Pick for a Small Trunk1. Guava Roam
Read our full Guava Roam review →
- TypeFull-size stroller
- Weight28.5 lb
- Folded size8,880 cu in
- Child limit60 lb
Pros
- Smallest fold in this test at 8,880 cu in, even though you can jog with it
- Front-wheel lock is on the handlebar, so no bending down
- Independent suspension handled dips and bumps on a dirt trail
Cons
- The fold needs a second latch released from under the seat fabric
- Heaviest stroller in this test at 28.5 lb
Why it is our pick for this check
It folds to 8,880 cubic inches, the smallest of the ten full-size strollers we scored, and you can still jog with it. David ran it on a packed dirt trail and Sarah had room left in the trunk for the shopping.
The catch
It is the heaviest full-size stroller in its guide at 28.5 lb, and the fold needs a second latch released under the seat fabric. Read the full-size stroller guide before you buy.
Pick for Narrow Doors and Elevators2. UPPAbaby Minu Duo
- TypeDouble stroller
- Weight27.3 lb
- Folded size13.0 × 28.0 × 23.5 in
- Child limit50 lb per seat
Pros
- Lightest stroller in this test at 27.3 lb
- Smallest fold of the nine
- Fits small apartment elevators and tucks under café tables when folded
Cons
- Small wheels vibrate and lose momentum on gravel and unpaved limestone
Why it is our pick for this check
Elena and Carlos called it the clear winner for public transit and tight city living. It fits inside small apartment elevators without crowding other riders and tucks under café tables when folded, and it is the lightest double we scored at 27.3 lb.
The catch
The small solid wheels vibrated and struggled for momentum on unpaved limestone in Austin. It is a pavement stroller. See the double stroller guide for the options if your routes are rough.
Pick for Rough Ground3. Thule Urban Glide 3 Double
- TypeDouble stroller
- Weight35.3 lb
- Folded size34.5 × 31.0 × 19.0 in
- Child limit49 lb per seat
Pros
- Twist-grip handbrake controlled speed on steep descents without straining wrists
- Rear suspension absorbed ruts on unpaved gravel
- Turned easily through slush and cracked sidewalks with two toddlers aboard
Cons
- Heaviest stroller in this test at 35.3 lb
- Quick-release rear wheels came off to close an SUV hatch
Why it is our pick for this check
The rear suspension took the ruts on the gravel by Lady Bird Lake, and the twist-grip handbrake held the speed down the steep descents around Mount Bonnell. In Chicago it went through slush and cracked sidewalks without a wheel catching.
The catch
At 35.3 lb and 31.5 inches wide it is the heaviest and widest double we scored, and it was tight in a brownstone foyer and at older elevator doors.
4. Baby Jogger City Mini GT2
- TypeFull-size stroller
- Weight22.4 lb
- Folded size9,462 cu in (published)
- Child limit65 lb
Pros
- Glides through theme-park crowds and tight gift-shop aisles
- Foam-filled rubber tires rolled over roots and gravel without bouncing the seat
- Hand-operated parking brake is easier than a foot pedal in sandals
Cons
- A metal crossbar blocks the back of the basket, so bags go in sideways
Why it is our pick for this check
At 22.4 lb it is the lightest full-size stroller we scored, and its 65 lb limit is the highest in that guide, so it keeps working as the child grows. The foam-filled rubber tires rolled over roots and gravel without bouncing the seat, and the hand brake on the handlebar beats a foot pedal in sandals.
The catch
A metal crossbar blocks the back of the basket, so bags go in sideways. It scored 77 overall in the full-size guide.
