Some of the major issues parents report as being a top frustration when searching for a new umbrella stroller is that they don’t have a 5-point seat harness or that the lightweight stroller is too short for a taller person to push comfortably. Women across the world are quite a bit shorter than the 6-foot supermodels that are impressed on our consciousness by the media, and so the height of this stroller is pretty much ideal for moms. Dad’s, however, tend to be quite a bit taller with many men in many nations exceeding the 6-foot mark on a consistent basis. If you are of taller stature (over 5’ 8") then you may want to give serious consideration to pushing you little one around in a demo model at your local store before buying online to make sure it’s no awkward.

The Chicco Capri Lightweight Stroller come with a small basket underneath which can accommodate small items, but because of the rear support structure of the umbrella stroller itself, you can’t put any type of larger shopping bad in it.

Umbrella strollers are not normally known for being reclineable (that’s left for more ‘comfy’ travel system style strollers) but many companies are trying to incorporate the feature into their modern designs. Some are more successful than others. The Chicco Capri Lightweight Stroller does all for some reclining in the seat position for the child, but don’t get the idea that you can allow your youngster to recline all the way back for a nap - it doesn’t work that way.

This particular model by Chicco comes with an adjustable sunshade that can be snapped to the back of the umbrella stroller. When in use it can be placed in a myriad of positions to get the maximum effect.

Designed for children from 6 months of age, this particular umbrella stroller would come in handy if you were to be touring the nation or if you were to take some time traveling outside of the country. Many users have reported that it’s easy to fly with and the security staff do not take any extra time examining it when it’s brought through security checkpoints.

As a point, the Chicco Capri Lightweight Umbrella Stroller collapses easily. Unfortunately, it doesn’t incorporate any type of clip or snap to hold it closed when it is being stowed. The only way to insure it doesn’t start expanding it to place it in the included storage bag. This can be inconvenient for the parent who is going to put it to hard, daily use and just wants to toss it in and out of the trunk many times on the average day of dropping off/picking up kids from school, grocery shopping runs, and trips to and from other shopping places.

Overall, the design of this Chicco umbrella stroller is considered by most owners to be very sturdy for those wanting a lightweight option. Please note that ‘strong’ does not mean ‘indestructible’. One parent complained that she had to buy a new one when she ran over her first Chicco Capri with her full-sized Sport Utility Vehicle! Please not that it is NOT designed to withstand such abuse, regardless of what the marketing materials may lead you to believe.

Some of the major points of praise that have been commonly noted are:

• 5-point harness system - this is a feature that is not common on umbrella strollers for the most part and is a major priority for some parents. The harness system is not uncomfortable as has been noted on lightweight strollers from other manufacturers.
• Easy to Push - the Chicco Capri has been noted on more than one occasion to be easy to push through a lot of varies types of terrain. This includes grass (both dry and wet), hard packed trails, and both light and deep gravel.
• Long Lasting - some families have used this stroller for over 5 years through a series of three children and have found that it has held up to test of time. This cannot be said of most other umbrella strollers which are usually only good enough to survive the tour of duty for one child.

One the negative side, a few issues have shown up consistently enough to be brought to your attention. They include:

• Rear Wheel Position - the taller you are, the more chance you’ll find that you run into an issue where you may end up kicking the rear wheels of this umbrella stroller as you push it around. This issue increases for those who’s walking style includes taking longer strides. It also becomes more prominent for taller parents. The easiest way to handle this issue is to simply test it out by pushing it around your local baby store to see it comes up as an issue for you.
• Handle Height - the only other common point of concern is that the handles are a bit short for those parents who are taller. Dads often find themselves pushing the stroller while hunched over. Unfortunately, this a common issue with many an umbrella stroller from any number of manufacturers. The only way to eliminate this particular problem is o purchase a more expensive stroller that incorporates extendable handles.

All in all the Chicco Capri Lightweight Umbrella Stroller looks good, is light weight and will fit easily into most family vehicles. The quality and craftsmanship are exceptional and are often compared to the level of design found on more expensive Maclaren strollers. If you are looking for a good umbrella stroller that will last for years, you can feel confident in your purchase of this one.

