Urbino

We used the infant seat and a little chicco trolley thing. Like a much smaller lightweight stroller. I was able to use the carrier fairly quickly but the combo was easier.

Check out the baby trend wagon. I have that and a Chicco single stroller, because I thought it would be a really big deal to take my baby out of the car seat when going places, which we do frequently. It turns out, it's not really a big deal and she wakes up whenever we park anyway. So in hindsight, it would have been way better to get a stroller with bassinet option and the most petite, lightweight one available within a reasonable price range.  The Baby Trend wagon is epic and enormous, so not great for driving around with but amazing for your neighborhood and easily accessible trails or if you have an SUV. It's a bassinet stroller with wagon pulley and mosquito/shade net plus tons of room to store phone, drinks, lunchbox, and other stuff. The bassinet turns into 2 seat pads that 2 babies can buckle into. I think it holds 100lbs, so kids can pretty much use it until they're too big length wise.

I have a Chicco and it’s midrange at best and I wish I had gone with a more expensive one. I live in NYC so it would have been enormously important for maneuverability.

Agreed on the luxury brands of strollers/car seats. I have a chicco stroller and a Graco car seat and they’re snacking

We love our Chicco car seat and stroller (the stroller handles amazingly well and is super easy to fold up/open) and the oxo dispenser is great too!

Your travel system is primarily a tool. You’re going to spend a lot of time hauling baby around in it — IF you are car dependent. While I would encourage considering usability above aesthetic, this sounds like a larger question of money between you and your partner that no one else can answer or solve for you. Regarding uppababy travel systems, we have a vista and I can’t imagine using that thing for everyday errands, bringing baby to the pediatrician, etc. I love our vista for long walks and errands I run on foot, but not for small trips via car. The thing is heavy and bulky and takes up a ton of space in the car. We use a smaller chicco stroller for our travel system and I still think it’s too big and a pain to haul out 90% of the time. I normally end up just hauling baby in and out places in his infant carseat and placing it in the cart. In this regard, the minu might be a better bet over for sure the vista but also maybe the Cruz. I’d recommend getting a feel for them in person though and really consider your use basis for your travel system.

My toddler is 2.5 and we only have an umbrella stroller that we only use for Disneyland, other than that we just end up pushing an empty stroller around. We got rid of our bulky Chicco stroller soon after she learned to walk. The fact that you have a stroller just for the looks is so ridiculous, especially if you’re scared of dirtying it up. I’ve realized now that kids will somehow gravitate towards the items you hold dearest and break them or mess them up. I say you donate one of the strollers you don’t use as much or list it somewhere if you want some of the money back.