5. Bugaboo Fox 5 Travel System
- TypeTravel system
- Weight26.9 lb (stroller)
- Folded size17.3 × 23.6 × 35.4 in
- Child limit50 lb
Pros
- The only perfect 10 for push and handling: one-handed through crowded Regent's Park with a coffee in the other hand
- Highest comfort score here, from a smooth ride over grass, gravel and brick
- Turns on a dime in tight hotel elevators
Cons
- Releasing the car seat adapters takes both hands on the side buttons
- Other brands' car seats need adapters, sold separately
Why it is our pick for this check
It is the highest-scoring travel system we tested, 94 out of 100, with the only perfect 10 for push and handling. It comes with the Turtle Air Shield infant seat, and it turned on a dime in tight hotel elevators.
The catch
Releasing the car seat adapters takes both hands on the side buttons, and other brands' car seats need adapters sold separately. The travel system guide scores ten.
6. Chicco Bravo LE
- TypeFull-size stroller
- Weight24.9 lb
- Folded size10,579 cu in (published)
- Child limit50 lb
Pros
- Fastest fold in the test: one pull on the handle under the seat cushion
- Sarah folded it one-handed while holding the baby
- Rolls well on indoor floors and smooth blacktop
Cons
- Hard plastic wheels chatter on cracked concrete and send vibration up to your wrists
- Folded, the seat fabric faces out and picks up dirt from the trunk floor
Why it is our pick for this check
It had the fastest fold we tested: Sarah held the baby in her left arm, pulled the handle hidden under the seat cushion with her right hand, and the frame collapsed straight away. Every Chicco infant seat clicks in with no adapter.
The catch
The hard plastic wheels chatter on cracked concrete and sent vibration up David's wrists, which is why it scores 63 overall. A fast fold is one check, not the whole stroller.
How We Chose the Checks
The numbers below come from our five stroller guides: full-size strollers, travel strollers, doubles, travel systems and wagons. Four testing households did the work: the Jenkins household in Austin, the Rodriguez household in Chicago, the Davies household in Bristol and the Reid household in Manchester.
We picked these seven checks because each one separated products in our testing, and each section opens with the measurement and then says what it did to real strollers. Four of them also carry a mistake our testers made before they learned the check. The six cards above are our pick for a check, not a ranking, and each score is the one the stroller earned in its own guide. Read more about how we test.
1. Measure Your Trunk in Cubic Inches
Folded size is the check with the widest spread: the strollers, wagons and travel systems we scored fold to 1,891 to 27,550 cubic inches. Multiply your trunk's usable length, width and height in inches, leave room for the shopping, and compare the result with the folded volume our guides list for every product.
The smallest full-size fold we scored is the Guava Roam's at 8,880, the smallest double the Minu Duo's at 8,554 and the smallest travel stroller the gb Pockit+ All City's at 1,891. At the other end sit the Jeep Deluxe Wrangler wagon at 27,550 and the Baby Jogger City Select 2 double at 24,624. Fold size does not follow type: the Minu Duo, a double, folds smaller than the single Guava Roam.
Wheels count as well as volume. The Evenflo Pivot Xplore wagon stood upright in a compact crossover with its rear wheels on, and the Jeep needed them off every time. Our trunk fit tool does the sum for you.
2. Lift It Before You Buy It
A stroller is a lift every time it goes in the car, so weight matters more than it looks on a spec sheet. Travel strollers we scored weigh 11.0 lb to 16.7 lb, full-size strollers 22.4 lb to 28.5 lb and doubles 27.3 lb to 35.3 lb. Wagons run 24.0 lb to 46.3 lb.
The testers felt every pound of the upper end. The UPPAbaby Cruz V3 at 25.6 lb was a real lift into a Honda Civic trunk after an afternoon out, and Carlos needed a two-handed deadlift to get the 46.3 lb Wonderfold wagon into a raised entryway, which strained his lower back. Lift something of the same weight with your arm full before you commit. The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 is the lightest full-size frame we scored.
A mistake our testers made. They tested the weight empty. They rolled an empty 46-pound frame across a level floor and never tried the real-world deadlift of hoisting it over curbs and up the front entry steps once it was loaded with gear.
