Gear
Best Strollers in 2026: the buyer's shortlist
Published
Updated
The UPPAbaby Vista V3 is the first pick for a family that wants one frame for a travel system and room to add another child later. This page lines up five strollers on price, weight, folded size, maximum child weight, and car seat fit. If you are comparing the best strollers 2026, start with the trip you take most, then use the table. A stroller does not replace a car seat.
The car seat is the other half of a travel system. Start with the rear-facing car seat guide, then come back to the stroller.
Key Takeaways
- The UPPAbaby Vista V3 is first because Mesa and Aria infant car seats attach with no adapter, and the frame can add more children with accessories. It is also a heavy full-size stroller: frame and seat weigh 27.6 lb, and Target lists the Greyson colorway at $999.99.
- The Stokke YOYO3 6+ is the city and travel pick. Stokke lists that version at 13.7 lb and $549, and the folded size on its YOYO FAQ is 20.5 by 17.3 by 7.1 inches. The 6+ seat is for a child from 6 months, so a newborn needs the separate newborn pack.
- The Thule Urban Glide 3 is the jogging and all-terrain pick. Thule lists it at $799.95 and 26.2 lb, with a maximum child weight of 49 lb and a folded size of 34.6 by 22.8 by 12.2 inches. Use from birth requires a Thule bassinet or an infant car seat adapter, both sold separately.
- The Graco Modes Pramette is the budget travel-system pick. Graco lists the stroller at $249.99 and 20.9 lb, with a child limit of 50 lb, and lists the travel system with a SnugRide LX infant car seat at $359.99.
- The Bugaboo Donkey 5 Mono is the two-child pick. Bugaboo lists the seat configuration at 33.28 lb, with 50 lb per seat, and says it converts from single to double. A Bugaboo compare page lists the current price at $1,399.20, reduced from $1,749.00, and car seat use needs an adapter.
What a stroller actually is (and what it is not)
A stroller is a wheeled seat an adult pushes while a child is awake and within reach. It holds a child for a walk. It does not hold a child in a car. NHTSA's car seat pages cover the restraint that buckles into a vehicle. Some frames can carry an infant car seat, and only when that stroller's maker says the seat fits. Fitting often takes an adapter sold on its own. Clicking a seat onto a frame is not installing it in the car.
A stroller is not a crib. Graco's Modes Pramette instructions say the product is not safe for sleep. A flat pramette mode has its own stop. Graco says to leave that mode when the infant pushes up on hands and knees or weighs over 15 lb, whichever comes first. A nap that starts in the seat still needs an adult who can see the child.
A stroller is not automatically a jogging stroller. The same Graco manual says to use that model only at walking speed, and says it is not for jogging or skating. Thule sells the Urban Glide 3 as an all-terrain stroller with a 49 lb child limit. The label on the model you own is the rule. A friend's stroller does not raise it.
A travel system pairs a stroller with an infant car seat the maker says can connect. UPPAbaby says the Mesa and Aria seats attach to the Vista V3 with no adapter. Graco's Modes Pramette travel system includes a SnugRide LX rated 4 to 30 lb and up to 32 inches. The YOYO3, Urban Glide 3, and Donkey 5 Mono need a separate adapter. Thule's Maxi-Cosi adapter is approved up to 9 kg, under the stroller seat's 49 lb limit. Read both limits.
How We Ranked These Strollers
Five published measures decide the order, and each one is a number or a yes-or-no a maker prints. Price is the figure on the brand or retailer page linked below, for the configuration named in the table. Stroller weight is the weight of the frame and seat the brand lists, not a guess that adds a diaper bag. Folded size is length, width, and height in the configuration the brand names. Maximum child weight is the seat limit, and a second seat on a double has its own limit. Car seat compatibility means the brand says an infant car seat can attach, either directly or with an adapter.
No pick wins every column. The Vista V3 leads because it is the one frame here that both takes UPPAbaby infant car seats with no adapter and is built to add another child. The other four win a narrower job: a tiny fold, a jog, a lower price, or a side-by-side double.
- Price, from the brand or a retailer page.
- Stroller weight, as the brand lists that configuration.
- Folded size, with the seat on or off called out.
