Do I Need Two Strollers?

A runner is probably the only person who needs two strollers; one for jogging and one for daily use. Real jogging strollers are perfect for getting your run in with a baby, but they’re a lot bigger than traditional strollers, or the jogger-style hybrid. After all, you need something sturdy when jogging. One false move and you’ll flip the stroller and the baby with it.

If you’re a runner, grab a BOB 2016 Revolution FLEX Stroller, Black" to use for your run and keep reading for the best travel stroller and daily use hybrids.

If you're not a regular runner, I have good news for you. You do not need two strollers, one for travel and one for your daily life.

You just need one – the right one. Jogger or umbrella style for minimal travel or an ultra-lightweight stroller for more regular travel (including public transportation).

By buying the best travel stroller, you can easily have just one stroller for travel and life. There are some great models out there that combine sturdiness and agility with compactness. Something to think about when you’re making your first stroller purchase.

Pro Tip: The most clever combination for parents is a take-anywhere travel stroller plus a Baby Carrier We Recommend stashed nearby for those times when your little one needs to cuddle and you need to use your arms.

International Vs. USA/Canada Travel

You need to consider the kind of travel you’re doing. If you think you’ll be going international, you should opt for the widely accepted umbrella stroller style.

The umbrella stroller preference for international travel is almost purely down to the fact that airlines often don’t take too kindly to jogger-style strollers because they are perceived as too large, even if they’re not.

If you’re living in the United States or Canada, or if you’ve got a mix of urban, international, or rural travel, a travel friendly ultra-lightweight stroller is going to be perfect for you.

No Car? No Worries

Then again, if you’re doing this kind of travel, but have no car, you’ll want an ultra-light stroller. An ultra light stroller will make all that maneuvering you have to do at the subway station, airport, taxi ranks and wherever you might find yourself a lot easier.

The Zoe X1L is a bargain that you won't encounter elsewhere. It’s a fast and compact little stroller with a simple one-hand folding feature, making it the ideal stroller for anyone dashing through an airport or bus terminal. What’s best is that it will fit easily into most overhead storage compartments, including those of an airplane; hence it won’t be taken as extra baggage at check-in.

An incredible value and lightweight stroller. It weighs just 9lbs, which is significantly less than any of its competitors. Zoe is a trusted brand amongst stroller experts, and offers you a lifetime warranty and guarantee on the wheels.

Everyone Loves a Zoe

Features that junior might like are the cup holder and snack cup, tying in with the airline travel theme of this model. It has a large sunshade canopy with a magnetic peekaboo window so baby can watch the world go by, even when it’s raining. The 135-degree reclining seat adds great comfort for the little one, and this can sustain a massive 18kg for the heavier babies out there.

The five point harness means your child is totally secure and won’t crawl out when you’re busy.

Customers loved the great value of this stroller. At this price, you won’t find a better umbrella style stroller on the market. The only complaint we’ll mention, of which there were very few, was that it wasn’t broad enough to fit two babies. But since this is a single stroller, it’s not a complaint worth taking seriously. But we bring it to your attention, in case you were planning to stuff two kids in one stroller (hint: not a good idea).

Overall, this is a brilliant lightweight umbrella stroller at a budget price that won’t disappoint.

The Kolcraft Cloud Plus is a travel-friendly stroller with a convenient three-tier extended canopy for maximum UV coverage to keep baby’s skin safe. It offers you multiple positions on the seat, and the child is secured with a five-point harness.

Major drawbacks are it cannot stand on its own when folded and the suspension is non-existent. Upsides are it's very light and not expensive. The coolest feature is the padding rolls up to let more air in one hot summer days.

It will hold a child of up to 50 pounds and has a convenient one-hand folding system for quick and easy storage. On top of that, it will stand alone, so you can have it close at hand when waiting in terminal queues.

Users loved how the two storage areas; one for you and one for the child’s toys. You can even stow your groceries or additional bags safely beneath the child’s seat. There are also two cup holders for families on the go. The canopy is large, and UV protected with a little peekaboo window for your child to watch the world.

Customers loved that this was a ideal stroller for day trips and light traveling.

