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There is no such thing as a perfect stroller. The best stroller for you and your family will change depending on where you live, how many children you have (or plan on having), and details about your personality, like whether you’re into camping or the kind of parent who travels with a baby in tow.
People who live in apartments without access to a garage or another convenient place to store their stroller will do better with one that folds up small and can stand on its own when folded. Those who run or hike on a regular basis will be best served by a jogging stroller with three big rugged tires. And those who use their stroller like a packhorse will want to pay close attention to the size and weight capacity of the storage basket. Because of the wide variety of strollers available and the increasing popularity of compact city strollers, it’s common for families to own more than one. That usually breaks down to one full-size everyday stroller and one that’s built for travel or other adventures.
To help you pick the right stroller for you and your kid(s), I talked to ten parents of children ranging from newborn to 9 years old about the ones they have used and loved for years. I also tested seven of the ten strollers below with my 1-year-old son, pushing him over curbs, up grassy and muddy hills, through playgrounds, museums, restaurants, and shops, and even carrying him and the stroller up several flights of stairs.
Update on April 3, 2025: Reorganized the guide with categories that make clearer distinctions between stroller types; replaced the discontinued Uppababy Vista V2 with the newer Vista V3 as Best Full-Size Convertible Stroller; renamed the Joolz Aer+ the Best Lightweight Everyday Stroller and added a photo of it in situ; added the Bugaboo Butterfly as the Best Travel Stroller; updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for:
Type of stroller
There are six main types of strollers.
Full-size strollers: This type of stroller is what most people think of when they imagine a stroller. The best full-size strollers come equipped with a comfortable padded seat, large sun canopy, roomy storage basket, and sometimes even a reversible seat so that babies can sit either facing out or facing their parents or caregivers. They are designed to accommodate babies from a newborn in a bassinet attachment to a toddler in a reclinable seat.
Convertible strollers: Sometimes referred to as modular, these strollers go from single to double (or even triple, with the addition of a toddler ride-along board) and can be set up in a variety of ways for more than one child. Many allow you to use a combination of a car seat, a regular stroller seat, and a bassinet. They are especially popular and useful for growing families but come with added weight and bulk.
Travel strollers: Also known as lightweight, compact, or city strollers, these strollers are smaller and more minimal. This category of stroller is growing fast with brands adding features normally associated with full-size strollers, like cushy reclining seats, larger storage baskets, adjustable handlebars, car-seat compatibility, and matching bassinets or newborn attachments for parents who want the convenience of a compact stroller that is still comfortable enough to use every day. For city dwellers, this type of stroller is becoming more popular and is often used as a primary stroller from birth to 4 or 5 years of age.
Jogging strollers: These three-wheeled strollers have a special suspension system that creates a smooth ride on various terrains. They’re sturdy and safe for running with lockable front swivel wheels and hand brakes, but can be bulkier than other types of strollers. Though some parents will use them with an infant car seat while walking, they are not designed for jogging with children under 6 months of age, because the speed and jostling associated with jogging isn’t safe for babies until they have adequate neck and head strength.
Double strollers: Double strollers are designed to carry two kids who are relatively close in age either side-by-side or one in front of the other. They are handy for siblings or nanny shares, but are of course bigger than other types of strollers. There’s a fair amount of overlap between double strollers and other types of strollers. For example: double jogging strollers, lightweight double strollers, and double car-seat strollers.
Travel stroller systems: Travel systems include a stroller and a compatible infant car seat from the same brand. They are a convenient one-and-done pairing to add to a baby registry — no special car-seat adapters required. That said, it’s rare that one brand makes the very best stroller and the very best car seat for your family. So depending on your needs, the best option for you might be to mix and match.
Weight and dimensions
Because they offer more features and a smoother ride, full-size, convertible, and jogging strollers are often larger and heavier than other types of strollers. This makes them less ideal for apartment living, especially without elevator access or extra storage space. Conversely, strollers designed for travel or city living weigh less and take up less space, making them easier to carry and fit through narrow spaces. They are usually easier to fold (and some pack down to the size of a suitcase), so they’ll take up less space in your home, the trunk of a car, or the overhead bin of an airplane.
