Top 5 Best Umbrella Strollers | 2016 Reviews

There are two categories of people who purchase umbrella strollers. (If you’re among the uninitiated, umbrella strollers are so named for the shape of their handles, not because they have a parasol on top to shield the child.)

The first group wants a simple and inexpensive lightweight stroller that’s easy to move, fold and store. The second group is also looking for the conveniences that accompany a lightweight baby stroller – but doesn’t want to sacrifice “luxuries” like large sun canopies, reclining seats and leg rests, or ample storage space and cup holders. There are plenty of umbrella strollers to satisfy each group; as you’d guess, however, the ones with the bells and whistles are usually the ones with the bigger price tags.

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Quick Comparison Table

UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stroller

Quinny Yezz Stroller

Chicco Liteway Stroller

Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience Stroller

Maclaren Mark II Stroller

In either case, an umbrella unit is ideal for shopping (when you have to repeatedly take the stroller in and out of the car), downtown walks (where the added maneuverability of a lightweight stroller is a real plus), or traveling. That’s why those who depend on a heavy-duty or jogging stroller for day-to-day walks or runs around the neighborhood swear by the convenience of having an umbrella stroller in the closet or car, and it’s why those who live in crowded cities or in buildings with lots of stairs couldn’t live without one.

Umbrella strollers are also a good way for parents who live in favorable climates to get away without having to spend their entire budget on a heavy-duty model. Umbrellas with more advanced features will still cost quite a bit but will be less expensive than comparable full-sized or jogger models, leaving some extra money for playpens, outfits – or at least an ice-cream while out walking the baby.

In our look at the top 5 best umbrella strollers we’ve included both bare-bones and “luxury” models to provide the widest-possible range of choices, while taking care to differentiate between them.

Here’s the list.

Quick Comparison Table

UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stroller	Quinny Yezz Stroller	Chicco Liteway Stroller	Summer Infant 3D Lite Stroller	Maclaren Mark II Stroller
$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$
14 pounds	11 pounds	17 pounds	12 pounds	7.2 pounds
3 Positions Recline	No Recline	5 Positions Recline	4 Positions Recline	No Recline

UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stroller

We begin with one of the high-end umbrella strollers which most parents would be likely to find suitable for everyday use. The G-Luxe is a bit larger than you might picture when you think about an umbrella, but it’s still relatively lightweight (14 pounds) and folds easily, even though you’ll need two hands to do it. It’s also cool that it will stand straight-up (with the help of a kickstand) after it’s folded.

You may feel like you’re pushing a full-sized stroller when you take this UPPAbaby for a spin because it maneuvers and rolls in much the same way, thanks to its four shock absorbers (which you won’t often find on an umbrella model). That means you won’t encounter many problems on pavement or flat dirt, but probably won’t want to take it onto the lawn or gravel. It’s only so-so going up and down from curbs, primarily because the brake locks sometimes become accidentally engaged. When you’re intending to engage the brakes, though, they’re easy to work.

This is a solid stroller built to last and for baby’s comfort. True, it’s made from lightweight aluminum in order to save weight, but it feels well-constructed. The washable fabric is both soft and comfortable while being sturdy and durable, and there’s plenty of extra padding from the removable and washable seat pad, to the leg rests. It’s comfortable for mom as well, with thick foam padding on the handles as well as a decent-sized storage area underneath the seat and a cup holder.

The seat back is easily adjustable (only requiring one hand) with three positions, and the footrests are adjustable as well. The pull-out canopy is a strong point for the G-Luxe, creating a large sun shade for baby that’s rated at SPF50; the only thing that’s missing is a peek-a-boo window. There’s an optional reflective sun visor and an optional rain shield which can each be added.

The G-Luxe comes in a number of two-toned colors and looks striking; you’ll find its performance to be pretty striking as well, although you’ll pay north of $250 for the privilege. If you don’t need all of the extras and would like a similar umbrella stroller for less money, the UPPAbaby G-Lite is four pounds lighter and costs almost $100 less and is worth a look, although its features and on-road performance don’t match the G-Luxe’s.

