It's sort of a Holy Grail for parents: A lightweight yet full-size stroller that can work from birth through preschool. Colugo, which started as a strictly direct-to-consumer brand, aims for The One Stroller to be just that: At 16 pounds, you can lift it up and throw it in your trunk easily, yet it's age-graded from birth until your child reaches 55 pounds.
We're also huge fans of The Compact Stroller from Colugo. That model is the same weight, 16 pounds, but folds down to be even smaller, and includes a carry strap. It's for babies and toddlers from 6 months and up and won one of our Parenting Awards, is on our list of the Best Lightweight Strollers for Travel and made our list of the overall Best Strollers as well. So let's get to it!
The One Stroller from Colugo
First we'll cover The One Stroller. Most full-size strollers are hefty, weighing 20 pounds or more and taking up a good amount of real estate in your home or trunk. For instance, one of our faves, the UppaBaby Vista, weighs 27 pounds and is about three feet long, two feet wide and about 40 inches high. The One Stroller, by comparison, is 11 pounds lighter, 4 inches shorter and 6 inches more narrow that the Vista, but actually a smidge taller. (Not to mention less than half the price.) It's not a space hog but it's easy to push, even for tall parents. You say "excuse me!" a lot less when navigating a Colugo down narrow store aisles compared to pushing one of the big full-size strollers.
The wheels on The One Stroller are puncture-proof but not large. Their small size contributes to it being easy to store. But it's a double-edged sword because big wheels, whether they be the large ones on the Vista or giant tires on a jogging stroller, deliver a smoother stroll. "The One Stroller is good for a trip over level ground," a parent told us. "But it's not great if there are uneven sidewalks, and pushing it over a dirt path with some tree roots was not so fun." Message received: The One Stroller is not all-terrain, though it does have a springy suspension to help your baby not feel those bumps. It's great for your standard errand running, strolls to daycare and playground outings.
Pros
- Relatively lightweight, full-size stroller
- Seat reclines fully to work from birth
- Fast, one-handed fold and stands upright while folded
- Springy suspension for the wheels
- Parent assists like a magnetic buckle and rain cover
- Kid comforts like a memory-foam seat and bumper bar
Cons
- Tires are not all-terrain; this is a city stroller
- Car seat adaptor built in, but it does not work with all models
| Stroller weight | 16 lbs |
|---|---|
| Age grading | Birth to 55 lbs |
| Car seat compatibility | Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, Clek, Cybex |
| Basket weight limit | 20 lbs |
| Unfolded size | 32'' x 19'' x 41" |
| Folded size | 10'' x 19'' x 24'' |
| Stroller bag included | No |
| Rain cover included | Yes |
We like that you can use The One Stroller from birth. For that to be true, a stroller seat has to fold back flat or nearly flat, and this one does. If it looks comically large for your 10-pound infant you can sit an infant car seat on top and have your baby ride in that. Colugo has a car seat adaptor built in, but it only works with four infant car-seat brands and they're all a bit high-end: Nuna, Maxi-Cosi, Cybex and Clek. You don't need to remove the stroller seat; you just flip out the adaptors and one of those car seats can slide on.
For ease of use, we like everything about Colugo's original model. The fold is fast and can be accomplished with one hand while you hold your baby in the other. It has "fold assist" which means once you unlock it, it bends itself toward the ground for you. (See our section on how you fold and unfold any Colugo stroller, below.)
The basket isn't the biggest since this is a deliberately streamlined silhouette but it can hold up to 20 pounds. (The Vista, by comparison, holds 30 pounds.) There's a zippered storage pocket on the back of the seat and a cupholder. The cushion is machine-washable memory foam (wash on cold, air dry). Finally, it's nice when a stroller comes with its own rain cover, as this one does. Magnetic buckles help you get your child in and out fast, and there's a bumper bar which you can use to attach an infant toy.
The Compact Stroller from Colugo
Our own Lab parents, our tester parents and our friends all seem to go on the same trajectory of wanting a big, sturdy stroller for their newborn but then desiring something small and lightweight by their baby's first birthday. The One Stroller, above, was meant to solve that. But even Colugo found that parents of toddlers wanted something even smaller, and so the brand launched The Compact Stroller. It's in the category of "umbrella strollers" to reflect the fact that it folds so small, it's easy to carry, like an umbrella.