3. Match the Width to Your Doors
Width decides whether a stroller works indoors. The Thule Urban Glide 3 Double is 31.5 inches across and was tight in a brownstone foyer and at older elevator doors, while the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Double went through standard 36-inch interior doors and narrow grocery aisles.
The UPPAbaby Minu Duo fits small apartment elevators and tucks under café tables when folded, and the Vista V3 in tandem mode stays the width of a single stroller. Among the wagons, the Jeep Deluxe Wrangler felt to Carlos like steering a cargo barge down a convenience store aisle. Measure your narrowest door and your lift before you buy, not after.
A mistake our testers made. They measured only the building's main entrance. The stroller fit through the outer front door, and then a 31.5-inch double frame wedged tight in the narrower interior vestibule while they were bringing the children in out of the rain.
4. Look at the Wheels Before the Features
Wheels and suspension decide how a stroller rides off a smooth sidewalk. The Guava Roam's independent suspension took dips on a dirt trail, the Thule's rear suspension took the ruts on a gravel path, and the City Mini GT2 Double's foam-filled tires gave about 90% of an air-tire ride with no flats.
Small hard wheels are the trade for a small fold. The Minu Duo's small solid wheels vibrated on limestone and gravel, the two travel strollers that fold best both scored 6 for maneuverability, and the Chicco Bravo LE's hard plastic wheels sent vibration up David's wrists on cracked concrete. If your routes include gravel, roots or broken sidewalk, treat small hard wheels as a dealbreaker.
A mistake our testers made. They assumed a showroom glide would carry over to local trails. They chose a lightweight frame with small solid wheels because it glided across a smooth retail floor, then found it choked and vibrated badly on crushed limestone and gravel paths, and had to be carried over them.
5. Plan the Car Seat Before the Stroller
Every type we scored takes an infant seat one way or another, and the difference is who supplies the adapter. The Chicco Bravo LE takes every Chicco seat with no adapter, UPPAbaby strollers take Mesa and Aria seats straight on, and travel systems arrive paired, like the Fox 5 with its Turtle Air Shield seat.
The infant seat has a shorter life than the stroller: every seat in our travel system guide is outgrown at 30 to 35 lb, and the Doona, where seat and stroller are one unit, ends at 30 lb. Two wagons, the Jeep Deluxe Wrangler and the Baby Trend Expedition Plus, include the adapter, while others sell it separately. Check your exact seat against the maker's adapter list before you buy.
6. Treat a One-Hand Fold as a Claim
Makers list a one-hand fold, and the fold that matters is the one done with a baby on your arm. The Chicco Bravo LE was the fastest we tested: Sarah folded it with her right hand while holding the baby in her left. The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Double folds with one pull on each seat strap, and Elena folded the Graco Modes Adventure wagon one-handed with a baby on her hip.
Others ask more. The Guava Roam needs a second latch released under the seat fabric, and the UPPAbaby Cruz V3 needs two hands. UPPAbaby lists the Vista V3 as a one-hand fold, which is a maker claim we did not test. Ask to see the fold done, or watch it done with something heavy on the other arm.
A mistake our testers made. They picked a stroller for the fastest collapse, a one-second fold, and found the folded frame filled the whole trunk and pushed the weekly groceries onto the floor of the car. A fast fold is not a small fold, so check the folded volume as well (check 1).
7. Check the Child Limit and How Long It Lasts
The child limit sets how long a stroller stays useful. The full-size strollers we scored carry 50 to 65 lb, the doubles 40 to 50 lb per seat, and the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2's 65 lb is the highest in the full-size guide. The UPPAbaby Minu V3's 50 lb limit matters for the same reason, since travel strollers are usually outgrown before they wear out.
For wagons, the maker's minimum age matters too: Evenflo rates the Pivot Xplore from 6 months and the Radio Flyer Atlas is for ages 1 and up, and a baby who cannot sit up unaided belongs in an infant car seat on an adapter. A limit you will reach in two years is a cost, however well the stroller scored.
