As one of the last people in my immediate friend group to get pregnant, I had the advantage of hearing alllll the baby gear recommendations. One suggestion that continuously came up was the UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stroller, which many moms seem to passionately support. After doing some research, this is indeed the stroller we ended up going with.
The Good
Cosmetic options
Listen, I know this might sound stupid to some, but I’m planning on buying one stroller in my lifetime. That’s a whoooolle lot of years to have one item, so I’m not ashamed to say that I want it to be aesthetically pleasing. At the time of my writing this, UPPAbaby’s website has the Vista v2 available in nine (!!!) different colors, including a tenth cute little limited edition, patterned number. Not only are the colors of the fabric different, but you also have the option of getting the stroller frame itself in either silver or carbon, which is a beautiful dark black.
The bells and whistles aka all the features
The stroller comes with a bassinet attachment (birth to 20 pounds) AND a full size toddler car seat (3 months to 50 pounds). The extra bassinet really came in handy with our extremely colicky baby, who could never be more than 4 feet from us throughout the day and night without screaming bloody murder. Though it is possible to put the bassinet in the stroller, we opted to use the car seat for strolls. Being able to quickly switch from the car to the stroller simply by picking up the car seat and clicking it into the stroller is SUCH a gamechanger.
And while some strollers have dingy little baskets that wouldn’t even hold a water bottle, the UPPAbaby stroller basket is HUGE. We can easily fit a diaper bag, blankets, sweatshirts, water bottles, etc etc etc in there.
Some other great features? Adjustable handlebars, which is great to accommodate both short and tall parents, as well as wheels that easily lock, a stroller that stands up when folded, and the ability to recline or adjust your baby’s position with just one hand.
How smooth it feels to push this bad boy around
I’ve never been closer to having a breakdown than the day we borrowed a friend’s stroller to walk around the zoo, only for me to discover that the stroller would only go one way: Forward. Turning, pivoting, doing any kind of move that the zoo requires was not an option. This is why I really appreciate how smooth it feels to push the UPPAbaby. It turns, pivots, and weaves in and out of places like a dream. While I didn’t think this would be a huge deal for me, trust me when I say that it is.
You can fit your whole family in this stroller for years to come
Though I’ve never personally tried it, UPPAbaby claims that the stroller can be configured to accommodate three children, which sounds like a pretty sweet deal because – like I said – one stroller in my lifetime. While I’ve never seen this done with three, I have seen two children in there and it truly does look quite comfortable. I’m all about practicality, and having a stroller that can grow with your family is key.
If I could use one word to describe this stroller, it would be sturdy
We recently traveled to the east coast and gate checked this stroller (and forgot to put it in a bag, woops). As we all know, gate check attendants are not the most graceful of people (I get it, ain’t nobody got time), and I was fully expecting this thing to be destroyed. The frame is so sturdy that we arrived to our destination to find just a few scratches on it. Wheels, basket, handles, and all else perfectly intact and untouched. Not bad!
As a side note, if you are traveling, this car seat cover is amazing, and you even have the option to get a matching stroller cover.
One word: Accessories!
Unlike other strollers I researched, UPPAbaby has thought of an accessory for every single one of your needs. Not enough shade for the car seat? There’s an infant car seat shield for that. Want to put your baby in the toddler seat but they’re too small or weigh too little? Get the Infant Snug Seat. They have backpacks, bassinet stands, and – my personal favorite – a PiggyBack Ride Along Board so none of your kids feel left out.
Another amazing feature that I love? There are tons of UPPAbaby products that can be purchased on Amazon. Many brands have a presence on Amazon, but selection is often limited. While this is true for UPPAbaby’s strollers (you might not be able to find the color choices you want on Amazon), there are still a wide variety of the basics available. We’re talking strollers in the Jake (black), the Alice (a dusty rose), the Gwen (green), and countless other options. They also have the Mesa Infant Car Seat and the Mesa Car Seat Base, which delivered very quickly for us.
You’ve also got tons of accessories to choose from, like the Carry-All Parent Organizer, cup holders, a stroller travel bag, and the UPPAbaby Bassinet Mattress Cover (just to name a few).
While you’ll likely face a more limited selection in terms of colors if you go the Amazon route, you know your stroller and/or accessories will deliver in lightening speed. We feel confident that if we ever need a last minute accessory, it will be available, arrive quickly, and be in great condition.
The Bad
Price
This stroller is often referred to as “bougie” or “expensive.” It’s easy to see why, as most variations of this stroller are a whopping $999.99, with the limited edition option going for $1,349.99. I personally wasn’t interested in spending this much on a stroller, however if you put this on your registry, you just might get lucky and get it as a gift!
RIP to your fingers
I don’t know much about stroller design, but I do know that my fingers have gotten squished and pinched more times than not when folding / unfolding this stroller. I think it’s where the latches are placed, but regardless my poor digits are not happy when it comes time to mobilize this thing.
On the go? “Some assembly required”
One of the disadvantages of this vs other strollers is how “grab and go” it is – or rather, is not. While some other strollers can be folded and unfolded with one hand or simply pop open and are ready to use, the Vista v2 stroller is not that.
Both the bassinet attachments and the toddler seat are a bit clunky to pack and carry, and you’ll have to do some (very quick) assembly when you arrive at your destination. This usually involves unfolding the stroller frame and then popping in the appropriate seat (bassinet, car seat, or toddler seat.) This is inconvenient if you’re parked in a busy place or are in a hurry to go home. The only way to really avoid this is to pop the infant car seat out of the car and into the stroller, but at some point your baby will be too big for this to be possible!
I won’t sugar coat it – this thing feels HEAVY.
I do feel some envy when I see other moms who are able to get their stroller into the car with one hand or press one button and have the whole thing easily collapse. While the stroller frame itself isn’t too bad, the Mesa Infant Car Seat is honestly very heavy, and clicking it into and out of the stroller can be a challenge. For reference, the UPPAbaby website states for the following:
- Frame + Seat: 27 lbs
- Frame: 20 lbs
- Seat: 7 lbs
- Bassinet: 8.8 lbs
- Unfolded: 36″ L x 25.7″ W x 39.5″ H
- Folded with seat attached: 17.3″ L x 25.7″ W x 33.3″ H
- Folded without seat attached: 13″ L x 25.7″ W x 32″ H
I guess you be the judge of that, but as someone with no upper body strength (yet), the responsibility of carrying around this clunky thing often falls to my husband.
The car seat shade doesn’t provide much shade
This one is small, but if it’s your preferred mode of transportation when your baby is still small, you will likely have to get the infant car seat shield. This one isn’t really a big deal and doesn’t bother me, but just something to note if you live in a warm or sunny climate!
Overall, I would highly recommend the UPPAbaby Vista v2 stroller to anyone who asks, and would probably buy it again if I had the opportunity.
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