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 for dexterity in folding, reclining, maneuverability and day-to-day use. However, only four of the tested strollers can be considered lightweight umbrella strollers. Though both publications are up to date, Baby Bargains covers the majority of strollers on the market, while Consumer Reports only reviews four mainstream umbrella strollers.

Other stroller review magazines and websites fall short of these two. Last year, 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 2007 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.

The vast majority of parents say that a cheap umbrella stroller, like the Kolcraft Jeep Wrangler Umbrella Stroller (*est. $35) , is indispensable, and many moms and dads say they quickly abandoned their more expensive strollers for practically disposable cheapies like the Kolcraft. This type of umbrella stroller is great, say owners, because you don't have to worry about taking good care of it.

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 a challenger, the Zooper Twist, which folds top to bottom instead of along a vertical axis. The Peg-Perego P3 has umbrella-style handles, but at 16 pounds, it's not really very lightweight. This stroller is covered in our report on full-featured strollers .