We tested the top strollers from Thule, Chicco, UPPAbaby, and more to find the best option for every family an dbudget
We've tested more than 185 strollers, including more than 50 full-size strollers, in our ongoing effort to find the very best. We purchase each stroller ourselves to assure complete independence in our comparison and ratings.
Are you looking for the best full-size stroller available today? We purchased and tested the top 17 competitors after researching over 100+ options. Finding an excellent stroller can be challenging, with so many to choose from, especially if you don't know what to look for. Our extensive side-by-side tests look for ease of use, maneuverability, quality, weight, and more to give you the details you need to find the right stroller for your family. There is something for everyone in our list of the best full-size strollers with our test results and hand-selected award winners. You'll find everything you need to know in our detailed review, no matter your budget or specific needs.
The Thule Urban Glide 2 is an impressive jogging stroller with impressive features for everyday use. This stroller has covered storage, a giant canopy, excellent suspension, and a lockable swivel front wheel with adjustable tracking. The Urban Glide 2 is easy to push and turn and equally up to the task of running. Parents the comfort of the foam-covered adjustable handlebar with twisting handbrake, and passengers enjoyed the cozy, deep recline seat back, seat-side storage pockets, and padded sling-style seat. The Urban Glide 2 is compatible with multiple infant car seats with an adapter purchase.
The Urban Glide 2 is somewhat more cumbersome and awkward when folded, making it a possible no-go for those who are searching for something lightweight or compact. It doesn't have a parent console or cup holder (they offer accessories for purchase). Overall, this stroller is a useful choice that is also one f the best jogging strollers. This stroller is an excellent choice for parents on the move who like being outdoors or going for an adventurous run. It is also a potential contender for anyone looking for a one-and-done purchase who doesn't need a lightweight stroller.
The Thule Urban Glide 2 is very easy to maneuver with a swivel front wheel that manages tight spaces with ease and rubber air-filled tires that can traverse almost any terrain.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Do not run with younger babies
It is not safe to run with babies who lack the muscle control to support their head and neck. We encourage parents to consult with their pediatrician and the manufacturer manual of their jogging stroller for more information before setting out for adventures faster than strolling.
The Thule Spring is an impressive high-quality, quick-fold standard stroller. There is much to love about this easy-to-use stroller from Thule. It has a quick, one-handed fold that creates a very small package compared to the competition. It is also lightweight for a full-sized option and has a large storage bin that fits our extra-large diaper bag inside. We appreciate the deep recline and large canopy for passenger comfort, and parents will appreciate this product's sleek design and smooth operation.
The Spring is generally easy to push, but the plastic wheels make moving off-road more challenging than it needs to be. However, they are still better than most plastic wheels in the group. Also, the storage bin is large, but its maximum allowable weight is only 11 lbs. This is average for the group but not as high as some of the competition. Overall, this stroller impressed during testing with features that work well and are sure to please parents and little ones alike no matter what your goals might be.
The Baby Trend Expedition is a jogger that can easily work for everyday use saving money over time by buying a single stroller instead of two. We like the air-filled rubber tires and locking front swivel wheel, which makes it ideal for maneuverability and going off-road or running. The Expedition has under-seat storage, a sling-style seat, and a parent tray (a rare find).
This budget stroller isn't the highest quality, and the lack of adjustable tracking or suspension makes it less suitable for serious runners. However, if you want an easy-to-push and turn stroller that can head off-road for occasional fun, then the Expedition could be the right fit that saves you money.
Our running biomechanics expert Carrie Vickers puts the Baby Trend to the test. While the Baby Trend is not the best option for serious runners, it is a budget friendly stroller and good for everyday use with the occasional jog.