- Maximum child weight on the seat.
- Car seat compatibility, direct or with an adapter.
The Best Strollers in 2026
These five cover the trips parents actually shop for: a growing household, a city fold, a jog, a lower budget, and two children. Each note uses the maker's own price and limits, plus a retailer price where the brand page does not print one. Accessory prices that are not on those pages stay out.
1. UPPAbaby Vista V3, best for a growing family and a newborn travel system
The UPPAbaby Vista V3 is the shortlist lead for a household that may start with one baby and later push two. UPPAbaby rates the toddler seat from 3 months to a maximum of 50 lb and 40 inches. From birth, the same page says you need the Infant SnugSeat or a bassinet. Frame and seat together weigh 27.6 lb. The frame alone is 19.8 lb and the seat is 7.8 lb. Unfolded, it measures 36.5 inches long, 25.7 inches wide, and 39.5 inches high. Folded with the seat attached, it is 16.3 by 25.7 by 33.8 inches. Folded without the seat, it is 11.3 by 25.7 by 32.3 inches. UPPAbaby says it folds in one step and stands on its own.
Target lists the Greyson Vista V3 at $999.99 and shows 4.51 out of 5 stars from 69 reviews on that listing. Navy Exchange lists a retail price of $999.99 for a Vista V3 stroller. The product page includes a 3-year warranty and a basket limit of 30 lb. The bassinet, the Mesa infant car seat, and the Aria infant car seat attach with no adapter. UPPAbaby's 2026 comparison sheet also lists adapters for Chicco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Cybex, and Clek. With a RumbleSeat and a PiggyBack board, UPPAbaby says the frame can carry up to three children. UPPAbaby's company page says the brand launched in 2006.
Source: UPPAbaby Vista V3, Target, Navy Exchange.
Best suited for: Parents who want a UPPAbaby infant car seat to click on with no adapter, and who want a frame that can grow past one child. It is a wide, 27.6 lb full-size stroller, so a trip that needs a tiny fold is a different pick on this list.
2. Stokke YOYO3, best for city and compact travel
The Stokke YOYO3 6+ is the compact pick. Stokke's US page lists that stroller at $549 and calls it ultra-lightweight at 6.2 kg (13.7 lb), for a child from 6 months. The YOYO FAQ gives the same 13.7 lb figure and a folded size of 52 by 44 by 18 cm (20.5 by 17.3 by 7.1 inches). Stokke says that fold is in the range of cabin luggage and tells readers to check the airline, so this page does not treat it as a promise for every carrier.
For the US and Canada, Stokke's FAQ says the YOYO3 holds a child up to 22 kg (48.5 lb). The same FAQ puts the under-seat basket at up to 10 kg. The newborn-pack version weighs 6.6 kg (14.6 lb) on that FAQ. The $549 page is the 6+ stroller, not a newborn bundle. Stokke's history page dates the company to 1932.
Car seat use takes an adapter. Stokke's YOYO car-seat FAQ says adapter L, the one listed for North America, works with BeSafe, Cybex, Nuna, Clek, and Maxi-Cosi infant seats. The seat has to be on that list. A shell that looks close is not a match. A newborn still needs the newborn pack or a listed infant car seat on the adapter.
Source: Stokke YOYO3 6+ and Stokke YOYO FAQ.
Best suited for: Parents who will lift the stroller onto transit, into a small trunk, or up stairs, and whose child is already at the 6+ seat or will be soon. Newborn use depends on a pack or adapter this $549 listing does not include.
3. Thule Urban Glide 3, best for jogging and all-terrain walks
The Thule Urban Glide 3 is the jogging and all-terrain pick. Thule's US page lists the single stroller at $799.95, with a stroller weight of 26.2 lb and a folded size of 34.6 by 22.8 by 12.2 inches. Maximum child weight is 49 lb. Maximum stroller capacity is 75 lb, child plus cargo, not a second child. The cargo basket is listed at 15 lb. Thule describes a one-hand fold. The page says use from birth needs a Thule bassinet or an infant car seat adapter, both sold separately.
