When I was initially registering for baby gear I didn’t want to go overboard. I picked a main stroller that I *thought* would be my go-to for all strolling needs. Well, here I am almost three years into motherhood and am now someone who has six strollers.
It happened gradually over these three years as my needs and wants with baby gear evolved. I’m not proud that my garage looks like stroller parking at a daycare, but it does. I will note that some of these strollers were gifted for review purposes so it’s absolutely not necessary for me to have six strollers. I wouldn’t have purchased all of these on my own. I do though find the need for three of these, perhaps even a fourth (double jogging stroller, I’m talking about you).
For fellow parents or soon-to-be-parents trying to navigate the stroller aisle, I’ve learned a thing or two and I’m going to share it with you here.
Here are my honest reviews of each stroller and whether I recommend it.
UPPAbaby Vista with Second Seat Kit
This is the stroller I registered for and thought it could be my everything stroller. I chose this one because it starts as a single and can easily shift to a double. Knowing my goal was to have two kids close in age, this made sense in the long run. You can also buy a travel bag for it so I assumed it would be easy to travel with. I’ve actually never traveled with it because it is incredibly bulky and heavy. So while you could technically travel with it, I wouldn’t recommend it.
I love this stroller and use it all the time. It is expensive though and an investment. It has a huge basket, is very sturdy, and the big wheels help me navigate through parks. It comes with a bassinet attachment which I loved using when my babies were little. All of that said, as a double I love it a bit less. It works as a double but it’s harder to push and if I’m on an uneven surface or sidewalk I am sometimes nervous it’s going to tip over (that’s never happened but it doesn’t seem 100% secure all the time as a double). For the most part though, I think it’s an incredible stroller and very well made. Now that I don’t have an infant, I think I’d prefer a side-by-side option for double strolling. Love it as a single, am meh on it as a double for two toddlers.
Mockingbird Single-to-Double Stroller
The Mockingbird is essentially a much more affordable version of the Vista. There are minor design elements that are different but generally speaking these strollers are incredibly similar. The biggest different is the insane price difference ($450 versus $1,000+). I highly recommend this stroller. It’s well-priced, good quality, and very nice. Though slightly less tank-like than the Vista, it’s a great single-t0-double option.
If you’re deciding between the Vista and the Mockingbird, I recommend reading this very in-depth article where I compare the two strollers and give my opinion on which one is best.
Thule Urban Glide 2 Jogging Stroller
For jogging with baby, I love this one! It is super easy to push and is a very smooth ride for both your child and for you as the runner. The one design flaw for me is that your child is in a pretty reclined position when in this stroller, even when set to the most upright position. Other than that though, truly no complaints. If you’re a runner this is such a fun way to get in miles with your baby. And if you’re not a runner, you might love this stroller for long walks. It’s much smoother to push than the Vista and Mockingbird when it comes to long somewhat active walks.
Now that I have two kids I am considering selling this stroller and upgrading to the double version.
Guava Roam Jogging Stroller
This stroller was gifted to me to test and it’s another great jogging stroller option. It’s very similar to the Thule stroller and priced slightly better ($549 versus $649). The smooth ride is similar to that of the Thule. The Thule might be a smidge smoother but not a major difference.
There are two ways that I think the Guava wins out over the Thule: the seat isn’t as reclined and the tires are not inflated, meaning you don’t risk getting a flat and you don’t need to worry about keeping the tires properly inflated.
If you’re looking for a jogger under $600, I highly recommend this option.
Zoe XLC Travel Stroller
It appears this stroller is discontinued and the Zoe Tour + is the new model, priced at $199. We bought this stroller before one of our first flights with Millie. It does the trick and is a slim, lightweight, small-folding stroller that fits in the overhead compartment of most planes. We brought it on a few trips and it’s perfect for strolling through the airport and to short destinations.
However, this stroller is pretty basic and isn’t something I like using on long walks. I’m a huge walker so being able to take my kiddos on long walks during trips is pretty important to me. For those outings, this stroller really isn’t great.
If you’re looking for a travel stroller primarily to get you through the airport, this will work for you. If you want to take it on long walks once you’re at your destination, I recommend you invest more in a travel stroller.
Joolz Aer Travel Stroller
And that brings me to this more expensive travel stroller, the Joolz Aer ($449). I love this stroller. It’s super lightweight, really well made and sturdy, super easy to push, and folds up to fit in an overhead compartment. It also comes with a handy shoulder strap. If you travel often and like going on long walks on your trips, I highly recommend this option.
We used this on a recent trip to Florida and I clocked several miles with this stroller, including walks on the beach (on hard sand). Love this one and I look forward to using it on future trips.
I could say a lot more about each stroller but those are the main takeaways for each. If you’re considering any of these I’m happy to answer any questions you have! Again, you do not need to own six strollers, but depending on your lifestyle it might be unavoidable to not own a few. For my own lifestyle, I have found it necessary to have my every day stroller, a jogging stroller, and a travel stroller. And yes, I’m considering adding a double jogger for days when I want to jog with both kids.
Curious to hear what your stroller situation is like. Do you have more than one and do you have a favorite? Let me know below!
