Most strollers aren’t designed for real life in New York.

We live in Manhattan. We walk everywhere or we take the subway, the bus, elevators, stairs – sometimes all in a single outing. A stroller, for us, isn’t just something we use occasionally. It’s something we rely on multiple times a day, every day.

So from the beginning, we knew one thing mattered more than anything else:

It had to work for how we actually live.

What city life actually demands

We don’t use a car often. When we do, we have a Doona* that’s been incredibly helpful for Ubers and travel. But for daily life, we’re on foot.

That means our stroller needs to:

• navigate crowded sidewalks
• fit into tight elevators
• get onto buses during busy hours
• be carried up and down subway stairs
• live comfortably inside our apartment

We’re lucky to have an elevator building, but that doesn’t mean we avoid lifting it. Between subway stations, construction, and the general unpredictability of the city, we’ve carried our stroller more times than we can count… sometimes with the baby still in it.

A note on the Doona: It’s incredibly useful when traveling with a newborn, but it has a relatively short lifespan. If possible, try to get one secondhand, like we did. Many families are happy to pass along high-cost, short-term items like the Doona or SNOO, sometimes even for free, if you tap into your local network.

What we seriously considered

We looked at four main options:

• Uppababy Vista
• Uppababy Cruz
• Joolz Hub 2
• Joolz Aer
  (+ similar travel strollers like the Bugaboo Butterfly)

Why we didn’t choose Uppababy (Vista / Cruz)

This is the part that felt the clearest to us – even though it may be an unpopular opinion.

They’re incredibly well-made. The wheels are strong, the storage is generous, they adapt to multiple children and they handle uneven terrain better than most. And, almost everyone has one in NYC.

But for our life, they felt like too much.

They’re big. Really big. Heavy. Structurally complex.

On sidewalks, they feel like merchant carts. On stairs, they’re heavy in a way that’s hard to ignore. We once helped a friend carry hers up a single flight to a roof deck and it was exhausting… just the frame alone.

And in a city like New York, size compounds quickly:

• tight restaurants
• crowded buses
• narrow entryways
• small apartments

And day-to-day, they felt less like a helpful tool and more like something that had to be managed.

Why we didn’t go fully travel-sized (Joolz Aer / Butterfly / Yoyo)

We strongly considered going even smaller than a compact.

The Joolz Aer+ especially is a great stroller – and we actually own one now for travel.

But as an everyday stroller, it felt like a compromise:

• front facing only (not ideal for very small babies)
• smaller wheels
• seat recline mechanism felt less intuitive
• smaller basket

It’s incredible for airports and trips. But we wanted something that could handle daily life more comfortably.

Why the Joolz Hub 2 made the most sense

The Hub 2 sat right in the middle.

Compact – but not minimal.
Light – but still substantial.
Designed – but still practical.

It checked everything we actually needed:

• small footprint (in our home and in the city)
• smooth, one-handed push
• easy to carry when needed
• bassinet attachment
• reversible seat
• enough storage without encouraging overpacking

And importantly – it feels good to use… and we love how it looks! (I’m looking at you Forest Green)

What it’s like in real life

This is where the difference really shows up.

We can:

• get on a bus without thinking twice
• carry it up subway stairs when needed
• fit into tight elevators
• sit at small restaurants without rearranging the entire room
• park it in our apartment without it taking over

Tech specs:

• Folded dimensions: 26.18H × 20.67W × 11.50D inches
• Weight: 19.6 lbs
• Storage basket capacity: up to 22 lbs
• Suspension: 4-wheel suspension for smoother rides
• Leg rest: adjustable (3 positions)
• Seat: forward or rear-facing. (Removeable padded liner for extra-airflow on warm days.)
• Canopy: extendable, cocoon-like coverage with multiple positions
• Warranty: 10-year transferable warranty

It’s a thoughtful balance of compact and lightweight, but still substantial enough to feel durable and well-designed. Our daughter genuinely seems happy in it, whether she’s sitting up taking everything in or falling asleep mid-walk. Also works well with the 7AM Enfant winter footmuff.

The trade-offs (because there are always trade-offs)

Compared to larger strollers:

• it doesn’t handle rough terrain as well
• the basket is smaller
• it will not expand / adapt to support a growing family

Compared to travel strollers:

• slightly heavier
• fold is less intuitive
• overall less compact

But for us, that balance is exactly what we wanted.

If you’re deciding

Here’s the simplest way to think about it:

• If you mostly walk, use public transportation, and live in a city → compact matters more than capacity
• If you drive often, carry a lot, or spend time on rough terrain → a larger stroller might make more sense
• If you travel constantly → a true travel stroller is worth it

For us, the compact middle ground was the right call. And while new strollers will always come along, what matters most doesn’t really change – choosing something that fits how you actually live.

And, If You’re in NYC

If you’re deciding between strollers, go try them in person – it makes a huge difference.

We spent time at:

• Albee Baby
• Bambi Baby
• Nordstrom

Don’t just push them around a showroom! Pick them up, fold them, imagine getting them onto a bus or into your apartment. You’ll know pretty quickly what feels right.