Pros
• Super easy to set up and use
• Three recline positions
• Extended sun canopy
• Stands on its own when folded

Cons
• Can be tricky to collapse in a hurry
• Though washable, difficult to get clean

Bottom Line
The UPPAbaby G-Luxe is a lightweight umbrella stroller with a recline feature that allows for much-needed naptime on the go. The essential conveniences and smooth ride make this the perfect pick for the young toddler just graduating from that bulky first stroller.

Rating: 4.5 stars

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Features

Once baby starts crawling and then walking, it’s time to graduate from the tank of a stroller you once hauled everywhere—along with every newborn amenity like head bumper, bassinet, multiple cup holders and activity bars—and switch to something a bit lighter and more practical. Enter the umbrella stroller.

When it came time to buy one for my daughter, I had two priorities in mind: weight and comfort. What’s the point of an umbrella stroller that isn’t light enough to toss into an Uber? And if your child hates riding in it, then you’re doomed to battle baby’s super-human planking abilities in your home, a restaurant or on the street. It can get ugly.

I’m pretty sure the UPPAbaby G-Luxe is one of the few umbrella strollers that offers a three-point reclining feature. And after talking with fellow city moms, I soon realized that this should be priority no. 3, which narrowed the field of options quite a bit. I mention this because it was absolutely clutch that my daughter be able to take a nap in this stroller if we were out for a walk, traveling or just away from home at the exact time she decides to change up the schedule and unexpectedly snooze.

I also decided on the G-Luxe because it weighs only 15 pounds total (that includes the frame, seat, canopy, cup holder and basket) and comes with other useful features, like an adjustable footrest, extendable sunshade that’s SPF 50+, one-step brake and convenient carrying strap. Even though it’s pretty light, it’s actually on the heavier side for umbrella strollers—there are other brands weighing in at 8, 10 or 12 pounds but they generally aren’t loaded up with as many excellent features like the G-Luxe.

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The stroller is very quick to assemble out of the box—just snap in the front wheels, clip on the canopy and you’re ready to go—no hassle, no fuss. As my husband said after putting it together, “Well, that must be just about the easiest thing ever!” The instructions are clear and short, which made us extremely happy too—there’s nothing more terrifying than opening up a box to find an instruction booklet the length of War and Peace.

Performance

I’ve been using the G-Luxe for about four months now and overall I’ve been completely satisfied with this purchase. I will say, in the spirit of full disclosure, the first G-Luxe I bought was defective—the backseat wouldn’t stay locked in place and randomly reclined on its own very suddenly. But I contacted UPPAbaby customer service and they replaced the stroller quickly and professionally, so I have nothing but the highest of praise for the company.

During the hot summer months, I was thankful to have an alternative to our heavier Bugaboo Chameleon. The G-Luxe allows us to get in and out pretty quickly, without breaking too much of a sweat. The stroller expands by pressing on a foot lever, although a bit of muscle needs to be applied. Most of the other features are fairly intuitive: The footrest adjusts with ease and the backseat reclines into each of the three positions with one click. The extendable sun canopy is also key during the summer, though it’s so easy to use that my daughter has a little too much fun pulling it up and down.

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The stroller has great maneuverability through busy city streets, and though the ride isn’t as smooth as a larger stroller with shock-absorbing wheels, it’s not as rickety as one might expect from a lightweight model.

The only small struggle I have is when I need to collapse the stroller in a hurry because it’s a two-handed job. You have to push down on a small safety button on the side of the right handle, then simultaneously pull on two rings on each handle to break it down. It takes practice to get the hang of the timing. Once it’s collapsed though, it easily clicks into a locked position and can then stand up on its own, which, quite frankly, is pretty essential for public transportation, restaurants and small apartments.

Design

The UPPAbaby G-Luxe comes in eight colors (black, marine blue, purple, orange, jade, red, gray and marigold, which is a limited edition), and the canopy comes in a variety of colors too, depending on the model. Mine is teal, which they discontinued, but I love the contrasting silver canopy it comes with.

The G-Luxe fabrics and seat pad are all removable and machine washable. Though it’s a bit tricky at first to undo all the snaps and straps, once you get the hang of it, it’s not as tough as you might think. Unfortunately, the fabric doesn’t clean easily—I’ve heard a few moms complain about this—so despite my best efforts, the stains on the seat are likely there to stay. Reattaching everything is a bit of a process, so I can’t imagine any mom washing the fabric with much frequency. I would suggest black if staining bothers you. (Weirdly enough, black costs $20 more than most of the other colors.)

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Summary

Despite a few minor glitches here and there, the UPPAbaby G-Luxe packs a lot of punch and incorporates as many essential conveniences and amenities as possible in just 15 pounds. The stroller is durable, portable, storable and comfortable. Sure, it gets dirty, but when it comes to babies, that shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

I’ve seen swarms of G-Luxe strollers in my Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood—at the playground there’s a significant risk of walking off with someone else’s identical stroller! I’d like to think that popularity counts for something, especially when it comes to our children and their safety and comfort. It’s not about brands and labels, it’s about agility and convenience, and what gives you peace of mind as baby all too quickly starts growing up and out of your arms. What you need is nothing holding you back as you try your best to keep up, and the UPPAbaby G-Luxe will help you do just that.

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