The compact folding design makes it easy to put away and get out quickly when on the move. The main complaint about this stroller, of which there were very few, was that it’s not very adjustable regarding the incline. Some customers suggested that it’s great until their child is old enough to sit upright. However, it does have a reclining seat, which puts any doubts about this stroller to bed, along with your child.

Hands down, our top pick if you travel mostly inside the USA and Canada. Everyone who has one loves it.

Editor's note: I own one and love that I can go ANYWHERE with this stroller. It's the most expensive of the bunch, but the return on investment has been excellent. The City Mini GT can go from cafe to sidewalk to hike...I know, we've done all that in a day with no problem! If you never know what you'll be up to next, this is the stroller for you. 

For the busy, fast-paced lifestyle of the always on-the-go, the Baby Jogger City Mini GT is perfectly and ergonomically designed with a one-handed flip fold system. The one-handed fold makes it so easy to get up and out, and out of the way, quickly, as compared to a stroller you have to break down into pieces. Road trips, airports, public transportation – you name it, this stroller can handle it.

Stroll into a crowded restaurant for a spot of lunch in the city, and you’ll undoubtedly want to stash your stroller away. This one will fold up, with one hand, of course, into a compact stroller that will sit at the side of the table until you need it again. It’s a sturdy stroller for all terrains; whether you’re going over the gravel from the front door or across the sands on the beach, this stroller will get you there without any hassle.

What's the catch?

While there's ample space for storage, it takes up space in front of you. The sturdiness of the stroller does compromise the frame of the stroller, meaning you take up a bit of more space on the sidewalk or train station platform. The extra width is minimal, but the extra length can make it frustrating for long-term urban living or extended international travel. But the maneuverability, quick fold, and it's ability to serve as your primary stroller make it our top pick.

The only other downside is the weight, although I own one and this has never been an issue. It’s the heaviest on this list, but the design of this stroller more than makes up for this small issue. It folds in half so you can pick it up and carry with one-armed ease. I can grab it one-handed to go up and down steps, or onto public transportation. It folds down very small!

It’s the only stroller you’ll ever need, with attachments for infant carseats and more.

Customers love this stroller for the one-hand close design, and it's always an Amazon bestseller. The one-handed closure makes it easy to adjust to your surroundings in a quick moment. Also, the City Mini GT handlbar adjusts for the tallest mom or dad.

The MacLaren Mark II is an ultra-lightweight umbrella style stroller, which is perfect for the fast pace of the any city. It’s well made, consistently ranking a #1 buy on Amazon.com, and it offers your baby all the luxuries of a grand design stroller. It is the Lamborghini of strollers, without the many hundreds of dollars extra it costs for a luxury stroller.

The great upright frame of this one makes for easy movement through busy streets, and the quick fold system means you can pull junior out in one arm and grab the stroller in the other when you get to the top of the queue at the terminal of the airport.

These features make this a suitable stroller for international use. The umbrella model is a better stroller to have if space is an issue in your life. The downside to this model is that it doesn’t have suspension, meaning it won’t glide like other strollers, generally the three-wheel types, over treacherous terrains like sand or cobblestone.

The lack of suspension is apparent on all umbrella strollers; but not on this one. The MacLaren offers a four-wheel suspension system, and the difference is noticeable.

As Good As a Three-Wheeler?

No umbrella stroller will offer the smooth ride of three-wheeler jogging type strollers, but this comes the closest. Also be aware that it does not provide the lie-flat recline feature like the City Mini does, so baby will have to settle for the view as it is, rather than cloud gazing.

Customers who have bought the Maclaren Mark II stroller loved the lightweight frame and how compact it was, making it perfect for dashing through airports and subway stations. The only complaint that reoccurred was that it’s not great for going over curbs in the city due to the lack of suspension. However, the ease of folding it up and carrying it in one hand makes up for this.

Another brilliant design, this ultra lightweight stroller is perfect for the city. Weighing at just over 10lbs, the UPPAbaby G-Lite is a seriously light, easy to move stroller.

It removes the added weight of a seat by replacing it with a new mesh sling seat, which offers some extra breathability and comfort as if the baby’s sitting in a comfy hammock on the Caribbean coast instead of the busy streets of New York City.

