Travel systems have the carrycot, car seat and toddler seat functionalities (and sometimes with the options of having them forward and rear-racing), but in order to be as light and simple as possible, umbrella strollers usually only have a single forward-facing toddler seat function. There are some on the market that will allow both the forward and rear-facing positions, but they’re not particularly common. 

The seat itself can also be more simple. Lightweight strollers at the higher end of the market may still have padded, comfy seating, but some of the budget versions might not have any padding at all. 

Some brands say their strollers can be used from birth because the seat fully reclines. However, we would advise against using lightweight strollers for babies because their reduced weight and smaller bulk offer less protection for newborns. 

Any decent jogging stroller will have an all wheel suspension system to ensure a smooth ride for your little one over bumpy and uneven terrain. And some models will actually have an adjustable suspension system that allows you to switch from a softer ride for everyday use and a firmer rider for jogging. 

As they’re usually more compact, with smaller frames and less bulk in the seats themselves, umbrella strollers are also the lightest in class. They tend to weigh less than 9kg (20lbs), with the majority weighing less than 6.8kg (15lbs).

If travel systems are more basic than jogging strollers when it comes to wheels and suspension, then lightweight strollers are certainly another level of basic. 

Like travel systems, the vast majority of lightweight strollers sit on four wheels (or four sets of two wheels) made from either plastic or hard rubber. We don’t want to say that you’ll never find a lightweight stroller with air-inflated tyres, but we’re yet to see one. 

Suspension systems are rare but not unheard of, and are generally only found on the more expensive options. 

Like all strollers, umbrella strollers have a foot-operated parking brake close to the back wheels. As you’ve probably guessed by now, you won’t find umbrella strollers with deceleration brakes.

Lightweight strollers are perhaps more likely than any other category of stroller to have two, separate handles instead of one continuous handlebar. You can certainly still find plenty of options with one handlebar, it’s just that you’ll find more two-handlebar strollers here than anywhere else. 

They are also less likely to have adjustable or extending handlebars, but can be found. 

Lightweight strollers use a five-point harness because we’re only dealing with toddler seating positions. It consists of two straps over the shoulder, two around the waist and the single strap between the legs fitting into a central buckle. 

Again, they’re often more basic than other categories. So they might have less padding on the shoulders (and maybe even none at all on the really cheap ones), while the material itself might not be as smooth.