Umbrella Stroller comparison (spreadsheet)

[sherezada]

Since many of us have been looking for umbrella strollers lately, I figured I would share the spreadsheet I started. I filled it as best as I could by looking through youtube videos and reading reviews. Of course, a lot of the entries are my subjective opinion (like the canopy and basket size, the cons, etc), but hopefully it will be useful to some of you. Maybe one of the admins would like to take ownership of it, put it in the FAQ sticky and/or continue updating it as they get information from these forums.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?...1E&output=html

[Momto1]

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing

Just curious - why no macs?

[sherezada]

Originally Posted by Momto1

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing

Just curious - why no macs?

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention I'm an anti-mac person (both stroller and computer wise ). Hence I didn't include them in my search. But I'd be glad to add them to the list if someone gives me the specs.

[Multimama]

I'm confused as to why you listed the Blink canopy and basket as "small." The basket is definitely comparable to the Inglesina that you listed as "okay" and the canopy is substantially larger. In addition to being longer, it also has a fold-out visor.

Cool chart. Was this so you could decide what to purchase? What did you end up buying?

You're missing one crucial category (or set of categories) though: PUSH and one-handed steering. This may not seem to matter now. (Umbrellas may feel like they all push the same empty on the very nice flooring of baby stores.) But it is the most important feature, IMO, and why I am a Maclaren convert. Features are nice, but push is the most important thing.

[rin]

Wow, awesome comparison chart!!! Thanks for sharing.

I'd also add a column for ease of fold/one-handed fold; that was something that was pretty important for me, since I use my umbrella for airport travel and wanted to have something I could fold up while holding my baby at the security line. (This totally pushed me towards Macs.)

Tiny point: the weight on the Cybex Onyx seems high to me. I've never seen one IRL but am pretty sure it's lighter than the Cybex Topaz (which I used to have).

[indigo99]

I love my Mac although I did try to resist because of the price. It just didn't seem like it was built all that well. However, I love using it, and it has held up well. It is SO easy to push and steer, and it fits in small spaces. My husband even agrees that it is great, and he really wanted to be right and dislike it since we already had a stroller when I purchased it.

[sherezada]

Originally Posted by Multimama

I'm confused as to why you listed the Blink canopy and basket as "small." The basket is definitely comparable to the Inglesina that you listed as "okay" and the canopy is substantially larger. In addition to being longer, it also has a fold-out visor.

Like I said, some things were my subjective opinion from what I could see in pictures/videos. I haven't seen most of these strollers IRL.

Originally Posted by Multimama

Cool chart. Was this so you could decide what to purchase? What did you end up buying?

Yes, this and JellyBeans' review finally convinced me to get the G-Luxe 2011 (haven't bought it yet).

Originally Posted by Multimama

You're missing one crucial category (or set of categories) though: PUSH and one-handed steering. This may not seem to matter now. (Umbrellas may feel like they all push the same empty on the very nice flooring of baby stores.) But it is the most important feature, IMO, and why I am a Maclaren convert. Features are nice, but push is the most important thing.

Well, I figured strollers that didn't have a bar-type handle wouldn't be a one-hand push (I see by your comment that I'm wrong on that). I didn't add the push category because I can't comment on that, since I haven't tried them IRL.

Thank you all for your comments. I was not trying to create an exhaustive comparison of all the umbrella strollers out there. I just compared the ones I was considering, and the features that mattered to me at this moment as best as I could with the information I could gather online. I'd be more than happy to pass it on to someone else who wants to make it into a more exhaustive list.

[satchnbucky]

I have to say, I guess I don't understand why people are anti-mac. I own a Mac, and I love it. I got it based on recs from friends and this board. Is it tippy, sure, if I hang things on it and my kid isn't in it, but what 11 lb stroller wouldn't be? Can they be overpriced? Sure, but I don't know many people who buy their macs full priced anyway. In fact, my friend just sold her Triumph for more than she paid for it...
Macs have a one handed push, and push great even with a 35 lb kid in them...

I think it's awesome that you made the spreadsheet and it's a totally valuable resource, but I think you really need to include macs, since they're basically the gold standard of umbrellas...

[rin]

Originally Posted by sherezada

Yes, this and JellyBeans' review finally convinced me to get the G-Luxe 2011 (haven't bought it yet).

Ooh, nice! I've been having some G-luxe lust lately, although I think it'll sadly remain unfulfilled since my DH will have a heart attack if I propose getting another stroller. I've just gotten a Mac Triumph to replace my ancient Mac Quest, and I think my DH's capacity for stroller buying has been maxed out until we have another baby!

Originally Posted by sherezada

Well, I figured strollers that didn't have a bar-type handle wouldn't be a one-hand push (I see by your comment that I'm wrong on that). I didn't add the push category because I can't comment on that, since I haven't tried them IRL.

Yeah, the 2-handled Mac push is pretty awesome, and this plus the basically no-hand fold (I can do it holding my baby in one hand and with a bag of groceries in the other, although I do have to put the groceries down to pick the stroller up again ) are what won me over. I often just push it with one hand and walk next to the stroller to chat with my baby so we can see each other. She's not super heavy (20+ lbs or so), but I often have the basket weighed down with 10-15 lbs of library books, a gallon of milk, etc, and it still goes just fine. I hear really similar things about the G-luxe push too!

Originally Posted by sherezada

Thank you all for your comments. I was not trying to create an exhaustive comparison of all the umbrella strollers out there. I just compared the ones I was considering, and the features that mattered to me at this moment as best as I could with the information I could gather online. I'd be more than happy to pass it on to someone else who wants to make it into a more exhaustive list.

I totally didn't mean to pick at your chart. I think it's fabulous you put together such a great tool, and it's awesome of you to share it with everyone! I think a lot of people (myself included) get very excited about the umbrella stroller topic, and can't help but jump in with suggestions and ideas.

[Multimama]

Originally Posted by sherezada

Like I said, some things were my subjective opinion from what I could see in pictures/videos. I haven't seen most of these strollers IRL.

Well, I own the Blink so now you know. Basket "okay." Canopy "okay." Also, I would say that the Flite's canopy is "big." Some reviewers don't seem to have realized (as some retailers don't) that you can unsnap it and pull it all the way forward. Check out strollerqueen's review to see some great pics.

Yes, this and JellyBeans' review finally convinced me to get the G-Luxe 2011 (haven't bought it yet).

Congratulations on making your choice! After all this raving about the G-luxe I feel like I have to go and check it out again. I was really excited about it when I read about it online too, but in person I found it just didn't feel as solid and substantial as I had been hoping. But I believe that is partly just due to the materials they have to use to get it to be so lightweight and not to say that it is not a quality stroller. Now the big question is: what color to choose??

I didn't add the push category because I can't comment on that, since I haven't tried them IRL.

Yes, this is tricky. Even when you see them IRL it can be tricky if you can't test them out in real life conditions. Once it's a priority you do start to get a feel for it from reviews, sometimes having to read between the lines for reviews that only mention the positives of a stroller. You can definitely get a one-handed push without the bar handle, but steering is easier with the bar.

Thanks for sharing. Come back and let us know what you think of the G-luxe when it arrives.