The UPPAbaby Vista v2 earned impressive results in almost every test. This stroller is easy to use, easy to push and can accommodate up to three children, making it a versatile choice for growing families with top-quality materials that should last for the long haul. The Vista v2 comes standard with a bassinet and toddler seat. The frame accepts up to two infant car seats, two toddler seats, or other variations, including several using a bassinet with seats that can sit forward or back (the possibilities seem endless). These seating variations make the Vista v2 one of the most versatile we've seen and an excellent contender for growing families and those with multiple little ones. The Vista v2 also has a giant storage basket (30 lb max limit!), an upgraded canopy, easy fold, and foam-filled rubber tires.
The Vista v2 is one of the most expensive products in our lineup. It is also heavier due to its multi-seat design. So unless you need more than one seat, it may not be the right choice for your family. Overall, this full-size stroller is a stylish option we love for its seating versatility and easy-to-use features, making it one of the best double strollers for growing families, multiples, or twins.
The UPPAbaby Cruz v2 is a sleek, no-nonsense full-size option that is easy to use with impressive performance for quality, setup, and functionality in comparison to the competition. While this stroller is not the lightest in the group, it does fold relatively flat, unlike the jogging-style strollers. The Cruz v2 has a huge, versatile canopy and some of the best storage in the business, with a 30 lb capacity limit! This stroller comes with one seat that can face either direction and has recline and leg rest adjustments for comfort. The new v2 also sports suspension and never-flat rubber tires. It is also compatible with several brands of infant car seats (not common in every traditional stroller), including the impressive UPPAbaby Mesa that works without an adapter.
The Cruz v2 lost a little ground for maneuverability as the four-wheel design paled in comparison to the three-wheel models. However, it isn't hard to push or turn and scored above average compared to the traditional full-size options we tested. The Cruz v2 may not be the best bet for adventurous parents who plan to go off-road or hope to jog with their older baby. However, it is great for days out in the city, running errands, and even picnics in the park. It is hard to find a better full-size stroller with the same performance, quality, or features, especially if you want to attach an infant car seat to it.
The Evenflo Pivot Xpand is an inexpensive multi-seater that has a lot to offer for a smaller price. We like that this option has versatile seating choices, such as facing forward or backward, and the ability to accept up to two infant car seats. It can accommodate up to 3 riders at one time with accessories (sold separately), and it has large storage with a quick fold and adjustable handlebar.
There is much to love about the Xpand, but it isn't the highest quality compared to more expensive competitors. It is also somewhat heavy and large, so if you don't need three seats or aren't planning on more children, it may not be the right selection for your family. Despite these minor downsides, we like what the Xpand offers for parents with multiple children to save money on the brain. The price is very budget-minded, and we think it has everything a growing family needs without breaking the bank.
The Pivot offers easy-to-use features in a design that is intuitive and functional.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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The Cruz offers many features that make it a winner for ease of use.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Why You Should Trust Us
Our testing protocol for strollers is extensive and involves putting each stroller through 50 individual tests to inform our ratings. We've purchased and tested more than 190 strollers Since 2014, including more than 50 strollers that fit our criteria for everyday-use "full-size strollers." We buy each stroller ourselves, accepting no freebies from manufacturers to ensure complete independence.
Our testing of full-size strollers is divided across four rating metrics:
Ease of Use tests (45% of overall score weighting)
Maneuverability tests (30% weighting)
Weight & Folded Size tests (15% weighting)
Quality tests (10% weighting)
Our testing occurs in the BabyGearLab in-house lab and in the real world during daily use with little ones. The full-size stroller reviews use research and details on performance derived from real-world applications and comparison to the other contenders. We handle each stroller from unboxing to in-house testing and hours of use to determine which are the easiest to use, have the most useful features, are the most maneuverable, and have the quality level compared to the competition.
