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Have you ever spent hours and hours researching something you think you must buy urgently….and then end up not buying it? It’s something that I’ve done a lot since I’ve had a kid. Usually, it goes like this: I think I must by X to solve X problem, only to research it to death and, by the time I’m done researching, the problem has gone away or I’ve found a substitute solution.
That’s what happened with my search for an umbrella stroller that could be both rear and forward facing (i.e. parent-facing or forward facing). A reversible umbrella stroller.
I convinced myself I needed an umbrella stroller for getting through the airport on our first transatlantic flight. But, since my daughter was only 5 months old at the time, I really wanted one with a reversible, or parent facing, seat: she can face me when she’s little and outwards when she gets older. Thus, began my hunt for this umbrella stroller. Oh, and I wanted to be able to use a coupon I had, I wanted to avoid horrendous shipping costs and kind of hoped it wouldn’t be terribly ugly… lots of criteria, lots of reading, and then I never made the purchase.
As I mentioned in this post, I realized that I didn’t need an umbrella stroller in the airport (I could take my full-sized one right to the gate). I was also unsure of how a small stroller would handle the cobblestones and uneven streets of Europe, so I decided it would be better to travel with our full-sized stroller and I have not regretted it.
So, why share a list of a bunch of strollers I’ve never used? Well, I’m hoping the time spent looking into these strollers could be of use to someone else. Also, now that I’ve seen how full our trunk can get when we travel, I’m reconsidering getting one just to save some space! I would still love to have the parent-facing / reversible option, which could be handy depending on the weather conditions or just the mood of my little one.
For any Canadians, I’ve given links to where you can buy the strollers in the US and Canada. (My fellow Canadians know how annoying it is to find the product you’re looking for only to find it not available in Canada, and steep duties and shipping costs if try to purchase it.)
I hope this list is helpful! (Prices are approximate based on what they were selling for at the time of writing this post.)
Parent Facing / Reversible Umbrella Strollers
Summer Infant 3D Flip
$150 CAD / $75-123 USD (red colour is the cheapest in the US)
This one is available on Amazon.ca and at Babies R Us and Walmart in Canada and Amazon in the US. Babies R Us had a sale when I was looking at strollers so I was seriously considering this one. The Summer Infant umbrella strollers have fairly good reviews, though I find the side panels a bit funny looking.
Evenflo Reversi Light Weight Reversible Stroller (Formerly the Urbini Reversi Stroller)
$139 CAD / $44-80 US
This was the most affordable reversible stroller I found and available at both the Canadian and US Walmart. Curiously, I couldn’t find it on Amazon. The US Walmart website has many more pictures and customer reviews than the Canadian site (mostly positive reviews, but some complaints about the wheels).
Cybex Eezy S Twist Stroller
$428-$650 CAD / $300 USD
This reversible umbrella stroller from Cybex looks very sleek. It has a cool mechanism that allows the seat to rotate from forward to parent facing, looks like it has a decent sized basket and a bar handle (which I prefer over two separate handles, my assumption is this makes it easier to steer one-handed). If you’re Canadian though, the price is scary! It’s available from Babies R Us for $650CAD and, more reasonably, on Amazon for $428CAD. in Canada. Comparatively, in the US it looks like a steal at $299USD! Available on Amazon.
Quinny Zapp Xtra
$350-$450 CAD / $130 USD
Though this is an expensive stroller, I thought long and hard about getting it as I found quite a few being sold secondhand. The footprint of the stroller looks smaller than the other options and the wheels sturdier. If you’re also thinking of buying secondhand, watch out: I think a previous version of the stroller (‘Quinny Zapp’) did not have the reversible seat feature. For new strollers, I could only find Quinny strollers available by some obscure retailers, so I’d recommend you do your own search, maybe you’ll find somewhere local selling them.
Quinny Zapp Flex Plus
$425 CAD / $230 USD
The Quinny Zapp Flex Plus is new since I last did my searching for a stroller. It looks like a sleeker version of the Zapp Xtra and it’s nice to see that there’s a full handlebar. The price is still steep, though, with the large wheels I wonder if this could substitute a full-sized stroller for everyday use? Something to consider! I could only find Quinny strollers available by some obscure retailers, so I’d recommend you do your own search, maybe you’ll find somewhere local selling them. Given the steep price, I’ll be hoping to find one secondhand in a year’s time!
StrollAir ReVu- No longer being sold
$200-280 CAD / $180-216 USD
When I was doing my initial search for strollers, the StrollAir Revu was being sold. I prefer the look of this stroller (particularly the heather grey – so nice!) compared to the 3D flip, but I saw them side-by-side in a Walmart and I thought the Summer Infant wheels looked a bit sturdier, though I haven’t tried either. It seems like this brand is no longer being sold, but I’m keeping it here because you might be able to find one secondhand locally.
THANK YOU for writing this! I have also been doing a lot of research on products that I never buy since having a baby! HA! I even keep spreadsheets on them. 🙂 I ended up purchasing the Summer Infant stroller, but I’m considering returning it since I don’t like how it looks. I know, I know… I’m so vain. 😉
You’re welcome, so glad you enjoyed it! I totally understand what you mean about the Summer Infant. I heard good things about the quality, but I just dont know how I feel about those side panels…you want to enjoy the look of something you’re going to push around for years to come 🙂
Can you tell ne which full size stroller you use? I’m currently on the hunt for a rear facing stroller that I can use for almost everything… shopping, park, walking around town. I was looking at the Uppababy Cruz, but have read that the wheels aren’t that great. The Vista, on the other hand, seems like more stroller than I need/want for a 6 month old baby.
I use a Baby Jogger City Versa stroller for everyday. It’s now discontinued but the City Select and City Premier look like they both have the reversible seat feature. I love that I can make it parent or forward facing depending on the wind, sun, or my daughter’s mood – such an essential feature! Good luck with your hunt, I hope you find one you love!