The lightest strollers on the market weigh around 13 pounds, which is approximately the weight of a medium bowling ball or a bag of cat litter. And the heaviest strollers weigh up to 28 pounds, which is about the same as a cinder block or a small air conditioner. You may also want to consider the width of your stroller, because that will affect its turning radius. Three-wheeled strollers are typically wider and can be more difficult to get through doorways or other small pathways.
Age range and weight capacity
Regardless of type, the best strollers are the ones that you can use from the newborn stage well into the kid years. So when making this list I prioritized strollers with a high weight capacity and car-seat or bassinet compatibility. Most strollers do not come with an included bassinet attachment, and you will often need to purchase a special adapter if you want to attach an infant car seat. For the purposes of this guide, if a stroller is able to accommodate newborn babies via bassinet or car seat, I considered its age range to start at newborn. And because strollers are rated on the older end of the spectrum by weight capacity rather than age, I noted the maximum child weight that each stroller can hold. For context, the high end of stroller weight capacity is around 50 pounds, which translates roughly to children between 8 and 10 years old.
Maneuverability and ease of fold
You may spend hundreds of hours pushing your stroller each year, more if you live in a city or have a kid who prefers stroller naps, so it better be comfortable to push. Typically full-size strollers and jogging strollers offer the smoothest ride, especially on more uneven terrain. The best strollers will also be easy to steer and turn. I took all of these factors into consideration when making this list and have noted which strollers are exceptionally smooth to push. I also considered how easy each stroller is to fold and noted whether it can be done with one hand, as well as whether it can stand on its own when folded.
Materials and design details
Details like a seat that reclines completely flat, a storage basket that can fit a week’s worth of groceries, or a really large sun canopy can make or break a stroller’s usefulness for you and your family. So when testing strollers and talking to other parents about them, I paid close attention to any feature that could make a stroller easier to use, or more comfortable for a child to ride in. Bigger air-filled tires, for example, provide a much smoother ride than small hard plastic and rubber wheels. I’ve included the most notable (or most commonly remarked upon) details for each stroller on the list.
Safety
As with car seats and baby carriers, the stroller you buy should provide a safe environment for your baby or toddler. One way of ensuring this is by checking for the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) certification, which signifies that the stroller has been tested and meets current safety standards. All the strollers on this list carry the JPMA certification. You should also make sure that your stroller has a five-point harness, adequate ventilation, a canopy, easy-to-use brakes, lockable swivel wheels, and is free of any recent recalls.
Best full-size convertible stroller
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Type: Full-size convertible, four wheels | Weight: 27.6 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 50 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Two-handed fold, stands on its own when folded | Materials and design: Foam-filled rubber tires, full-grain leather details, adjustable handlebar, reflective accents on the wheels, Greenguard Gold certified, rain shield and bug shield included
If you have the space for it, the Uppababy Vista V3, which was released in September 2024, is the closest thing you will find to a do-everything stroller and the best investment on this list. Strategist writer Lauren Ro, mom to two boys who are 6 and almost 3, originally chose an earlier model of the Vista as her main stroller when she was pregnant with her first child, because of its versatility and numerous features. According to Ro, the biggest advantage of the Vista is its adaptability. It grows with your family and can accommodate up to three children with the right accessories and adapters, some but not all of which are sold separately. Plus, it works seamlessly with many Uppababy car seats, and the handlebar is adjustable, so adults of all heights can comfortably push it.
The V3 updates include a no-rethread harness, a removable seat cover with a breathable mesh back underneath, a magnetic harness buckle, reflective accents on the wheels, and improved suspension. Ro has been testing it for the last six months and says it’s just as solid, smooth-rolling, and reliable as its predecessor. One major difference from the V2, however, is that it doesn’t automatically come with a bassinet. This is good news for parents of older babies who don’t need one and would prefer to save $200. If you do want a bassinet, it can still be purchased separately.