Their designs are known to be able to handle all types of terrain for years on end, spanning 3 or 4 tours of kids as they come along, without breaking down.

Here’s you’ll find the best prices on lightweight strollers from Jeep.

BRAND NEW Jeep Strollers Limited Infant Baby Jogging Stroller FREE SHIPPING    US $189.00

Find a Maclaren Stroller right now on eBay  

At the Umbrella Stroller Shop we go the extra mile to help you find the best umbrella stroller that is right for both you and your baby. We know that in these uncertain times, many parents, grandparents, and childcare providers are looking to spend less but are still looking to get the same high-quality products.

Well you spoke and we listened! Below is a great selection of Umbrella Strollers from our network of retailers that are currently available with NO SHIPPING COSTS, so make sure you check them out first. Also don't forget to check out our premium lightweight strollers from Maclaren, Chicco, Combi, and more...

Bicycle Umbrella Connector Stroller Stand Holder 360 degree Swivel    US $9.04

right now on eBay  

In fact, we rarely pay attention to whether or not a mom is pushing junior around in a luxurious “travel system” stroller, a candy-cane handled umbrella stroller, or a three-wheeled jogging stroller. This becomes an issue because when the happy news is received of baby’s pending arrival we are all suppose to “just know” what is the best type of stroller to buy.

Obviously, you can’t just go out and buy a stroller that is cute and made by a well known manufacturer as this is a recipe for disaster. Just because a company spends millions of dollars each year on marketing in an attempt to bring their brand to mind first when stroller buying decisions are thrust upon you doesn’t mean that the new loaded (sometimes overloaded) version that they are pushing at the time is the best choice for your family.

As mentioned before, strollers can be broken down these days into three main variations. The first group has come to be known as “travel systems” which are designed to securely accept an integrated infant car seat. This type of stroller tends to come in handy when baby is brand new but as it is bulky it often loses it’s appeal a few short months later. The second group consists of strollers designed to be used when walking, running, or jogging with baby. They tend to have large, bicycle-style wheels and often come equipped with full enclosures to keep little ones from being overexposed to sun, wind, and rain. The last group is known as umbrella strollers which consist of a series of lightweight designs that fold up, are easily deployed, and can effectively handle most parent’s stroller tasks from the time baby is 8 months all the way to the point where baby is ready to graduate from his stroller completely.

The Umbrella Stroller is the most versatile of the three variants which is why it is still the #1 selling stroller design worldwide. For a number of years it’s deign remained unchanged, but recently a flood of new models equipped with new features have flooded the market. With an overload of choices calling for your attention we’ll attempt to inject some sanity into this madness by giving you a few tips that will help you pick the right umbrella stroller for your unique situation.

#1) Consider Who You’re Buying For – this may seem overly simplistic, but the truth is that who you’re buying the stroller for has a big impact on what type of stroller you should buy! If you are buying the stroller to be kept at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, then it might make sense to buy the most inexpensive model you can find as it may only get used a few times each year.

However, if you are buying the umbrella stroller as a baby show gift and you know that your friends tend to be the kind of family that enjoy the outdoors and visit state and national parks then you can reasonably assume that the stroller will be challenging plenty of gravel paths and other minor outdoor obstacles. It would make sense to go with a model that has more aggressively treaded wheels and possibly some type of integrated suspension system in this type of situation.

These are just two quick examples of why you need to give a bit of thought as to what the best type of stroller might be and not make a purchase based solely on the fact that a particular model comes across to you as “cute” or not.

#2) Consider How It Will Be Used – we’ve just seen an example of how the type of use a particular family will subject their umbrella stroller to has a significant impact on the type of model you should go with. Let’s cover a few other points you’ll want to consider.

If you know for a fact that the stroller is going to be used by mom and dad on a daily basis for basic tasks like going to the grocery store then probably the best choice is going to be a cheap Cosco umbrella stroller. These stripped down versions are the definition of functionality and as they can be found for less than $30 online, they are extremely affordable. Daily trips to drop off and pick up older siblings from school, frequent trips to the movie store, the grocery store, the drug store, or the corner store (but not the liquor store) will mean that the stroller is going to be stowed and deployed hundreds and hundreds of times each year.

