Best Baby Strollers

While you have to give kudos to the innovators that make a new product before anyone else, there is something to be said for biding your time. Peg Perego has been patiently observing the obscenely-priced luxury stroller market and learning from their competition. If you thought Bugaboo was the best in the business or that Stokke had the market cornered on innovation, get ready for the Peg Perego Skate. Peg Perego has learned from the successes and failures of Bugaboo, Quinny, Stokke, and other high-end baby gear and has taken the best features of all those other models and combined them into one beautiful piece of baby-moving art.

The Peg Perego Skate is designed to be an all-in-one transport system that goes from pram to rear or forward facing stroller in a few fluid moves. Judging from the Skate website, Peg Perego has thought of just about everything. Unlike the competition, the Peg Perego Skate doesn’t require multiple accessories to go from pram to stroller. The Peg Perego Skate folds in a single piece, a huge blow to Bugaboo’s clumsy folding.

The Peg Perego Skate is truly designed to meet the needs of your baby from infant to toddler. The Pram mode begins completely flat, but can be adjusted to a more upright, sitting position, and thanks to a unique tilt feature, reclining the Peg Perego Skate is smooth and unlikely to wake a sleeping child. Like the Stokke Xplory, the Skate’s seat can be adjusted up or down so baby can be close to mom or a toddler can climb into the lower seat on her own. I like the idea of raising the seat/pram in the Peg Perego Skate when your baby is small so you don’t have to bend over deeply to get her in or out of the stroller.

Another blow to the minimalist luxury strollers out there is the Peg Perego Skate’s accessories. The Peg Perego Skate comes with a large, functional hood, a rain cover, a storage basket (a rather skimpy one that can be improved with the optional Borsa Skate bag), and removable cup holder. Ultimately, Peg Perego has done a good job of balancing style and convenience.

Of course, no stroller is perfect. While the Peg Perego Skate has yet to see any street use (the Skate isn’t available until January of 2008) I can already see some potential problems. The first is the Peg Perego Skate’s nearly $900 price tag—even a Bugaboo looks affordable in comparison. Furthermore, the Peg Perego Skate weighs a whopping 33lbs! I’m not keen to be hefting that much bulk in and out of a car, but I’m guessing suburban moms like me aren’t the Peg Perego Skate’s target audience. The Peg Perego Skate has an adjustable height feature in addition to adjustable handlebars. It seems to me that so many moving parts may make the Peg Perego Skate prone to breakdowns. Of course, until I get my hands on a Skate model, there is no way to tell for sure.

If it weren’t so darn expensive, I might be tempted to give the Peg Perego Skate a try. The Skate is certainly the most appealing high-end stroller I’ve seen so far. Peg Perego has learned, unlike Bugaboo and company, that you can have practical solutions to real-mom problems without sacrificing style and fancy configurations. Is the Peg Perego Skate the next Bugaboo? Only time will tell.

If you have given up on finding a stylish, modern stroller for less than $300, don’t despair! The Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico may be just what you are searching for. Peg Perego is an Italian company with production facilities in the US and Canada among other places. Started in 1949 when Giuseppe Perego decided to create his own pram, the Peg Perego brand has grown to include high chairs, car seats, and motorized toys. Peg Perego hasn’t forgotten their roots in strollers, and with the Pliko P3 Classico, they have created what just might be the perfect ride for your baby.

The Pliko P3 Classico checks all the boxes. If you are tired of clunky, juvenile strollers, the modern European styling of the Pliko P3 Classico will thrill you. The Pliko P3 Classico comes in nearly a dozen hip color combinations, ensuring that everyone from the most conservative soccer mom to the trendy diva will find something they love.

If, like me, you are more concerned with function than form, you’ll love the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico’s convenient features. Adjustable handles ensure that anyone will be comfortable pushing a Pliko P3 Classico, and a cup holder, large under-seat basket, and child snack tray will ensure that everyone is happy and well supplied for long trips out and about. Toddlers can hitch a ride on the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico’s included rear footrest, making this an ideal stroller for moms with multiple kids. The Pliko P3 Classico has a 4-position adjustable recline seat and 2-position footrest, so your child will be comfortable no matter what size she is.

