Advice on a Lightweight or Umbrella Stroller

I too was looking for a lightweight cheap umbrella stroller and ended up with the Maclaren Truimph which I love. It is pricey but worth every penny. I was desperate for a stroller the day before a trip to Colorado and thought the $10 umbrella strollers were too cheap and would probably get broken in travel. The Maclaren strollers are well made, holds up to 55 lbs. and very convenient. I got the stroller when my son was 8 months old and used it all the time; he is now 5 and it is still in the back of my car. We don't use it that often but nice to have when needed.

Another vote for MacLaren! I went to Babies R Us intending to get the cheapest one, but when I had my then-18-month-old daughter sit in it, she was so obviously uncomfortable. We kept going up and up and up in price point until she finally sat in the Volo and was so happy she started patting it and giggling and wiggling! I thought we'd miss the tray, but we don't at all.

Hi S.
I say go for the $10 umbrella stroller. They are super light, easy to use and wheel a lot better than you would imagine. If you are using your jogging stroller for most of your bigger walks then the umbrella is perfect just for doing errands, the mall, doctors office and smaller trips. I have found that the trays always seemed like a great idea, but my kids never seemed to actually keep anything on them. I would end up spending more time picking up toys or whatever else they had on there. Save the money and go for the umbrella!

Hi S.,

I like the Maclaren strollers. A bit pricier than some but excellent quality. Lightweight aluminum frames. Good maneuverability, can be carried on the shoulder with attached strap, good height on the handles, great harness and still a sufficient storage basket. I have the mesh seat model it can be hosed off. Hope this is helpful.

As far as the tray I did not find one particularily helpful. Just gets in the way and if you push with food or toy on the tray it will just fall off. If you are feeding you will likely use a high chair. It just adds bulk.
J. L.

I absolutely love my Joovy Kooper stroller. I got it at Babies R Us when we were on the search for a smaller lightweight stroller. The seat is spacious and the compact fold and light weight is great. I have been using it for almost a year now and have no compaints other than the cup holder for me isn't that big. There is no tray for her but there are pockets in her seat that fit her toys/cup/snacks. I highly recommend checking it out!

We have one of those umbrella strollers that Babies R Us has. It's very compact, they usually have them hanging on a clothing rack in the car-seat area (that's where they are in the Salem store). They are usually bright colors... I have a pink one & a green one. They are perfect, and I think under $20.

Hi S.. I bought a Maclaren Triumph for traveling when my son was 14 months old and planned to still use my bigger stroller on a regular basis. I loved the Maclaren so much that it became the stroller I use pretty much every day. It is so light and easy to use, especially when taking it in and out of the trunk. My older son is now 3.5 and my second son is 16 months old and I use the Maclaren with him most days, especially when running errands. It has held up incredibly well, even through all the travel and near daily use. I was also worried about not having a snack/toy tray, but I instead starting using Snack-Traps and tied the toys to the stroller with Baby Buddy toy straps (which you could also use with the Snack-Trap). Good luck with your search!
M.

I wouldn't buy any umbrella stroller but a maclaren go on craigslist to find a goos deal on one. They recline and go up to 55lbs they are fantastic!

We got this one and it works well for us. It doesn't shade the baby as much as I'd probably prefer but for the price, it gets the job done and there are always cute sun hats. :)

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265744

Have you tried "freecycle.com"? You might be able to get something free from someone right in your town. It did that. My guy was a bit older and always wanted to walk, so I didn't use it much, but when I needed it, it was there. You could also try craigslist.