Best Strollers Under $250

The Chicco Presto is a lightweight traditional stroller that our testers found easy to maneuver, though it was less responsive on rougher terrain. We especially liked the easy-to-use and adjust 5-point harness, and it was simple to attach a Chicco car seat to create a travel system. (The Presto is compatible with all Chicco infant car seats, no adapter needed.) It has a very easy, one-handed, self-standing fold and folds up super small. The included cupholder can fit your giant water bottle or coffee thermos, too. But the Presto lacks front wheel swivel locks, and although its basket is sizable, there’s no other storage.

The Graco Ready2Jet is a lightweight traditional stroller that, at 13 pounds with a compact fold, is a good choice for travel, too. Although the stroller seat is for babies 6 months and up, your newborn is still covered. Ready2Jet is compatible with all Graco SnugRide car seats with Click Connect, no adapters needed. It has one-touch brakes and a one-handed, self-standing, very compact fold. CR’s expert testers found it smooth and responsive, although it fared less well on rougher terrain. Still, it ranks highly for safety, ease of use, and maneuverability.

The Graco Outpace LX stroller had very good maneuverability in our lab tests, though it didn’t do as well as others in the category when going up and down hills or over grass. But our testers appreciated the many features, including a magnetic harness, a large storage basket, one-handed fold, and easy car seat attachment. The Outpace LX stroller is compatible with Graco SnugRide infant car seats with the Click Connect feature. 

The Baby Trend Passport Switch stroller is a 6-in-1 combination stroller that comes with an infant car seat to create a full travel system. Though our lab testers found this stroller smooth and easy to maneuver, the front swivel wheels don’t lock, which can make navigating a bumpy surface more difficult. It’s also a bit large and cumbersome, which may limit its usefulness if you’re trying to fit it into the trunk of a smaller car. But the seat is reversible and easily converts to a “pramette” to accommodate a newborn. The stroller self-stands when folded, and it includes a large storage compartment and cupholders.

The Chicco Liteway is a compact umbrella stroller that stands out for its safety performance. Our testers also found it pleasingly responsive in maneuverability tests. It’s easy to fold, though it lacks one-hand folding and doesn’t stand when folded, and at 18 pounds, it’s not the lightest of umbrella strollers. The stroller also doesn’t include a height-adjustable handle, which may be inconvenient for some parents. Its basket access is limited; our diaper bag didn’t quite fit. Its seat reclines a little but not all the way, so it’s not suitable for children under 6 months, but it’s a good option if you’re looking for portability.

The Safety 1st Step Lite stroller is a great choice for families looking for a lightweight, compact, easy-to-use model. It performs especially well in our safety tests, and it’s very user-friendly. It’s not the lightest of umbrella strollers, and it doesn’t have one-hand folding, but at just 17 pounds and 20 inches in width, it’s easy to carry and stow. It lacks one-touch brakes and a height-adjustable handle, though, and it’s not suitable for infants under 6 months old.

The UPPAbaby G-Luxe is a lightweight umbrella stroller that scores well in our lab tests for maneuverability, safety, and ease of use. It’s 16 pounds, folds easily (though not one-handed), and includes a carrying strap. Its maneuverability is good. Testers found it responsive for a lightweight stroller, and it has one-touch brakes. The stroller features a small basket and a seatback pocket, though there are no trays for parent or child. Its handle isn’t height-adjustable. Also, while the manufacturer says the stroller can accommodate infants as young as 3 months, we suggest using it only with a child 6 months or older because the seat doesn’t recline flat.

The Graco Verb Click Connect Travel System includes a Graco SnugRide 30 infant car seat, which offers decent performance, though it’s not the most impressive car seat we’ve tested. But it’s lightweight and offers adequate safety and comfort features. Our testers found the Graco Verb stroller’s performance to be very good, with an easy one-handed fold; we also found it particularly easy to attach the car seat to the stroller. The stroller can accommodate a baby under 6 months old without the car seat, providing flexibility for families.

The Baby Trend Passport Switch travel system scores well as a stand-alone stroller, and it offers multiple modes of transportation, making it a flexible option. The stroller is smooth and responsive to maneuver, though it’s also quite long and a bit large. It stands on its own when folded and has decent storage. The included Baby Trend EZ-Lift Plus infant car seat scores moderately well for ease of use and vehicle fit, and offers good crash protection.

The Chicco KeyFit Caddy stroller is a standout, thanks to strong maneuverability and top-notch safety and ease of use, in spite of its small wheels. It’s lightweight—11 pounds—and its folded size is very compact, making it an excellent choice for families on the go. One of its top features is one-handed folding, but it lacks one-touch brakes. It has an adjustable handle and parent cupholders, too. But as with any car seat carrier, once your baby outgrows their infant car seat, you’ll need another stroller. 

The Baby Trend Snap-N-Go EX stroller is a lightweight and compact car seat carrier that’s compatible with multiple brands and models of car seats, without adapters. It boasts a very easy, self-standing fold, though it takes two hands for best results. It also has a large storage basket and a parent tray with a small covered compartment and 2 cupholders. The front swivel wheels don’t lock and are better suited to smooth surfaces, but it’s a well-priced, convenient option.