Peg Perego, in the tradition of other European stroller makers like Bugaboo and Quinny, makes strollers with smooth, easy rides. Peg Perego’s Pliko P3 Classico is no exception. Parents rave about how easy it is to steer and maneuver the Pliko P3 Classico, even with one hand. Full suspension on all wheels makes the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico ride smooth as silk, so sleeping babies won’t notice bumps or jolts. Folding and unfolding the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico does take some time to master, but once you get the hang of it, you can collapse the stroller with one hand and use the built in carry handle to haul it around.

The Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico is quite light for a full-size stroller, only 16lbs., and it folds compactly into a freestanding unit, making the Pliko P3 Classico easy to store at home or in the trunk. The only consistent complaint about the Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico is that the under-seat basket can be hard to get to when the seat is reclined. All things considered, such a minor inconvenience can’t outweigh all of the Pliko P3 Classico’s many assets. Best of all, you can get a Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico for around $300, a bit pricey for an average stroller, but a steal for something off the trendy European market. The Peg Perego Pliko P3 Classico comes with hood/sunshade, cup holder, storage basket, removable and washable seat fabric, car seat adaptor, and toddler ride-on bar.

Are you an outdoorsy type of mom who needs a stroller that can go anywhere? If so, consider the Peg Perego GT3 Completo—don’t let the name throw you, this is one heck of a stroller. Peg Perego is an Italian company, and you can expect the feel of classic European luxury in the GT3 Completo.

Perhaps the most revolutionary feature of the Peg Perego GT3 Completo is its adjustable rear wheel suspension. Three setting ensure that you get a smooth ride over any surface. The hard setting on the GT3 Completo is great for soft surfaces like sand or grass, while the soft setting compensates on bumpy unpaved roads and gravel. The medium suspension setting glides over smooth, paved surfaces. The Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s suspension system ensures that you can take your baby anywhere, and unlike a Bugaboo, you don’t have to reconfigure your stroller every time you change surfaces.

Peg Perego has included plenty of other feature on the GT3 Completo for active parents. The chassis’ 3-wheel design is agile and sturdy, and locking the front wheel allows the GT3 Completo to be used as a jogging stroller. The included wrist strap and hand brake ensure that the Peg Perego GT3 Completo will never get away from you while you’re running or walking over rough terrain. The GT3 Completo also includes handy fold out drink holders for your baby and a wearable “parent pack” with water bottle holder for you.

Your child will love riding in the spacious, comfy Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s seat, which is made with luxe Italian upholstery. Peg Perego’s strollers include their revolutionary 5-point freedom of movement harness. Essentially, the harness is not connected to the back of the GT3’s seat, so your baby can move comfortably without feeling restricted. The harness is still firmly attached to the Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s seat, so you don’t have to worry about your child falling out of the stroller.

Unfortunately, the Peg Perego GT3 Completo only comes in one color combination, a sporty, eye-catching mix of red and orange. For such an expensive stroller, you would expect more options. Another oversight is that the Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s seat fabric is only hand washable. If I’m going to be dragging my stroller to the beach and through the woods, I want fabric that I can throw into the washing machine as it’s bound to get dirty. The basket on the Peg Perego GT3 Completo, while large, is hard to access, making it impractical for most uses.

All of the Peg Perego GT3 Completo’s luxury comes at a hefty price. Expect to pay well over $500 and even as much as $600 for a GT3 Completo. At that price, you would think that Peg Perego would include a rain cover and mosquito net. Instead, you get a large sunshade, under-seat basket, parent pack, toddler ride-on step, and built in car seat adaptors with the GT3 Completo.

A step up from the Pliko P3 Classico, the Peg Perego Centro Completo is a posh, deluxe stroller designed to appeal to hip, modern parents who also happen to be savvy when it comes to paying a reasonable price for baby gear. Unlike so many other European strollers, the Peg Perego Centro Completo has all the bells and whistles for less than $250.

One of the things that set the Peg Perego Centro Completo apart from the slightly more expensive Pliko P3 Classico is its extra accessories. Unlike the Pliko P3 Classico, the Centro Completo comes with a cozy foot muff and an all-weather rain shield, making the Peg Perego Centro Completo a good choice for families in colder climates. The Peg Perego Centro Completo also has a huge storage basket that is more functional than the ones on other Peg Perego models, making the Centro Completo a good choice if you plan on taking long trips with lots of gear.

