Even among this light category of strollers, you still need to ensure that it’s easy to fold and comfortable to transport. Some are light, with straps for easy carrying, and some are small enough to fit into the overhead bin of an airplane. If you’re in the market specifically for a travel stroller , check out our deep dive into that product category. No matter where you’re taking it, you want something that’s durable. We tested products at various price points for all of these factors to bring you this list of the best umbrella strollers—and a number of other compact strollers that fit the bill, too.
When shopping for a compact or umbrella stroller, you’ll need to be mindful of minimum age recommendations and maximum weight capacities . You will also need to consider whether maneuverability over different terrains is important to you. Alli Cavasino a certified child passenger safety technician, and the co-founder and CEO of Joylet highlights that the “umbrella stroller is the lightest option that may sacrifice features and maneuverability in its design.” Still, some light strollers can manage the bumps better than others.
Umbrella strollers are a classic choice for many parents and caregivers. They’re lighter than standard strollers and have the added advantage of folding down into a small footprint, which makes them incredibly travel-friendly and good for those of us short on storage space. Additionally, if you’re shopping solely based on budget, umbrella strollers are almost always cheaper than the more structured versions. Our team tested over 40 models of umbrella strollers and other types of ultra-compact strollers in the lab and at home with our children to find the best for every budget.
Best Overall (Umbrella)
Uppababy G-Luxe Stroller
Amazon
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Why We Like It: A built-in carrying strap and smooth maneuverability make this a long-time favorite that also comes with a standing fold design and one-handed recline adjustment.
But Take Note: Folding requires some precise lever pulling that’s tricky at first.
Agility on the go is the best way to describe the Uppababy G-Luxe, a favorite among the veteran parents on our staff as well as in our testing lab. At 16 pounds, it manages to be both sturdy and very easy to carry, with a built-in carrying strap and standing fold design. With a total weight capacity of 55 pounds, this stroller works from when your baby can sit up unassisted to when they’re well into their preschool years.
Design: In the lab, we loved the adult cup holders that can even fit travel mugs and the generous canopy with UPF 50+ protection. The padding is pretty substantial without looking bulky, and the seat reclines quite far for an umbrella stroller. The under-seat cargo basket can also support up to 10 pounds.
Maneuverability: Like many of the other Uppababy strollers we’ve tested, it makes really good tight turns and is smooth rolling. It has suspension with shock absorption on all four wheels, easy maneuverability, a one-step brake, and an ergonomic handle design to reduce strain on your arms, wrist, and back.
Portability: The one area where the G-Luxe doesn’t stand up to newer compact strollers is in activating the folding mechanism. Our lab tester felt that it was very hard to do since it requires a combination move with a ring and handle that “seems finicky and has to be timed perfectly.” While you will eventually master this and folding becomes easier, the first few tries might be a struggle. This is also a true umbrella stroller, so it’s rather long (42 inches) when folded.
Price at time of publication: $200
The Details:
Best Budget (Umbrella)
Summer Infant 3Dlite Convenience Stroller
Amazon
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Why We Like It: Along with being affordable, this is one of the lighter options from our roundup, weighing in at a mere 13 pounds.
But Take Note: The canopy on this stroller is a bit shallow, and it’s short on padding and shock absorption for rougher terrain.
Not only is this stroller the least expensive on our list, but its aluminum frame also makes it one of the lightest options that we tested. It may not have a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s super functional.
Design: Weighing in at 13 pounds, it still has a maximum weight capacity of 50 pounds, which is fairly competitive. This four-wheel stroller comes with four recline positions and a canopy that includes a sun visor—although we found that the canopy was a bit shallow compared to other brands. Adults will appreciate the on-board cup holder and roomy undercarriage storage.
Maneuverability: For this affordable price seems, you don’t get much suspension and shock absorption, and that was definitely felt on rough terrain in our tests. It still managed to score well for maneuverability and smooth movements over most surfaces.
Portability: The foot mechanism to fold this stroller isn’t hard to operate, and it’s possible for pretty much any adult to reasonably carry this Summer Infant 3DLite Stroller in the folded position. Plus, it features a built-in handle so you can sling it over your arm and be on your way.
Just be mindful that it’s still 43 inches long when folded.
Price at time of publication: $100
The Details:
Best Double
Uppababy G-Link V2 Double Stroller
Amazon
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Why We Like It: With just four wheels instead of six, you’ll get an easy, light ride across a multitude of surfaces and no center wheels for you to accidentally kick as you push the stroller.