Our experienced team of top-notch stroller testers is run by our BabyGearLab founder, Dr. Juliet Spurrier, Board Certified Pediatrician, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and totally awesome mother of two. She uses her education and experience as a pediatrician and her expertise as a mom to define the BabyGearLab safety standards. She makes the final selection of the top products we include in this and most reviews. The lead for the hands-on stroller test team is Senior Research Analyst, Bob Wofford, father of 7 who has been the stroller testing development and execution leader since 2013. It's safe to say Bob has pushed, pulled, and assembled more strollers than anyone on the planet. Bob's team includes Senior Review Editor and mother of two, Wendy Schmitz, who has reviewed and researched over 150 strollers since joining BabyGearLab in 2014, including hundreds of hours of hands-on use. The team also includes Senior Review Editor, Abriah Wofford, who joined the BabyGearLab stroller testing team in 2015. Overall, the team has more than 20 years of combined experience using and testing all types of strollers.
The seat back on the 3.0 reclines with a single hand on the adjustment button. It takes two hands to raise the seat by pulling the straps.
The Sleek's storage bin can be pulled back to make it larger.
Analysis and Test Results
We selected 17 finalists for our exhaustive, side-by-side testing that includes everything from maneuverability and ease of use to quality and overall weight. We chose each contender after extensive research on quality, innovation, and popularity, plus consideration of the multiple factors most parents want.
Value
A full-size stroller can often be more expensive than other stroller types because you typically use it more frequently, so they have more features. However, this truth doesn't mean you need to break the bank to find a top-performing option with the best features. Many of the best strollers in our review happen to be jogging strollers with middle-of-the-road prices. The jogger design features create a dual-purpose solution for a reasonable price, theoretically saving you money over buying two strollers. Are you on a tighter budget? The Britax B-Lively is attractively priced with useful features and above-average performance in our tests. These two can also fill in as lightweight strollers, doing two strollers' jobs in one, allowing you to save some cash. The Baby Trend Expedition is a standout with one of the lowest prices and easy maneuverability, but you sacrifice some quality for this price. If you have a growing family or multiple children, then the Evenflo Pivot Xpand can provide the versatility you need without breaking the bank.
We combined an extensive real world hands-on testing process with specific lab tests to compare each product's performance side-by-side.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Ease of Use
Ease of use includes the features you use frequently that impact everyday functionality. Your stroller's ability to perform well on demand is the difference between a stroller you enjoy and one you'll want to kick to the curb.
A full-size stroller's overall score in this metric is based on several sub-metrics that we tested and scored. These individual sub-metric tests provide more information and details, which comes in handy when you're comparing strollers, especially if you're torn between two contenders or if one sub-metric is more important to you.
The UPPAbaby strollers and the Thule Urban Glide 2 lack amenities like a parent or child console, but both companies offer these accessories for purchase. We believe these conveniences can be useful depending on your lifestyle, and we recommend you consider the additional cost in your decision-making process if you think you want them. However, we don't believe these features are strictly are mandatory. In fact, during testing, we found that many of these kinds of features weren't that useful or were poorly designed and only checked a box instead of adding real benefits.
While the Swift's bin is on the small side, we were still able to fit our larger diaper bag inside. However, the size, shape, and angle of the bin could easily result in items fall out if not in a larger bag.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The worst performer in our ease of use tests is the Baby Trend Expedition, which isn't necessarily hard to use, so much as it is harder than the competition because it lacks some features and others are lower quality and more challenging to use.
Fold and Unfold
We prefer strollers with few steps that fold smoothly without complications, as this can make all the difference when you're on the go, especially with a little one in tow. However, not every stroller is lucky to have an easy-fold design. We lined up the competition side-by-side to test various aspects of this sub-metric, such as ease of folding and unfolding, if a stroller sports an auto or manual fold lock, carry handle or shoulder strap, and if it can self-stand. A product's score in this sub-metric makes up 25% of the overall ease of use score.
Operating the Mockingbird Stroller is strikingly challenging in comparison to others. This stroller requires two hands to fold and unfold, and the unfolding process is more difficult due to its very stiff and hard-to-undo fold lock. It does have an automatic lock to keep the frame closed, and it self-stands, which are great features, but it lacks a carry handle or strap, which is a letdown given its size and heft.
