Umbrella Strollers : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentWhich? magazine is the U.K. equivalent of ConsumerReports.org. Testing methods are explained thoroughly, and stroller features are also listed and detailed. In addition, they update their reviews regularly, re-test when there is an issue, such as an updated model or a fix for a recall, and post the dates of their tests. A total of 172 strollers are reviewed; a very large number of these (32 strollers) are deemed best buys. Because this is a U.K. website, some of the strollers aren't available in the U.S., but most of them are sold here as well.

Our AssessmentIf you're considering a specific stroller and want to see it in action first, BabyGizmo.com is a great site to visit. Founder Hollie Schultz tests dozens of strollers (mostly from trendy brands) with her three children, ages 1, 3 and 5. In her lengthy video reviews, she demonstrates how each stroller folds, adjusts, etc., and points out pros and cons. However, she doesn't pick any favorites.

Our AssessmentBabies "R" Us offers a decent number of user reviews for umbrella strollers. The reviews are similar to Amazon.com user reviews. Parents use a 5-star ranking system and a narrative section to review the actual stroller.

Our AssessmentThe Stroller Queen presents what she considers the most promising strollers for 2012. She also provides stroller news and highly descriptive reviews of strollers on her blog.

Our AssessmentMumsnet.com members are invited to rate strollers according to nine criteria. Results are averaged, and each stroller is given an overall rating along with a short editorial summary. The Maclaren Triumph, Maclaren Quest Sport and Maclaren Volo get a lot of coverage, but the Mamas and Papas Tour is also well reviewed.

Our AssessmentBabble.com tested 30 new strollers to create its list of Best Strollers in multiple categories; their best umbrella stroller is the Bumbleride Flite. They list the Mutsy Easyrider as one of three runners up. The Chicco Liteway is a runner up for "Best On a Budget" and the Mamas and Papas Tour wins best "Reader's Choice" while the Cybex Ruby and Peg Perego Si are runners up.

Our AssessmentLike Amazon.com, Peppy Parents is a consumer site that sells products and garners reviews from owners. They have a list of top strollers for 2012 that they have chosen through testing hundreds of strollers in all categories based upon quality, value, helpfulness, style and performance. The reviews are fairly detailed, but are more of an overview of the stroller features rather than a review of the actual experience of owning and using the strollers. There are also far fewer owner comments on this site than other, similar sites.

Our AssessmentHeather Corley, About.com's baby products guide, lists her favorite lightweight strollers. Most are umbrella strollers. There's no indication that Corley performed any testing. Instead, strollers are chosen for their features and weight. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Our AssessmentThis roundup of top strollers offers a nice clear intro that directs parents to focus on their own specific needs in choosing a stroller. The reviews themselves are short and cover key strengths with parental perspective gathered from user reviews and a list of features.

Our AssessmentA writer, frequent flyer and mother of two, Corinne McDermott explores topics related to family travel, including product reviews, travel tips and airline policies toward baby and child gear. She has only one stroller review on her site, of the UppaBaby G-Luxe, because, until recently she says, practically any stroller was suitable for airline travel. However, some airlines have recently changed their stroller policies and require them to weigh less than 20 pounds, leading her to explore a lightweight stroller option.

Our AssessmentThis article recommends strollers in three categories -- eco-friendly, budget and deal. Editors don't mention any testing, but they do describe the features they like about the strollers. They do say they removed a Maclaren stroller from the list after it was recalled.

Our AssessmentThis roundup of nine strollers offers brief reviews that note key features of the strollers and a brief overview of each pick. The review is not comparative, there is no mention of testing, and it does not include lower age/weight ratings, just upper weight ranges.

Our AssessmentThe Stroller Girl is a mother of nine (including triplets born in 2012) named Nikki. She's similar to the Stroller Queen in that she is obsessed with strollers and does reviews using one or more of her own children to illustrate fit to stroller and her own car for examples of fit to car. Her reviews are detailed and balanced, but not comparative. However, unlike the Stroller Queen, she sticks to the topic at hand -- strollers -- rather than going off on literary tangents about outings. She also follows up after using the stroller for a while. She'd be ranked more highly if she'd been around longer. She does not have any roundups of stroller picks, just individual reviews.

Our AssessmentAwards are based on feedback from independent judges and parents. We would rate this source higher if there were more transparency in the testing process. The Inglesina Trip is one of eight strollers to get an award and is the only umbrella-style stroller to receive an award. The reviews themselves are extremely brief.

Our AssessmentLike Amazon.com, Target.com makes it possible for consumers to rate products on a 5-point scale and write reviews. However, most strollers reviewed on Target's website receive only one or two reviews, so it's not as helpful as sites with more user reviews.