Trendy Compact Strollers: the BabyZen Yoyo, UPPAbaby Minu, and the Baby Jogger City Tour Lux. Which one is right for you?
Posted by Active Baby Canadian Online Baby Store on 2018 Jun 22nd
If you are looking for a trendy new compact stroller, you have several options to choose from, and may be wondering which is right for you. To help you with this decision, we’ll look at three strollers: the BabyZen Yoyo, the UPPAbaby Minu, and the Baby Jogger City Tour Lux.
BabyZen Yoyo
The Babyzen Yoyo is a fantastic, lightweight travel stroller that is able to fold down to an incredibly small size, able to fit into the overhead luggage compartment on a plane. At only 13.6 pounds, it is easily carried and manoeuvred.
Although it is rather compact, this stroller is sturdy and feels solid. It manages to accommodate even taller children with plenty of headroom and has a roomy seat. With an updated suspension, it offers a smooth, comfortable ride, and the newly-reinforced frame supports a child from 6 months up to 40 lbs.
Addressing a concern about the previous addition, the Yoyo now has a basket that is 60% larger, easily accommodating your diaper bag and other essentials. The handlebar is not extendable but does reach a comfortable height of 42” from the ground, which is slightly higher than the average handlebar.
The Yoyo has remarkable manoeuvrability, despite relatively small 5” wheels. It’s narrow enough (17”) to fit anywhere you want to go, whether that be crowded aisles in the store, or zipping between pedestrians on a busy street. The push is light and responsive, even with one hand.
Other features include:
- Canopy. The Yoyo’s canopy is rated at 50+ SPF and has a pop-out sun visor, with a peekaboo window in the back.
- Roomy Seat. The seat is surprisingly roomy and has good padding. It does not recline flat but does recline enough to allow for napping. It features a one-hand recline but requires two hands to raise.
- Adjustable 5-point Harness. Padded and comfortable, the harness has a centre release buckle.
- Durable Wheels. Four 5” hard rubber wheels provide a smooth, comfortable ride, though due to their size, they are better suited to flat terrain. The wheels do not lock, but the Yoyo features a “soft drive” system that responds to the surface and do not actually need the lock.
- All-Wheel Suspension. Thankfully, the Yoyo has good all-wheel suspension to help the smaller wheels deal with bumps.
- Super-Compact Fold. One of the great selling points for the Yoyo is how compact a fold it has, allowing it to fit in an overhead luggage compartment.
The UPPAbaby Minu
The new UPPAbaby Minu has excited a lot of people by combining the compact size of a lightweight stroller with functionality similar to the Vista.
An everyday stroller that is also perfect for travel, the Minu is ideal for city use, with a smooth comfortable ride and the ability to squeeze into small spaces.
Unlike many lightweight strollers, the Minu has features normally found on full-sized strollers. These include a large canopy, all-wheel suspension, a deep recline, and compatibility with infant car seats.
The Minu comes with a padded seat that can be used starting at 3 months, right up to 50 lbs, and is both deep and long. Like the Yoyo, the Minu’s seat does not recline flat, but can easily allow for a comfy napping position. And speaking of naps, the UV sun visor provides plenty of shade to keep the sun from waking baby. 5-point, fully adjustable harness keep baby safe and comfortable at all times.
Some key features:
- Car Seat Compatibility. With a special adapter, you can turn your Minu into a travel system that accommodates the UPPAbaby MESA as well as seats from Maxi-Cosi, Cybex, and Nuna
- Handlebar. Like the Yoyo, the Minu’s handlebar is not adjustable. It sits at 41”, which should be comfortable for most parents, but may be slightly high for a shorter person.
- Suspension. The Minu has rubber wheels, smaller at the front and larger in back. The ride is best suited for city folk, who will use the stroller on sidewalks and in shopping malls.
- Storage. The Minu has a fairly large basket that can hold a surprising 20 lbs and is especially convenient in that it can be accessed from both front and back.
- Weight and Fold. Weighing in at 14.8 lbs, the Minu is a bit heavier than the Yoyo, but is still easy to carry with the included shoulder strap. Lifting it in and out of a trunk, or on the stairs is not difficult. It has a nice, compact fold that can be accomplished with one hand, and it may even meet carry-on regulations for some airlines, though it is best to check the specific airline first.
Baby Jogger City Tour Lux
Baby Jogger City Tour Lux is an updated version of the City Tour, another lightweight stroller. The Lux is still considered a light stroller, though it has a number of features that the older version does not, such as travel system capability, a reversible seat, and the and the ability to be used from birth.
The seat of the Lux has a one-handed recline which lies flatter than either the Yoyo or the Minu, though it still does not flatten out completely, and the leg rest raises and lowers, offering more room for stretching out. It is usable from 3 months to an upper weight of 45 lbs.
The Lux has a nice standing fold and is about as compact as can be expected for a reversible-seat stroller. Of the three models we’re discussing, it is the heaviest at 19 lbs, which is about average for a stroller of this type.
Being able to accommodate a car seat or bassinet is always a welcome feature, and the Lux accommodates most of the popular brands. This makes it a great travel partner.
Other features:
- Large Canopy. The Lux features a large three-panel canopy (SPF 50+) and a two-panel pop-out sun visor. This is a nice size for a lightweight model. It has a mesh viewing window that uses magnets to stay open or closed, which is convenient.
- Handle Bar. As with the models above, the Lux does not have an adjustable handle bar. It is lower than the others, at 38” from the ground, which is lower than average, but still a good height for shorter parents. The rubber handle is perhaps not the most comfortable, but in its favour, it is easier to keep clean.
- 5-Point Harness. Adjustable and padded, with a centre release button.
- Nice Basket. While not terribly large, the basket is a decent size and should hold a large diaper bag comfortably. It is accessible from the rear or the front, depending on the orientation of the seat. It also has a small zippered pocket on the back to hold smaller items.
- Wheels. The Lux has four 5” never-flat wheels. The front wheels swivel, though they can be locked straight. It favours flat surfaces but can handle some mildly rough terrain.
- All-Wheel Suspension. While the suspension helps make a smoother ride, it is worth noting that “Baby Jogger” is the name of the company, and not an indicator that this stroller can be used for jogging.
- One-Hand Fold. The Lux features a convenient, easy-to-use one-hand fold that allows you to hold our little one while folding it.
Each of these strollers offers you durability, functionality, and high quality. You really can’t go wrong with any of them, however there are certain differences that may prove to be appealing to you.
The Yoyo stands out as the lightest, but perhaps you want a stroller that can carry a heavier child, such as the Minu. If you are a shorter person, handlebar height may be an issue, making the Lux a comfortable fit.
Whatever choice you make, you can be secure knowing that your child will enjoy a safe, comfortable ride.
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