Storage
The amount of storage space a stroller provides can differ; unfortunately, some storage designs are not very thoughtful or functional. In fact, some strollers in our lineup have large storage bins but with weight capacities that are low, making those spaces virtually useless. Considering how much we value functional and accessible storage on strollers, we gave this sub-metric 20% of the overall ease of use score.
Sunshade
A stroller's sunshade can vary in design, and we appreciate sunshades that provide ample coverage and sun protection through SPF or UV fabric, have peek-a-boo windows, and function well with a car seat. A product's score in this sub-metric contributes 15% to its overall ease of use score.
In our tests, the UPPAbaby Vista v2 (below left) and the UPPAbaby Cruz v2 (below right) have high maximum storage limits (30 lbs) and the largest canopies around.
The Vista v2 is an impressive full-size stroller with room for 3.
The Cruz v2 has everything you need to stroll with one child.
Seat
Several of the strollers in our lineup offer adjustable leg rests; some even adjust in length and angle, and almost all of them have some degree of reclining seat. Finding a comfortable napping position can be important when keeping little ones happy. This sub-metric makes up 15% of the overall ease of use score.
Harness
All of the strollers in our review have 5-point harnesses, with some offering sufficient padding or safety buckles that require two hands to operate. Others have an adjustable crotch strap and shoulder height adjustment with some non-rethread harnesses, and the rest rethread. We noticed that some harnesses are stiff to adjust, and we value those that are smooth and quick to operate. This sub-metric contributes 10% to the overall ease of use score.
Brakes
Not all brakes are feet-friendly, and some are trickier to employ or disengage. Our lineup even features a stroller, the Baby Jogger City Mini GT2, which sports a handbrake. We lined up the competition side-by-side to see how they compared, and this sub-metric provides 5% of the overall ease of use score.
A relatively small width, larger tires with a quality swivel, such as the BOB's (shown above) help simplify navigating narrow supermarket aisles.
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
Maneuverability
Our maneuverability tests include a convoluted pathway of turns and corners over various surfaces, including hardwood, pavement, gravel, grass, snow/ice (when the weather allows), and dirt. We also created the crowded-supermarket-from-hell simulator, a multi-surface obstacle course containing tight corners and real-world challenges. We push each stroller through it all and then compare their results for ease of pushing, turning, and performance over various surfaces and in tight spaces like a crowded city sidewalk.
The top performers for maneuverability all share a 3-wheel design and larger rubber tires, which is not a surprise. The highest-ranking stroller is the Thule Urban Glide 2, scoring just over 9 of 10. Following close behind is the Baby Jogger City Mini GT 2, BOB Revolution Flex 3.0, BOB Alterrain Pro, and BOB Rambler. These jogging strollers feature pneumatic (air-filled) rubber tires, suspension, adjustable tracking, and a swivel front wheel for tight navigation that locks in place for uneven terrain and running. The strollers with designs for jogging were notably better than the traditional full-size options.
The Bumbleride Speed is an easy to maneuver jogger with better than average run-ability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Baby Trend Expedition also earned a respectable score. It performed well in our obstacle course and managed uneven terrain better than most of the competitors. It offers solid construction that makes it more responsive and easier to guide through tight aisles and corners.
While the Baby Jogger brand has the word "Jogger" in the brand name, most of their products are not suitable for jogging. This applies to all of the Baby Joggers in this review. You should not jog with any stroller that is not designed for jogging, as they do not have the proper design features to provide a safe jogging experience with a baby. No seriously, don't do it!
The City Mini 2 performs surprisingly well in maneuverability tests given the smaller, dual front wheel, plastic design.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
It is worth noting that most of the high-scoring strollers perform well on both paved and unpaved surfaces. The more substantial wheels make for effortless pushing and single-handed turning on pavement, and they excel in smaller spaces with tight turning radiuses. Their advantages were even more pronounced when going over grass or gravel in the park. Smaller wheel products with solid tires got bogged down on rough surfaces, often to unworkable levels. The plastic wheels also transmit jarring shocks directly to the baby because they do not absorb the energy and often lack suspension. Also, smaller plastic wheels can become dented or deform over time depending on the terrain you regularly traverse. If you need to stroll frequently over grass, gravel, or dirt, maneuverability should be an essential consideration in your decision-making process, and those with rubber tires should be at the top of your list.
