Best strollers

The UPPAbaby Vista V2 is ready for pretty much anything you throw at it. It comes with a lie-flat bassinet as well as a toddler seat, so your child will be set from birth to preschool. The removable bassinet is a supercool feature: If your baby falls asleep on a walk, you can detach the bassinet to carry your sleeping infant inside. (You can also use the bassinet as a regular spot for your baby to sleep – there's a stand sold separately.) The Vista can comfortably transport up to three children with add-on accessories such as an extra seat and standing platform, and its durable, lightweight construction provides a safe and smooth ride. Parents appreciate the extra-large storage basket underneath and the fact that the Vista stands when folded. This model, the V2, has some important upgrades: a roomier toddler seat, a redesigned sun canopy, and a no-rethread harness.

Heads up

You can use the Vista as a travel system with UPPAbaby's Mesa car seat – and also with car seats from Chicco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, and Cybex, if you buy an adapter.

The UPPAbaby isn't cheap – at more than $1,000 with tax, plus extra for add-on accessories, this stroller purchase is definitely an investment. That said, it's so adaptable that you'll likely get your money's worth.

Parents say

"I have the Vista and I love it! There's a huge basket underneath, and I love that you can turn your baby to face you or face forward. Also, I love the bassinet and that the stroller works with our car seat."

"I've had the UppaBaby Vista for three years and I absolutely love it!"

Specs

• Stroller dimensions: 25.7 inches wide
• Stroller weight: 27 pounds (without the bassinet)
• For children from 3 months to 50 pounds
• Compatible with Mesa infant car seat
• Bassinet included
• Self-standing fold
• Basket weight capacity: 30 pounds
• Adjustable handlebar

The Baby Jogger City Mini 2 is a super-lightweight and compact stroller that will help you maneuver through tight spaces. It has an easy, compact, one-hand fold (just lift up on one strap to fold it), so it's simple to put in the car or take on a bus. Plus, you can use the City Mini as a travel system. It comes with adapters to work with the separately sold City GO infant car seat, and it works with some other car seats if you buy special adapters, also sold separately. (Note: This isn't a jogging stroller – Baby Jogger is the company that makes the City Mini.)

Heads up

Add-on accessories (like a parent console, child snack tray, and glider board) are all sold separately, so don't forget to include those in your budget if they're must-haves for you.

Parents say

"I have a Baby Jogger City Mini and I swear by it. It's held up for more than four years and three kids, and I'll be using it again with my next. When I had an issue with one of the wheels, they sent a replacement immediately without hesitation."

Specs

• Stroller dimensions: 39.5 x 25.70 x 40.60 inches
• Stroller weight: 18 pounds
• For children from 1 to 54 months
• Reclining seat
• Compatible with City GO infant car seat

With mountain bike-style suspension and air-filled tires that make for a smooth ride on almost any terrain up to and including beach sand, the BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 is justifiably famous amongst dedicated runners. It's compatible with most infant car seats so works as a travel system, and the huge under-seat basket is mighty enough to handle a whole days' worth of gear. 

Heads up

While BOB strollers are top-of-the-line and a must for serious runners, they're also beyond reach pricewise for many.

Parents say

"Our BOB is the best money we've ever spent. If you get the infant car seat adapter, you don't need another stroller. Our daughter loves it and will go 5 miles, no problem."

"I love my BOB. It's so lightweight and maneuverable with one hand. It's like an off-roading stroller."

Specs

• Stroller dimensions: 46 x 25 x 45 inches
• Stroller weight: 28.5 pounds
• Accommodates up to 75 pounds
• Travel system compatible
• Locking front tire

Weighing in at under 15 pounds, the Graco NimbleLite Stroller is light enough to carry down a set of subway stairs or throw into a trunk, yet has many of the features of a full-size stroller. Parents love the easy one-step fold, huge storage basket, parent and child trays equipped with cup holders, and enormous sun canopy. The NimbleLite also accepts any Graco infant car seat, so it can be used as a travel system from birth, then handle your child up through 50 pounds, plenty to get you through the stroller years. 

Heads up

The seat isn't as luxuriously padded as some so thus not as comfortable. 

Parents say

"This stroller is really lightweight, can hold an infant car seat, and has straps for when kids are older. The brakes really work, too."

"I'm a first-time mom and I decided on the Graco NimbleLite travel system. My big thing was I didn't want a heavy stroller. This stroller is less than 15 pounds, and most are 20 to 25."

