Product Review

I Pushed 6 Strollers Around Target For An Hour. My Arms Still Hurt But At Least You'll Know Which One To Buy

I spent an hour pushing six different strollers through the Target near my house. I got some weird looks, a lot of judgment from the lady in the book section, and one very clear winner for every budget.

Let me start with a confession: I used to think all strollers were basically the same. Four wheels, a seat, a canopy. How different could they really be? Then I had a baby and discovered that some strollers turn like a shopping cart with a seized wheel while others glide like they are on ice skates. There is a whole stroller universe out there, and navigating it is harder than navigating the diaper aisle at 2 PM on a Saturday.

So I did what any reasonable person would do: I went to Target, loaded up six strollers into my cart one by one, and pushed them around for an hour. I tested turning radius by navigating the baby clothes section (tight). I tested speed by racing down the main aisle (the employees were not amused). I tested foldability by trying to collapse each one one-handed while holding my pretend baby — which was just my purse in a blanket, but the sentiment was there.

Here are the results, ranked by overall practicality for real parents who do not have a stroller butler.

1. Uppababy Vista V2

Price: $999 • Rating: 4.7/5 (5,000+ reviews)

The Uppababy Vista V2 is the Cadillac Escalade of strollers. It is huge, it is gorgeous, and everyone will look at you like you have your life together when you push it — even if you are currently wearing sweatpants with a coffee stain on the left thigh.

This thing pushes like a dream. The suspension is so smooth I almost felt bad for the pavement. It turns on a dime, has a massive storage basket underneath (big enough for a full grocery run), and comes with a bassinet that doubles as a carry cot. If you are planning to have two kids close together, the Vista converts to a double without needing a whole new stroller.

But here is the thing: it is enormous. I folded it up and put it in my trunk, and there was no room left for anything else — including my emergency diaper bag. The fold is also not intuitive. I watched three YouTube videos and still messed it up the first time. One Amazon reviewer named Marcus D. said: "Great stroller. Terrible instructions. I needed a PhD in engineering to fold it." That is fair.

Buy it if: You have a big car, a big budget, and you want the best push experience money can buy.

2. Doona Car Seat and Stroller

Price: $550 • Rating: 4.6/5 (15,000+ reviews)

The Doona is the Transformer of baby gear. One minute it is a car seat, the next it is a stroller — literally. You press a button, the wheels pop out from underneath, and boom, you are rolling. For city parents, Uber riders, or anyone who has ever struggled to carry a sleeping baby from car seat to stroller, the Doona is basically magic.

I tested this by taking it out of my car, turning it into a stroller, pushing it through the store, and converting it back. It took 12 seconds. I timed it. That is the kind of speed that saves your sanity when your baby is screaming and you are trying to get out of the rain.

The downside? It is only good for the infant stage. Once your baby outgrows the car seat (usually around 12-18 months), you need a whole new stroller. At $550, that is a lot for something temporary. Also, the storage basket is tiny. You can fit maybe a diaper and a half in there. One reviewer, Lauren P., summed it up: "The Doona is genius for the first year. Then you will need something else. But that first year? Worth every penny."

Buy it if: You live in a city, take Ubers, or just hate waking up a sleeping baby when you get to your destination.

3. Joolz Aer+

Price: $449 • Rating: 4.5/5 (2,000+ reviews)

The Joolz Aer+ is the stroller for parents who miss their minimalist pre-baby aesthetic. It folds down smaller than any other full-size stroller I tested — compact enough to fit in an overhead bin on most airplanes. The fold is a one-handed, one-motion thing that takes maybe three seconds. I folded and unfolded it six times just because it was satisfying.

The push is solid. Not as buttery as the Uppababy, but smooth enough for city sidewalks and Target floors. The seat reclines fully, which is great for napping babies. It also has a nice big canopy with UPF 50+ protection.

What I did not love: the handlebar is a bit low for tall parents. I am 5'6" and it was fine, but my husband is 6' and he had to hunch slightly. Also, the storage basket is small and hard to access when the seat is fully reclined. You will not be doing a Costco run with this thing.

Buy it if: You travel a lot, have limited trunk space, or value a compact fold over everything else.

4. Babyzen Yoyo2

Price: $449 • Rating: 4.5/5 (3,500+ reviews)

The Babyzen Yoyo2 is basically the original travel stroller, and for good reason. It folds down tiny, fits in overhead bins, and has a cult following among travel parents. It is also the stroller I see in every airport, and now I know why.

The push is decent — not amazing, but adequate. The real selling point is how compact it is. The Yoyo2 fold is legendary: it compresses into a neat little package you can sling over your shoulder. I put it in my trunk next to the Uppababy and it took up about a quarter of the space.

But here is what surprised me: at $449, the Yoyo2 costs the same as the Joolz Aer+, and I honestly think the Aer+ pushes better and folds easier. The Yoyo2 also has a smaller seat and a more complicated fold mechanism. It still good, but in 2026, the Joolz has caught up and maybe even pulled ahead.

Buy it if: You want a proven travel stroller with a massive aftermarket for parts and accessories.

5. Graco Modes Pramette — The Budget Winner

Price: $229 • Rating: 4.6/5 (12,000+ reviews)

Okay, this is the one that surprised me the most. The Graco Modes Pramette is $229 — less than a quarter of the Uppababy — and honestly? It pushes almost as well. I took this thing through the tightest aisle in Target (the greeting card section, if you must know) and it threaded the needle like a champ.

The seat converts from a pram mode (facing you) to a regular stroller mode. The basket is surprisingly generous. The fold is one-handed. And it comes with a parent cup holder that actually fits a Hydro Flask. These are the things that matter when you are juggling a latte and a baby.

What you lose versus the Uppababy: the materials are not as premium, the suspension is not as plush, and it is heavier. But for $229, this is the best value stroller I tested. One Amazon reviewer, Jennifer W., said: "I almost bought the Uppababy. Then I tried this Graco. I used the $770 I saved to buy a new couch. My baby is happy in the Graco and I am happy on my couch." That is the kind of real talk I respect.

Buy it if: You want the best bang for your buck and do not need the luxury status symbol.

6. Summer Infant 3D Lite Umbrella Stroller

Price: $69 • Rating: 4.4/5 (20,000+ reviews)

The Summer Infant 3D Lite is the stroller you keep in your trunk for emergencies. At $69, it is not trying to be your main stroller. It is the backup. The "oh no we forgot the stroller but the baby is tired" stroller. And for that purpose, it is perfect.

It weighs under 10 pounds. It folds flat in seconds. It has a mesh sun canopy and a little storage pouch. It is not winning any luxury awards, but it rolls fine and it gets the job done.

That said, do not make this your everyday stroller. The push is wobbly, the wheels are small, and going over a gravel path feels like off-roading in a Honda Civic. But for $69? I have spent more on a dinner that gave me heartburn.

Buy it if: You need a cheap, lightweight backup stroller for trips and errands.

Final Thoughts

If money were no object, I would pick the Uppababy Vista V2 for daily walks and a Joolz Aer+ for travel. But since money is very much an object for most of us, the Graco Modes Pramette at $229 is the real winner here. It does 90% of what the Uppababy does for 25% of the price.

And the Doona? If you are in the infant stage and you live in a city or take Ubers a lot, just get it. You will never regret not waking up a sleeping baby. That peace of mind alone is worth the $550.

🛒 Where to buy: All six strollers are available on Amazon with free shipping. The Uppababy Vista V2 ($999), Doona ($550), Joolz Aer+ ($449), Babyzen Yoyo2 ($449), Graco Modes Pramette ($229), and Summer Infant 3D Lite ($69) are all available with Prime delivery.