“I call it my truck,” Ro says, explaining that the stroller feels heavy-duty but is also smooth and easy to push. And while the V3 has been updated with lighter wheels and improved suspension, Ro hasn’t noticed much of a difference in how it handles. That might be because the size and weight of the V3 are exactly the same as the V2 — as is the weight capacity of the under-seat basket, which Ro says is one of the stroller’s major selling points. Compared to those of other full-size strollers, the Vista’s storage basket is huge, with a weight limit of 30 pounds. For context, that’s equivalent to multiple bags of groceries, an average 3-year-old child, or a medium-size dog. The Vista is sleek, comes in a bunch of tasteful colors, and is incredibly durable with a great resale value. You can combine two bassinets, two seats, two car seats, or any mix of the three and add a kickboard for older kids, all without changing the stroller’s width. And health-conscious parents will appreciate that the V3 is now Greenguard Gold–certified.
One potential drawback of both the V2 and V3 — though it depends on whom you ask — is that the child seats do not lie completely flat. They can be reclined quite far (which is easy to do one-handed), and the footrest can be moved up and down to accommodate different heights as your child grows. But the seat has a bucket design, like a chair that tilts backward, so the rider won’t ever be able to fully lie down. On the plus side, this design holds babies and toddlers more snuggly in place; “My nanny was recently complaining about the true lay-flat seats on the Stokke Yoyo 3 and the Thule Glide strollers because there’s nothing aside from the harness to keep babies from sliding down in the seat,” Ro says. But if a totally flat sleeping surface is a priority, the bassinet is the only way to get it on the V3.
Another point to consider is Uppababy’s customer service, which Ro and several other Strategist parents have found to be excellent. You can also take the brand’s strollers to in-person repair locations in Boston, Brooklyn, Santa Monica, and Toronto for free maintenance and affordable repairs. “We’ve taken ours in several times for tune-ups and also got a replacement seat for just $60,” Ro says.
Best full-size single stroller
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Type: Full-size, four wheels | Weight: 28.3 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 50 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Two-handed fold, stands on its own when folded | Materials and design: Foam-filled rubber tires, full-grain leather details, adjustable handlebar, extendable UPF 50+ canopy, seat cushion unsnaps to reveal breathable mesh, extra-large storage basket, bassinet not included
I have been very impressed with the Nuna Mixx Next stroller in both style and function. It is larger and heavier than other strollers I’ve tested, but if you do not need a convertible stroller that can fit more than one child, it offers a luxury experience that is pretty unparalleled. I chose the model with a matte-black frame and black faux-leather accents (called “ocean” because the seat material is actually a very dark blue-gray), and I love how it looks. It is easy to fold and smooth to push; I recently gave the Nuna to a friend with a newborn who frequently tells me how much she loves the “effortless handling” and easy maneuvering on both city streets and country hills.
Children sit up higher in this stroller than in more compact strollers, which my son loved because it put him at eye level with adults when we were out at a café or sitting next to him on a bench in the park. He also liked that the seat can be positioned fully upright, so he didn’t have to lean forward like he did in the Yoyo 2 or the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 (more on both of those strollers below). The harness is especially easy to adjust snap closed thanks to the no-rethread straps and magnetic buckle, which saves time and cuts down on fussiness when we are trying to get out the door. The seat can be used both parent-facing and forward-facing; I wish I’d had this feature when my son was still an infant, because it was so nice to talk to him as we walked.
Though it can only be used as a single stroller (in contrast to the convertible Vista V3), the Nuna Mixx Next can similarly be used with a car seat, a child seat, or a bassinet. It doesn’t come with a bassinet — you have to buy it separately with a stand for $400. If you don’t want to buy the bassinet and stand, though, the child seat can be used as a lie-flat cot for babies: You just recline the seat to the fully flat position and flip the leg rest up to support it at the bottom, a motion that is just as smooth and easy to do one-handed as it is on the Vista V3.