Colugo The Compact Stroller
Pros
- Same easy fold but folds extra-small
- Also stands upright when folded
- Has a carry strap and stroller bag for travel
- Magnetic buckle, rain cover included
- Memory-foam cushion (but no bumper bar)
- Available in 7 color choices
Cons
- Does not fit a car seat
- Not for infants without a separate kit
- Basket holds half as much as The One Stroller
| Stroller weight | 16 lbs |
|---|---|
| Age grading | 6 months to 55 pounds |
| Car seat compatibility | None |
| Basket weight limit | 10 lbs |
| Unfolded size | 26" x 17" x 41" |
| Folded size | 24" x 17" x 10" |
| Stroller bag included | Yes |
| Rain cover included | Yes |
The first thing you'll notice is that The Compact Stroller costs less than the original model, and it's available in more colors (seven versus five). While it is the same weight, 16 pounds, it's got a smaller frame and folds down to a tinier size. This one is made for toting on trips: It comes with a stroller bag that can be worn like a backpack, and the stroller itself has a carry strap you can wear on your shoulder.
We named it the Best Travel Stroller for Flying because of the many ways you can get it to your destination (folded in the overhead bin, gate-checked in its bag). If you're going to Disney World, consider this a good investment because it's easy to sling over your shoulder and board a Disney bus while carrying your baby or holding your toddler's hand. It's perfect for an airport or amusement park but, like The One Stroller, it's not for a trail. "It definitely does not work well on uneven terrain," a tester said. "This is great for flat, even surfaces and shopping."
There's no bumper bar on The Compact Stroller like there is on The One Stroller, and the basket can only hold half as much weight. But both models come with a rain cover. Like the larger model, The Compact Stroller also has the assisted fold. Also like the original, this has a machine-washable seat cover and a cupholder. The seat on this one does not recline flat, so it's not for use for newborns, though you can buy an infant kit, sold separately for $95. It also cannot hold an infant car seat. But it is appropriate for children 6 months and older.
"They went above and beyond with textile quality," a tester wrote in their review. "Even the handlebar was made and covered thoughtfully. I loved that this was small for carrying and the magnetic harness was fun to use. This is the perfect stroller for travel." Another tester agreed, writing, "If you are looking for a compact travel stroller, this is exactly what you want."
In summary: The difference between the two Colugo strollers
Both models weigh 16 pounds, both have the assisted-fold feature and both have machine-washable memory-foam seat pads, magnetic buckles and a cupholder. They also both have a 55 pound weight limit, which is about the size of a 5-year-old.
The One Stroller:
• Works from birth and can hold a car seat
• Features a bumper bar
• Is the one with more robust suspension
• Has a basket that holds 20 pounds
• Is the pricier of the two
The Compact Stroller:
• Is for ages 6 months and up (unless you buy the infant kit) and doesn't hold a car seat
• Features a carry strap and travel bag
• Is the one that folds small enough to fit in a plane's overhead bin
• Has a basket that holds 10 pounds
• Is the less expensive of the two
How to fold and unfold a Colugo stroller and use the magnetic buckle
You're best off watching the 14-second video on the Colugo.com homepage or watching the brand's YouTube video to see the Colugo fold in motion and to best understand how it only takes a few seconds. To start the fold, be sure the front wheels are in the swivel mode (not locked straight) and that you've stepped on the stroller brake. Then you press a small button and squeeze a large one — both on the handle and close together, so you can do both with the same hand simultaneously — to activate the stroller folding down with the help of gravity.
Giving it a little push forward helps, too, and when it's locked you'll hear a click. "This takes a couple of times to get used to and then feels really seamless," said a tester mom. "It was easy for the grandparents too."
That click means a lock engaged. Unfolding requires you to bend over and unlock the stroller. Then you can grab the handle and shake the stroller into its upright, unfolded position. "At first I struggled to unlatch the seat lock but once I figured it out it was easy," a parent told us.
