The Best Breast Pump Review

A Bit of Background
As ubiquitous as breast pumps are these days, interestingly it was only a little over 2 decades ago in 1991 when the Swiss company Medela introduced the first electric-powered, vacuum-operated pump for use outside of the hospital. In fact, the first pumps were patented in the mid-19th century to address issues with inverted nipples and small, weak newborns that were having too much difficulty with nursing. They've come a long way since then and have been an essential tool in providing nourishment to millions of babies ever since.

Selecting the Right Breast Pump

By using a breast pump, your baby can still reap the benefits of your breast milk, even when you are away.

Credit: Lindsay Ellis

Moms choose to pump for their children for a variety of reasons. For most moms, pumping is a way to ensure that their child reaps the benefits of their breast milk even when she can't be with them. Some moms are unable to physically breastfeed which leads them to become an "exclusive pumper". Others desire to create a supply of stored-up breast milk, thus allowing them to return to work, while continuing to provide their child's meal. Still, other mothers are pumping for some much needed mommy time, or maybe for that elusive date night one so rarely sees in their child's first year of life, or possibly, just in case of emergency. For whatever purpose you may be pumping, we have tested the best pumps on the market and determined why they may or may not be a good fit for you. Don't forget to check out the articles titled How to Choose the Best Breast Pump and How we Test for more detailed information to aide in your pre-pump purchase research. In addition, don't miss our article Best Practices for Handling Breast Milk as it indeed is liquid gold for your baby.

Types of breast pumps
When choosing a breast pump there are two major options: electric or manual. Each have their positive and negative attributes and we found we liked aspects of both for different purposes.

Electric Pump

All the electric breast pumps included in our testing.

Credit: Micah James

An electric breast pump, as the name states, is a pump that runs on electricity, normally via a wall outlet, but many also have the option to run on batteries, which is nice. All the electric pumps we tested were double breast pumps which means you can pump both breasts at the same time. We found them to be far more efficient than the manual pumps we tried, based on their power and consistent pumping rhythm combined with the ability to pump both breasts at the same time.

Manual Pump

The three manual breast pumps we tested: AVENT, Medela and Lansinoh

Credit: Micah James

Manual breast pumps are those that require the user to do the work. They have a lever which attaches to the breast flange (the part that covers your breast) that generally uses a simple squeeze and release type of operation to express milk. We found manual pumps to be beneficial due to their ease of portability and lack of excessive parts. They can be a bit labor intensive, still, we found that they were very handy, especially for in certain situations, like during travel.

Criteria for Evaluation

Efficiency

Milk rendered from one pumping session with the Spectra S1. Typically takes between five to ten minutes to render five to six ounces of milk total from both breasts. It was one of the most efficient pumps we tested!

Credit: Lindsay Smith

Efficiency is the bottom line for a lot of moms when it comes to breast pumps. With the draw of a new baby finally in your arms, no one wants to be spending their time hooked up to a less-than-inviting milk machine. Like us, your first questions will most likely be: how much milk can this thing actually render, and, can I please be done already?! As far as milk quantity vs. time, we found this to be a quite subjective, as each mom will naturally produce and express their own unique amount of milk. Across the board, we found the most of the pumps consistently rendered the same amount of milk. The main difference was in the amount of time it took to pump that "x" amount of milk.

Two of the electric pumps that stood out above the rest when it came to efficiency were the Spectra S1 and theMedela Pump In Style Advanced. While these pumps often rendered the same amount of milk as comparable units, they were able to do it more quickly.

Comfort

Breast flange ready to attach to a bottle. We found this component could often make or break a pump when it came to comfort.

Credit: Micah James

Most moms are in for a little bit of suffering when they first begin to breastfeed. It can be very uncomfortable to start, but for most, it slowly becomes more comfortable. This can also be the case with breast pumps. Thus, comfort is very important to consider when purchasing a breast pump. We have found that some pumps were more comfortable depending on their breast flanges (the cone shaped part that covers the breast), while for others, it depended on the way their suction and pumping settings work.

Our top two rated pumps in comfort were the Spectra S1 and the Medela Harmony Manualpump. These two pumps could be used four to five times a day with minimal discomfort.

