Best Umbrella Strollers for Every Stage 2023

If you're looking for a lightweight, narrow-profile stroller that folds up small, quickly and easily, an umbrella stroller is your best bet. The best umbrella strollers are easy to fold and great for navigating public transit, busy sidewalks and narrow store aisles. Most even come with clever shoulder strap attachments.

Plus, they're ideal for travel like those nifty car seat stroller combos you probably relied on during the first several weeks of baby's life.

Curved handles on traditional models fold up long and narrow, but that's changing a bit, with some more modern models folding into a compact square shape. Many styles feature a reclining seat, which is great for napping, though most don't recline flat for infants under three to six months old.

Here are the best umbrella strollers, which made the cut to get the Today's Parent Approved seal.

Best umbrella strollers 2023

• Best overall: UppaBaby G-Luxe
• Best for city: Baby Jogger City Tour 2
• Best budget: Summer Infant 3D Umbrella Stroller
• Best rated: BabyZen Yoyo 2
• Best one-handed fold: GB Pockit+ Folding Umbrella Stroller

Best overall

UppaBaby G-Luxe

This made-in-the-USA classic is rated our best umbrella stroller overall thanks to simple folding, reliability and ease of cleaning. It comes with a simple rain shield that allows for quick attachment and removal, a roll-up window for toddlers to make the most of and premium ventilation.

We love the OG-standing fold this model boasts (the same kind that made umbrella strollers an essential to begin with) and adjustable closure straps. If you're looking for one travel stroller to make it through a few kids, this is the durable piece you'll be happy you invested in.

Pros

• Durable, USA-made construction
• One-handed recline
• Adjustable footrest
• Easy to attach and remove rain shield
• Roll-up windows and premium ventilation
• Strong wheels stand up to most surfaces
• Narrow standing closure

Cons

• Slightly pricier than other models, but parents swear by this brand's top-notch service and easy maintenance

Baby Jogger City Tour 2

With about 1,400 ratings and a loyal legion of devotees, the City Tour 2 is a serious contender on our list of the best umbrella strollers. At only 14 pounds, it's a lightweight and compact option that offers the easiest-to-maneuver design we've seen yet. That's important if you're weaving in and out of densely-packed city streets all day.

We love that you can use your convertible car seat or infant car seat here with car seat adapters. Single-step folding and auto-lock promise easy transportation and storage. Plus, it features several possible reclining angles that make going places a cinch whether you're six months old or rolling up to your fourth birthday party.

"We tend to travel at least once a year so we decided to buy a travel stroller," writes verified Amazon reviewer, Hinda Burnstein. "Overall, this option is a great stroller. It's easy to push and easy to fold. We like that it's lightweight and the travel bag is a nice add-on."

Pros

• Easiest wheel maneuvering of all the models we tested—ideal for crowded city streets and narrow spaces
• This stroller weighs just 14 pounds
• Compact, single-handed folding
• Auto-lock for easy storage
• Can be used with car seat adapters

Cons

• Not the slimmest model, but folds easily and makes life on the go a breeze

Summer Infant 3D Umbrella Stroller

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This lightweight umbrella stroller makes any outing a little easier thanks to a durable aluminum frame that weighs just 13 pounds. It features a large seat that easily fits kids up to about age five, anti-shock front wheels and lockable rear wheels.

Parents rave about the four-position recline and obscenely affordable price point, but we love the five-point safety harness and removable sun canopy with a flip-out visor that's perfect for sunny days. That means you don't have to stress quite as much about the best sunscreen for kids if you're angled properly and in the shade.

"It's appropriate for older kids with special needs for safe, comfortable travel," writes one happy, verified Amazon purchaser. We bought this stroller for a spring break trip to the beach and theme parks. We previously owned a Summer Infant 3D Lite, which lasted us from when our daughter was around two to around five years old. After several flights and lots of wear and tear the front wheels gave out. I was looking for something portable, simple and comfortable with good handling that could accommodate our daughter for the next few years. This model is great."