Due in part to the large amount of use, these lightweight strollers are going to receive a fair amount of abuse. You’re going to see juice cups spilled on it as well as food ground, spread, and smashed into it over time. It’s good to know that if baby is sick and experiences an unusually large accident that permanently soils the umbrella stroller and renders it unusable, it’s not a big issue to just throw it away and replace it.

If however the stroller is going to be used when mom meets up with friends at the park once a week, then a higher quality umbrella stroller might be in order. This may come across as sounding a bit snobbish, but the truth is that the higher end strollers by Maclaren, Combi, and Chicco are in fact made of sterner stuff, are more comfortable, and come better equipped for tasks such as allowing baby to sleep while reclining or shielding the little one from the sun. (The fact that these strollers are often very stylish has been known to ward off a bad case of stroller envy on the part of mommy as well)

#3) Refocus Your Budget – many people, especially Americans, do not realize that versatile, high quality umbrella strollers exist. The mental image conjured up when talking about one defaults to an image of a “cheap” stroller in the minds of most parents, family, and friends.

This can often cause a bit of sticker shock when parents start shopping for their new stroller and find price tags well beyond the $50 range that many think would be the max price of a stroller in this category. It’s important to look closer at what you are getting as many of these strollers are loaded with features such as hand-brakes, a high-strength aluminum frame, and even built-in suspension systems.

If you find a stroller that you want to buy and feel that it’s a bit pricey then you need to determine if the extra features justify the extra price. It’s all about value in the long run and if you don’t feel that you need a stroller with built-in suspension then it might not be the right stroller for your family.

#4) Team Up To Buy – once you realized that a good umbrella stroller is probably going to cost more than you originally thought you might find it best to “team up” with someone to make the purchase. This applies double if choosing a different make or model is not an option as when the stroller has been preselected and added to a baby shower registry.

If you ARE buying one of these lightweight strollers as a baby shower gift then it might make sense to seek out a friend that you know will be attending the shower as well and ask if they would like to team up on the purchase in order to split the cost between the two of you.

If you are making this purchase as a parent, perhaps once you’ve outgrown your infatuation with baby’s cushy “travel system” stroller, then grandparents will often be happy to help take the blow to your pocketbook if asked politely in a creative manner.

Many grandparents are eager to find significant ways to “invest” in their grandchildren’s upbringing and consider it a privilege to do so. Both a straightforward request or a more gentle leading of an open conversation to a predetermined outcome are acceptable ways to suggest the idea to them. You just need to determine for yourself what type of approach would work best based on your knowledge of their personalities…and make sure you don’t play mind games on yourself insinuating in your own thoughts that you are imposing on them. Failure to give them the chance to be a part of their grandchild’s life is not an act of kindness on your part, but giving them the opportunity to do so is.

#5) Double-Check for a Warranty – whenever a high-end product comes out that becomes popular there always seems to be cheap imitations that follow shortly after. This is easily observed when considering how quickly generic “MP3 players” flooded the market after the “iPod” took the world by storm.

The same type of thing applies to umbrella strollers. Feature-rich models made by top companies like Maclaren are often setup next to cheaper versions that seem to share a lot of the look-n-feel of the name brands but in truth lacks the durability standards that the higher quality model may hold to.

This situation can be very deceptive as stroller displays in stores can often cause confusion as to whether or not you are truly getting what you think you are.

That being the case, it’s always best to double-check the packaging of the stroller you are buying before sending it through the checkout register. If you are buying online, make sure you verify that it comes with a good warranty either by checking to make sure it’s displayed on the site you are buying from or by reviewing the manufacturer’s homepage.

#6) Consider Buying Used – a significant discount (sometimes 50%+) can often be earned by buying the type of stroller you really want that has been previously used by another family.

While it’s always fun to get something new, to take it out of the box and throw away all the polybag packaging and put it together…you should take a step back and reconsider whether or not you “need” to buy new.

If you are moving your baby out of their “travel system” and into an umbrella stroller, go ahead and take a deep breath, look at the old stroller and think about how long it took for the “newness” to wear off. If you are honest with yourself you’ll probably admit that it didn’t take long.