Ease of use
Your breast pump has the potential to be used multiple times a day and even throughout the night hours. Because of this, an important thing to look at is exactly how involved setting up and using the pump is. We found that some pumps were very difficult to set up, while others were quite intuitive. This is especially key if you are an exclusive pumper, a working mom and/or travel often with your pump and need to use it in different areas.

A few other questions to take in to consideration might be:

• How many parts are there?

• How quickly can it be used, taken apart, cleaned, dried and then re-assembled?

• Does the unit require a wall outlet or can it run on batteries?

• Does it come with an insulated cooler to store pumped milk in?

Our two highest scoring pumps in this category were the Medela Pump In Style Advancedand the Spectra S1, both of which started out with great instructions and simple assembly. They were also easy to use, especially when it came to adjusting pump speed and suction, which we really appreciated.

If you are planning to travel with your pump often, portability will be high on your list. Women travel with a pump for a multitude of reasons, most commonly for work or on a vacation. When considering portability, it is important to look at ease of use as well as what storage the pump offers, such as a bag for the pump and an insulated cooler for your expressed milk.

Our two highest rated pumps for portability were the Medela Pump In Style Advanced and theMedela Harmony Manual. We feel the Pump In Style would be more suited to the working mom or frequent pumper, while the Harmony would be more suited for a vacation or occasional pumping needs.

Hygiene

Hygienic back-flow protectors that aid in preventing mold and mildew from building up in the tubes.

Credit: Lindsay Smith

Most new moms are very concerned with hygiene, especially as it relates to their baby. This is important to consider when purchasing your pump as they come with many moving parts that need to be cleaned following use in order to ensure there is nothing (i.e. mold or mildew) that could potentially contaminate your baby's milk.

Our two highest ranked pumps for hygiene were theSpectra S1 and the Spectra DEW 350. These pumps scored so well mainly because of their "closed-hygienic system" design which prevents condensation from building up in the tubing. While some other pumps also offered a "closed system" they were not as well designed or as easy to use, take apart and clean as the Spectra products. Our lowest rated product in hygiene was the Medela Pump In Style Advanced due to the trouble we had with condensation in the tubing.

Acoustics
Many new moms will be surprised by how loud some of these pumps are. We came to appreciate the quieter pumps, especially if pumping in an office, or in the middle of the night when others are sleeping. Stress has been shown to delay your "let-down reflex"(when your milk begins to flow) and sometimes that loud pumping sound can hinder relaxation.

Our top rated pumps for acoustics were the Spectra S1 and the Medela Harmony Manual. For an electric pump, the Spectra S1 practically whispers. The Medela is a manual pump which are naturally very quiet, but was the most quiet out of all three manual pumps tested. The lowest rated pump in this category was the Medela In Style Advanced. It works so well but not without a lot of sound from the motor.

Editors Choice: Spectra Baby USA S1 Hospital Grade

Editors Choice award winner. The Spectra S1 is the best of the pumps we tested. We recommend it to any mom pumping frequently who is planning on pumping for an extended period of time.

Credit: Micah James

The Spectra S1 was our highest scoring pump overall. While new in availability to the United States, it is gaining popularity. It carries a hefty price tag, (upwards of $320.00 for the breast pump alone or $370.00 including accessories such as a cooler and a tote bag), however after testing the product, we found multiple reasons as to why it was a superior product.

This pump is efficient and effective at pumping a larger amount of breast milk in a shorter amount of time than its counterparts. The timer on the pump allows you to gauge how long your pumping sessions are and then saves your settings for next time. Another big positive for us was the benefit of a "closed hygienic system". Unlike its close runner up the Medela Pump In Style Advanced, the S1 did not build condensation in the tubing, due to the "backflow hygienic protectors" that you simply connect to the tubing before connecting your breast flanges and collection bottles.

We also pleasantly found this pump to be more comfortable than most when it came to repetitive use. In addition, it was super handy for night pumping with its included night light. Lastly, with a rechargeable battery, pumping on-the-go when no outlet is available is convenient.

Top Pick for the Traveling Mom: Medela Harmony Manual

All set up ready to use.

