Best Lightweight Strollers
Top-rated strollers under 15 pounds that save you time, space, and hassle during quick errands or long road trips
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A bulky stroller can be a drag in the car, on an airplane, or in a crowded mall—not to mention on busy city streets. But a lightweight stroller can lighten your load.
“At CR, we consider a stroller lightweight and compact when it’s under 15 pounds and easy to carry,” says Joan Muratore, the engineer who oversees stroller testing at Consumer Reports. “You should be able to carry it in one hand and your child in the other. And it won’t take up your entire car trunk space.”
Some of the traditional and umbrella strollers, as well as car-seat carriers, that we’ve tested fit this description: In our stroller ratings, you’ll find umbrella strollers as light as 11 pounds and traditional strollers starting at 10 pounds. On the other end of the spectrum? Bulkier strollers weigh as much as 34 pounds.
While these lighter strollers are easy to lift, carry, fold, and stow—and most meet strict Disney theme park requirements—they do have limits. Some may feel flimsy, and their small wheels can make them more difficult to maneuver. Most aren’t car-seat compatible, and few accommodate babies who can’t sit up on their own. (For infants, consider a lightweight single car-seat carrier stroller.)
The best lightweight strollers are anything but lightweight performers in our tests. CR engineers put strollers through their paces in our labs and on the grounds outside our Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters to assess which ones are safe, maneuverable, and easy to use. They use each stroller the way parents do, but with weights simulating a child—up to 30 pounds for maneuverability and 40 pounds for safety—and push each model through an S-curve test course, steering them on pavement between cones, up and down curbs, and over obstructions including grass, mulch, and tree roots.
Our stroller ratings feature a wide range of options, from brands such as Graco, Joovy, Maclaren, Mountain Buggy, Uppababy, and more. Refer to our stroller buying guide as you shop, and if you have multiple young kids, see our guide to the best double strollers.
Here are six lightweight (but solid) strollers, listed alphabetically by category, that will take a load off when you’re out and about.
CR’s take: At just 12 pounds, this low-priced, compact Summer Infant umbrella stroller is a steal. This safe umbrella stroller is a top-notch choice for traveling with a child of 6 months or older, up to 50 pounds. The seat reclines, which is great for on-the-go naps. It’s easy to fold, unfold, and carry thanks to its convenient shoulder strap. It comes with a cup holder, extra-large undercarriage storage, and a small seatback pocket.
CR’s take: The 11-pound Uppababy G-Lite self-stands when folded, a plus for stashing in your hallway or closet. Its restraint system is one of the highlights of this model: The buckle is easy to open and close, and smooth and easy to adjust for fit. The seat fabric/cover is removable and machine-washable. This model features a large canopy and carry strap for easy transport. Its maneuverability is very good—the stroller feels light (if a bit wobbly to some testers) and is a bit tough to navigate on rougher surfaces.
CR’s take: The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 is small and lightweight and earns strong marks across the board in CR’s tests. This 14-pound folded stroller should easily fit under an airplane seat or in an overhead bin when it’s in its included carry bag. Our testers find that the stroller is responsive and sturdy for its size. It has an easy one-hand fold. The basket is midsized but shallow (it holds a diaper bag and not much else). One caveat: Despite its name, this model is not suitable for jogging or running because it lacks a fixed or lockable front wheel, an essential feature to prevent the stroller from tipping or swerving while jogging.
CR’s take: The Mountain Buggy Nano is a great choice for travel. This compact, 13-pound stroller comes with its own carrying bag and reportedly fits in an overhead compartment for air travel. It’s car-seat-compatible, too. Our testers give this model’s ease of use and maneuverability strong ratings. There’s limited storage, but that might be a worthwhile sacrifice for the convenience. One thing to note: The instruction manual is largely pictorial and can be hard to decipher. We found instructional videos on Mountain Buggy’s website to be much clearer and more helpful.
CR’s take: The Chicco KeyFit Caddy offers parents click-and-go ease. Chicco’s KeyFit and KeyFit 30 infant seat just snap right in, no adapter needed. At 11 pounds, the small carrier stroller moves into and out of your car trunk with ease. (The car seat will add some extra weight, of course.) When folded, it’s self-standing. With an adjustable handle, it’s very maneuverable for a car-seat carrier, despite its small wheels. The large basket offers good accessibility, aided by front zippers. There’s also a parent console, with cup holders.
CR’s take: Running errands just got easier. The Graco Snugrider Elite tosses a lifeline to parents who’d otherwise find themselves buckling and unbuckling a newborn into and out of seats all day. As the top-rated car-seat carrier stroller in CR’s tests, this model alleviates much of the baby travel-and-transfer hassle. Parents can just click the infant car seat onto the lightweight frame (14 pounds) and go, even if your baby is sleeping. This stroller’s ease of use and safety are stellar, and it has very good maneuverability. There are some limitations, though: It lacks one-touch brakes and adjustable handles, and it doesn’t stand when folded. But it does meet Disney theme park requirements. Note that once your baby outgrows the infant car seat, you’ll need a new stroller.
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