The same thing will happen a few weeks after you buy your umbrella stroller. Once the sparkle fades, it’s important to have the best stroller for your family and if you can purchase a used one that has been well kept for half the price…then you need to give serious consideration to doing so.

Used umbrella strollers can be found on Ebay or Craig’s List at a significant discount every day of the week and many come with free shipping. Buying a used stroller on Craig’s List is pretty easy as you are usually able to inspect the actual model before buying it. Buying used on eBay or at other places like Amazon can be tricky though so make sure you take a good look at all pictures and don’t hesitate to contact the seller with any questions you might have about the particular item in question.

#7) Go With a Darker Color – it’s temping to buy a stroller styled in light pastel hues (especially if yours is a baby girl) but remember that the umbrella stroller will most likely be used as a baby transportation workhorse. It will see a lot of wear and tear, spills, gunk, and goo. Light colors tend to spotlight dirt and stains quite a bit more than dark colors.

As these lightweight strollers come in so many different fabric styles it’s not likely that you’ll have any difficulty finding a darker color that looks good and will mesh well with your sense of style.

#8) Read Some Online Reviews – nothing is worse than purchasing something that is made by a popular brand, has good packaging, has good product feature and benefits in the description and looks good overall only to find once you’ve bought and paid for it that the product is terrible once you’ve brought it home.

Just last week I purchased a Microsoft wireless headset that I wanted to use with my dictation software. The preview of the product looked great and I ended up getting a good deal on it on eBay after shopping around.

Unfortunately, I discovered that while it looked good from afar, the headset was far from good. The audio quality of both the playback and recording features of the headset was just terrible.

A quick check of a few review sites uncovered a constant theme that this particular product was junk. Had I read reviews prior to making my purchase I would never have bought it regardless of all the good looking info that Microsoft set up front and center.

The same applies to umbrella strollers. Make sure that you read a few reviews of the model that you are most interest in so that you don’t end up stuck with a trunk full of disappointment. There are a few good sites out there like ConsumerSearch.com that do a good job of getting you the info you need in order to make an informed decision.

#9) Safety – it goes without saying that you should double-check any and every product you buy for your baby to insure that it is safe. It no longer makes sense in this day and age to just “trust” that companies producing infant products are getting it right where safety is concerned once their product leaves the factory.

It makes sense to double check and ensure that there are no product recalls on the umbrella stroller you’re looking to buy before you commit to the purchase.

I don’t want to scare you into thinking that any of these companies are irresponsible in their manufacturing processes, but it never hurts to run a quick search online, and again, reading reviews might give you a deeper perspective of any safety concerns that may not have been documented and published yet by the umbrella stroller manufacturer.

#10) Let Mom Pick the Stroller – I know from experience that Dad’s are happy to delegate most baby gear and clothing purchase decision to mom…except when it comes to higher value items such as strollers and car seats.

Once one of these items shows up on the shopping list it’s strange to see many men transform into baby gear “experts” who want to dominate the purchase process.

Dads! Fight the urge to do this! 90% of the time it’s going to be mom that is using the stroller in the first place. If she’s the one that will be the primarily user of the product make sure she can pick the one that best meets her unique needs…that is unless you want to switch roles with her.

In conclusion I’d like to encourage you to go ahead and get ahold of your own umbrella stroller. My wife made the decision for us without my knowledge and started using it on our family outings. It only took me three months to realize the amazing benefits that came from this compact, lightweight stroller and looking back now I can’t imagine how we lived without it for so long.

This applies not only to first-time parents who will have to plan for a baby shower, but to those who have a child or two already. After all, not everything can be carried over and in most cases some serious shopping is in order.

One of the major purchases that is always under consideration is what type of stroller to buy. Things considered range from colors and trim, to safety and functional features and most parents find themselves overlooking a cheap umbrella stroller and instead focus on the comfy “travel system” style strollers which often come complete with an infant car seat.

While these feature-rich stroller designs are all the rage, many parents report that their appeal quickly wanes once baby reaches the age of nine to twelve months. This is due mostly to the fact that these strollers tend to be large and take up a lot of space, even when collapsed for storage, and not because the little one has outgrown it. Large strollers often make it difficult to fit anything else in a car’s trunk if it is present and large strollers, if stowed in the back seat, normally dominate all the space available.

