Umbrella Strollers Reviews

Although we found many magazines and websites that make stroller recommendations, two reviews share the top spot on our All Reviews chart as having the most credible, thorough tests. The excellent book Baby Bargains by Alan and Denise Fields relies on parent and manufacturer interviews, hands-on testing and manufacturers' history of build quality and recalls to assign product ratings to umbrella strollers and other lightweight strollers. Because of this comprehensive approach, Baby Bargains gets the top spot in our All Reviews chart. Consumer Reports magazine tests strollers, including several lightweight umbrella strollers, for ease of use, maneuverability, safety and durability. Both publications are reasonably up to date, but Baby Bargains covers nearly every brand available in the U.S., and generally goes into more detail about each brand's stroller lineup and performance history.

Other stroller review magazines and websites fall short of these two. In the past, we rated Baby-Gaga.com as one of the best sources. While the reviews there are excellent and detailed, the site hasn't been updated to cover any new 2008 strollers. We found some good user reviews at Amazon.com. However, one problem with Amazon.com, Target.com and other retail sites that solicit user reviews is that older reviews are lost when manufacturers introduce new fabrics. So while a stroller may structurally be identical, the models with new fabric colors must start amassing reviews from scratch.

Umbrella strollers are lighter and more compact than the models discussed in our companion report on full-featured strollers . Umbrella strollers usually offer spring-into-action open and fold, but they have far fewer convenience features (such as cup holders and larger baskets); they're less stable and durable than full-featured strollers, but also less expensive. Also, lightweight umbrella strollers don't usually recline fully, and thus aren't appropriate for newborns up to three months old, who need to lie completely flat. For slightly older babies, however, it's often easier to use a lightweight umbrella stroller, especially after packing a diaper bag, snacks and toys.

On the other end of the spectrum, we found reviews of higher-end umbrella strollers like the Maclaren Techno XT (*est. $280) , which is one of the few umbrella strollers with a fully reclining seat (so it's appropriate for newborns, who cannot yet support their heads and need to lie totally flat). Although we found good reviews of this 14.3-pound umbrella stroller, comments from parents are mixed, suggesting that the Techno XT (despite what Maclaren says) isn't that comfortable for newborns.

Although the Techno XT's seat does recline, some parents say it doesn't recline enough, and due to its minimalist design there isn't enough padding in the seat area for an infant. Other parents note that the rear storage basket is almost completely inaccessible when the seat is fully reclined. Parents of older babies seem much happier with the Maclaren Techno XT umbrella stroller, but if you don't need the full recline, the simpler Maclaren Volo (*est. $90) , Maclaren Triumph (*est. $175) and Maclaren Quest (*est. $225) are better values.

If, on the other hand, you're a parent of a newborn and need a fully reclining seat, you might consider some of the strollers in our report on full-featured strollers . For something a bit more feature-bearing than the Maclaren Techno XT, but still lightweight, consider the Zooper Waltz (*est. $300) . The Waltz weighs 17 pounds -- only 2.7 pounds more than the Maclaren Techno XT -- yet it has a plusher seat, a better basket and more accessories. The Waltz doesn't fold vertically like an umbrella stroller, but reviews still say it's compact and light.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

Maclaren lightweight strollers easily get the best reviews among umbrella strollers. The entry-level Maclaren Volo has a single-position seat, while the more expensive Maclaren Triumph has a two-position recline and rain cover. We did find some good reviews for the Chicco C5, but this umbrella stroller has been discontinued, and the replacement model, the Chicco C6, has received some mixed reviews.