The Baby Jogger City Mini GT 2 is a little bit of an anomaly in this metric. It performed well in our tests but has smaller wheels than the other top contenders. It is not as good at traversing rougher terrain as the larger wheel joggers, but it is still superior to the plastic wheeled options, dual front wheel designs (2 wheels on 1 leg), and products that lack suspension. Baby Jogger advertises the GT 2 as an all-terrain option. While we disagree that it is suitable for regular off-roading (like hiking in the backwoods), our tests indicate it does manage uneven surfaces better than other small-wheeled competitors. However, its overall performance in all of our metrics is only average, making it a less impressive option that failed to win an award.
The plastic wheels on the Chicco Bravo LE are partly to blame for the difficulty we had pushing it.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The worst performer for maneuverability is the Evenflo Pivot Xpand, scoring 4.7 of 10. It is longer and heavier than some of the competition, and the plastic wheels and frame flex make it harder to keep on course and navigate tight turns and crowded locations without extra effort.
The Thule Urban Glide 2 is a great jogging stroller that works well for everyday errands and outings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Stroller Quality
Many believe that quality is directly related to price, and while this is somewhat true, we find that some of the mid-range products offer quality on par, or better than, the more expensive options. This observation is good news for anyone hoping to find a high-performing, quality product that won't break the bank.
The top-quality options are the BOB Alterrain Pro and Thule Urban Glide 2, each earning 9 of 10. The BOB Revolution Flex 3.0, UPPAbaby Vista v2, BOB Rambler, and Thule Spring follow close behind with 8s. These strollers combine quality components and high-end materials with a fit and finish that stands out in a crowd and have a significant price range between them. Products earn higher scores for quality if they have comfortable and durable fabric, pneumatic or foam-filled rubber tires, and sturdy frames with smooth finishes and little flex or rattle. The lowest scoring option, the Baby Trend Expedition earned a 4 out of 10. Most of the low-scoring strollers have plastic wheels (not true of the Expedition), stationary handlebars, and a lot of flex with multiple, often visible, connection joints. However, the Baby Trend Expedition combines some nicer features like rubber pneumatic tires and larger wheels, which give it excellent maneuverability and the ability to run. It suffers from problems like a uselessly small canopy.
The B-Lively is the smallest folded option in the group.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Folded Size
We perform our measurements to test the weight and folded size of each stroller. This practice is important as we discovered that some manufacturers provided weights or measurements that excluded components such as wheels or detachable seats. This results in their stated stroller weight appearing much lighter on paper than it is set up for actual use. Our measurements include wheels and seats but do not include accessories like bassinets or rain covers.
The best scoring competitors for weight and folded size are the Britax B-Lively, with a weight of 18.9 lbs and a folded size of 6,612 cubic inches. This stroller is light and small enough to consider as a possible option for travel or situations where weight and size are factors. The folded Thule Spring at 7,650 and 22.7 lbs is also one to consider if size and weight are important to your overall strolling goals.
The heaviest option is the BOB Alterrain Pro at slightly over 31 lbs, and it is one of the largest when folded at 17,357 cubic inches. The Mockingbird Stroller is also a big stroller with a folded size of 23,432 cubic inches and a weight of 27.5 lbs. These measurements could make these strollers a no-go for some, depending on your ability to lift the stroller or its ability to fit folded in your car. The group's average is closer to 11,500 cubic inches and 24 lbs, with the UPPAbaby Cruz v2, at 25 lbs and 12,469 cubic inches, coming in close to the average.
The new Chicco adapter for the Urban Glide 2 works well with just a click on to the loop.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Car Seat Compatibility
Most of the full-size strollers in our review are compatible with at least one (sometimes more) infant car seat, and some are light enough to work as a stand-in for a car seat frame stroller. Some of the strollers are restricted in the brands they are compatible with, or they don't accept any infant carriers. Other strollers have significant cross-brand compatibility, including the Chicco Keyfit 30 and the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35, which both won awards in our best infant car seat review.