Nuna’s strollers are known for being tall-person-friendly; the handlebars are fairly high in the starting position (41 inches) and adjust upward for even more height. I am five-feet-seven, so this isn’t the most important stroller feature for me, but my son’s former nanny is at least four inches taller than me, and she loved it. (Petite parents might be happier with the comparable Uppababy Cruz.) We both appreciated the large storage basket, seat cushion you can remove to reveal breathable mesh when it’s hot out, and all-terrain wheels that make it more convenient to spend all day outside with a toddler. Last summer, I traveled alone with my son from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Port Jefferson, New York, via ferry across Long Island Sound. Because we were being dropped off and picked up on either side, I had to carry a car seat on the boat, along with a large backpack and a tote bag for diapers, snacks, and toys. The Mixx Next made it feel like a fun, casual outing rather than a sweaty schlep. I was able to slide the car seat into the stroller’s storage basket and still had room to put the tote bag on top.
The Nuna Mixx Next has a more compact fold than the Uppababy Vista and can be folded with the seat facing in either direction. On my trip I was able to quickly pack it in the trunk of a Subaru and a Mini Cooper without needing to remove the wheels. I still love the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2, below, for rugged outdoorsy walks — but if I had to choose between the two, the Nuna Mixx Next, with its bigger storage basket, easier recline, and fancier details, is the one I would pick.
Best (less-expensive) full-size single stroller
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Type: Full-size, three wheels | Weight: 22.4 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 65 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Wide-set back wheels, one-handed fold, stands on its own when folded | Materials and design: Airless all-terrain tires, rubberized adjustable handlebar, hand-operated brake, all-wheel suspension, extra long UPF 50+ sun canopy, adjustable leg rest, rear mesh ventilation
The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 is a three-wheeled stroller with excellent shock absorption that gives it one of the smoothest pushes I have encountered. I got mine when my son was 7 months old because the stroller we’d received as a registry gift — a gloriously compact but kind of hard-to-push Yoyo 2 — was putting a lot of strain on my wrists. While looking for a smoother alternative, I watched a ton of stroller review videos and talked to all of my friends who had babies, and the City Mini GT2 kept coming up for its combination of a cushioned three-wheel push and easy one-handed fold.
I was convinced as soon as I tested it. In fact, “pushing” doesn’t feel like the right term, because of how little effort it requires to guide this stroller forward. I can casually stroll while steering it with one hand and sending a text message with the other. Other perks include an adjustable handlebar for adults of different heights, a huge sun canopy, and the aforementioned one-handed fold: You pull up on a soft handle in the middle of the seat and the stroller collapses under your hand. It has a roomy padded seat with a near-flat recline and lots of rear ventilation that makes it comfortable for my son to sleep in, even in hot weather. The storage basket holds ten pounds and isn’t nearly as big as the Uppababy Vista V3’s or the Nuna Mixx Next’s, but I can easily fit a diaper bag, picnic blanket, toys, and a few items from the farmers’ market.
The only small issue I have had with the City Mini is its width. Getting it quickly through my front door can be tricky because its back axle is wider than a lot of other strollers, so I have to pay close attention to my angle to avoid getting stuck. And it’s too heavy and awkwardly shaped to lift up and down stairs the way I could with the Yoyo, the Ergobaby Metro+, or my current favorite everyday stroller, the Joolz Aer+. So it’s not the stroller I use for trips into Manhattan on the subway or to the grocery store or a museum. But when it’s folded in my apartment, it’s surprisingly unobtrusive, and because it’s great on grass and bumpy surfaces it’s a perfect park stroller.
