Tour V2

We got one of those piggyback boards and it’s been the best! We also did your option 3 quite a lot until mine got too tall for the stroller (we also have a Zoe). 

Try them out in a store for sure. We went with UppaBaby although it was between that and Nuna. We liked the way it transitioned to double more than the Nuna. Now that we’re pregnant again we just will add the rumble seat or the little skateboard attachment to it for our toddler and use the bassinet for our newborn. I will say that the rumble seat has a weight limit which is annoying but I understand it. My toddler is average and it should work for now so not a major concern but if you have a higher percentile toddler when switching to the two seater it could pose an issue. Our plan is once our newborn is sitting unassisted they can go in the rumble and the bigger toddler can go up top. We also bought the Zoe for a travel stroller (greenguard certified too) and LOVE IT for traveling. They have a double but idk if I like the side by side BUT I just saw if you get their standard stroller not the compact travel one it’s easy to adapt and add the second seat which likely would be cheaper than a Vista with UppaBaby and then adding another rumble seat down the road.

Try them out in a store for sure. We went with UppaBaby although it was between that and Nuna. We liked the way it transitioned to double more than the Nuna. Now that we’re pregnant again we just will add the rumble seat or the little skateboard attachment to it for our toddler and use the bassinet for our newborn. I will say that the rumble seat has a weight limit which is annoying but I understand it. My toddler is average and it should work for now so not a major concern but if you have a higher percentile toddler when switching to the two seater it could pose an issue. Our plan is once our newborn is sitting unassisted they can go in the rumble and the bigger toddler can go up top. We also bought the Zoe for a travel stroller (greenguard certified too) and LOVE IT for traveling. They have a double but idk if I like the side by side BUT I just saw if you get their standard stroller not the compact travel one it’s easy to adapt and add the second seat which likely would be cheaper than a Vista with UppaBaby and then adding another rumble seat down the road.

for travel - i have the zoe tour. i LOVE it. we bought for my first who is now almost 5. currently being used for our second who is 2mos (w carseat adapter). it's still in great condition and it's been everywhere with us, including several flights. it's super light, i can fold it up or out w one hand. i can also get it into my trunk with one hand while holding baby with the other. it has a bar or two cupholders (one for a drink and the other is shallower like a bowl for snacks). perfect for day trips, or on paved sidewalks. it's also disney approved, if you need it for that. the shade is one of the largest i've ever seen, which keeps it dark for stroller naps. i can't recommend it enough! (https://zoebaby.com/products/zoe-tour-single-stroller) it could not double as a jogger though. it would not work well in rocky or sandy places.

Second the Zoe Tour! Better price point and agree with everything said above. I have a new version (bought last Oct), but I didn’t get the all terrain wheels. I may at some point because as @etgetc noted I do have to pop it over some curbs/uneven sidewalks, but it’s so light and easy to maneuver that it really doesn’t bother me. And it comes standard with a parent cup holder as well as child snack and cup holders and belly bar which are extra add-ons for the higher priced strollers.

I also have the Zoe Tour. It’s pretty much taken over as our everyday stroller. Had it almost a year now. Definitely easy to maneuver for public transit.

Seconding the Zoe Tour (that’s the bifold one). I watched a lot of videos and did a lot of research. You’ll likely get a lots of recs for the Stokke Yoyo and Joolz Aer, but both were way out of budget for me and honestly, even after checking both out in person, I prefer the Zoe. 🤷🏻‍♀️ As someone else mentioned, check out The Stroller Mom on YouTube and IG. Lots of helpful info there!

Lol, yep. Uppababy isn’t even close to in my budget. I’m perfectly happy with my $200 something Zoe!

Yesss! Love my Zoe.

I really like my Zoe tour for what you’re looking for! It drives nicely, folds up small-ish, and doesn’t weigh a ton. I use it as a travel stroller because we have a Cruz at home that I love but don’t want to lug around when we travel.