The single-stroller car seat adapter for Maxi-Cosi is a separate product at $69.95. Thule says that adapter also fits listed Cybex, BeSafe, and Nuna models, and that it is approved up to 9 kg of child weight. That cap is lower than the 49 lb seat limit, so a car seat on this frame is a short early stage. Thule's history page dates the company to 1942.
The fold is longer than the YOYO3, and the 75 lb capacity is higher than the child limit alone. The 26.2 lb weight is the stroller before a bassinet or car seat goes on. Those add weight Thule does not roll into the 26.2 lb figure.
Source: Thule Urban Glide 3 and Thule car seat adapter.
Best suited for: Parents who want one stroller for runs and rough paths, and who can store a 34.6 inch fold. Newborn use is real only after you add the bassinet or an adapter Thule sells separately.
4. Graco Modes Pramette, best for a budget travel system
The Graco Modes Pramette is the budget pick, and the travel system is the version that answers the newborn question. Graco lists the stroller alone at $249.99. The travel system page lists that same stroller at $249.99 and the travel system at $359.99. Both pages list stroller weight at 20.9 lb, with product dimensions of 42.52 inches high, 25.59 inches wide, and 34.65 inches deep. Those are the open product dimensions Graco prints. The stroller holds a child up to 50 lb. Graco also says the child must be no taller than 45 inches (114.3 cm) in the instructions.
The travel system includes a SnugRide LX infant car seat, rear-facing from 4 to 30 lb and up to 32 inches. Graco says the head must sit at least 1 inch below the top of that car seat. The stroller page says the frame accepts Graco infant car seats, sold separately on the stroller-only purchase. The toddler seat reverses. Pramette mode stops when the baby pushes up on hands and knees or weighs over 15 lb, whichever comes first. The manual says the product is not safe for sleep, and walking speed only.
Graco's travel system page says this listing is rated 4.2 out of 5 by 491. That score is for the travel system, not a separate stroller-only score. Graco's about page dates the baby-products company to 1942.
Source: Graco Modes Pramette stroller and travel system.
Best suited for: Parents who want a Graco infant car seat and a full-size stroller in one purchase near $359.99. It is a walking stroller, not a jogging stroller.
5. Bugaboo Donkey 5 Mono, best for two kids
The Bugaboo Donkey 5 Mono is the two-child pick because Bugaboo sells it as a single that converts to a side-by-side double. The US product page lists weight with the seat at 15.1 kg (33.28 lb) and weight with the bassinet at 16.05 kg (35.38 lb). Seat capacity is 50 lb per seat. Mono width is 23.6 inches. Bugaboo says double mode is another 5.5 inches, and the Donkey 5 Duo page lists that side-by-side width at 29.1 inches. The one-piece self-standing fold is 20.5 by 23.6 by 35.4 inches. The compact two-piece fold is 35 by 23.6 by 13.8 inches. Age range on the page is 0 months to 4 years. The under-seat basket and the side basket are each listed at 22 lb.
Bugaboo's compare page for the Donkey 5 Mono, Fox 5, and Bee 6 lists the Mono at $1,399.20, down from $1,749.00. Crate & Barrel lists one complete colorway at $1,499.00. The product page we read did not print a price, so the table uses the compare page and notes the retailer. A compare page also lists 35.38 lb with seat, matching the bassinet weight, not the 33.28 lb seat weight. The table uses 33.28 lb.
The product page says car seats need an adapter. Bugaboo's US shop lists a Donkey Mono/Duo Maxi-Cosi adapter at $79.95. Bugaboo's history post dates the first stroller to 1999. Buying on Bugaboo.com adds 2 years to the 2-year warranty, for 4 years from purchase.
Source: Bugaboo Donkey 5 Mono and Bugaboo compare.