Credit: Micah James

The Medela Harmony Manual is a versatile yet simple and compact pumping system. This pump scored highly in the sections of efficiency, comfort, ease-of-use, portability, and acoustics. As compared to the other manual pumps, this pump has a unique "two-phase expression", very similar to many of the electric pumps we tested. This is nice in a manual pump as it makes the pumping more comfortable without an instant sharp tug that can be very painful.

This pump would be great for two different important mommy purposes. First, as a "mom's night out" pump for a mom who needs to get away for a few hours on occasion. Retailing from $30-$40, this pump is very affordable and should meet most "occasional" pumping needs. Secondly, this pump is the perfect, compact traveling companion for any nursing mom. It can easily fit in most purses, diaper bags, or carry on luggage for a no-fuss travel experience. It can easily be used on the plane as well if your breast become engorged due to flying and/or your baby is too fussy to breastfeed.

Best Value: Medela Pump In Style Advanced

Medela in Style Advanced with on the go tote. Above we see the pump built into the tote bag, along with all the accessories included with your purchase. A great value in our opinion.

Credit: Micah James

For the best bang for your buck, the Medela Pump in Style Advanced with the on-the-go tote is a workhorse and won our Best Value award. Although there are cheaper pumps available, this one delivers so much at what we feel is a reasonable price. Retailing for about $250.00, it includes the pump system, tote bag, bottles, and an insulated cooler bag. It ranked just under the much more expensive Editor's Choice Award winner, the Spectra S1. It was easy peasy to put together and worked very efficiently for us. As stated earlier, our one big gripe with this pump was the build up of condensation in the tubing. However, this problem can be resolved by replacing them on occasion.

The Hunt for the Best Umbrella Stroller

Selecting the Right Product
Choosing the perfect umbrella stroller can be an education in decision making and priority setting. At first blush they may all seem very similar, some even look alike and many have similar features, but reality can't be farther from the truth as we discovered after lining up the top contenders and really assessing how they differed from one another.

The best way to avoid confusion, or becoming overwhelmed, is to sort out how you plan to use the product, what features you will need to obtain your goals, and how much you want to pay in order to get them. Once you know these things you can focus on which products offered the best of the best for what you want. While some may offer the same features, not all of them do it well. The selection is varied, not just in what they offer, but in what they cost. We feel there is a rig that is right for everyone, and our tests and review process is here to help you find yours.

For more information on buying the right product for you, please check out our companion article How to Pick the Best Umbrella Stroller.

You can find out more information on how we tested each product in the How We Testarticle. This can give you even deeper insight into how these products differ, and how we determined their ranks and scores.

Types of Lightweight Umbrella Strollers
There are two kinds of lightweight strollers, the basic umbrella product with very few additional features that is easy to fold and carry about, and products with all the bells and whistles that are so well-equipped they can almost do double duty as a primary rig. There are several of each type in this review, and as you will see, some of the products were better than others.

The photos above show the two UPPAbaby products in this review, the G-Lite (left) is a basic umbrella type with not many features, and the G-Luxe (right) has all the bells and whistles you could want in this kind of product.

Both types have characteristics in common; these are the primary features that make a product a member of this group:

• Lightweight size that is easy to fold, pick up, carry, and stow

• Compact fold that creates a small package for convenient storage and carrying

• Smaller footprint for easier maneuvering in tight spaces or city streets

• Agile maneuvering that allows for tight space escapes and use in crowded locations

• Fewer features of convenience than a standard stroller and less rugged than a jogging ride

Jeep Wrangler All-Weather is bare bones and basic

Credit: Amazon

Basic
The basic model type are free of most added features that can make longer trips easier, but they do have plenty to offer for the short haul. They are normally lightweight, easy to fold, compact packages that can be easily carried, stored, and transported. They usually don't have many additional features like significant storage space or accessory trays, but they are good for commuting and getting from point A to point B with a quickness. What these products lack in features, or extras for additional comfort, they usually make up for by being uber lightweight, small when folded, easier to carry, and are usually more maneuverable thanks to a smaller footprint and less weight. This is often the kind of product parents have in mind when they set out on a journey for an umbrella product. This is also the type people consider when they need a simple secondary stroller that will be use infrequently and for short durations.