But Take Note: Unsurprisingly, a double side-by-side stroller isn’t exactly compact—even when folded.
If you’ve got multiple sets of little legs that tire easily, a double stroller can be a lifesaver. While they’re often characterized as bulky and hard to maneuver, Uppababy attempts a commendable side-by-side iteration with the G-Link V2 model. (If you want more options for toting two kids around, check out our double stroller guide.)
Design: Some core features that make this stroller one of our favorites are the independent three-position recline and a full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy for each chair. The total weight capacity is 110 pounds or 55 pounds per seat. Yet the entire stroller weighs only 22.3 pounds—definitely not the heaviest thing you’ll carry in a day. You’ll also get a storage basket with a 10-pound capacity and individual pockets on the back of the canopies that can each hold up to 2 pounds. The calf rest is not the most supportive you’ll see out there—it’s really more of a cushion, with no place for taller kids’ feet to rest.
Maneuverability: Where the G-Link 2 really excelled in our lab is with maneuverability. Our tester felt that it was good at making tight turns and that the wheels performed well over hard and smooth surfaces. In particular, it was very easy to operate over the gravel with a ride that was barely bumpy. Additionally, removing the center wheels that many side-by-side strollers have means you can walk normally without worrying about hitting your feet against the frame.
Portability: Some things to keep in mind with this stroller is that while it does fold fairly flat (for a double stroller, anyway), it lacks a carrying strap, which makes this a little bit more cumbersome to carry. Additionally, unfolding the stroller can be a little difficult because of a very precise locking and unlocking mechanism that needs to be activated.
Price at time of publication: $350
The Details:
Best Classic Style
babyGap Children Classic Stroller
Amazon
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Why We Like It: Simple installation, a good recline function, and easy maneuverability this a great everyday option that’s really nice looking, too.
But Take Note: The canopy doesn’t have a peekaboo viewing window, and a slightly difficult locking mechanism might be a drawback for some parents.
Beginning in 2022, Gap teamed up with Delta Children to create its babyGap Classic Stroller. Available in four colors, this modestly priced umbrella stroller is designed with ease in mind, and we were pleasantly surprised by how much we liked it in the lab.
Design: One standout is that this is a very easy-to-assemble stroller. In terms of the main frame, you just need to attach the wheels followed by adding the accessories which include the adjustable sun shade canopy and a large storage basket. With a maximum weight capacity of 50 pounds, you can easily use this well into your child’s preschool years—though you can’t start using it until they’re 9 months old. One of our real-world testers is 6 feet tall and found that they frequently bumped into the back of the frame. By contrast, their partner was only 5 foot 3 inches and didn’t experience this issue. But both of them disliked the lack of a peekaboo window in the canopy.
Maneuverability: This stroller earned high marks for maneuverability, with our testers noting that it was “great on all terrains” and that it “didn’t rattle too much.” Additionally, it performed well in turns as well as moving over obstacles like curbs and stairs.
Portability: The steel frame weighs in at just over 14 pounds, putting it in the middle range for weight compared to the other strollers we tested. Unfortunately, the locking mechanism for folding the stroller can be tough to activate, with one tester wishing they had “three hands to squeeze the releases and lift up the lever.”
Price at time of publication: $110
The Details:
Best Maneuverability
Chicco Liteway Stroller
Walmart
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Why We Like It: One-handed maneuverability, a quick assembly, and a lightweight frame are some of the key features that make this ideal for city dwellers and travelers.
But Take Note: There’s a weird design flaw that requires you to remove the canopy before reclining or folding the seat. Additionally, it has a weight limit of just 40 pounds.
Whether you live in a city or have a home or apartment that’s a bit tiny, an oversized stroller is not a good idea. In the worst-case scenarios, you can barely fit that stroller through the doors.
The Chicco Liteway Stroller is our top pick for maneuverability, and we like it as a budget compact stroller for smaller spaces.
Design: While we like the small size of this stroller, there were a few core areas where the Liteway struggled against the competition during testing. The undercarriage storage is quite petite and won’t fit a standard-sized diaper bag. Plus, this stroller has one of the lower maximum weight limits at 40 pounds, so your kid may be outgrowing it before you’re ready to ditch strollers altogether. While the canopy has a peekaboo window, you have to unclip the canopy and move it when folding or reclining the stroller.