Best lightweight everyday stroller
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Type: Lightweight, four wheels | Weight: 13.2 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 50 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Tight turning radius, one-handed fold, stands on its own when folded | Materials and design: Plastic wheels with rubber treads, faux leather handlebar, shoulder carrying strap, extra-tall seat cushion, extra-wide UPF 50+ sun canopy
When you spend every weekend hanging out at playgrounds and walking around the park, you start to notice things about other people’s strollers that you wish your stroller had or could do. That’s how I ended up replacing my Yoyo 2 stroller with the Joolz Aer+, my current favorite everyday stroller. It is also New York features writer Irin Carmon’s favorite stroller for daily use and travel; she prefers it to other popular models like the Yoyo, the GB Pockit, and the Bugaboo Butterfly. Carmon has two kids under 6 years old and is a self-described stroller nerd who regularly provides advice in a stroller-focused Facebook group with over 50,000 members. She calls the Joolz Aer+ “the smoothest possible ride for the least amount of stroller,” and likes that you can get a bassinet that folds with it, making it a great choice for new parents who don’t want to attach a car seat.
The Joolz Aer+ is the lightest stroller on this list by about half a pound and the easiest to fold of all the strollers I have tested so far. It stands up on its own when folded and fits in airplane overhead bins, car trunks, and closets without any struggle or fuss. It’s narrow enough to push through store aisles or crowded hallways. And its seat is more upright when it’s in the fully upright position, with a taller seat back, compared to other lightweight strollers — 21 inches to the Yoyo 3’s 18.5 inches (though Carmon points out that the seat on the Bugaboo Butterfly, which we’ve reviewed below, is taller). This means that kids are more supported (no more leaning forward all day or straining to sit up straight) and can use the stroller for longer.
I love how smoothly the Joolz Aer+ rolls over sidewalk cracks, dirt paths, grass, and even wood chips, thanks to its slightly larger rear wheels. I also like that the foot brake is wide and situated in the center of the rear axle, as opposed to off to one side, so you can more easily use it without looking. The storage basket can hold up to 11 pounds and does a fine job fitting everything I need for a full day out with my son: tote bag with snacks, toys, water bottle, diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes. It also has a more open top than the Yoyo 3 basket, making it easier to carry taller items or bags.
My biggest complaint about the Joolz Aer+ is how it reclines: You have to unzip the whole back panel and then change the recline with an inner strap, so it’s slower to adjust than other strollers, and it’s hard to do do quietly while a child is napping. Carmon also told me that some people she has spoken to don’t like that the Joolz Aer+ has a shallower seat and doesn’t come with a footrest; however, neither of those details are deal-breakers for Carmon or her kids, and my son has never had a problem either.
Best (less expensive) lightweight everyday stroller
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Type: Lightweight, four wheels | Weight: 18.1 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 50 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Tight turning radius, one-handed fold, stands on its own when folded | Materials and design: Plastic wheels with rubber treads, faux leather handlebar and belly bar, extra-tall seat cushion, full recline with optional mesh ventilation, parent cupholder and rain cover included, adjustable handlebar and leg rest, extra-wide UPF 50+ sun canopy
[Editor’s note: In March 2025, Ergobaby released the Metro 3 stroller, an updated version of the Metro+ Deluxe stroller. The new design promises better suspension as well as an improved storage basket, sun canopy, and folding mechanism, and is also now carry-on-baggage approved. I will be testing the Metro 3 stroller soon.]
My husband and I, our son, and his former nanny tested the Ergobaby Metro+ Deluxe stroller for about a year and a half before donating it to another family to make room in our apartment. It doesn’t have the same sleek trendy appeal as the other lightweight strollers I have written about above. But that, and the lack of a snack tray, is pretty much the end of my criticism.
