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When I started shopping for a stroller, I purchased the cheapest one that worked with my car seat and called it a day. To no one's surprise, that stroller was terrible. Both my child and I hated using it.
A good stroller goes a long way for you and your little one's enjoyment while going for a walk, running errands, enjoying a day at the beach or park, or just surviving while trying to get yourself and your kids from one location to the next. When your kid is small, safely using a stroller requires car seat adapters or the right bassinet-style attachment. Then, they get bigger, and so does all the stuff you have to carry around. But if the wheels don't work or something breaks? I don't know about you, but I'm going home.
It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the options and scared off by the sticker shock. After a bad experience with a cheap stroller, I'm here to tell you it's worth investing in a great one. These strollers endured months of testing by WIRED parents, and I can say the 11 below are all fantastic and cover a wide range of styles and budgets. If you aren't sure what type of stroller you need, get our tips over on How to Shop for a Stroller, or read more stroller advice in our guide to the best travel strollers. And don't miss our other parenting guides on baby carriers, baby monitors, and our favorite baby gear.
Updated February 2025: We've added the Cybex e-Gazelle S, the Cybex Libelle, and the Wonderfold X2 Stroller Wagon as new picks. We've also added thoughts on the Uppababy Vista V3.
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There are several different kinds of strollers: everyday or full-size strollers, lightweight or compact strollers, jogging strollers, double strollers, and even trike strollers and wagons. It can feel overwhelming to try to predict what kind you need before your kid arrives, and to invest in something
you'll use for years to come. We dive into more buying advice in our guide on how to choose the right stroller.
My top advice? Ask yourself what you'll use the stroller for most, and check how difficult it'll be to lug heavier strollers out of your home and into your car. That can narrow down several choices quickly. For me, a lightweight option has been best, but that's because I have a staircase outside my front door and no garage.
Another easy option is whether you already have an infant car seat. If you do, you can use that to narrow down strollers that are compatible. Some brands like Maxi-Cosi have a ton of compatibility, while UppaBaby's car seats have much more limited lists. You can also buy a travel system if you want your stroller and car seat to be a matching set that works from the infant stage to well beyond.
Initially, I test all strollers the same. I grade how easy they are to set up, how smooth the ride is (taking type of wheels and price point into consideration) and how easy it is to get my kid in and out of them. I take them on walks with my kid through the neighborhood and park, testing on sidewalks, streets, grass, and flat trails. I also compare how easy they are to fold, how large each stroller is when folded, and place them all into a sedan trunk to see if it fits.
Joggers I take on both streets and trails, and test the hand brakes on hills to confirm they help my posture and control. I am sometimes spotted going for a jog with weights in the stroller instead of my son, since he isn't always available (or interested) in partaking in my comparison runs. Wagons also get more tests on tougher terrain to see how the wheels and control hold up.
I grade lightweight and compact strollers more strictly on the ease of fold and lift, since that's a primary feature. If a stroller has multiple modes (like inward and outward facing), I make sure to test those both, too, though sometimes without my toddler since he won't face inward any longer.
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