Specs

• Stroller weight: 12 pounds
• Stroller dimensions: 21 x 34.6 x 42.2 inches
• Can hold up to 50 pounds

It folds up to such a tiny package -- 12.6 by 15 inches -- that the gb Pockit+ won a Guinness World Record for world's smallest folded stroller. When folded, it fits in the overhead compartment on planes, it easily slides through the security conveyor at the airport, it's light and small enough to drag along on buses or taxis. And then when you unfold it, it's surprisingly elegant to push, world's away from the rattly wheels and janky frames in similarly light umbrella strollers. The sun canopy and reclining seat make it easier to stay out all day, too. 

Heads up

The storage basket is tiny, which may be particularly annoying on all-day tourist excursions. 

Parents say

"This stroller folds up so small that it fits into an overhead bin on a plane. It's lightweight and great for daycare drop-offs and being on the go."

Specs

• Stroller weight: 9.5 pounds
• Stroller dimensions (unfolded): 28 x 18.5 x 39.8 inches
• Stroller dimensions (folded): 14 x 12 x 7 inches
• Can accommodate up to 55 pounds

At only 11 pounds, this lightweight stroller frame has a simple game plan: Pop your infant car seat in and go! You'll actually hear an audible "click" as the car set locks into place, so you know you've done it right. Parents love the convenience of a frame – instead of a full-size stroller – that they can toss in the trunk of their car without taking up too much space. The KeyFit Caddy folds almost flat with one hand, so it's very portable. Despite the fact that it's just a stroller frame, it has a lot of the features you'd expect from a traditional stroller: a padded handle, adjustable height positions, all-wheel suspension, toe-tap brakes, an oversize basket with front and rear access, and not one but two cup holders.

Heads up

This stroller, while superconvenient for the early months, is only good for a limited time. It doesn't have a seat, so once your child outgrows the infant car seat, you won't be able to use it. Also, this frame stroller is designed to work with Chicco car seats only.

Parents say

"We used the Chicco and it was great. It's true that once your baby is done with the infant car seat the stroller is useless, but we planned for that."

"We had the Chicco KeyFit infant seat and stroller frame with our first. Our old infant seat expired, but we'll be purchasing the same one to reuse the stroller. The stroller itself is a bit bulky, but it's also very sturdy and the wheels are great. We never had an issue pushing on gravel or grass. We used ours a lot, and it's still in great shape. I definitely recommend it!"

Specs

• Stroller dimensions (folded): 20 x 11 x 33.5 inches
• Front wheel diameter: 6.25 inches
• Rear wheel diameter: 6.25 inches
• Self-standing fold

The Joovy Qool is one of the most innovative ways to haul kids around that we've seen. It's entirely customizable with add-on accessories, and it can hold up to three children at once (including two infant car seats at the same time). In fact, there are 56 possible ways to ride. The bench seat for older kids (sold separately) is especially nice – you'll be glad for a sit-down option when an older sibling gets tired. (Many similar strollers are standing-bench only for bigger kids.) The Qool has nice features, including an adjustable, telescopic handlebar and front suspension for a smooth ride.  

Heads up

Like the Britax B-Ready, the Joovy weighs 30 pounds, so this stroller is not lightweight. But considering it can hold 135 pounds of kids, that sturdy frame is definitely worth it. Also, you could spend a small fortune on all the accessories sold separately, including the bassinet, parent organizer, second seat, car seat adapter, and bench seat.  

Parents say

"Love it! We got the adapter for the Graco car seat and it's awesome. It fits well in the trunk of our Elantra. And while it's a bit heavy, I'm able to lift it in and out of the car no problem. It's really easy to maneuver, too."

"My husband keeps stealing the Joovy and putting it in his car because he likes it better than the Graco stroller we have! The only thing I didn't like was that we had to order the car seat adapter online, and if you want a cup holder or snack tray you have to buy it separately."

"I have the Joovy and I love it! Very easy to maneuver, lighter weight than my Graco double stroller. Buying the adapters was the most confusing part, but once we got the right adapters it was smooth sailing. I really like the undercarriage too. We load that thing down when we go places."

Specs

• Stroller dimensions: 39.96 x 24.80 x 40.16 inches
• Stroller weight: 30.6 pounds
• Can accommodate up to 135 pounds total
• Machine-washable seat fabric
• Compatible with Britax, Chicco, Cybex, Graco, Maxi Cosi, and Nuna car seats
• Reclining seat