All four of us loved this stroller way more than I expected we would. My favorite features were the extra-comfy padded seat, the included accessories (belly bar, rain cover, and cup holder), and the no-rethread harness that’s easy to buckle fast and never gets twisted. The Ergobaby has the only parent cup holder I have tried that actually keeps my coffee from spilling and the only rain cover that I can put on easily without waking my napping child. Instead of elastic like you find on other rain covers, it has several points of Velcro and a longer back panel that keeps the stuff in the pocket on the back of the seat dry in addition to keeping my son dry. My son’s favorite feature was the curved belly bar that let him put his feet up or rest his arms without ever restricting his personal space (other belly bars I have seen or tried sit really close to the child and look uncomfortable). My husband loved how easy it is to steer the Ergobaby Metro+ Deluxe, that the adjustable handlebar locks and feels sturdy, and that, because this stroller sits lower to the ground than our Baby Jogger City Mini, it was easy for our son to walk next to it while holding on to the frame.
Folding it is easy to do one-handed and when it’s folded it is as small as the Yoyo 3 with the added benefit of standing on its own. It’s smoother to push than the Yoyo 3 and just about as easy to maneuver as the Joolz Aer+. It’s also ever-so-slightly narrower than the Joolz Aer+ at 17.3 inches wide to the Aer’s 17.7 inches. I have taken it on the subway and into grocery stores, bookstores, and cafés with no trouble at all. Even though it is nearly five pounds heavier than the Yoyo, I am able to quickly carry it up subway stairs with my son sitting in it. All this and a near flat recline for $50 less than the Joolz Aer+. Best of all, if you are really on a budget, Ergobaby makes an even cheaper, more bare bones Metro+ stroller that I also liked a lot (especially the all-black version) and that comes in eight colors for $100 less than the Metro+ Deluxe.
Best travel stroller
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Type: Lightweight, four wheels | Weight: 17.6 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 50 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Tight turning radius, one-handed fold, stands on its own when folded | Materials and design: Plastic wheels with rubber treads, faux leather handlebar, extra-tall seat cushion
Carmon has been using her Bugaboo Butterfly for two years and says that the biggest thing going for it is the capacious storage basket that can hold up to 17.5 pounds — one of the largest she has seen on any lightweight stroller or travel stroller. Plus, the Butterfly’s storage basket has a “springy back perimeter” that makes it even easier to carry large items. “I’ve fit an entire other stroller in it,” she says (for the record, the other stroller was a GB Pockit, and she has heard the Cybex Libelle fits in the storage basket too). For travel, Carmon says, the WayB Pico car seat fits easily in the Butterfly’s basket as well. Though it isn’t newborn-friendly without attaching a car seat, it does have a very high seat back that measures 24.8 inches, nearly four inches taller than the seat on the Joolz Aer+, which is great for tall or older kids. Plus, the footrest extends really far compared to other compact strollers, making it more comfortable for kids who might nap in it at a later age.
While I haven’t extensively tested the Bugaboo Butterfly with my own child, my good friend and fellow toddler mom Allegra Farina has one and has let me push it, use the buckles, and fold it on multiple occasions. It is very easy to fold (just as smooth and intuitive as the Joolz Aer+), and you can use the extended leg rest as a carry handle or fold it down and use the shoulder strap that’s tucked inside the storage basket. The size of the storage basket is impressive, too. But Carmon and I both prefer the push and maneuvering of the Joolz Aer+. The main complaint Carmon has is that the Butterfly is kind of “tippy,” especially when turning corners quickly with a heavier kid or navigating deep sidewalk cracks. That said, as a stroller that you will mostly use for travel or short day trips, it’s a solid and attractive choice.
Best (less expensive) travel stroller
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Type: Lightweight, four wheels | Weight: 13.7 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 48 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Tight turning radius, one-hand fold, doesn’t stand on its own when folded | Materials and design: Plastic wheels with rubber treads, faux leather handlebar with nylon tether, shoulder carrying strap
The updated Yoyo 3 stroller — now produced by the brand Stokke after it acquired Babyzen — launched in August 2024 and has a lot of the same features that made the earlier Yoyo 2 popular with parents who like to travel, particularly by plane. At just over 13 pounds and around 17 inches wide, it makes flying and exploring new cities extremely convenient. The most notable upgrade is that the Yoyo 3 has a bigger storage basket that can hold up to 22 pounds (compared to ten pounds on the Yoyo 2). There is also a longer sun canopy with a cover for the peekaboo window, a cushioned headrest, a seat that’s two inches taller, mesh details for better airflow, and reflective accents on the wheels. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang recently took the Yoyo 3 on a family trip to Florida and New Mexico and says it was just as easy to travel with as the previous model.