Maneuverability: With rear-wheel suspension, the Liteway earned high marks for being very easy to push around on challenging terrain and make tight turns. Its narrow design also means it easily fits through tight spaces, which is clutch for city parents and frequent travelers.
Portability: The lightweight frame was easy to handle and fold, even for our pregnant tester who easily lifted it by herself while in heels. Just be aware that it’s a full 46 inches long when folded, so it may be a struggle to fit into some car trunks.
Price at time of publication: $110
The Details:
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Our Favorite Ultra-Compact Umbrella Stroller Alternatives
The strollers below aren't umbrella strollers in the classic sense, but they fold down even smaller and may be a better choice if compact and light are your biggest criteria.
Best Overall (Compact)
Joolz Aer+ Lightweight Stroller
Bloomingdale's
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Why We Like It: If you’re up for a splurge that’s worth the price, this stroller comes fully assembled, features a zip-release recline feature, and folds up to a compact footprint that fits on small shelves or overhead bins.
But Take Note: Beyond the higher sticker price, this pick lacks a leg rest for the tots and has smaller on-board storage which might be an issue if you can’t consolidate into a smaller diaper bag.
Let’s just get it out of the way by saying that the Joolz Aer+ Buggy is one of the more expensive options for the ultra-compact stroller category. But it delivers on some of the key features you want for this type of stroller, and it fits in most overhead compartments.
Design: Because it’s such a compact stroller, it’s able to ship preassembled. It simply needed to be unfolded straight out of the box. Unlike some of the other tiny strollers we tested, this sleek model has a full canopy, the ability to recline pretty far back for naps, and a decent cargo space that can hold up to 11 pounds. As for its passengers, kids can use it from 6 months old up to 50 pounds. There is no leg rest, however, so taller kids may not love it.
Maneuverability: We’re surprised that the Aer+ manages to have shocks on its wheels and remain so light, and this made it a joy to push around. It also took turns well, even one-handed.
Portability: In the lab, our seasoned tester said this was the easiest fold she’d ever tested. It takes about one second (after a couple of practice tries) and just one hand pushing a button and a lever. At just 13 pounds you can easily carry this stroller by its attached shoulder strap, or zip it into the included travel bag if you’re planning to check it.
Price at time of publication: $449
The Details:
Best Budget (Compact)
Contours Itsy Ultra-Sturdy Compact Fold Stroller
Buy Buy Baby
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Why We Like It: It packs down to a ridiculously compact form with a weight just over 12 pounds, so toting and storing it couldn’t be easier.
But Take Note: To get to that weight and size, this stroller skimps on storage space and comfort.
Don’t underestimate the importance of having a compact stroller that’s just easy to use. The Contours Itsy lives up to its name with a lightweight 12.3-pound rating and an easy to activate folding mechanism. As one of our testers shared “having a lightweight item that’s easy to pack and unpack back into the car is a godsend.” Most importantly, there’s no real assembly required. This stroller comes out of the box ready to use with your choice to add the bumper bar.
Design: This is a very no-frills stroller. There are no options for onboard storage for caregivers beyond the incredibly tiny undercarriage basket. In the lab and in the real world, we couldn’t fit a diaper bag or even a small totebag in it, and wound up carrying everything on our shoulders. While the canopy is generously sized, the seat is narrow and doesn’t recline, and there’s no foot rest, so bigger kids won’t be very comfortable in it for long. The maximum weight capacity is only 40 pounds, too.
Maneuverability: Our general feeling was that the brakes and maneuverability on this stroller could be better given the $170 price tag. It was slightly wobbly, though not enough to make it feel unsafe.
Portability: A single-button, one-handed folding mechanism makes it user-friendly for everyone. The real reason we love this stroller is that it’s about the size of a grocery bag when folded, and you can hoist it into an overhead compartment or into a car trunk without a second thought.
Price at time of publication: $170
The Details:
Best for Cities
Babyzen YOYO2 Stroller
Amazon
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Why We Like It: It’s very compact and glides like a dream on a variety of different surfaces.
But Take Note: A finicky five-point harness and a tough folding mechanism might make you think twice before turning this into an everyday stroller choice.
The BabyZen Yoyo2 Stroller earned high marks in our lab and at home for its incredibly small folded footprint—which makes it ideal if you live in a walkup apartment or frequently travel and can’t sacrifice trunk space. There’s a good reason we see it all over the streets of New York.