All the Bells

Joovy Groove Umbrella has all the bells and whistles

Credit: Joovy

The products with all the frills usually have larger under seat storage bins meant for carrying supplies for the day or shopping bags. They have reclining back seats for increased napping possibilities, large canopies for additional protection, adjustable leg rests for comfort, and handy cup holders or additional parent storage options for more places to stow important items. These products still manage to be fairly lightweight, and many of them are easy to carry and fold, but they have the added benefits of features that can make the trip easier, more comfortable, or significantly more convenient. If your plans for this kind of product include more than getting from point to point, and are centered around the journey as much as the destination, then a stroller with all the bells and whistles may be more the kind of thing you are looking for. Having the ability for children to take long rests/naps in comfort can be a major concern for longer trips on the go. being able to carry more items may be a necessity if trips to the store will happen frequently. Having more features means having more options when it comes to using the product. Having one with all the bells, may translate into using it more frequently.

Why Get an Umbrella Stroller?

Even when the lightweight Quinny is fully-loaded, pushing is responsive and easy. It shines particularly with quick trips where agility trumps extra storage.

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

Whether your product of choice is a basic stroller or full of frills an umbrella can be a handy product to have at your disposal. Choosing to purchase one can give you more freedom while traveling or visiting relatives, and they can be nice to have for day trips to town or fun activities. They can help you manage little ones and get where your going without the weight and size of a standard stroller. They are more compact and agile than both a standard style or jogger, which can be nice in the city, crowded space, or where walking spaces are at a premium. Buying an umbrella can be just what you need for a worry and stress free outing in town, without the hassle of a bigger stroller that can get in the way, or be difficult to transport. We feel a second option, or a lightweight primary stroller might be just the ticket for parents looking to minimize their load or travel in style.

Criteria for Evaluation
In testing the products in this review we focused on 6 key areas; with weight and folded size having the most influence over the final tally since finding a compact easy to carry stroller is the primary reason parents decide to purchase a product of this type. Our ratings are a combination of in-house lab testing and real world experience using the products in everyday life; each product was rated against the competition for comparison.

Ease of Use
Ease of use encompasses all the features that make using the product easier, or that add versatility. The higher a product ranks in this category, the more versatile it is, so parents might be able to use it for a variety of trip types. Having a larger sunshade or storage bin means a stroller might be able to go shopping for longer, or be better for outdoor trips to a farmers market.

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

While all the products had a sun canopy, the more basic products had smaller varieties, or did not attach to the back of the seat. The canopy on the Quinny Yezz is simple, easy to use, and attached to the fabric of the main stroller. But it is small, doesn't offer much coverage, and it isn't SPF rated. Similar with the Jeep Wrangler All-Weather, which has the smallest shade in our review, covers very little, but is fully tilt-able. The tilt offer some extra coverage, but it also can become a play toy for toddlers and potentially useless and more of a hassle than a help. Both of these strollers earned fairly low scores for ease of use with the Yezz scoring a 2 out of 10 and the Jeep only 1. The UPPAbaby products on the other hand, have giant canopies, are rated SPF 50, and have an additional kick out visor which makes them not only user-friendly, but super effective, even for a sleeping passenger fully reclined in the G-Luxe.This helped the G-Luxe tie for the high score in this metric with a 7 out of 10.

The photos above show the sun shades of the Quinny (left), Jeep (middle), and UPPA G-Lite (right). Most of the products we reviewed fell in between the Quinny and UPPAbaby products in size. Only a few had additional visors for added protection.

All of the products offered some kind of storage, how much and where were the primarily differences between them. Most have a under seat storage bin, but they vary in size, maximum weight capacity, and how easy they are to access. The Contours Lite has the largest bin in our review (which earned it a 10 out of 10 for storage), and the Quinny Yezz doesn't have a storage bin at all, just a back pocket. In addition to under seat bins, some had parent pockets located on the back of the sun shades, or between the handle bars, like the two First Years options with their handy parent storage trays. The Contours is the only product with a child accessory tray, but the Joovy Groove does have storage pockets inside the seat that are great for treasure stashing and snacks. Both features make the models more user-friendly than the products without them, and increase potential comfort or convenience. TheContours and Joovy both earned a high 7 out of 10 for ease of use.