Before I switched to using the Joolz Aer+ when my son was around 18 months old, the Yoyo 2 had been my daily stroller, and I still think the Yoyo series of strollers is one of the best-looking on the market, with some of the nicest fabric colors. I first used it days after giving birth with a Nuna Pipa car seat and a set of adapters, then later with the 6+ seat pack. I never had the bassinet attachment (which Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone preferred over the stroller’s other options) or the newborn pack, a softer, sleeping-bag-type cot attachment that, unlike the bassinet, can be folded right along with the stroller. But Carmon counts these newborn-friendly accessories as a reason you might opt for the Yoyo over the Bugaboo Butterfly, which doesn’t have either. Once he was old enough, I routinely took my son in the Yoyo on the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan and never had any trouble maneuvering through the winding station tunnels or even past other passengers to find a seat in crowded cars. It was easy to carry up and down subway stairs while my son was riding in it, and Carmon was able to push it down the aisle of a plane in coach.
The main drawback of the Yoyo is that pushing it isn’t very smooth compared to other strollers — Yang describes it as a bit “squirrely,” and when I would push it over grass or dirt paths, I could feel every bump in the handlebar. But according to the brand, the Yoyo 3 has better suspension, and I always found it to be zippy on flat, smooth surfaces. The Yoyo 3 is also harder to fold than the Joolz Aer+ or the Bugaboo Butterfly because the button you need to push is hidden underneath, and the wheels must be aligned with one another. Lastly, while it’s an improvement over the Yoyo 2 seat, the seat on the Yoyo 3 still doesn’t support kids in as much of an upright position as other compact strollers. But if your family flies often, Carmon notes that unlike other travel strollers, the Yoyo is recognized by every flight attendant you might encounter, so no one will give you trouble about bringing it onboard.
Best jogging stroller
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Type: Jogging | Weight: 26.2 pounds | Age/weight range: 6 months to 49 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Exceptionally smooth push, one-handed fold, doesn’t stand on its own when folded | Materials and design: Air-filled wheels, adjustable rubber handlebar with twist brake, zip-top storage basket, rear suspension, reflective accents on wheels and canopy
The updated Thule Urban Glide 3 has all of the same great features as the discontinued Urban Glide 2 — large and smooth air-filled tires, a twist hand brake, and a roomy storage basket — plus a few upgrades. For $50 more than its predecessor, you get a more comfortable upright seat with adjustable recline, an easier-to-use foot brake, a storage basket that holds up to 15 pounds (the older version held 10), a sun canopy that extends much farther, added mesh panels for airflow, and an adjustable leg support.
True to its name, Ro says her Urban Glide 2 is the smoothest stroller she has ever pushed thanks to its big, air-filled rubber wheels. This makes it easy to run in Prospect Park while pushing the Urban Glide one-handed. It also thrives on rugged terrain, she says, and is great for taking on nature trails or to the zoo. The standout feature is its handlebar twist break that slows the stroller down for you when you’re running down a hill, making it easier to keep the stroller in control without having to use your own body weight as a counter-balance. And compared to other jogging strollers, like the popular BOB jogging strollers, it is more lightweight, Ro says, which makes it easier for a wider range of runners — beginners included — to use.