Design: The Yoyo comes as two separate packages—a frame and a “color pack,” which is all the fabric parts, including the seat and canopy. That’s great for people who want a lot of color options, and it’s also something you can take advantage of later on, if you want to use the stroller with a second child (or even resell it) and your original seat is stained or worn. But that also makes this one of our least favorite strollers to assemble. Once it’s put together, it’s an attractive stroller, with a good-size seat (not as big as a standard stroller, but bigger than most compact models) and enough room in the underseat basket for a diaper bag. While the seat reclines nicely, our home tester didn’t love that her daughter couldn’t sit fully upright in it, and it lacks a footrest. Another drawback is that the five-point harness has five parts to buckle, which become really annoying to get back in place when you’re in a hurry. It also requires re-threading when you need to adjust the size.
Maneuverability: While you may feel strange about the fact that your child is much closer to the ground than in most strollers, we think that low center of gravity helps this tiny contraption move smoothly. Our home tester even said it “glides” over grass and rough surfaces.
Portability: While Babyzen is a pioneer in ultra-compact strollers, it could learn from other brands when it comes to folding mechanisms. Folding the Yoyo requires two hands, and even after plenty of practice, our tester didn’t love that process. She did, however, love how light and small this stroller is to carry and stash. At times, she’s even forgotten she had it on her shoulders!
Price at time of publication: $450
The Details:
Best Folding
Munchkin Sparrow Ultra-Compact Stroller
Amazon
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Why We Like It: An origami-style folding design makes this one of the most compact options on the market which is ideal for travel or if you need to store it in a tight space when not in use.
But Take Note: This is a no-frills stroller that lacks storage and struggles over rough terrain.
The Sparrow takes compact to a whole new level with a very unique folding design that makes you feel like you’re creating origami every time you fold and unfold this stroller. At just 12.8 pounds, it’s not the lightest option in our testing, but it comes close.
Design: We love how compact this stroller becomes—and that it comes fully assembled straight out of the box. But we can’t ignore that while it’s in the median price range, it’s incredibly low frills. There’s virtually no onboard storage, even though there’s technically an undercarriage basket and a storage pouch on the back of the seat. Additionally, this stroller doesn’t offer any recline range. Another major issue was the lack of a legitimate sun shield. As our real-world tester pointed out, “I don’t even use it to block the sun because it’s so small—instead I use it as a makeshift cup holder/additional storage.”
Maneuverability: It maneuvered just fine on smooth surfaces, though its lack of suspension is obvious on rougher ground. Given how light it is, you might just wind up picking the whole thing up when you hit a rough patch. Though our tall home tester liked pushing it while shopping in crowded spaces, she also felt like the handlebar didn’t extend enough high enough for her or her husband.
Portability: While the folding buttons at the handlebar are easy to use, it’s not a one-handed process, which is a little disappointing. Still, it gets really small and comes with a handy carrying bag, and we think it’s a great option for carrying on or checking on plane trips.
Price at time of publication: $219
The Details:
Best Fabric (Compact)
Bugaboo Butterfly Seat Stroller
Bugaboo
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Why We Like It: A smooth ride, straightforward assembly, and a decent amount of on-board storage makes this one of the top options if money is no object.
But Take Note: The footrest of our stroller broke off when we forgot to fold it in before checking it on a flight.
Bugaboo’s Butterfly earned high marks in the lab and at home because it of its incredibly functional design and sleek look in a very portable package.
Design: First off, easy assembly won us over in the lab. The canopy and wheels come attached to the frame and all we had to do was attach the seat cover and rain cover. Speaking of which, the included rain cover is a very nice touch, especially if you’re a city parent. We love the large canopy for the sun, too, as well as the soft seat and footrest. The recline mechanism is a little rough, requiring you to use a strap to adjust the angle. While the stroller has a narrow footprint, the under-seat basket fits a diaper bag or anything else you need to carry, up to 17 pounds. Our home tester just wished it came with a cupholder—something that’s almost always missing from high-end strollers, for some reason.
Maneuverability: Both testers found this stroller to be very easy to maneuver on rough and smooth terrain, thanks to four-wheel suspension. It took turns without a problem, and we didn’t mind getting it up and down curbs.
Portability: Folding the Butterfly “can be done with one hand while holding a kid with the other,” our home tester said after she traveled with it and her 15-month-old son. The 16-pound stroller becomes small enough to fit in an overhead bin, and it has a built-in carrying strap. Sadly, our tester discovered the hard way that you really need to fold in the footrest before handing it off to a baggage handler. When she arrived at her destination, it had broken off.
Price at time of publication: $449
The Details:
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