Best Umbrella Strollers of 2023
Compact and foldable, these collapsible strollers are a cinch to deploy on quick trips, errands around town, or ambles in the park
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Parents of toddlers are always on the run. So whether you’re walking to a store, driving to a playground, or flying to Disney World, a compact umbrella stroller is the quickest way to get you and baby back and forth.
At least, that’s what aviation engineer Owen Maclaren thought in 1965 when he invented the umbrella stroller (a collapsible "baby buggy") to replace his granddaughter’s heavy pram carriage before an international flight. His revolutionary stroller was made of lightweight aluminum with blue-and-white stripes. Since then, parents of all stripes choose to push their kids around in this convenient stroller type.
How We Test Strollers
CR’s engineers test umbrella strollers in the lab at our Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters to assess which ones are safe, maneuverable, and easy to use. Using weights to simulate a child, we navigate strollers along our indoor test course, steering around S-curves, between cones, up and down a curb, and over obstructions that mimic grass, mulch, and tree roots. We also assess strollers for safety, using tests patterned after the CPSC/ASTM standard. When CR discovers a stroller is unsafe, we warn consumers about potential dangers.
If you’re in the market for a lightweight umbrella stroller, check our stroller ratings, which include brands such as Chicco, Maclaren, Summer Infant, and UPPAbaby. Refer to our stroller buying guide before you shop. Here are three top-rated lightweight umbrella strollers (listed alphabetically) that will get you on your way.