Best convertible off-road stroller
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Type: Convertible, four wheels | Weight: 29.5 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 50 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Exceptionally smooth push, one-handed fold, stands on its own when folded | Materials and design: Airless all-terrain tires, adjustable handlebar, fully flat recline, adjustable leg rest, extendable UPF 50+ sun canopy, 8 seat colors sold separately, front suspension and tunable rear shocks
The Veer Switch & Roll modular stroller marries the versatility of a full-size convertible stroller like the Uppababy Vista with the functionality of an all-terrain wagon. I tested Veer’s Switch & Roll and Switch & Jog stroller configurations, which are both part of the brand’s modular Switchback system, on the street in midtown Manhattan. It’s not the most challenging terrain that either of these strollers can handle, but I was still able to get a sense of how they do with curbs, tight turns, and crowded sidewalks. My main takeaway is that they both felt smooth and bouncy in a good way, like they would be fun to push on a trail or to take camping. I prefer the Switch & Roll, as its four-wheeled base is a tiny bit narrower than the base on the three-wheeled Switch &Jog. The stroller seat, which Veer calls the Switchback and which works with either frame, has built-in shock absorbers to give babies the smoothest ride possible, even over crags and potholes. And it has the easiest and quietest recline of any stroller I have tried. It has four recline positions including totally flat and fully upright, and switching the seat from facing backward to forward is easy to do.
The most unique feature of the Switchback system is that the same seat can be used on the brand’s standard stroller or jogging stroller frames, as well as on the popular Cruiser wagon, the Veer bike seat frame, camp chair base, and as a booster seat on almost any restaurant chair with a back. As with the Uppababy Vista, the standard Switch & Roll stroller frame can be configured to carry multiple children at a time with two seats, two bassinets, two car seats, or a combination. All of the brand’s add-on accessories (snack tray, parent organizer, cup holders) are compatible across the entire collection of strollers and wagons.
Best car seat and stroller travel system
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Type: Travel system | Weight: Combined weight of 21.6 pounds | Age/weight range: Newborn to 50 pounds | Maneuverability and folding: Tight turning radius, one-handed fold, stands on its own when folded | Materials and design: Foam-filled rubber tires, faux leather handlebar and belly bar, extendable UPF 50+ sun canopy, adjustable leg rest
Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens recommends this stroller-and-car-seat travel system, which she has used on six flights with her 2.5-year-old-daughter. The Urbn car seat can be used starting from birth with the included infant insert, and has a height limit of 29 inches; it lasted Kitchens’s daughter, who is tall for her age, well over a year.
These days, Kitchens uses the stroller without the seat, but the system was useful when her daughter was younger and smaller. “I love how quickly it all connects,” Kitchens says, explaining that if her daughter fell asleep in the car on the way to the airport, she could easily and securely plop it onto the stroller before walking to the security checkpoint. And the car seat works without a base, attaching directly to any car’s LATCH anchor system. This means it works whether you’re getting picked up by relatives or calling an Uber. “I loved not worrying about needing a car seat through the rental car company,” Kitchens says.
This is the third stroller that Kitchens owns, in addition to the Uppababy Vista and the Babyzen Yoyo. The stroller component of the Nuna system is not quite as compact as a Yoyo, but it is easier to fold and has the added benefit of standing on its own when it’s folded, which the Yoyo can’t do. Kitchens says it rolls smoothly, though it doesn’t have “truck tires” like the Vista, and has been great on neighborhood walks her family has done while traveling. Its wheels are cushier compared to the wheels on the Yoyo and the rear set is bigger which gives it a smoother ride. And while the handlebar isn’t adjustable, Kitchens, who is 5 feet 11 inches tall, says it’s at a good height for tall people. Though it comes as a bundle with the infant car seat, you can continue to use the stroller with older children up to 50 pounds.
Our Experts:
• Irin Carmon, New York features writer and parent
• Jacob Cohen, elementary school teacher and parent
• Jenny Donahue, physical therapist and parent
• Allegra Farina, parent
• Simone Kitchens, Strategist senior editor and parent
• Ailbhe Malone, Strategist senior editor and parent
• Vanessa Levans, nanny
• Katy Olson, writer and parent
• Lauren Ro, Strategist writer and parent
• Alexis Swerdloff, New York deputy editor and parent
• Danielle Swift, project manager and parent
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor and parent
• Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor and parent
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