We all want to find the perfect stroller for our family, but it can be difficult. So we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks that will help you narrow down your options so much more easily!
Sort out the differences between different stroller types in order to look past the advertising and really analyze what will fit best for your needs and environment.
So let’s get started then breaking down the market into understandable categories and explaining what each broader type of stroller excels at and in which ways it might fail to, to do what you want it to.
And as before, we’ll begin with ultra compacts, which are the smallest size strollers available designed specifically with an eye towards being lightweight, having a small folded size, and being easy to fold and carry all of which it’s important to note are characteristics
That have nothing to do with how an ultra-compact actually functions when strolling that being said, ultra comebacks can be quite useful if purchased for one of the following three purposes as a travel stroller, in particular, those models that fold down to within cabin luggage limits for keeping in the trunk of your car and maybe pairing with a car seat or possibly as your primary stroller provided that you live somewhere with very smooth streets, don’t need much in the way of carrying capacity will don’t need to use your stroller for more than a few short trips each day, and also have a specific need for a stroller.
That’s easy to fold and carry such as for example, if you need to fold your stroller in order to negotiate the subway as your primary means of transport, ultra compacts fail to work well for people in my experience, when they’re bought to fulfill the roles of larger sturdier and more terrain capable.
So please note the following that ultra compacts with reversible seats should be avoided as there is simply no way to build a reversible seat, large enough on such a small chassis that ultra compacts are not ideal for newborns, at least other than as a short term holiday solution.
Ultra compacts strollers strollers
And that ultra compacts will wear down and break quickly. If you overstress them with added weight or regularly, force them to draw life over gravel, cobblestones, dirt roads, and so on.
You should not attempt to hack the basic carrying capacity of ultra compacts by hanging heavy bags from the handle, nor should you use wheeled boards for a second child.
And if you plan to stroll somewhere rougher than smooth pavement and indoor mall-like environments on a regular basis, then you need to buy a bigger stroller.
Additionally, ultra compacts like the GB pocket, for example, overachieve by folding down so small that they can be tied. A top of the backpack should only be purchased for travel.
And only if you really need something that small while models that are too large to pass as cabin luggage should be judged harshly for their sturdiness and performance characteristics, as they effectively fall into our next category.
Small-sized day strollers
Small-sized day, daily models, small-sized daily use strollers are larger than ultra compacts and have more or less the same features.
One finds with full-size models, including being built sufficiently sturdy to handle regular everyday use.
Unlike ultra compacts, small-size daily models are usually not ideal for travel but are still specifically oriented towards use and urban environments, both in terms of their small size being useful for navigating crowded spaces.
But also due to their generally poor terrain capability and also towards use with a car since they can be folded, quite compact due to the use to features like foldable seat frames, to achieve a one-piece fold and models in this class are ideal.
Then if you’re looking for an everyday stroller, but live in a city where these models can provide a little defined space of your own with sufficient protection for your child and enough storage capacity for carting around some gear while not being so large as to cause problems on public transport or so have that you can’t carry your stroller up the stairs.
If you live in a walkup terrain capability varies by a model with sturdier models like the jewels hub plus significantly outperforming slimmer models like the Cybex Mios, but the smallest size daily strollers can tackle a little gravel park grass and uneven sidewalks though.
Note that if you live in an older European city with really rough co-stones, then these aren’t the strollers for you. You either need to go bigger or get a three Wheeler.
In addition to the limited terrain capability, small-size daily strollers, at least the reversible seat variance can be a bad choice if your child is already a bit older as the seat frames tend to be smaller than on larger size models.
And additionally, even though the carrying capacity with this stroll is better than with ultra compacts, it’s still limited by chassis size, meaning that small-size daily strollers aren’t the best choice. If you’ll be reliant on your stroller for big grocery expeditions and full-on picnics and day trips with these models ought usually to be planned with an extra mode for carrying stuff like a backpack.
Medium Sized Daily strollers
Moving on, we get to mid-size models, which is admittedly a vague turn, but by which I mean single child four-wheel models with reversible seats, rear wheels, usually around 12 inches in diameter, and a folded package.
