Best Strollers: Full-Size, Lightweight, Travel and Jogging Picks
The CPSC says strollers are normally used from infancy to 36 months, so it pays to match yours to how you live: a full-size stroller for everyday walks, a light umbrella stroller for errands, a compact fold for travel or big wheels for jogging. The five below run from about $70 to $300.
Every stroller sold in the US has to meet a federal standard, 16 CFR 1227. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wrote it to address problems it saw in reports, from hinges that pinched fingers to brakes that failed.
| Best for | Pick | Price checked |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Graco Modes Pramette 3-in-1 Stroller | $249.99 |
| Best lightweight | Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller | $99.99 |
| Best budget | Ingenuity 3d Mini Convenience Stroller | $69.88 |
| Best jogging stroller | Baby Trend Expedition Jogger | $119.99 |
| Best for travel | Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Travel Stroller | $299.99 |
Best Strollers
#1 · Best overall
Graco Modes Pramette 3-in-1 Stroller
| Weight limit | 50 lb (listing) |
|---|---|
| Stroller weight | 20.9 lb |
| Modes | Car seat frame, pramette, toddler seat |
| Seat | Reversible |
| Car seats | All Graco infant seats (listing) |
| Model | 2173669 |
The Graco Modes Pramette works from the first day to the toddler years. The listing describes three modes: a frame for a Graco infant car seat, a pramette that lets a newborn lie back, and a toddler stroller. The seat can face you or face forward.
It takes any Graco infant car seat, according to the listing, so it can become a travel system. It has a one-hand fold, a child tray with cup holders, a parent cup and phone holder, and a large canopy with a peekaboo window. It's rated to 50 pounds.
At 20.9 pounds it's the heaviest pick apart from the jogger. It was $249.99 from Amazon, with a 4.6 rating from about 7,200 reviews.
Good for
- From newborn to toddler in one stroller
- Reversible seat and Graco car seat fit
Watch Out for
- Heavy and bulky folded
- Car seat sold separately
#2 · Best lightweight
Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller
| Weight limit | 50 lb, 43 in (listing) |
|---|---|
| Stroller weight | 13 lb |
| Recline | 4 positions |
| Harness | 5-point |
| Basket | Up to 10 lb |
| Model | 21930A |
The Summer 3Dlite is an umbrella stroller with a 4-position recline and a big basket. Its aluminum frame weighs 13 pounds on the listing, and the seat holds a child up to 50 pounds and 43 inches tall.
It folds with an auto lock and has a carry strap. The extra-large basket holds up to 10 pounds, and there's a rear pocket and a cup holder. It has a 4.6 rating from about 7,700 reviews.
It doesn't take an infant car seat, and the listing gives a 90-day warranty, shorter than the one-year warranties on the Ingenuity and the City Tour 2. It was $99.99 from Amazon.
Good for
- Light aluminum frame with a 4-position recline
- High 50 lb limit for an umbrella stroller
Watch Out for
- No car seat option
- 90-day warranty
#3 · Best budget
Ingenuity 3d Mini Convenience Stroller
| Age and weight | 6 months to 45 lb (listing) |
|---|---|
| Stroller weight | About 11 lb |
| Folded size | 44 x 9.5 x 13 in |
| Harness | Padded 5-point |
| Cup holders | 2 |
| Model | 32873 |
The Ingenuity 3D Mini is the cheapest stroller here at $69.88 from Amazon, and the lightest, at about 11 pounds on the listing. It has the biggest review base too, about 23,600 reviews with a 4.3 rating.
The listing rates it from 6 months up to 45 pounds. The seat reclines to several positions, the 5-point harness is padded, and there's a basket, a rear pocket and two cup holders. It folds to about 44 by 9.5 by 13 inches.
Its 4.3 rating is the lowest of the five, and its small wheels suit sidewalks and stores better than grass or gravel.
Good for
- About $70
- Lightest pick here
Watch Out for
- Not for babies under 6 months
- Small wheels for rough ground
#4 · Best jogging stroller
Baby Trend Expedition Jogger
| Weight limit | 50 lb (listing) |
|---|---|
| Stroller weight | 23.6 lb |
| Front wheel | 16 in, lockable swivel |
| Tires | Bicycle-style |
| Harness | 5-point with tether strap |
| Model | JG94F01D |
The Baby Trend Expedition is a three-wheel jogging stroller for about $120. It has bicycle tires, including a 16-inch front wheel, and the front wheel swivels for turning or locks straight for running.
The listing says the child tray accepts an infant car seat to make a travel system. There's a parent tray with two cup holders and a covered compartment, a reclining padded seat with a 5-point harness and a tether strap, reflectors on the footrest and a large basket. It's rated to 50 pounds.
It weighs 23.6 pounds and is long, so check your trunk. It has the highest rating here, 4.7 from about 5,900 reviews, and was $119.99 from Amazon. Ask your pediatrician when your baby is ready to ride along while you run.
Good for
- Jogger with bicycle tires for about $120
- Accepts an infant car seat
Watch Out for
- The heaviest pick
- Takes a lot of trunk space
#5 · Best for travel
Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Travel Stroller
| Weight limit | 45 lb (listing) |
|---|---|
| Stroller weight | About 14 lb |
| Folded size | 23 x 19.4 x 7.4 in |
| Recline | Near-flat |
| Basket | Up to 15 lb |
| Model | 2081849 |
The Baby Jogger City Tour 2 folds in one step into a package about 23 by 19.4 by 7.4 inches, small enough that the listing calls it carry-on approved. Airline rules vary, so check yours before you fly. It weighs about 14 pounds and comes with a carry bag.