The photos above show some additional storage features; cup holders on the Joovy Groove (left), the child accessory tray on the Contours (middle), and the parent tray located between the handle bars on the First Years Ignite (left).

A reclining back seat and adjustable leg rest are also nice convenience features that earned products higher scores. For little passengers on the go, napping and being comfortable can be the difference between a successful outing and a disaster of epic tantrum proportions. A comfortable child, is a happy child. Some of the products offered a reclining back, but no adjustable leg rest, others had both a recline and leg option, and some had neither. Many of the recline angles are not that deep and therefore not as user-friendly as others. Depending on the kind of trip you plan to take, a simple stroller with no comfort options might suffice, but if you are headed to the zoo and park for the entire day, life will just be easier with a product that lets passengers nap, or adjusts for comfort.

The photos above show two different reclining options, the Mountain Buggy Mini (left)lays almost flat, while the First Years Ignite (left) has less of a recline. A deeper recline can provide a better environment for napping than a shallow angle.

Maneuverability
Maneuverability can make or break whether or not a stroller goes well, or the user struggles under the burden. Depending on the journey and the terrain you plan to traverse, which product you choose will make a big difference in whether or not you can get where you want to go without a fight. Some of the products were easy to push and turned on a dime, while others felt clunky and adverse to turning on grass. The Quinny Yezz has unique inline skate wheels which make it easy to turn, and agile enough to negotiate even the most crowded city streets with ease and style. These features earned the Quinny a high 7 out of 10 for maneuverability. The First Years Jet on the other hand, is hard to push on most surfaces, and may have trouble dodging a slow moving tumbleweed, which earned it just a 2 out of 10, the worst in our review.

We put the products in this review through a series of on and off-road tests to determine which ones can handle the day to day challenges of a lightweight stroller and its regular uses. We pushed them on hardwood floors, concrete, tile, asphalt, grass, gravel, and even a dirt road. While we assumed some of them might struggle in the grass and gravel, we were a little surprised that some of them struggled on flat hard surfaces too. We also pushed, pulled, dragged, and carried them up stairs, down stairs, and over curbs. We rated them on how well they handled the different surfaces, how hard they were to push, and whether or not it was a pleasure to use them.

Most of the competitors we reviewed did about the same in this category with only theQuinny really standing out. The Mountain Buggy Mini also did well with a 3 wheel trike design and cushioned rubber wheels. The products that struggled in this test were those with smaller wheels, wheels with heavier tread, and double front wheel designs (2 wheels on each side that equaled 4 wheels in front). Products with single front wheels did better overall than most of the others, and the larger wheels stood out as well. Those with smaller wheels, or wheels without a swivel locking feature, had more trouble than larger wheels that could lock.

The photos above show the agile skate wheels on the Quinny (left), the cushioned wheels of the Mini (middle), and the dual front wheels of the First Years Jet(right).

Safety
Studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), organizations who both analyze hospital injury databases, identify falling injuries as the most prevalent safety issue related to using strollers; they represent more than half of the injuries between 2008-2011. Tipping related injuries are the second most common strolling related injuries. Experts feel that the use of a properly adjusted restraining harness could have prevented many of these injuries.

To review products for safety we started by examining basic safety features like the harness systems and brakes. We then considered possible tip-over issues including back and sideways tip-over in relation to angles and pounds of pressure, and weight hung off the back. In addition, we explored stability risks and performance issues with going up or down steep curbs, steps, or across angled and uneven surfaces. For this metric the Quinny once again had the highest score in our review with an 8 out of 10. Several other models earned 7s, and the lowest scoring models were the Jeep and Contours with 5 a piece.

Harness
All but one of the products we looked at has a 5-point harness. The Jeep Wrangler All-Weather only has a 3-point harness. Five points is considered safer because the two extra points coming from the shoulder restraint straps help keep children from slipping out, or falling out should the stroller accidentally tip over. We also considered how difficult the straps were to adjust for height and for a correct fit. We considered whether or not the product has an adjustable crotch strap, or just shoulder and waist straps.