Like other Peg Perego strollers, the Centro Completo comes with all-wheel suspension for a smooth ride. The most common comment in praise of the Peg Perego Centro Completo is how easy it is to push and maneuver, even with a toddler riding on the included footboard. Some parents even find the Peg Perego Centro Completo to be more maneuverable with a toddler on the back. The Centro Completo has Peg Perego’s trademark 5-point freedom of movement harness that holds your baby securely in the stroller while still giving him the ability to stretch, reach, and move, so even squirmy toddlers will be comfortable and unrestricted.

Alas, there is no such thing as a perfect stroller, and the Peg Perego Centro Completo does have its share of drawbacks. Perhaps the most worrisome problem is a faulty design in the seat recline. Multiple parents have complained that the Peg Perego Centro Completo’s seat can get stuck in the recline position. The mechanism that controls the Centro Completo’s recline is made of plastic, and requires some finesse to adjust. A smaller negative is that the Peg Perego Centro Completo only comes in two color combinations. Fortunately, the brown and tan “toffee” fabric appeals to conservative moms while the bright orange and gray of the “soleo” model is attractive to those with a funkier taste.

One last thing worth mentioning is the Peg Perego Centro Completo’s ability to accommodate virtually any make of car seat with the included car seat strap. So many stroller manufactures try to increase sales by making strollers that are only compatible with their own models of car seats. It is refreshing to see that Peg Perego’s first concern is for parents. That being said, the Centro Completo comes with fold out car seat adaptors that can be used with a Peg Perego car seat, which is much easier than using one from another company.

The Aria OH Classico is Peg Perrego’s entry into the lightweight, compact stroller market. Peg Perego makes quality strollers, but the Aria OH Classico tends to get mixed reviews. Most of the naysayers complain about the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico’s $250 price tag. Most people don’t want to spend that much on what is essentially a second stroller or travel stroller. However, when you consider all the features of the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico, $250 begins to sound more reasonable.

Most travel strollers have several problems in common. First, many models don’t have a recline feature in the seat or have only two positions: flat or upright. The Peg Perego Aria OH Classico has a fully reclining seat with multiple positions, giving it an edge in the light stroller category.

Another issue with many light strollers is the lack of storage. Most models have virtually no storage at all, making them a challenge to work with during a long day of running errands. Granted, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico isn’t going to hold all your gear and baby’s too, but the under-seat basket will accommodate a normal-sized diaper bag, and both mom and baby have cup holders.

One of my pet peeves is when a stroller doesn’t include a sunshade. So many of the hot new European strollers lack this essential feature, but Peg Perego has included sunshades on all its models, including the Aria OH Classico, their most compact stroller. I love the Peg Perego sunshades because they are huge and offer protection to your baby in all the seat’s recline positions.

In addition to all these features, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico comes with some unexpected features in a travel stroller like full suspension on all wheels and built in car seat adaptors. What’s more, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico works with any brand of car seat, making it a great choice for a second stroller if you are still using the infant car seat from your travel system. The Aria OH Classico has a large comfy seat for a compact stroller and comes in four beautiful color combinations.

The “OH” in Aria OH Classico stands for “one-handed,” and true to its name, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico folds easily with one hand, even while holding a baby. Unfolding is even easier, making the Aria OH Classico an ideal choice for packing in the car.

All things considered, the Peg Perego Aria OH Classico is a top notch stroller with gorgeous styling and a lot of features. While $250 is a lot to spend on a second stroller, there are few light strollers that offer as many features for the same price.

Quinny is a Dutch company popular in Europe. Americans are discovering Quinny’s unique style and quality craftsmanship. If you want a stroller that will get attention, Quinny may be a good choice. There are only two models readily available in America. Here is a quick overview of each.

Quinny Buzz Stroller
The Buzz is Quinny’s newest and most chic stroller. Like Bugaboo, Quinny designs strollers that are functional and cool without being juvenile or cutesy. Men will enjoy pushing the 3-wheeled Quinny Buzz because it’s extremely maneuverable and sporty looking. The Quinny Buzz is very light and has a smooth ride thanks to its rear air-filled tires. The Buzz’s seat has two positions, flat recline and upright. For newborns, Quinny offers the optional Dreami carrycot that easily attaches to the Buzz’s Chassis.

Perhaps the most innovative feature of the Quinny Buzz is its ability to automatically unfold. Thanks to a unique “gas spring” mechanism, the Quinny Buzz unfolds with a nudge from your foot. While the Quinny Buzz’s automatic unfold is a neat trick, it’s also problematic. Because the Quinny Buzz is designed to unfold automatically, folding it takes more effort. What’s more, some parents complain that the Quinny Buzz can snap open unexpectedly, painfully trapping their fingers.

