Best Umbrella Strollers

Most durable umbrella strollers

Maclaren umbrella strollers easily 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 like the Chicco C6 (*Est. $70) or Evenflo XSport (*Est. $50). The entry-level Maclaren Volo (*Est. $130) 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.

Parents rave about the Volo, saying it offers the perfect balance of light weight, durability (thanks to its brushed-aluminum frame) and easy folding. Drawbacks are a small under-seat storage basket and thin padding, which makes this stroller uncomfortable for children when used for long walks. The Maclaren Volo umbrella stroller does not have a reclining seat, which makes it best for older kids (over 6 months) who don't need to recline in their strollers as often. We also found excellent reviews of the similar Maclaren Triumph umbrella stroller (*Est. $190), which adds a reclining seat (but no full recline). This makes the Maclaren Triumph appropriate for younger babies (older than 3 months), and parents say it's nice to have the option to recline the seat. A rain cover is also included, but at 11.5 pounds, the Maclaren Triumph weighs more than the 8.8-pound Volo umbrella stroller.

As you go up the price scale, though, Maclaren strollers don't look like such a great value. The 12.2-pound Maclaren Quest, for example, 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 (*Est. $245) and the Mod (*Est. $245) -- which differ only in aesthetics. The 15-pound Maclaren Techno XT (*Est. $300) 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. $340) 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.

To summarize, reviewers say Maclaren's super-stylish, high-quality umbrella strollers are durable, functional and well worth a look for urban parents who use strollers as their primary vehicles. Parents commend Maclaren strollers for maneuverability, and some say they've tried other strollers and keep coming back to Maclaren.

The big news in umbrella strollers is newcomer UppaBaby, which makes both the G-Lite (*Est. $130) 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, meaning your child may outgrow it before outgrowing the need for a stroller.

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. Both strollers have extra-tall ergonomic handles and elevated rear frames to keep caregivers from stubbing their toes as they walk. A handful of owners have commented that these features make pushing UppaBaby's umbrella strollers more comfortable for taller parents. While reviewer feedback is promising, UppaBaby hasn't yet gained enough momentum to nudge Maclaren's umbrella strollers out of top spot.

Some companies better known for trendy luxury strollers offer umbrella models as well. Quinny, a U.K. company which also makes the high-priced Quinny Buzz (*Est. $550) and Buzz 4 (*Est. $630), has a lightweight stroller called the Quinny Zapp (*Est. $200). 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.

Peg-Perego, better known for its luxury strollers, is getting some attention for its new umbrella model. The 13-pound Peg-Perego Si (*Est. $250) gets kudos from professional reviewers, including veteran stroller-reviewer Janet McLaughlin, who runs StrollerQueen.com. The Peg-Perego Si also gets some good early owner feedback on 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.

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. $530), 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 earlier this year the Bee was subject to a manufacturer's recall.