Best suited for: Parents who want a single now and a side-by-side double later without replacing the whole chassis. It is the heaviest seat-configuration weight on this list, and the second seat is an extra purchase.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Criteria: published price, stroller weight, folded size, maximum child weight, and car seat compatibility (travel system).
| Stroller | Price | Stroller weight | Folded size | Maximum child weight | Car seat compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPPAbaby Vista V3 | $999.99 | 27.6 lb (frame and seat) | 16.3 x 25.7 x 33.8 in with seat | 50 lb | Mesa and Aria attach with no adapter |
| Stokke YOYO3 6+ | $549.00 | 13.7 lb | 20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1 in | 48.5 lb | Adapter required |
| Thule Urban Glide 3 | $799.95 | 26.2 lb | 34.6 x 22.8 x 12.2 in | 49 lb | Adapter or bassinet, sold separately |
| Graco Modes Pramette | $249.99 stroller, $359.99 travel system | 20.9 lb | 50 lb | Graco infant car seats; SnugRide LX in the travel system | |
| Bugaboo Donkey 5 Mono | $1,399.20 current ($1,749.00 before). Crate & Barrel lists one complete at $1,499.00 | 33.28 lb with seat | 20.5 x 23.6 x 35.4 in, one-piece fold | 50 lb per seat | Adapter required |
Which stroller fits your family
| Your trip | First pick | Also on this list | What the listing supports |
|---|---|---|---|
| City and compact travel | Stokke YOYO3 | not the full-size frames | 13.7 lb and a 20.5 x 17.3 x 7.1 in fold for the 6+ stroller |
| Jogging | Thule Urban Glide 3 | none of the walking strollers | Sold as an all-terrain stroller. The Modes Pramette manual forbids jogging |
| Newborn travel system | UPPAbaby Vista V3 | Graco Modes Pramette | Vista takes Mesa and Aria with no adapter. Graco's travel system includes a SnugRide LX |
| Budget | Graco Modes Pramette | Stokke YOYO3 if the child is already 6 months or older | Stroller $249.99, travel system $359.99, against $549 and up for the others |
| Two kids | Bugaboo Donkey 5 Mono | UPPAbaby Vista V3 with accessories | Donkey converts single to double. Vista adds a RumbleSeat or PiggyBack, sold separately |
What results look like
The figures below are the published ones, not a lab test run for this page. Target and Navy Exchange both list a Vista V3 at $999.99. Graco lists the Modes Pramette stroller at $249.99 and 20.9 lb, against the Vista V3 frame-and-seat weight of 27.6 lb. Stokke lists the YOYO3 6+ at $549 and 13.7 lb. Thule lists the Urban Glide 3 at $799.95 and 26.2 lb. Bugaboo's compare page lists the Donkey 5 Mono at $1,399.20, down from $1,749.00, at 33.28 lb with the seat on the product page.
Example, using only those table figures, not a timed walk or a family's trunk. The Vista V3 price of $999.99 minus the Modes Pramette stroller price of $249.99 is $750.00. The weight gap between 27.6 lb and 20.9 lb is 6.7 lb. The Vista V3 at 27.6 lb is 13.9 lb heavier than the YOYO3 6+ at 13.7 lb, and $999.99 minus $549.00 is $450.99. Those gaps describe the listings. They do not predict how a particular sidewalk will feel.
Sources
- UPPAbaby. Vista V3 product page. uppababy.com
- UPPAbaby. Our Company, launched in 2006. uppababy.com/our-company
- UPPAbaby. 2026 stroller comparison sheet. PDF
- Target. UPPAbaby Vista V3 Full-Size Stroller, Greyson, $999.99, 4.51 out of 5 from 69 reviews. target.com
- Navy Exchange. UPPAbaby Vista V3 Stroller, retail price $999.99. mynavyexchange.com
- Stokke. YOYO3 stroller from 6 months, $549.00. stokke.com
- Stokke. YOYO FAQ: weight, folded size, child weight, basket. stokke.com
- Stokke. Which car seat can you install on YOYO3. stokke.com
- Stokke. History, 1932. stokke.com
- Thule. Urban Glide 3, model 10101991. thule.com
- Thule. Urban Glide 3 car seat adapter for Maxi-Cosi, model 20110761. thule.com
- Thule. History, 1942. thule.com
- Graco. Modes Pramette Stroller, $249.99. gracobaby.com
- Graco. Modes Pramette Travel System, $359.99, rated 4.2 out of 5 by 491. gracobaby.com
- Graco. Modes Pramette instructions: 50 lb and 45 inch limit, pramette stop at 15 lb, not for sleep, walking speed only. instruction PDF
- Graco Baby. About, founded in 1942. gracobaby.eu
- Bugaboo. Donkey 5 Mono product page. bugaboo.com
- Bugaboo. Compare Donkey 5 Mono, Fox 5, and Bee 6, current price $1,399.20 from $1,749.00. bugaboo.com
- Bugaboo. Donkey Mono/Duo adapter for Maxi-Cosi car seats, $79.95. bugaboo.com
- Bugaboo. Where it all began, first stroller in 1999. bugaboo.com
- Crate & Barrel. Donkey 5 Mono complete, one colorway at $1,499.00. crateandbarrel.com
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car seats and booster seats. nhtsa.gov
- Public video embedded above: Guava Roam vs Thule Urban Glide 3 vs UPPAbaby Ridge V2. youtube.com
FAQ
How do I choose a stroller for city sidewalks and transit?
