Best Lightweight Strollers

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Best Lightweight Strollers Buying Guide

What Is a Lightweight Stroller?

A lightweight or umbrella stroller is designed for portability. It typically weighs less than 15 pounds (hence the name), is easy to fold compactly and may have some of the features found in standard strollers such as an expandable canopy, a partially reclining seat, storage basket, snack tray, and a built-in cup holder.

There are downsides. Lightweight strollers should never be used with babies under 6 months — they simply do not provide the support and protection that babies this age require. Also, their lightweight and compact design does not make them off‑road friendly. They work best on flat, solid surfaces.

Why Buy a Lightweight Stroller?

A lightweight stroller is more often than not used as a secondary stroller in addition to a standard or jogging stroller. The simple and compact design of a lightweight stroller is great for travel or getting around when the weight and size of a standard stroller will not work.

Features To Consider

Safety Harness

All strollers, not just lightweights, should have a 5‑point safety harness (two straps over the shoulders, two for the thighs, a crotch strap, and a buckle that fastens the straps) to secure the child in the stroller. (Frame strollers are the only exception because they accommodate car seats.) The harness will keep a child from climbing or falling out of a stroller. The straps should be height‑adjustable to ensure a proper fit. The buckle should be easy to operate but difficult for small hands to unfasten.

Brakes

Brakes should be easy to use, convenient to operate and lock two wheels. Strollers with single action brakes are typically the easiest to use. Models that require setting the brakes independently are usually a bit lighter (to save weight) but you need to remember to engage both brakes. Also, models with single action brakes usually require you to lift the pedal with the top of your foot to disengage. If you're wearing light shoes or sandals, this may be an issue for those with sensitive feet.

Wheels

The dual front wheel design (two front wheels on each front leg) which is typical for lightweight strollers, performed poorly on maneuverability tests. The single wheel design has much better maneuverabilty, especially over uneven terrain, but is usually only found in higher priced lightweight stroller models.

Canopy

A canopy is a must‑have on any stroller. On lightweight strollers, the canopy is usually the only nod to comfort. Don't expect to find strollers in this category with SPF canopies — if this is a deal-breaker for you, look at our best picks in standard strollers.

Weight

A lightweight stroller is a pared‑down version of a traditional stroller and can weigh as little as 6 pounds (check out our Gb Pockit Stroller best pick) or as much as 15 pounds. This type of gear was originally created to address a need for a stroller that is easy to fold, carry and store so weight (and to some extent size) is a primary consideration when evaluating models in this category. The trade-off is typically fewer features for less weight and size.

Reclining Seat

A reclining seat is typically not a standard feature on lightweight strollers although several of our best picks feature strollers with seats that at least partially recline including a budget‑friendly one with a nicely padded seat that fully reclines (the Summer Infant 3Dlite). If a reclining seat is not a must‑have, most strollers in this category have at least some seat padding for a comfortable ride.

Compactness

All lightweight strollers are designed to fold compactly, although the degree and type of fold will vary. The umbrella‑type strollers (those with separate handles) fold up into something that looks like a long golf umbrella that can be easily carried. Some models even include a carrying strap that lets you throw the stroller over your shoulder and free your hands. The non‑umbrella lightweight strollers (those with a single handlebar) don't fold as compactly as the umbrella‑types because the handlebar doesn't collapse. If space is an issue, the small, umbrella fold is a better fit for tiny spaces (like the trunk of a car or a city apartment).

Durability

Most quality lightweight strollers have aluminum frames because aluminium offers a combination of durability along with light weight. Wheels are typically made with plastic parts, so look for manufacturers that sell replacement parts at reasonable prices.

About Our Best Picks

Practically all of our best picks in the lightweight stroller category can potentially do double duty as a primary stroller for anyone looking to save space or money without sacrificing a lot of features. The real issue is finding the model that meets your needs which is why we have best picks which run the gamut from bare bones to more feature‑rich models.

Have a question? Contact us.