Tossing another challenger into the ring: look at the Zoe with the upgraded all-terrain wheels.  The challenge of NYC vs travel stroller are the small wheels on uneven pavement; you want something really light and easy to fold down but little wheels just don’t have as good “curb pop.” I love the huge sun canopy and accessories on the Zoe and the fact that it really does have a one-handed fold. We have the bi-fold model, the Tour, not a trifold Traveler. We tried both. They are actually about the same weight, if I recall, and the bi-fold’s fold is so, so easy, I can literally just tug the center strap mid-stride and one-handed to close it. But if that extra level of compactness matters to you, I remember the trifold being decently easy (just not sure it’s compatible with the beefier wheels). My model is too old for the all-terrain wheels, but I have been eyeing them lustfully since they came out—they would solve my one small beef with this stroller and, I think, put it over the edge for other competition, which generally all also have the small wheel, curb pop issue.

We also have a Zoe. Would def recommend, esp the Tour bifold. Agree it is a true one-handed fold you can do mid stride even. I’d probably get the all-terrain wheels; they weren’t a thing when I got my model, but I think they’d solve my one small complaint.

When we found ourselves in a similar predicament, we moved and I admit I never regretted having an elevator and a bit more space for the additional expense. That said, if money is a bit tight right now and you aren't already hugely bothered by the climb, I think you can do this. There will probably be months ahead where it peaks in annoyance and being a bit debilitating, like when you're so pregnant you're easily winded and can't see your feet or early-early postpartum, but you're also already acclimated in general, so the hardest part is behind you. Loving your place and knowing you can save money really tips the balance toward staying put, I think. This is really a logistics problem: think strategically and minimalistically. What you won't be able to do is use your stroller like a walking living room / personal vehicle, which is something lots of families do when they've got an elevator. It would be somewhat easier if you have a place to leave a stroller downstairs on the first floor. But even then, you won't have tons of hands/strength for carrying your baby, their stuff, your stuff, a full stroller basket of groceries, etc etc from the stroller downstairs to the apartment. Invest in a single, very lightweight, easy-to-fold, ACTUALLY one-handed-fold stroller like a Zoe or a Joolz Aer or a Minu. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about its "infant compatibility" unless it too is compactable -- like, don't worry overmuch about a big bassinet or carry cot or whatever components that don't lend themselves well to that easy fold/carry. Your baby will be strong enough for a regular stroller seat by month 4-6. Instead, put the bassinet money into an extra baby carrier or two and plan to baby wear a lot more, at least in the early days. Get a backpack and maybe also a fanny pack to use as a baby bag. You can have a baby on the front carrier and the bag on your back, or your baby in a ring sling and some baby stuff in the fanny pack, etc etc. And then bet on the fact that you'll probably want to make certain errands separate from walking your baby and stroller upstairs and down (like, with the money saved by not moving, can you get groceries or laundry delivered to your door, tipping that delivery person for the extra walk up?). Later down the line as your baby turns into a toddler, you'll still be carrying them (in your arms or in a toddler carrier) up and down, but there will be days when they're on an independence kick and insist on slowly climbing every stair themselves. But I wouldn't worry too far into the future. In a year or two, you might be in a different position and feeling more/new urgency about moving. Or not.

We got a Peg Perego Ypsi travel system and I can’t understand why they aren’t more popular here. Size of a Vista, but two-kid flexibility. I like the clever fold better (no annoying button in the middle of the handle bar). Big basket, nice suspension, Italian quality; great car seat that just clicks into the stroller, with a European belt path so it’s extra safe in cabs and Ubers without a base (we did this in lieu of a bassinet attachment—yes, you don’t want your baby in a car seat for more than two hours, but they pretty much never are anyway since you take them out to feed them or whenever they cry, and naps typically aren’t that long in the early days anyway). If you go to Albee Baby, the Agio 4 is the same stroller as is in the Ypsi system. I think they still carry it. Most people we know (including us) just got a second, smaller travel stroller and use whichever one was better suited for the day. If I had to take the subway alone, I took the Zoe instead, which I also think is great! But if I had to get just one stroller and wanted something light and was willing to give up basket space, I would do an Uppababy Minu!