The seat reclines almost flat and has an adjustable calf rest, which Baby Jogger says few ultra-compact strollers offer. The basket holds up to 15 pounds, the canopy is UV 50+, and a Baby Jogger infant car seat can click on with adapters sold separately. It's rated to 45 pounds.
It's the priciest pick at $299.99 from Amazon, with a 4.5 rating from about 1,200 reviews. The listing says the frame has a limited lifetime warranty.
Good for
- Smallest fold here, with a carry bag
- Near-flat recline and calf rest
Watch Out for
- The most expensive pick
- Car seat adapters cost extra
Compare the 5 Picks
| Pick | Price | Type | Weight limit | Stroller weight | Infant car seat | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graco Modes Pramette 3-in-1 Stroller | $249.99 | Full-size | 50 lb | 20.9 lb | Graco seats | 4.6 (7,176) |
| Summer 3Dlite Convenience Stroller | $99.99 | Umbrella | 50 lb | 13 lb | No | 4.6 (7,741) |
| Ingenuity 3d Mini Convenience Stroller | $69.88 | Umbrella | 45 lb (6 months+) | About 11 lb | No | 4.3 (23,618) |
| Baby Trend Expedition Jogger | $119.99 | Jogging | 50 lb | 23.6 lb | Yes (listing) | 4.7 (5,896) |
| Baby Jogger City Tour 2 Travel Stroller | $299.99 | Compact travel | 45 lb | About 14 lb | Baby Jogger, adapters extra | 4.5 (1,231) |
Prices and Amazon ratings (with review counts) as checked on October 17, 2026.
Stroller Safety: What the Federal Rule Targets
The CPSC received about 1,300 incident reports involving strollers between January 2008 and June 2013, and four involved a death. When it approved the federal stroller standard in 2014, it listed the problems the rule was meant to fix:
- Hinges that pinched, cut or amputated children's fingers or arms
- Wheels that broke or came off
- Parking brakes that failed
- Locks that didn't hold
- Restraints that broke, came loose or that a child could unbuckle
- Frames that broke and strollers that tipped
In practice: since hinges topped the CPSC's list, keep your child's hands clear when you fold or unfold the stroller and make sure it clicks locked before your child gets in. Set the parking brake whenever you stop, and buckle the harness every ride.
The rule (16 CFR 1227) covers full-size and umbrella strollers, travel systems, double strollers and jogging strollers. Strollers made after February 15, 2022 must meet the 2021 version of the ASTM standard. Each one also needs a permanent label with the maker, a U.S. contact, the model and the date of manufacture, and a registration card so the maker can contact you about a recall. Here's how to check a stroller for recalls.
How to Choose a Stroller
For a longer walk-through, see our article on how to choose a baby stroller.
Full-Size, Umbrella, Travel or Jogging
For more picks by type, see our guides to umbrella strollers, double strollers and Graco strollers.
A full-size stroller like the Graco Modes Pramette has the most features and works from birth with a car seat. Umbrella strollers like the Summer 3Dlite and Ingenuity 3D Mini are light and cheap, but they suit older babies. A compact travel stroller like the City Tour 2 folds smallest. A jogger like the Baby Trend Expedition has big bicycle-style tires for running and rough paths.
Newborn Use
If you want a car seat and stroller sold together, see our travel systems guide.
If you want to use the stroller from day one, look for a car seat option or a seat that lies flat. The Graco takes Graco infant car seats and has a pramette mode, the Baby Trend jogger tray accepts an infant car seat, and the City Tour 2 takes a Baby Jogger car seat with adapters. The Ingenuity 3D Mini starts at 6 months on its listing.
Weight and Fold
Weights here run from about 11 pounds for the Ingenuity to 23.6 pounds for the jogger. If you'll lift it into a car or up stairs every day, a few pounds matter. Check the folded size against your trunk or closet too.
How Long It Lasts
The CPSC says strollers are normally used from infancy to 36 months. Four of these picks are rated to 45 or 50 pounds, which covers most children well past that age.
Stroller Questions
Can a Newborn Ride in an Umbrella Stroller?
Check the stroller's minimum age first. The Ingenuity 3D Mini, for example, starts at 6 months on its listing. For a newborn, use a stroller with a car seat attachment or a flat-lying mode.
Is a Travel System Worth It?
A travel system lets you move a sleeping baby from the car to the stroller in the car seat. The Graco, the Baby Trend jogger and the City Tour 2 can all take an infant car seat, according to their listings.
Can I Use a Secondhand Stroller?
Look at the date of manufacture on the label and search the model on CPSC.gov for recalls. Then check that the hinges lock, the brake holds and the harness buckles firmly.
The Bottom Line
For one stroller from birth to the toddler years, get the Graco Modes Pramette. The Summer 3Dlite is the best light stroller for older babies, and the Ingenuity 3D Mini does the job for about $70. Runners should look at the Baby Trend Expedition, and frequent flyers at the Baby Jogger City Tour 2. Whichever you buy, set the brake and keep little hands clear of the hinges.