The photos above show the easy to adjust 5-point harness of the Quinny (left) compared to the less safe 3-point harness of the Jeep Wrangler All-Weather (right).

We feel that parents are more likely to use a harness regularly if it is easy to use and adjust properly. So the products with harness that are more user-friendly, or adjusted tighter for a proper fit, scored higher. Some of the harnesses are fairly easy to adjust, but the height adjustment on the shoulder straps was so easy, the straps pulled right through the seat back with little to no effort exerted on the connection point. This indicated a possible problem with the harness.

The Jeep scored the lowest, given that it is only a 3-point system, and the straps were a little difficult to adjust on the waist. Both First Years models did well in this test, earning top marks out of the 16 products tested. Both use a similar or perhaps identical system, that is easy to use, easy to adjust, and didn't have any difficulty with the back pad height adjustment threading. The UPPAbaby G-Luxe and the Quinny Yezz were right on their heels, scoring just 1 point less for this test. The Chicco Liteway and Contours Lite both earned scores that were below average.

Side Tipping

The tip test is done to determine at what side angle a product can sit before tipping over

Credit: Shellay Glatz

Some of the products in this review tipped over fairly easily when put at an angle, others took more encouragement and needed more tilt before falling. The 3 wheels Mountain Buggyhad difficulty due to its trike design which caused instability problems. The Jeep also didn't do well in this metric, tipping at just 22 degrees, to the Mountain buggy 20 degrees. TheQuinny Yezz and the Joovy Groove really did the best for tipping, both required at least 30 degrees before succumbing to the pull of gravity. Most of the products scored fairly average in this test, with no real outlier in either direction.

Weighted Back Tipping
Putting any kind of weight on the back of any strolling product is never a good idea. Is it considered unsafe to hang diaper or shopping bags on the handle bars of any kind of strolling product. However, we recognize that it happens, and even the most safety conscious parent can potentially succumb to the temptation of using the handles to just hold a shopping bag or two, even just for a minute. Some of the products were pretty impressive in this test requiring a significant amount of weight to fall, the Chicco Capri C6 Lightweight required more than 75 pounds hanging off the back of the stroller before it tipped back. The Maxi-Cosi Kaia and the Mountain Buggy also did well requiring over 40 pounds hanging on the bars. The UPPAbaby G-Lite did the worst in this test, with just 18 pounds causing it to fall back. No matter which stroller required the most weight, we still encourage parents to avoid putting weight on the back of their strollers to begin with, just to be safe.

The lowest scoring products in the safety category were the Jeep Wrangler All-Weatherand Contours Lite. Both earned a 5 out of 10 in this category, which was below the average. The highest scoring product was the Quinny Yezz.

Quality
For quality we reviewed how well a product was put together, the materials that were used, and how the materials withstood daily use. Some of the materials are not as good of quality as others. Some of the fabrics were rough or had coarse weaves, some snagged when a pin was dragged across, others were not spill or water resistant, or they had stitching inconsistencies or lots of loose threads. The comfort factor of how all these materials came together was also considered.

For frames, we looked at the materials used, the tightness of the connection points, and whether or not the frame flexed under use. We also looked at the wheels and handle bars, and what they were made from and how well they were put together as part of the whole.

The photos above show the unique top quality wheels of the Quinny (left)and Mountain Buggy (right).

The highest ranking products for quality were the Quinny, Joovy Groove, and theMountain Buggy Mini with 9 out of 10 all around. They are all made using high quality parts, innovative design features, and attention to detail not found on every product. The Quinny has unique inline skate wheels that are high quality, puncture proof, and fairly maintenance free. The Buggy has a combination wheel that is also low maintenance, and puncture resistant. The fabric for all three is high quality, tight weave, and snag resistant. The fit to the frame is tight, and none had any frame flexing when pushing a weighted stroller.

The lowest ranking product was the *Jeep** which disappointed in many ways earning just 3 out of 10 for quality. It came broken, had significant flex in the frame, the canopy sat canted off to the side, and everything felt hastily put together. Overall, the stroller is full of vibration and rattle.