If you hope to combine your stroller with an infant car seat, then we encourage you to choose your car seat first, as safety is critical for car seats. We also think some parents should consider a car seat frame stroller for the first 6-9 months instead of a traditional full-size stroller. These frame options are easier to use with an infant car seat carrier, lighter, cheaper, and can give you a better idea of how you'll use a full-size stroller going forward, so you can make a better buying decision. While you'll end up buying two different strollers, it could still translate to saving money if it prevents you from buying a stroller that doesn't meet your strolling needs.
We try to test each stroller with their brand car seat if we have a compatible product in the lab. We order an adapter for the Chicco Keyfit 30 infant car seat if a compatible adapter is available. We like to test the Chicco because it has broad compatibility and is a high-ranking seat with a wallet-friendly price tag. For the most part, the strollers work best with their same brand seat (i.e., the UPPAbaby Vista v2 and UPPAbaby Cruz v2 with the UPPAbaby Mesa). However, we were surprised to find that many strollers work equally well with the Chicco Keyfit 30, and a few even seem more stable or easier to install than the native brand seat.
The Chicco adapter on the Baby Jogger City Mini is easy to use, but it requires the strap-in second step we worry parents will forgo.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Some car seats use a click-in attachment, while others click and strap the carrier in place. As a rule, we prefer the click-only options because they are more straightforward, relatively foolproof, and usually feel more stable. The strap method isn't challenging, but it is a second step, and we worry parents will skip it (accidentally or intentionally), which could create safety issues and potential for injuries. If you choose a strap combination, like the adapters on the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0, we encourage you to always use the straps as the manufacturer recommends to avoid safety risks.
The Cruz is the easiest stroller to use in the review with features that are intuitive and simple.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Setup
Assembly is a one-time job but relevant to some who lack assembly savvy or loathe the process. We consider the time it takes to set up, possible challenges, required tools, and manual usefulness.
The easiest option to assemble is the UPPAbaby Cruz v2, with a perfect 10. It took almost six minutes to put the Cruz v2 together with a straightforward manual; we believe it is so intuitive that you may be able to do it without the manual. The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2, BOB Alterrain Pro, and the BOB Revolution Flex 3.0 are all easy to put together, just slightly more involved than the Cruz v2. The UPPAbaby Vista v2, the Thule Urban Glide 2, and several others also earned high marks. The hardest options to set up are the Baby Jogger City Select and the Peg Perego Booklet 50, which took over 10 minutes to assemble with harder-to-follow instructions. The Larktale Coast is also difficult to set up, and it had more parts to assemble than most of the competition, with an assembly time of close to 20 minutes in our tests.
We were disheartened to discover that many higher-end strollers were the most challenging to assemble, primarily due to sub-par documentation and excessive parts. An example of this includes the Baby Jogger City Select. We feel that the combination of a higher price and a poor user manual is particularly distasteful. Excellent documentation is mostly a result of an intentional decision to generate clear, easy-to-understand manuals in each market language. In our experience, inferior manuals typically have an "international approach" with vague illustrations lacking text in one part of the guide and written text in another.
We tested a variety of stroller models and brands in this full-size stroller review. This photo includes the strollers we purchased during our review process.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
After much testing and research, we believe there isn't one stroller that is perfect for every need or every family. All families are unique, and as such, they all have unique lifestyles and strolling habits. Add on travel plans, home location, family size, and budget concerns, and you have too many variables to say that any one option will work for everyone. Despite these variables, we think it is possible to find "the one" perfect stroller for your family's goals and needs. We highlight these impressive strollers through our testing and analysis results. In our review, we share our experiences, observations, and test results to provide our insight and details so you can make an informed buying decision. The information we offer can help narrow the field to a handful of products to choose from to find the best stroller for your family.
BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.