Details of the UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stroller
Age/weight Limit	3 months to 55 pounds
Harness	5-point
Recline	Yes, three positions
Footrest	Adjustable
Safety	Foot brake, lockable front wheels
Canopy	Large, pull-out, SPF50
Foldable	Yes, with two hands
Size, unfolded	19 x 33 x 42 inches
Size, folded	12 x 8 x 42 inches
Weight	14 pounds
Warranty	Three years with online registration

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Quinny Yezz Stroller

This odd-looking umbrella stroller with the odd-sounding name is not the buggy you want if you plan to beat it into the ground. However, if you want a truly lightweight stroller which can maneuver with the best of them and then fold into a size that can fit right into the carryon luggage bin on a plane, the Quinny Yezz is what you need.

Let’s start with the reason that this umbrella model is such a joy to wheel around the sidewalk or the park: its wheels. The Quinny Yezz is built on the same type of wheels used for in-line skates, making them uniquely perfect for tight turns and quick changes from pavement to dirt or grass, and the brakes work just as well as they would on traditional wheels. The chassis is set up in a V-shape so the two front wheels are close together and the back wheels are spread apart; that helps with the stability of this stroller and makes it extremely easy to push. What also helps is the high-quality, proprietary plastic composite used to build the light but very strong frame. It also “self-stands” like the G-Luxe.

The fabric used on the stroller is just as impressive; it’s water-repellent, hand-washable ripstop that’s attached to the frame with polyester rope: tight, sturdy and beautiful – and comfortable for baby. There are some “missing features” which might add to a child’s comfort, though, including a reclining seat and adjustable footrests. However, it’s not uncommon for those to be missing on an umbrella stroller. What we did think was odd was the fact that the permanently-attached canopy was so small; we know the design of the Quinny Yezz is bare-bones, but it seems that adding a little extra fabric wouldn’t have been difficult.

The person who will love this umbrella stroller the most may be mom. The ergonomically-designed single curved handle is comfortable and almost fun to grasp and push, the stroller can be folded with one hand, and there’s a carry strap so the stroller can go from open to folded-and-strapped-on-your-back in a jiffy. There’s only minimal storage, though, and no cup holder.

If we had to choose one word to describe the eye-catching Quinny Yezz (available in a number of designer colors), it would be luxury – not because it’s luxurious, but because buying one should be considered a luxury rather than a necessity. It costs a whopping $280, which is an awful lot of money for a primary stroller which doesn’t have many add-ons. If you can afford it as a travel or city stroller, though, you’ll be thrilled with it.

Details of the Quinny Yezz Stroller
Age/weight Limit	6 months to 40 pounds
Harness	5-point
Recline	No
Footrest	Not adjustable
Safety	Foot brake
Canopy	Small
Foldable	One hand
Size, unfolded	22 x 30 x 41 inches
Size, folded	13 x 11 x 27 inches
Weight	11 pounds
Warranty	Two years

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Chicco Liteway Stroller

Combine most of the features you’d like in an umbrella stroller with a more affordable price than the UPPAbaby ($180, sometimes found on sale for less), and you have this Chicco model whose looks are almost as impressive as its quality. The only real drawback is that the Liteway isn’t quite as “lite” as the other top 5 best umbrella strollers on our list, although it folds up to a quite-convenient size.

You won’t find the Liteway as easy to maneuver as the Quinny Yezz, but it’s about as easy to push and steer on pavement as any other good umbrella model; the only area where we were disappointed was in the performance of the brakes, which don’t hold quite as well as they should. What we did love was the construction of the stroller; the frame is strong and tight, the wheels are large and tough, and there are rear shocks to cushion the ride. The large canopy provides ample shade for baby, has a peek-a-boo window, and can also be zipped off if you’d like.

Speaking of baby, the ride in the Chicco is quite comfortable. There’s lots of soft padding, there are five recline positions (including nearly-flat for newborns or small infants), and the footrests have nine different adjustable positions. The fabric is rather stiff, but it’s hand-washable. There’s a decent-sized storage bin underneath the seat which can be taken out to be used as a carry bag, a cupholder and nicely-padded handle.