This is why many parents begin looking for a lightweight stroller that is both functional and convenient at the same time and soon find themselves seeking out a classic Umbrella Stroller that is better suited to meeting their family’s overall travel needs.

While the basic design of the Umbrella Stroller has been around for almost 40 years, baby equipment manufacturers like Maclaren, Chicco, Combi, and Cosco have introduced lightweight strollers that are feature rich but still offer the convenience and storage options of the original.

You can now find umbrella strollers equipped with reclining seats, thermo-insulated handles, handbrakes, and more. For those who have more than one young child manufacturers have introduced a double umbrella stroller design and even a triple stroller that, while larger, still adheres to the spirit of the original.

Once folded down, the umbrella stroller takes up very little trunk space. It also settles nicely on the floor of most rear passenger seats or even under the rear bench of a crew-cab style pickup truck. Most are super-simple to setup and can be taken from the trunk and be ready to go in under 15 seconds.

Over the years, the looks of the umbrella stroller has evolved as well. Well chosen colors and patterns are better matched to the aluminum frame components making the entire package safer, stronger, and more trendy than the models of yester-year.

All of these facts combined mean that most parents are quick to make their umbrella stroller their primary means of couriering baby soon after getting one and as it often stays in use well after a child is two years old, it can get quite a bite more mileage that it’s fancier “travel system” cousin.

While many moms and dads choose to wait until baby has grown a bet before switching to an umbrella stroller, it often makes sense to plan a little further out in the future and get one early on.

This is doubly true if you are going to be having a baby shower as many moms forget to add an umbrella stroller to the baby registry from the get-go. Most veteran parents will agree that having an umbrella stroller on hand is more important than a humidifier or a bottle warmer, yet they fail to tell the newly expecting mother this important little fact.

While this lack of foresight causes many new parents to miss out on the chance to add this essential piece of baby gear into the mix early on, it also deprives family and friends of the opportunity to give mom, dad, and baby a gift that will get real use over the coming years.

So if you are going to be a new parent, a new grandparent, aunt or uncle, make sure that you take a second look at the handy and fashionable umbrella stroller…even if someone forgot to add it to the registry.

If you tend to use Umbrella Strollers yourself, then your little one naturally will want to have a toy stroller that looks like mommy's. The largest selection of these types of mini-Umbrella Strollers is made by Kidkraft and is sold nationwide, but sometimes is hard to find due to the large amount of toys available and not enough shelf space to house them on at various toy stores.

Below you'll find a number of Kidkraft Umbrella Strollers that are available on eBay from sellers nationwide.

Kidkraft 67322 On the Move Umbrella Stroller doll Stroller    US $16.03

Find a Kidkraft Umbrella Stroller right now on eBay  

These lightweight strollers are all fitted with a secure three-point harness system, classic recurved umbrella-style handles, and a basic but durable scissor fold easy-close system. They come in a number of styles and prints perfect for either a boy or girl and because they are so affordable it makes sense to have a spare in dad's car or at grandma's house.

Juvenile Group Cosco UMBRELLA STROLLER OCEAN FRIENDS BLUE GREEN EUC    US $24.99

Find a Cosco Umbrella Stroller right now on eBay  

You'll see a difference from a generic stroller the instant you and baby take it for your first stroll. Whether it's a thickly cushioned Travel system or a more streamlined version from their umbrella line you'll notice from the get-go that a Chicco Stroller is easy to use, store, and maintain.

Chicco Cortina Luna Stroller    US $70.00

Find a Chicco Stroller right now on eBay  

Anyone who has owned a Combi Stroller will tell you that there is something special about these artistically crafted models. Is it the colors? Is is the way the well-crafted components fit together? Try one out for yourself and send us a note to let us know your thoughts.

Combi Cosmo SE Stroller in Graphite New    US $99.00

Find a Combi Stroller right now on eBay  

Owen Maclaren, the company founder, used his skills as an aeronautical engineer to help design the perfect lightweight stroller for his grandchildren. Since the very beginning the Maclaren Stroller has continually raised the bar in creating benefit-driven features into their many popular models.

Maclaren Easy Traveler Stroller Frame    US $55.00

Find a Maclaren Stroller right now on eBay