The photos above show the top rated quality products and the lowest; from left to right they are Quinny Yezz, Joovy Groove, Mountain Buggy, and Jeep Wrangler All-Weather.

Weight and Folded Size
How much a product weighs, or how compact it can fold, is what makes a great umbrella or lightweight stroller standout from the rest of the pack. The primary idea behind a product of this type is finding one that you can fold and transport with ease. You want one that folds up small, fits in tight places, and can be easily picked up, carried, or moved on public transport. Some of the products we reviewed were pretty heavy making them harder to carry or lift. Some of them were light, but folded into packages that are longer than average and hard to fit in a compact trunk. For parents looking for a traditional product of this type, this could be the make or break metric for which one to purchase.

For weight and folded size we did our own measurements instead of relying on the manufacturers specs. This way we could ensure that all the products were weighed and measured in the same manner and with the same instruments. This was the only way to truly do a one for one, side-by-side comparison.

The highest scoring product in this test was the Quinny with a 9 out of 10 score. There just is no better rig for commuting than this one. It is very light and ridiculously compact, at just near 12 pounds and 10.45x27.5x13. It isn't the smallest or even lightest for the products in our review, but it is the best of both worlds. The First years Jet is lighter and takes up less cubic inches (which earned it an 8 for this metric), but it is longer and takes up more space lengthwise than the Quinny, which made it harder to fit in a trunk and buses. The unique fold of the Quinny made it particularly good for carrying on your back hands free, and fitting in cars and on public transport.

The lowest scoring product in this category is the Mountain Buggy Mini with a 5 out of 10. The Mini is anything but a Mini compared to the others products we looked at. The Mini is over 18 pounds and takes up 13628 cubic inches. This made it the heaviest and biggest stroller in our review. It is harder for most parents to lug about, and the larger footprint means it is more difficult to store, use, and transport in tight space.

Ease of Setup
Most of the products we reviewed came assembled or almost assembled. The main items requiring assemble were the wheels, canopies, or possibly attaching the seat to the frame. None of the products required complete assembly.

The Chicco Capri C6 Lightweight took the least amount of time to get from box to strolling which helped it earn a 7 out of 10 for setup. The Mountain Buggy, Jeep, and Peg Perego Plinko Mini all took over 9 minutes to set up, losing points for the amount of time to assemble coming in at 4, 5, and 6 respectfully.

The Quinny has the best score for this metric with a 9 out of 10, because assembly is somewhat intuitive and the instructions are clear and easy to understand. The manual is small, but what it contains more than does the job for getting the rig ready to roll.

The Mountain Buggy Mini scored the lowest with a 4. The illustrations in the setup manual didn't show all of the parts; assembly of the front wheels was troublesome because of this. In addition, the wheel hubs had parts that were not shown in the illustration or talked about in the text, and we almost threw them away.

Editors' Choice Award: UPPAbaby G-Luxe

With so many useable features, the G-Luxe can function easily as standard full-size stroller. Once your baby is 6 months, it quite possibly could be the only stroller you would need to buy.

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

The UPPAbaby G-Luxe is beautiful with lots of great features that are both pleasing to the eye, and highly functional at the same time. The combination of the giant SPF 50 sun shade, larger than average under seat storage bin, and a cup holder create a stroller that offers so many conveniences you might even consider using it as your only stroller. For the passenger it has a reclining seat back that goes flat enough for cozy napping, and an adjustable leg rest that can shift up or down to offer more comfortable strolling, or better options for smaller riders. It is a simple 1 hand fold that auto-locks, and self-stands. This product scored well in most metrics, came in second place out of the 16 products we reviewed, and managed it all with great style and functionality. We really like the G-Luxe for everything it offers and its exceptional presentation. We think most people will be pleased with its smooth stroller, thoughtful nods to comfort, and overall parent convenience.

Best Value Award: Chicco Liteway

The Liteway has the features that keep little passengers and big operators happy: an adjustable leg rest, reclining back, foot rest, deep seat, padded 5-point harness, large sunshade with peek-a-boo window, adult cup holder, comfortable padded, ergonomic handles, and a removable storage basket that converts into a bag.