It has an easy-open canopy that has a height adjustment feature, meaning you can shelter baby from rain and scary things, depending on their size. This extendable SPF 50+ sunshade canopy is also removable, making it perfect for the sunny summer months when junior wants to touch up his tan.

There're lots of additional and removable storage mesh nets of this stroller, so you can stash the grocery shopping safely when on the move. Customers loved the durability and versatility of this stroller. Being able to adjust the canopy makes it useful in all weather types.

The only complaint people had about this stroller was that you couldn't fold it with one hand. It has a safety latch that requires two hands to fold. However, this safety feature ensures that no accidents occur when you’re out and about.

Best Luxury: UPPAbaby G-Luxe

The UPPAbaby G-Luxe is the G-Lite on steroids. It's an umbrella style stroller suited to 3-month-old babies and up to the weight limit of 55lbs (one of the highest thresholds). It’s super safe with a five-point harness, so it acts like a quality seat belt for when you bump into those hidden burbs when you’re exploring the city.

So Many Options

It’s comfortable, with three recline positions, so you can adjust the position of the baby depending on how they’re feeling. If it’s time for a nap, recline the seat accordingly and watch them doze off. If they’re keen on the view, prop them up to a comfortable position to take it all in. The additional seat positions are convenient to adjust and can be achieved with just one hand, making it easy to do on the move, or quickly through the store or airport terminal.

The adjustable footrest is also a convenient feature for you, the pusher of this stroller. It’s great that your child is comfortable, but you need some comfort too, and this stroller gives it to you. The lightweight aluminum frame is sturdy but also light; an ideal stroller for the past pace of the city.

There’s a one step break that you can tap with your foot to ensure the stroller doesn’t roll downhill while you're chatting, such as at the grocery store or your favorite newsstand.

An Outstanding Stroller

You can also lock the front wheels for some added stability on the train. The stain and water resistant material of the stroller mean it is suitable for all weather types and won’t lose its fresh look with baby puke or milk stains, as many strollers do. It also has a removable SPF 50+ easy open canopy for when the sun’s shining.

One of the standout features of the UPPAbaby G-Luxe is the Easy Carry Shoulder strap, for when you’re running short on time or space. Just fold it up and toss it over your shoulder and away you go.

Customers loved the all round ease of using this stroller. It folds with hand-level folding triggers with no foot action required and stands on its own. The lightweight frame makes all this even easier. The only complaint was that it doesn’t have a belly bar, which some customers are used to. However, this isn’t necessary when you’ve got a quality harness to secure your child.

Some customers suggested that it was a little out of their price range but quickly mentioned that it’s a worthwhile investment and one that won’t give you any trouble or need replacing.

Overall, an excellent buy and a luxury brand name.

Without a doubt, the Mountain Buggy Nano is the upright, umbrella style stroller on the market. It's more than that, thought. This travel stroller is meant for travel.

With a carrying case, it breaks down and folds up for easy checking at the airport (gate or luggage). Yes, you have to take the wheels off. But if you're looking for a compact stroller that won't airport officials won't hassle you about, it's this one.

What’s unique about this stroller is it’s infant car seat ready, meaning you can go from stroller to car in one easy step; no need to buy additional adapters or pull them from one to the other. It’s exceptionally compact, unlike many three-wheelers. It’s just 22 inches wide and weighs a mere 13 pounds. It comes with a handy travel bag and shoulder strap, demonstrating just how light it is.

It’s got a simple two-step compact fold to meet the regulations of all airline carry-on luggage, which is what customers most liked. It’s hard to find a stroller that you can get on the plane as carry-on luggage, but this one manages it. The only complaint we found was that the wheels could tend to lock on their own. This could be annoying when strolling and suddenly the wheels lock. However, with proper care, you won’t have any issues like this with this brilliant stroller.

Best Travel Stroller For The Frequent Flyer

We strongly recommend this all-in-stroller stroller as your best travel stroller if you’re a frequent flyer.

It's a travel stroller that's great for life, too. With a useful one-hand fold design, it's easy to open up or shut down and stash on a train or plane. The lightweight aluminum frame makes it easy to carry but also very sturdy.