Pros

• Incredibly affordable: under $100 for a premium, high-end design
• Mimics the design and maneuvering of the bestselling UPPAbaby with few compromises
• Over 13,000 Amazon ratings
• Compact folding
• Fits kids up to 50 pounds
• Flip-out sun visor
• Durable carry strap

Cons

• Not as many high-end comfort finishes as other models we tested, though still excellent
• Don't overload the storage bin—it maxes out at about 10 pounds

BabyZen Yoyo 2

We're obsessed with this easy-to-use, top-of-the-line umbrella stroller that makes air travel a cinch. It folds neatly with a single hand and folds tiny to fit in your trunk, a carry-on bag or just be stored in an overhead compartment. We love that it's easy to steer with a single hand, carry it on a shoulder and store essentials in the included zippered pocket.

It fits infants through children up to about 48 pounds thanks to a comfy seat cushion, reclining backrest and secure five-point harness that rivals some of the best we've seen on toddler car seats. Customize it with a range of accessories like cup holders, parasols, leg rests and more.

"I originally had a full travel system that I was using. It just took up so much space in my car and was hard to get in and out while being alone with my baby," explains one verified Amazon purchaser. "I finally got the BabyZen Yo-Yo 2 and it was the best decision I ever made. It is lightweight and super compact. I can easily fit it in my trunk and it maneuvers AMAZING. Seriously a game changer!"

Pros

• Roughly 1,000 ratings with a nearly-perfect 4.5-star average
• Folds tiny to fit just about anywhere—even an overhead compartment
• Comes in a variety of colors
• Totally customizable
• Fits babies through kids up to about 48 pounds
• Easy to clean
• Higher average rating than the bestselling Kolcraft Cloud (which didn't make this year's list)

Cons

• Pricier than other models, though we think it's worth every penny for frequent fliers

GB Pockit+ Folding Umbrella Stroller

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This travel umbrella stroller's compact and collapsible design promises it fits in most overhead compartments on planes and trains. This eliminates the need to gate check your stroller (a hassle many parents hate), and keeps you and baby strolling with ease from start to finish.

It's a lightweight wonder weighing in just under 10 pounds, folds in two fast steps and features agile front swivel wheels that make getting around the playground or one of those all-inclusive family resorts a total breeze. Plus, it's easy to carry thanks to a clever attached handle.

It's one of our favorite compact strollers overall and an excellent stroller for travel that will stand up to years of use.

Pros

• Single-handed folding
• Less than 10 pounds makes it easy for just about anyone to this lightweight stroller take on the go
• Agile wheels
• Robust weight limit of 55 pounds
• UPF 50+ sun canopy and reclining seat

Cons

• Folds vertically vs. horizontally, a departure from typical umbrella strollers, but this actually is more convenient if you're popping it in your trunk

How we chose the best umbrella strollers

To make choosing an umbrella stroller easier, we put a wide range of models to the test to bring you a list of the best ones out there. We tested each stroller in our lab and asked parent testers to try them out at home so we could get real-life feedback to assess the quality, ease of use and value for money.

We looked at all the big and little things that matter most to parents, including how easy it is to buckle a child in, how well each stroller maneuvers, the sturdiness of the frame, fabric quality, size and access to the storage basket.

How straight the stroller rolls, ease of folding and unfolding and simplicity of cleaning were also heavily considered.

Where to buy the best umbrella strollers

We suggest adding an umbrella to your newborn checklist because sooner rather than later, you'll end up needing one. Some parents put infants in after a few as 12 weeks, though we believe sitting upright is best for these compact, lightweight stroller choices. That's typically from about six months and up.

The best lightweight umbrella strollers can be found at any our of best baby registries, though we like the fast shipping and fair pricing of Amazon. If you're not already a Prime member, here's how you can get a free membership and other free stuff from Amazon right now.

A few of our favorite stroller brands in general include:

• UPPABaby
• Baby Jogger
• Joovy
• Chicco
• Graco
• Summer Infant
• BabyZen

We've tested models from each of these brands, giving each overall comfort score of at least four stars out of a possible five. Better yet, they all feature excellent customer service and widespread availability of parts, repairs, accessories and other must-haves.

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