That’s not too difficult to stuff into the trunk of a medium-sized car.
So strollers like the Cybex Priam and also weirder fashion or design-oriented models like the Stok Explorer and me Maza mid-size models are the Jack of all trades choice built to take you around all day on errands, but still not too hard to fit in the trunk, packing a little extra suspension, but often failing to tackle real off-road terrain or the worst of cobblestone though.
It’s important to note that there’s a lot of variation here with the crucial differences among mid-size models, lying with seat size overall on longevity, based on how Sterly the model is constructed and how simple the mechanisms are and terrain capability where models like the Bugaboo Fox, for example, with its eight and a half inch front wheel Excel, far beyond the capabilities of most other mid-size strollers looking beyond these differences, the mid-size class as a whole is the place to look. If a reversible seat is a must.
And if your stroller will be your primary means of transporting your baby, you still need something that will fit in the trunk. If you need a bit better storage capacity terrain capability or a larger seat than a small size model can provide but are turned off by going for something even larger and heavier due to the storage or carrying considerations.
The wide difference between models makes judging the negatives a bit complicated as well, but generally, and with a few exceptions like the Upperbaby Cruz V2 and the jewels day plus mid-sized models tend to be a bit fragile and loosen up quite a bit over time due to trying to stay competitive with regards to weight on one hand, while also are having quite complex mechanisms in order to really cram in extra functions, stuff like quote-unquote, a one-handed fold, a life flat seat, and a flip flop friendly brake.
In addition, mid-size models tend to be an unsatisfying purchase when parents buy them just to get something without really thinking through their needs well enough while actually, they ought to be buying a model from one of the other categories in this video that provide specific advantages with regards to size and weight seat size terrain capability, or overall durability.
Large Sized Daily strollers
I want to deal with one more category, which I sometimes refer to as Cadillac strollers, meaning somewhat oversized and more luxurious models of this type that are built stronger and more terrain capable with more basket space and often slightly larger seats, the single child only Cadillac models like the Bugaboo Buffalo and the Stokke trails have mostly disappeared on the current market.
But some though definitely not all tandem models you using the mono configuration can often fill the same role provided that they don’t skimp on the size of the main seat, have strong suspension and good-sized front wheels.
And haven’t overly stretched out the length of the chassis to accommodate a second seat.
The Uppababy Vista V2 and the Emmaljunga NXT90 work well here, for example, but not the silver cross wave or the CEX gazelle Cadillac models are ideal for people who need a stroller for heavy all day everyday use without a car as they can comfortably tackle a lot of rougher conditions and are ideal for off-roading in nature handling all types of cobblestone and for use in places that have harsher winters, larger basket size and increased durability also mean that you can pack a lot of groceries and gear without worrying about the added weight impacting driving.
On the flip side, Cadillac strollers are big and heavy of course and are thus not a great match for use with a car for carrying upstairs or for use or storage in environments where space is limited.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that if the terrain capability seat size and durability aspects of the Cadillac model are what you’re mainly looking for, then they’re not the most economic means of getting there in terms of size weight or generally price. The models from our next section are.
3 wheeled strollers
And next up then we’re gonna talk about three-wheeled strollers with front swivel wheels of which there are many sizes and which as a result, provide alternatives to small-sized mid-sized and Cadillac class four-wheel old models that mitigate a lot of the downsides discussed so far because you see the three Wheeler is the most streamlined economic shape that a stroller can take allowing much more to be achieved for less weight, folded size and often money.
And in comparison to the vast majority of four-wheelers, then what you generally get with a three Wheeler is a larger seat, a sturdier simpler, and longer-lasting build, better terrain capability, a naturally smaller folded package due to not needing a separate seat frame.
And usually a very easy one-step, one hand fold what you give up with a three Wheeler or a reversible seat after the newborn period, though, with some models, you can get a convertible bassinet to extend reversed seating for a year or two, and often a little storage capacity.