In addition to the reversible seat (front or rear facing) and chassis, the Quinny Buzz comes with car seat adaptors (compatible with the Quinny Maxi Cozi car seat), a sunshade, shopping basket, bug net, and rain cover.

Quinny Zapp Stroller
The Quinny Zapp is a light stroller designed especially for traveling or as a second stroller. Most of Quinny’s strollers have three wheels, but the American version of the Quinny Zapp has four, unlike its European counterpart. Extra wheels mean extra stability, but they come at the cost of a more cohesive design. The Quinny Zapp is still nice to look at, and it has Quinny’s trademark smooth ride, despite the lack of air-filled tires. The Quinny Zapp has wide tires that allow it to handle slightly rougher terrain than other light strollers.

What really sets the Quinny Zapp apart from other strollers is its ultra-compact 3D fold. When folded, Quinny claims that the Zapp is the smallest stroller in the world. The Quinny Zapp is light and easy to carry and travel with. Quinny even sells a special adaptor to make it possible to carry the Quinny Zapp on a bicycle.

The only downside to the Quinny Zapp is that it is so small and light it can seem a little flimsy. This stroller isn’t for everyone. If you spend a lot of time on rough road or need a lot of storage, you’ll find the Quinny Zapp lacking. However, if you need an easy stroller to use for short walks or trips to the mall, the Quinny Zapp is a great choice. Quinny includes a rain cover, carry bag, car seat adaptors, sunshade, and shopping basket with the Zapp.

If you need an all-around pushchair that can be used in the city or the country, the Quinny Speedi is the best choice. While not quite as sexy as the Buzz or the Zapp, the Quinny Speedi is still stylish and sporty.

Thanks to 3 air-filled wheels, the Speedi has the smoothest ride of any Quinny and travels well over virtually every surface. The Quinny Speedi also has more storage room than the Buzz or Zapp, and has a seat that is larger and more comfortable for baby.

The Speedi is the largest of the Quinny pushchairs, so it’s not ideal if you have a small boot or limited storage space. The Quinny Speedi comes with rain cover, sunshade, adjustable shopping basket, and car seat adaptors.

If you want a stylish pushchair that is easy to use and beautiful to look at, a Quinny may be a good choice. Quinny is an expensive brand, but they make quality pushchairs that will last for years. Here is a brief overview of Quinny pushchairs available in the UK.

Quinny Buzz Pushchair
Quinny has made the Buzz for city-dwellers who want their baby to travel in style. The Quinny Buzz is the most striking of all the Quinny models, and is a good choice is styling is important to you. Like all Quinnys, the Buzz is light and easy to push, making it maneuverable and well-suited to life in a crowded city.

The most innovative feature of the Quinny Buzz is its ability to automatically unfold. With a simple nudge from your foot, the Quinny Buzz sets up on its own and is ready to use. The only problem with this feature is that the Quinny Buzz can spring open unexpectedly and pinch your fingers.

Quinny includes a sunshade, all weather set, and “Buzz Box,” which is essentially a small shopping basket. The Buzz can also be used with a Quinny Maxi Cosi car seat or the Quinny Dreami carrycot, making it suitable from birth.

Quinny Zapp Pushchair
If you are looking for a second pushchair to keep in the boot or to take on holiday, the Quinny Zapp is a great choice. Quinny has designed the Zapp to be the most compact stroller in the world when collapsed. If you have a small amount of space, the Quinny Zapp will suit you well.

Thanks to wide wheels, the Quinny Zapp can handle bumps and jolts better than most other light strollers, making it a smoother ride for baby. The Zapp comes with a carry case, making it easy to take in the car, carry on a bike, or load on the bus or train. The Quinny Zapp is so small, you can even carry it on to an airplane—anyone who has traveled with a baby knows how nice it is to have a pushchair at hand.

The Quinny Zapp comes with car seat adaptors, sunshade, rain cover, and travel bag.

Quinny is a Dutch brand long popular in Europe and gaining fans in the US. Like their rival Bugaboo, Quinny makes strollers that are minimalist, eye catching, and father friendly. Both companies market to high-end consumers; that’s why you see so many movie stars, politicians, and social elite pushing Bugaboos and Quinnys. If you simply must have the stroller of the stars, you’ll want to consider the Bugaboo Gecko or the Quinny Buzz. This side by side comparison should help you decide.

