Your membership has expired

The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.

Re-activate

    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

    When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.

    Two moms with their children sitting on a park bench with a Summer Infant 3Dlite Baby stroller near them
    The quick-folding umbrella stroller is a great lightweight second stroller for babies who can sit up on their own.
    Photo: Summer Infant

    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.

    MORE on Gear for Kids

    “They were christened as umbrella strollers because they fold into a long, narrow package—though not as narrow as an actual umbrella,” says Joan Muratore, the engineer who oversees stroller testing for Consumer Reports. 

    Most umbrella strollers are designed to carry babies 6 months or older—those who can sit up on their own. With fabric seats and two distinct handles, they’re generally the lightest strollers, too, nimble enough to navigate tight spaces and corners.

    You’ll find umbrella strollers in our ratings that weigh as little as 7 pounds and as much as 18 pounds—but still a lot less than other strollers, which can weigh as much as 38 pounds. They’re also quick-folding and compact for easy stowing in closets, car trunks, or airplane storage areas. A select few conveniently stand while folded. All of these pluses make umbrella strollers a popular choice among parents, often as a handy second stroller.

    The trade-offs? Many umbrella strollers have limited storage and small wheels that may not handle uneven terrain well. And some have a fixed (non-reclining) seat back or a limited recline.

    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.


    BW Headshot of Consumer Reports author Keith Flamer

    Keith Flamer

    As a kid in Delaware, I lived a few blocks from Bob Marley, who once said, "It is better to live on the house top than to live in a house full of confusion." At CR, I'm psyched to help readers navigate this cluttered, hyper-commercialized world we live in. I've covered luxury real estate, interior design, and culture—reporting on everything from smart home technology to racial hypocrisy at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello estate. Since the pandemic started, I cherish simplicity, covering accessible topics like decorating, cooking, and cleaning. Give me a smoothie blender over a mansion any day. Blenders are slightly easier to clean.