Which Stroller Should You Start With?
| If your biggest problem is... | Start with |
|---|---|
| A small trunk | Guava Roam |
| Narrow doors, elevators and cafés | UPPAbaby Minu Duo |
| Gravel, ruts and slush with two children | Thule Urban Glide 3 Double |
| Lifting it every day, and wanting it to last | Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 |
| An infant car seat from the first week | Bugaboo Fox 5 Travel System |
| Folding it fast with a baby on your arm | Chicco Bravo LE |
Choosing a Stroller FAQ
What should I check first when choosing a stroller?
Check the folded size against your trunk first, because the strollers we scored fold from 1,891 to 27,550 cubic inches, more than fourteen times apart. Multiply your trunk's usable length, width and height in inches and compare it with the folded volume in our guides.
How much should a stroller weigh?
As light as you can comfortably lift into your trunk every day. The full-size strollers we scored weigh 22.4 lb to 28.5 lb, travel strollers 11.0 lb to 16.7 lb and doubles 27.3 lb to 35.3 lb.
Do I need suspension or air-filled tires?
Only if your routes are not smooth. Suspension and air-filled or foam-filled tires carried the Guava Roam, the Thule and the City Mini GT2 over gravel, roots and ruts, while small solid wheels vibrated on limestone and gravel. If you stay on pavement, small wheels are fine and let the stroller fold smaller.
How long will a stroller last?
Until the child reaches its limit, or the infant seat is outgrown first. Every infant seat in our travel system guide is outgrown at 30 to 35 lb, while the full-size strollers we scored carry 50 to 65 lb and the doubles 40 to 50 lb per seat.
Our Final Verdict: How to Choose a Stroller
Measure the trunk first, then weigh the stroller against what you can lift, then check the doors and the wheels for the routes you actually walk. The car seat and the fold are the last two filters, not the first.
When you have your numbers, our best strollers page gives the top pick in every type.
Related buying guides
- The best strollers, the top pick in every type
- The best full-size strollers for everyday walking
- The best travel strollers for flights and trips
- The best double strollers we tested
- Check whether a stroller fits your trunk with our trunk fit tool
- All our stroller buying guides
Who tested this guide
Sarah Jenkins
Sarah is a senior product marketing manager in ed-tech who started out in instructional design, so she reads a manual for how clearly it teaches and spots a feature that exists to be advertised rather than used. She tests from Austin with three children, the youngest a newborn.
David Jenkins
David is a firmware quality-assurance engineer for a smart-sensor maker, and tests baby gear the way he tests hardware at work: measure first, trust the spec sheet last. He tests from Austin.
Elena Rodriguez
Elena is a full-time parent and a former corporate recruiter who runs a neighborhood stroller-walking group, which puts her gear through curbs, crowds and narrow aisles every day. She tests from Chicago with four children, including one-year-old twins.
Carlos Rodriguez
Carlos runs operations for a cold-chain distribution business and treats gear as a logistics problem: how many seats, how much space, and how long it lasts under constant use. He tests from Chicago.
Charlotte Davies
Charlotte is a product data analyst who specializes in measuring how people actually use things, and keeps records rather than working from impression. She tests from Bristol with four children.
Oliver Davies
Oliver is a CAD draughtsman who builds physical prototypes for a living, which makes him the person on the team most likely to find where a joint will eventually give. He tests from Bristol.
Hannah Reid
Hannah is a brand strategist and checks whether a product behaves the way its packaging says it will. She tests from Manchester with four children.
Gemma Reid
Gemma is a biomedical engineer who designs medical textiles that sit against skin, exacting about hygiene, materials and the physical strain a product puts on the person using it. She tests from Manchester.
Emma Wolbert, Editor
Emma is the editor of Top Notch Baby Gear. She signs off every guide before it publishes, and holds the line on the two rules the site runs on: we buy what we test, and we say plainly where a figure did not come from our own hands.
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