The smallest folded size on this list is the Stokke YOYO3, at 20.5 by 17.3 by 7.1 inches, and Stokke lists the 6+ version at 13.7 lb. That is the city and transit pick here. A full-size frame such as the Vista V3, at 25.7 inches wide when folded with the seat on, is a different shape of errand.
What is a travel system?
A travel system is a stroller plus an infant car seat the maker says can connect, sometimes with an adapter. On this list, the Vista V3 takes UPPAbaby Mesa and Aria seats with no adapter, and the Modes Pramette travel system includes a Graco SnugRide LX rated 4 to 30 lb and up to 32 inches. The YOYO3, Urban Glide 3, and Donkey 5 Mono need a separate adapter, and that adapter can set a lower child-weight limit than the stroller seat.
How heavy are the strollers on this shortlist?
Published weights are 13.7 lb for the YOYO3 6+, 20.9 lb for the Modes Pramette, 26.2 lb for the Urban Glide 3, 27.6 lb for the Vista V3 frame and seat, and 33.28 lb for the Donkey 5 Mono with its seat. A lighter stroller is easier to lift into a trunk or up a step. The number to compare is the configuration you will actually carry, because a bassinet or car seat adds weight the seat-only figure does not include.
What child weight limit is published for each pick?
UPPAbaby lists 50 lb for the Vista V3 toddler seat. Stokke lists 22 kg (48.5 lb) for the YOYO3 in the US and Canada. Thule lists 49 lb for the Urban Glide 3, Graco lists 50 lb for the Modes Pramette stroller seat, and Bugaboo lists 50 lb per seat on the Donkey 5 Mono.
How do I know if my infant car seat will click onto a stroller?
Use the stroller maker's compatibility list, not the shape of the shell. UPPAbaby says Mesa and Aria attach to the Vista V3 with no adapter, and its comparison sheet names other brands that need adapters. Graco says the Modes Pramette accepts Graco infant car seats, while Stokke, Thule, and Bugaboo sell adapters that name the seats they fit.
What is the difference between a jogging stroller and an everyday stroller?
An everyday stroller is built for walking. Graco's Modes Pramette manual says to use that stroller only at walking speed and says it is not for jogging or skating. Thule sells the Urban Glide 3 as an all-terrain stroller with a 49 lb child limit and a 75 lb total capacity, so the manual, not the wheel, decides whether a model is for running.
How should I read a folded size?
Compare length, width, and height in the same configuration, and note whether the seat is on or off. The Vista V3 folded with the seat is 16.3 by 25.7 by 33.8 inches, and without the seat it is 11.3 by 25.7 by 32.3 inches.
How do the two-child options on this list differ?
The Donkey 5 Mono is built to open into a side-by-side double, with 50 lb per seat and a mono weight of 33.28 lb. The Vista V3 stays a single until you add a RumbleSeat or PiggyBack, and UPPAbaby says those accessories can take the frame up to three children. The second seat is not in the Donkey's $1,399.20 compare price or the Vista's $999.99 stroller price.
Pair it with the right car seat
The stroller and the car seat do different jobs. A click-in infant seat still has to be installed in the car by that seat's own rules. Read the rear-facing car seat guide before you turn a seat around for a birthday. The limit is the height or weight on that seat, not a party. If the child has already reached the rear-facing limit, the forward-facing guide is the next page. Then match the stroller to the trip you take most.