Often there’s simply not enough space to push a stroller, so having one that easily folds up and is light enough to carry is a major plus in any model of strollers.

The click and go system of this stroller also makes it useful for a quick connection to an infant car seat. Britax also makes infant car seats so get one of those if you’re on the lookout for one.

It has a three-wheel configuration with front swivel wheel, making it agile enough to dodge through hoards of bustling people. Conveniently, it has a great under-seat storage facility and an additional zippered pocket to fit all your essentials.

Customers were especially impressed by how easy to use this stroller is. Jogger-style strollers can be bulky and awkward to use, but this one makes it a simple task of folding and storing. The lack of a footrest got on the nerves of one or two customers, but the overall convenience of this stroller adequately makes up for any disgruntlement.

A best travel stroller for a quality price.

The Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience Stroller is brilliant travel stroller for summer trips. As an umbrella travel stroller, it’s a useful model for getting your young ones about the rush of an airport or train station.

Made from a super durable aluminum frame that weighs just 12 pounds with a large seating area for when the kids get a little bigger. The seat will secure your child with a durable five point safety harness. With four seating positions, can you recline the seat back to adjust for your baby’s comfort.

Maybe most importantly, the anti-shock wheels make for a smooth and comfortable ride, which is perfect for when the baby’s dozing. Add an adjustable and removable canopy will shield them from excessive sunlight and rain alike, with a little window. Adjustable, extra large storage basket gives you some space to store both you and your child’s things when you’re on the move.

It has been updated to have a simple compact folding system and a carry strap to transport it when your child isn’t riding. An auto lock system ensures you won’t have an awkwardly unfolding stroller on your hands as you rush through the airport.

Customers loved the durability of this stroller. The aluminum frame ensures it’s one that will stand the test of time.

The Summer Infant 3D Lite is a value-priced stroller for getting about quickly and conveniently.

What's Your Stroller Type?

You've got two different frame types: the umbrella stroller and the jogger style stroller. The jogger style has three wheels instead of the conventional four, which makes the jogger travel stroller easier to maneuver. But wait! The four-wheeled umbrella strollers take up less space.

So much to consider.

Think about your traveling needs.

Are you a:

Freedom Loving Explorer Are you an active parent, who includes her kids in parts of her exercise and daily routines? Are you just as likely to be found on a nature trail or pushing the stroller through a garden as you are in the grocery store?

Urban Parent: Or, are you busy jetting off to exotic places, with the kids along for the ride? Do you find yourself most often in small, urban restaurants and shops, and not at the beach?

International Jet-Setter: Do you regularly plans trips outside of the United States and Canada? Do you know how to travel light and hate checking luggage? There's a stroller for that!

Luxe Lover: You value brand names and quality construction. You don't mind investing in a piece that people will notice. Your just as likely to be at a resort as you are shopping 5th Avenue.

Or maybe you’re a combination?!

You've read a lot information about strollers. It’s a pretty subjective decision to make, and there is no right or wrong answer as to which particular model you choose to purchase.

The first thing is what style, as discussed above.
Consider your lifestyle. We can't stress this enough.

• If you use public transportation when you travel, an ultralight umbrella stroller or the City Mini jogger-style stroller is ideal. 
• For use at home and when traveling, an umbrella-style stroller or the City Mini are good mixed-use solutions.
• For frequent fliers who like to carry-on only, the Mountain Buggy Nano is a hybrid that stows in an overhead bin!!
• For the budget-minded, the Kolcraft Cloud Plus or the Zoe XL1 Deluxe offer the biggest bang for your buck.
• If cost is the primary concern, the Summer Infant Convenience 3D Lite stroller is best...but check the Kolcraft Cloud Plus first, as it's often on sale!!! 

There are some bad choices you can make when choosing a stroller within a given category. There are hundreds of poorly made, poorly designed strollers out there. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best umbrella strollers, jogger-style strollers, and even a few ultra lightweight strollers for you to check out.

You can take our word for it; we’ve gone through thousands of strollers to pick these as our top picks. With experience and dedication on our side, you won’t find a better list.