The Liteway isn’t as small, as maneuverable, or as lightweight as some other umbrella strollers you’ll find on our list. But it ranks well in all of those categories, while being very well-built and comfortable, and coming in at a friendly price.

Details of the Chicco Liteway Stroller
Age/weight Limit	Newborn to 40 pounds
Harness	5-point
Recline	Yes, five positions
Footrest	Adjustable
Safety	Foot brake
Canopy	Large
Foldable	One hand
Size, unfolded	20 x 35 x 41 inches
Size, folded	15 x 10 x 45 inches
Weight	17 pounds
Warranty	One year

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Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience Stroller

Isn’t there anything for, say, $100 or so? As a matter of fact, there is.

The 3D Lite looks like an umbrella stroller which should cost a lot more. It has a durable aluminum frame and large padded seat which can accommodate more weight (50 pounds) than most of the competition. It rides well, with large wheels (anti-shock wheels on the front) and handles the bounces of traveling on dirt and cobblestones pretty well, although the overall maneuverability isn’t the best we’ve seen. The seat reclines to four different positions for baby’s comfort, and there’s a decent-sized removable canopy (no peek-a-boo window) with a sun visor that flips out; the sun protection isn’t great, but it’s adequate.

Folding the Summer stroller is pretty easy, although you do have to use your foot to hit the release pedal in addition to using one hand, and there’s a carry strap like the one on the Quinny Yezz. This umbrella stroller has a large storage basket under the seat, plus a small pocket on the seat back for keys and a cup holder. It’s available in six colors.

We may sound like we’re hedging on the pros and cons of this stroller, but that’s not the case. Our point is that the 3D Lite Convenience isn’t ideal in any one area, but is good in all of them. For $105, that’s what you’re really hoping for in an umbrella stroller.

Details of the Summer Infant 3D Lite Convenience Stroller
Age/weight Limit	Newborn to 50 pounds
Harness	5-point
Recline	Yes, four positions
Footrest	Not adjustable
Safety	Rear brakes
Canopy	Medium with fold-out sun visor
Foldable	Yes, one hand plus and foot lever
Size, unfolded	18 x 27 x 44 inches
Size, folded	10 x 8 x 40 inches
Weight	12 pounds
Warranty	One year

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Maclaren Mark II Stroller

Maclaren claims credit for inventing the idea of the umbrella stroller in 1965, and has made good ones for quite a long time. The Mark II is particularly noteworthy because it is the lightest model we’ve seen at just over seven pounds.

This stroller is well-made, but definitely designed for larger infants or small toddlers since the sling-style seat doesn’t recline and the SPF50 sun canopy (which also has a rain cover) is located so high on the buggy that it won’t do much good for tiny ones. The maneuverability is good and thanks to all-wheel suspension, the Mark II will perform well on very bumpy pavement, dirt or grass. The seat isn’t uncomfortable but there’s not a lot of padding, so once again it’s a better choice for bigger children. The fabric is removable and machine-washable. Storage on this umbrella stroller is in a medium-sized mesh area behind the seat.

There are two design issues to be aware of, neither of them major. When the stroller is folded up, the wheels will smudge the fabric; it’s best to have something to put between them. And the safety harness is touchier to buckle than on any other umbrella stroller we’ve reviewed. These aren’t deal-killers, but we mention them so you are aware of the glitches up front.

At around $200, the price is rather high for a stroller without the adjustability features found on most of the others we’ve reviewed. But if weight is your primary consideration in choosing the best umbrella stroller, you won’t do any better than the Maclaren Mark II.

Details of the Maclaren Mark II Stroller
Age/weight Limit	6 months to 55 pounds
Harness	5-point
Recline	No
Footrest	Not adjustable
Safety	Linked brakes front and back
Canopy	Medium with sun shade
Foldable	Yes, foot levers
Size, unfolded	18 x 29 x 41 inches
Size, folded	9 x 8 x 45 inches
Weight	7.2 pounds
Warranty	Limited lifetime

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Originally posted 2016-05-17 09:32:39.

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