

Britax, a company best known for its car seats, has launched a line of strollers -- including the Britax Blink (*Est. $150) umbrella stroller. It's already a favorite at BobbysBest.com and StrollerQueen.com, where reviewers like its Maclaren-like design and included carrying bag. However, like the Maclaren strollers, the Blink has been recalled due to the danger that children's fingers could be amputated in the hinges (although no injuries have been reported, and Britax now provides hinge covers). The Blink gets mostly good user reviews, but some parents posting at Amazon.com report that their Blink's closing mechanism warped or broke, and some find the seat too narrow. The Blink weighs 16 pounds and can hold up to 55 pounds. It is recommended for children ages 6 months and older.

Graco offers two umbrella strollers that get decent reviews: the Graco Ipo (*Est. $100) and Graco Mosaic (*Est. $135). Both come with plenty of features for the price -- a canopy with peek-a-boo window, five-point harness (which can be used as a three-point harness if desired), bottom storage basket, multi-recline seat and front-wheel swivel lock. The Mosaic accommodates all Graco car seats and adds a cupholder for the grownup and an armrest for the baby, but it's also heavier than the Ipo -- 19 pounds versus 17 pounds -- and reviews point out that both of these strollers are pretty heavy for an umbrella model. Still, if you want to use it with a car seat, the Mosaic is a lot lighter and nimbler than a behemoth travel system stroller, says Heather Corley, About.com's guide to baby products.

Babble.com tester Nicole Feliciano picks the lighter Graco Ipo as the best lightweight stroller under $100. Both the Ipo and Mosaic prove exceptionally safe and maneuverable and very easy to use in tests by a respected consumer organization. Both average 4 stars (out of 5) in user reviews at Amazon.com, although we did find scattered complaints that the fabric gets dirty or the stroller doesn't seem sturdy (a problem with Graco strollers in general, according to one major testing source). Also, several users complain that the seat recline won't stay put or makes their baby slump, but others say there's a strap in the back that solves this problem. The Ipo holds children up to 50 pounds, and the Mosaic up to 40 pounds.

Some companies better known for trendy luxury strollers offer umbrella models as well. Quinny, a U.K. company that also makes the high-priced Quinny Buzz (*Est. $500) has a lightweight stroller called the Quinny Zapp (*Est. $220). Other than the brand, though, the two models don't have much in common. The Zapp has standard stroller wheels instead of the Buzz's pneumatic tires, and it lacks the Buzz's shocks as well. It also has minimal storage and no recline. At 12.5 pounds, though, the Quinny Zapp is fairly light, and parents say it's easy to maneuver with one hand. At one major consumer testing organization, both the Quinny Zapp and the also-pricey Joovy Kooper (*Est. $185) pass safety tests and prove easy to use, but not as excellent as several less expensive models, including the UppaBaby strollers. The Kooper does get outstanding reviews from users at Buzzillions.com and Amazon.com, particularly from parents of heavier children (the Kooper can hold up to 55 pounds). Parents also love the Kooper's full-coverage canopy and sturdy feel, but at nearly 18 pounds it's heavier than many other umbrella strollers.

Peg-Perego, better known for its luxury strollers, now offers an umbrella model. The 13-pound Peg-Perego Si (*Est. $240) gets kudos from professional reviewers, including veteran stroller-reviewer Janet McLaughlin, who runs StrollerQueen.com. The Peg-Perego Si also gets good owner feedback at Amazon.com. For a lightweight umbrella stroller, the Si comes with a good set of features including height-adjustable handles, one-hand fold, large basket and three-position recline (but not a totally flat recline). There's a central handle to aid in folding, plus a carrying handle on the side. For an umbrella stroller, it has good weather protection: an adjustable hood with sun visor, a rain hood and a mesh window for ventilation.

The Micralite Fastfold (*Est. $320) gets a couple of recommendations from reliable sources, including Babble.com's Feliciano, who says its "huge pneumatic tires" and adjustable handles make the 15-pound Fastfold "a sublime stroll." You can get a newborn bassinet to use with the Fastfold or you can get an adapter (*Est. $40) to make it compatible with the Maxi-Cosi car seat; the price is $580 for all three pieces. The Fastfold can hold up to 40 pounds. However, one expert review source points out several flaws with this costly stroller, including its meager canopy and storage basket and wide front wheels that make it hard to maneuver.

Bugaboo, the company that caused a stir with their trendy full-sized Bugaboo Frog, now has a lightweight stroller as well -- the Bugaboo Bee (*Est. $650), which we cover along with the Frog in our companion report on full-featured strollers. It weighs 17 pounds and folds up in one piece (the Frog folds up in two). Parents like the Bee's four-position recline and say it's easy to maneuver indoors and on pavement. The obvious downside is the high price, and in 2009 the Bee was subject to a manufacturer's recall.