Speaking of, if the magnetic buckle on a Colugo stroller is confusing to you at first, there's also a YouTube explainer for the buckle. "The harness is not the most intuitive. I'd say I got the hang of it by the sixth try," a tester told us. "The two top pieces join with a magnetic force, then snap from behind into the main buckle. All baby gear becomes easy enough once you know how it works." We agree!
How does Colugo compare to other brands?
The One Stroller is probably most comparable to the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 travel stroller, also good from infancy. The Baby Jogger is cheaper and a few pounds lighter, and if you buy the car-seat adaptor, sold separately for $50, it can hold the popular Graco infant car seat. It, too, is easy to fold, and it comes with a stroller bag. But that full-size Baby Jogger is larger and without the rain cover, magnetic buckles, fold assist and robust basket of Colugo's full-size model.
Parents compare Colugo's The Compact Stroller to the Babyzen YoYo2, also on our list of best lightweight strollers and also featuring a carry strap and travel bag. The YoYo2 is a comparable size and few pounds lighter, but it's more expensive. For either the YoYo2 or The Compact Stroller you can pay more for an infant pack to make the stroller work from birth. Neither can hold a car seat. We mostly recommend the YoYo2 for city parents who have to carry a stroller up and down steps, when every pound counts.
Parents also compare The Compact Stroller to Zoe strollers, which weigh less and are slightly less expensive. We like Zoe, but a Zoe stroller does not stand upright when folded and does not have a carry strap. If you have two kids, however, we recommend Zoe The Twin+ because right now, Colugo does not sell a double.
Cold-weather, warm-weather and everyday Colugo accessories
Part of what makes a Colugo a great value is it comes with its rain cover. Additionally, The One Stroller comes with its bumper bar and car seat adaptor, and The Compact Stroller comes with its carry strap and stroller bag. But there are add-ons to make your parent life more pleasant or your kid a little cozier.
Finally: Is a Colugo worth it?
Yes, these are competitively priced strollers packed with many practical, useful features. If you buy directly from the site, there's a 100-day limited warranty. (As always, read the fine print. For instance, you can't return a gift — the person who gave you the stroller would have to do the return.) Let's review what Colugo strollers are best for:
✔️ With their compact size, both The One Stroller and The Compact Stroller make it easy to zip around town, through stores, navigate an amusement park (hello, Disney!) and visit other relatively smooth, flat places. The Compact Stroller comes with a carrying strap and stroller bag that makes it one of our favorites for an airport.
✔️ Each of these is easier to store than most strollers. The Compact Stroller folds down a few inches smaller than The One Stroller but they both have the same easy "fold assist" mechanism that helps you fold them while holding your baby.
✔️ Both strollers come with a few key accessories like a rain cover and cupholder, which might seem minor while you're shopping but just wait for that first rainy day when you're trying to keep your kid dry, pushing a stroller with one while holding an umbrella over your head with the other (no third hand for your coffee!). In addition, The One Stroller has a bumper bar for a baby's toys, and The Compact Stroller has that strap and a carry bag.
But no single stroller can do everything. If you need any of these features, we'll help you look elsewhere.
✔️ Want a stroller sold with a car seat in one bundle, called a travel system? For now, that's not a Colugo thing, but see our list of car seat stroller combos. The One Stroller does have an integrated adaptor for Nuna, Clek, Maxi-Cosi and Cybex infant car seats.
✔️ Hauling two or more kids? Colugo does not yet have a double. See our list of double strollers and check out the single-to-double Mockingbird. If your kids are older, you might really like a stroller wagon.
✔️ Will you regularly be going over rough terrain? If you plan to take your baby on trails, that's not what the Colugo city strollers are for. Look into a good jogging stroller or better yet, a baby carrier that you wear.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been providing expert reviews and advice on everything a new parent needs from a convertible crib to a nursery glider chair. We also follow the baby product trends and emerging technology, and have lists of the best all-in-one car seats and baby monitors.
This review is by Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn working from our Parenting and Toys Lab. Hartshorn has covered the juvenile product industry for 25 years, previously for American Baby magazine and Parents magazine. For this Colugo stroller review she looked at data from the Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards and past stroller stories and also commissioned new testing in addition having evaluated the products herself, in the Lab.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