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

The Chicco Liteway has so much to offer at such a reasonable price you might just find yourself double checking the tag. It earned one of our Best Value awards because it really stood out against the competition for being a product that gives all the modern bells and whistles you will be looking for in a lightweight model, in a very reasonably priced package. It has a large under seat storage bin, a nice sized canopy with a tinted peek-a-boo window, and a cup holder for parents. The seat back reclines and the leg rest is adjustable, offering little ones a cozier stroll than many of the others. The fit and finish quality of this product will make you wonder why the price is so low. Not many of the products in our review had as many features at the Liteway, and those that did had significantly higher prices or the features weren't done as well. For parents on a budget, or even those who just love a great value, the Liteway is sure to please.

Top Pick for Travel: Quinny Yezz

Traveling through town is a breeze with this stroller

Credit: BabyGearLab Staff

The Quinny Yezz is a remarkable, innovative, lightweight product that takes travel or commuting with your child to a whole new level. Whatever the Quinny lacks in convenience, like great storage or a cup holder, it more than makes up for in the style and functionality departments. This stroller has unique inline skate wheels with smooth rolling ball bearings that make it the most agile stroller in our review. It has a strong composite plastic frame that uses advanced technology to create a high performing frame that offers intentional flexing for a comfortable stroller, and a great skeleton for stretching the hammock seat type fabric tight. Placing one hand on this stroller is like feeling the pull of a strong magnetic forcefield and we feel certain you will be as reluctant to let it go as we were. It folds compactly, is super lightweight, has a hands free shoulder carry strap, and maneuvers city life like an indigenous species. There is much to love in the Quinny. If travel, commuting, or just getting from point A to Point B across mostly smooth surfaces is your main objective, then the Quinny can get you there in style with one of a kind engineering.

Honorable Mention: Joovy Groove

Joovy Groove Umbrella has all the bells and whistles

Credit: Joovy

The Joovy Groove Umbrella is worth a look as a potential stroller that could serve the dual-purposes of a lightweight stroller suitable for travel, and a full-size stroller that can handle your every day needs. It has features that make it not only a great lightweight umbrella type product, but they also enable it to be used as a primary stroller. Finding one product to meet two different needs means possibly saving money, storage space, and effort by avoiding researching, buying, and storing two different products.

The Joovy is lightweight, folds compact with one hand, and comes with a nice carry handle for easier transport. Despite its slightly longer frame when folded, it can fit in most trunk spaces, and it is still small enough to fit in most smaller stores and cafes without bumping others or items in the aisles. Plus, it also has enough additional features that most parents could get away with making this stroller their only one. It offers more storage options than the other lightweight products we reviewed, including an extra parent pocket and child stow pockets. It has a reclining back rest and adjustable leg rest for added comfort and possible long term napping options. It comes with a full-sized canopy that allows for added protection from the elements, and two cup holders for extra hydration, or access to convenience items like a phone or wallet.

The Joovy might not be as big as some standard models or have as many features for newborns, but if you use a baby carrier during infancy you probably won't need or miss these features. It may not be as light or small as the more compact umbrella products, but if you aren't using a lot of public transport or doing repeated folding and unfolding in a day, you may not miss these features either. All of this, plus a 3rd place rank, and a reasonable price tag, make the Groove a product that might be able to pull a double shift as both a primary stroller, and a lightweight travel option.

Conclusion
In the end, it is difficult to say that there is one best product for everyone. The needs of parents and their passengers vary depending on how often the stroller will be used, and for what kind of activities. Some of the products are better for quick trips around the city, while others are going to be better for longer trips to the park or shopping. Some have so many features, they could be considered for double duty as a primary stroller, while others are so minimal they make great commuting products, but not much else.

Either way there are definitely good options for everyone no matter what your specific need or budget. It is our goal in this review to provide the information you need in order to make the best decision for your family. Between the award winners and the high ranking models, there really is something for everyone, and once you narrow down your needs and desires, we feel confident you can find the right stroller for your passenger. Take a look at our How to Pick the Best Umbrella Stroller for help on narrowing the field and figuring out what is important.