The Best Strollers
When I started shopping for a stroller, I purchased the cheapest one that worked with my car seat and called it a day. To no one's surprise, that stroller was terrible. Both my child and I hated using it.
A good stroller goes a long way for you and your little one's enjoyment while going for a walk, running errands, enjoying a day at the beach or park, or just surviving while trying to get yourself and your kids from one location to the next. When your kid is small, safely using a stroller requires car seat adapters or the right bassinet-style attachment. Then, they get bigger, and so does all the stuff you have to carry around. But if the wheels don't work or something breaks? I don't know about you, but I'm going home.
It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the options and scared off by the sticker shock. After a bad experience with a cheap stroller, I'm here to tell you it's worth investing in a great one. These strollers endured months of testing by WIRED parents, and I can say the 11 below are all fantastic and cover a wide range of styles and budgets. If you aren't sure what type of stroller you need, get our tips over on How to Shop for a Stroller, or read more stroller advice in our guide to the best travel strollers. And don't miss our other parenting guides on baby carriers, baby monitors, and our favorite baby gear.
Updated February 2025: We've added the Cybex e-Gazelle S, the Cybex Libelle, and the Wonderfold X2 Stroller Wagon as new picks. We've also added thoughts on the Uppababy Vista V3.
Up Next |
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We're testing the Zoe Journey ($799) and the Thule Cross Chariot 2 ($1,300) for the next update to this guide. |
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How To Choose a Stroller
There are several different kinds of strollers: everyday or full-size strollers, lightweight or compact strollers, jogging strollers, double strollers, and even trike strollers and wagons. It can feel overwhelming to try to predict what kind you need before your kid arrives, and to invest in something you'll use for years to come. We dive into more buying advice in our guide on how to choose the right stroller.
My top advice? Ask yourself what you'll use the stroller for most, and check how difficult it'll be to lug heavier strollers out of your home and into your car. That can narrow down several choices quickly. For me, a lightweight option has been best, but that's because I have a staircase outside my front door and no garage.
Another easy option is whether you already have an infant car seat. If you do, you can use that to narrow down strollers that are compatible. Some brands like Maxi-Cosi have a ton of compatibility, while UppaBaby's car seats have much more limited lists. You can also buy a travel system if you want your stroller and car seat to be a matching set that works from the infant stage to well beyond.
How I Test Strollers
Initially, I test all strollers the same. I grade how easy they are to set up, how smooth the ride is (taking type of wheels and price point into consideration) and how easy it is to get my kid in and out of them. I take them on walks with my kid through the neighborhood and park, testing on sidewalks, streets, grass, and flat trails. I also compare how easy they are to fold, how large each stroller is when folded, and place them all into a sedan trunk to see if it fits.
Joggers I take on both streets and trails, and test the hand brakes on hills to confirm they help my posture and control. I am sometimes spotted going for a jog with weights in the stroller instead of my son, since he isn't always available (or interested) in partaking in my comparison runs. Wagons also get more tests on tougher terrain to see how the wheels and control hold up.
I grade lightweight and compact strollers more strictly on the ease of fold and lift, since that's a primary feature. If a stroller has multiple modes (like inward and outward facing), I make sure to test those both, too, though sometimes without my toddler since he won't face inward any longer.
- Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 for $400: This is a great compact, forward-facing stroller that comes with infant car seat attachments. I love how small it folds, reminding me of a travel stroller while still packing the suspension of a jogging stroller thanks to its wheels and design. It's a nice middle ground if you're worried about space but don't want a true lightweight stroller, and want infant options without having to purchase any attachments (check the compatibility chart for your car seat first, though).
- BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3 for $550: This is a popular jogger, but I found it frustrating to fold and was disappointed it didn’t have any hand brakes. It’s only $30 cheaper than the Wayfinder, so you might as well go with that one. I’d only recommend the Revolution Flex 3 for shorter runners who won't be folding it often, since the Wayfinder is quite tall.
- Bugaboo Butterfly for $479: This travel stroller is my favorite for taller kids, since there's more headroom than other strollers. Read more about it in our guide to travel strollers.
- Colugo The One for $326: This was a solid stroller, and I liked that it came with a parent cup holder that fits my 40-ounce tumbler. It's a compact stroller style like the Zoe Tour with a little nicer fabric, but the harness clasp is a little more complicated. If your kid tends to escape the harness, this could be a good choice for you, but otherwise, I prefer the Zoe or Nuna.
- Cybex e-Priam for $1,300: This was our previous electric stroller pick. It's a fine option, but the eGazelle has better controls over the motor support and a rocking mode. It's also more complicated to purchase the e-Priam since you have to configure it, and it's more expensive.
- Evenflo Pivot Xplore for $281: This was our previous wagon pick. It's a good wagon, especially for tough terrain, but I like the fold of the Wonderfold X2 and the Veer Cruiser better.
- Guava Roam for $550: I love the Guava Roam jogging stroller (7/10, WIRED Recommends) for its compact fold, but the lack of a hand brake makes it better for power walkers than for runners. If you like nice long walks and want your kid to be comfy in a midsize stroller, this is a solid choice.
- Joolz Aer+ for $449: This luxury travel stroller is similar in design to the Nuna TRVL and the Bugaboo Butterfly, though I liked the material and seat better than the Bugaboo. Read more about it in our guide to travel strollers.
- Joovy Tricycoo 4.1 for $106: This trike stroller is cheaper than the Doona, but is larger and doesn't fold. If you don't intend to take it anywhere beyond walking distance of your home, though, it's a fine trike stroller.
- Nuna Mixx Next for $800: This stroller has a smooth ride that rivals a jogging stroller. It’s great for the first year, as it works with an infant car seat and can face both inward and outward. It folds better while facing outward, though, and the controls aren’t as intuitive as other strollers. It also works only with Nuna’s infant car seat, so if you have a different car seat, you’ll need to purchase a bassinet attachment to use it for the first few months.
- Silver Cross Jet 5 for $480: I recommend this stroller if you're trying to sneak it onto a plane, because it folds down to look incredibly similar to a suitcase. It's easy to pull like a suitcase while folded, too. Read more in our guide to travel strollers.
- SmarTrike Travel Stroller for $500: This stroller is a mix between a travel stroller and a trike stroller. It's a nice large option, but I prefer Doona's Liki Trike if you're going to buy a trike stroller since it folds smaller and transforms into a solo trike for older kids.
- Thule Chariot Lite for $1,000: If you bike, run, hike, or ski with your children, you might want to consider investing in a multisport trailer. The Chariot Lite 2 can be your stroller, bike trailer, and pack mule since it can carry up to 100 pounds.
- Thule Spring for $400: I like this compact stroller. It reminds me of the Baby Jogger, but it's a little taller while folded and has color options for the shades. It wasn't my favorite by any metric, but it was still solid for my son to ride in and easy for me to use.
- Zoe Tour v2 for $259: This is still my favorite budget travel stroller, but you can read more about it in my guide to travel strollers, along with a bunch of other great travel and lightweight stroller picks.