Design
Let’s face it, design is the real reason you are considering buying a Quinny Buzz or a Bugaboo Gecko. You could find plenty of strollers with similar features for a lot less money, but none of them would look as cool as a Gecko or a Buzz.

Cosmetically, both strollers are nice to look at. The Bugaboo Gecko is older by a few years, and it shows in its slightly boxier design. The Quinny Buzz has a shallower seat that looks a little more modern, but the Gecko’s seat looks more comfortable. The handle on both strollers looks about the same. The real difference between the Buzz and the Gecko is in their chassis. Based solely on looks, the Quinny Buzz has a sleeker chassis with a sporty three-wheel design. However, the Bugaboo Gecko’s four-wheeled chassis is more versatile and can be used in more places. Both the Quinny Buzz and the Bugaboo Gecko feature larger, air-filled rear wheels that give a smooth, effortless ride.

Both the Bugaboo Gecko and the Quinny Buzz come with pointless storage systems that are too small to be practical even if they do look cool.

Function
If you are going to use your stroller primarily in the city, both the Bugaboo Gecko and Quinny Buzz will perform beyond your expectations. The Quinny Buzz is smaller and features a compact fold that opens by itself with a little nudge from you. The Buzz’s narrower wheelbase comes in handy when using public transportation or navigating crowded streets and shops.

If you plan to take your baby off the beaten path, the Bugaboo Gecko is a much better choice. The Buzz doesn’t handle snow, sand, or rough road well. The Bugaboo Gecko by comparison can go virtually anywhere thanks to the chassis’ ability to transform into an all-terrain vehicle.

Value
Both the Bugaboo Gecko and the Quinny Buzz are expensive. The base model of the Bugaboo Gecko comes with chassis, stroller seat, bassinette, weather covers, and a 2-year warranty for about $680. The Quinny Buzz comes with weather covers, car seat adaptors, and a sunshade for around $500. The purchase of the Quinny Dreami bassinette brings the cost up to $690, making both the Quinny Buzz and the Bugaboo Gecko equal in cost.

Are you looking for a unique European stroller that isn’t just another Bugaboo? The Quinny Speedi SX stroller is a great choice. Quinny, a leading manufacturer of baby products in Europe, makes stylish strollers that turn heads everywhere they go. Currently only two Quinny models are readily available in the US: the Quinny Buzz and the Quinny Zapp. Both of these strollers are cool looking, but neither one is Quinny’s best model. Available only in Europe, the Quinny Speedi SX stroller, introduced in 2006, is the only Quinny worth the money you’ll pay for it.

Quinny has taken an interesting tack with its American line. While all the European Quinnys are 3-wheeled, the American version of the Quinny Zapp has four wheels. No doubt Quinny made this decision to address the concerns of parents who found their Quinny strollers to be precariously tippy. Yet, the design of Quinny’s stroller frames really lends itself to three wheels, and it’s sad to see the Quinny’s sleek profile be ruined because of faulty engineering. The Quinny Speedi SX manages to accommodate slick design and stability by using a wider wheel base and lower center of gravity than the other Quinny models. The Quinny Speedi SX has all the hip looks of the Quinny brand without any of its instability. Why spend all that money on a Quinny if it doesn’t look like one?

The Quinny Speedi SX is larger than other Quinny models, but I find this negligible for most US customers. Unlike Europeans who are more likely to be dealing with narrow streets, public transportation, and tiny car trunks, most Americans who can afford a Quinny will have ample room for its larger size. If you live in New York or Chicago, you might do better with a Quinny Buzz, but for the suburbanites, the Quinny Speedi SX is a much smarter choice. Unlike the Buzz and the Zapp, the Quinny Speedi SX has ample storage and can handle just about any terrain you care to push it over. With three air-filled tires, the Quinny Speedi SX is even light and maneuverable enough to use for brisk walks or jogs through the park.

Personally, I want a stroller that can serve me all the time. Quinnys smaller strollers are really meant to be used for travel or as a second stroller. Who wants to pay hundreds of dollars for a second stroller? The Quinny Speedi SX is light enough to take on trips and use when running errands but rugged enough to handle long walks over uneven terrain. It may take some extra effort to get your hands on one, but if you must have a Quinny, the Speedi SX is the way to go.