As the shopping baskets on three-wheelers tend to be a little smaller and less easily accessible for whom will a three-Wheeler be a good fit. In my opinion, anybody who’s looking for a daily use model and is with a forward-facing seat.
As I said, three-wheelers come in all sizes from small-size models like the mountain buggy swift and mid-size models like the Bumbleride indie to larger models like the Baby Jogger Summit X3, or the new UPPAbaby Ridge.
When looking to get a three-Wheeler for daily use, be aware that rear wheel size will be the biggest factor. Adding bulk models, folded dimensions.
And for most people, it’s not necessary to go that large as even something like the city mini® GT2 will already provide terrain capabilities on par with four-wheeled Cadillac models.
And also note that it’s important to look a bit at how upright the seat goes on a perspective model as not all manufacturers do this the same way.
And in some cases, it’s necessary to use a seat insert or a sit-up strap to achieve a more vertical, upright position jogging and trail running strollers are a specific variant of three-wheelers and require extra reinforcement and special features like added suspension, a dynamic hand break, bigger wheels, and either a fixed front wheel or at least a very sturdy swivel lock though. A fixed wheel is better in order to function well for its intended purpose.
Jogging strollers
But what I would like to say is that in my opinion, if possible, it’s best to get a dedicated jogging model separate from your daily stroller. As there are concessions made in the design hybrid type models, heavier larger wheeled, three-wheelers with lockable SW of wheels that are advertised as joggers that make them both a bit subpar as running models, by not being as streamlined as they could be.
And also subpar as daily use models by often being a bit bigger and bulkier than otherwise necessary. Though. Note that hybrid models do work great for hiking.
Two child strollers
If that’s what you’re going for, moving on, we’re gonna deal with two child strollers where the main choice will be between side by side models or inline, usually tandem strollers, and where, in my opinion, side by side models are preferable.
If you’re facing a longer period of needing a two-child stroller say more than a year while tandem models are better for periods of time, that are shorter in this, the reason for this is that T models and the two-child configuration are just a lot less comfortable to use than side by side strollers with problematic seating options, often making the younger childless accessible than the older child and being either heavy to tip and steer in the case of front-loaded tandems or sacrificing basket space with rear-loaded models.
4 Fixed Wheels strollers
They do, however, have that one-child option though, which is what makes them better for a shorter crossover period.
And if this is what you’re looking at, then choosing a good tandem model is mainly about getting something that works excellently for one child and just gritting your teeth and bearing it for the two-child period.
If however, that two-child period is long enough that you really ought to aim for better comfort, then know that a side-by-side stroller will be much more maneuverable will generally provide better terrain capability, and will be more stable.
You’ll also get equal access to both children and a wide shopping basket.
The downsides of side-by-side models are often somewhat near or seats, a wider stroller. They’ll note that this is often overestimated by people and most, if not all, side by side models are specifically engineered to fit through standard doorways.
And of course the facts that once that crossover period is done most side-by-side models will be generally useless to you, unless you, for some reason, need a ton of extra storage space to finish off.
I’d like to make a few notes on the more unusual strolling solutions out there, starting by saying that though, not that common four-wheeled fixed wheel strollers, those big old-fashioned carriage-type models are still a perfectly good choice for anyone who wants one.
As long as you go with a good manufacturer like Emma Lunga or the silver cross heritage line, they’re bulky and heavy of course, but sturdy and provide good terrain capability.
Wagons strollers
Secondly, there are wagons, which when seating more than two children can be quite useful.
But as far as the two-child models go, will generally suffer from the same maneuverability disadvantages that tandem models have versus side-by-side strollers.
And lastly, for those who need something a bit more enclosed for dealing with bad weather, or that can double for the bicycle, there are chariots that generally have transformable front ends so that they can be either pushed or pulled as a bicycle attachment.
Chariots can be great, especially if you go out a lot in nature, but do of course take up a lot of space.
And the one note I’d make, if you’re thinking about getting one is to get a model where you can attach a decent-sized front wheel, as opposed to just the tiny wheel attachment old with chariots intended for mainly bicycle use. In any case, we hope you found this post interesting.
