When Baby was about 18 months old, I went on a mission to find the best compact stroller available. I spent countless hours online, researching ALL the strollers. I made spreadsheets, read reviews. And I came away dejected, convinced that the perfect stroller, one that hit all my criteria, simply didn’t exist. Turns out, it didn’t then, but it does now. I’m here to share my Colugo stroller review, and hope this will help some other poor soul doing exhaustive stroller research!
First, let me tell you what I was looking for:
- Compact 3D fold with a tall back (as opposed to an umbrella-style fold)
- Reclining feature
- Cool (as in, with mesh panels, so baby doesn’t overheat, but cool-looking is a plus!)
- Washable liner
- Lightweight
- Stands up when folded
- Large sun canopy
- Wheels with suspension
- Not super expensive (sub-$300)
- Bonus if there is a magnetic parent-peek window, and wide crotch strap for baby’s comfort
The above list was my wishlist. This stroller hits all the points, and then some! Before we get to the review, I want to be clear that I am not receiving any commission and am not affiliated with the company in any way. That said, the stroller I received was complementary, no strings attached. I would have purchased it anyway, so maybe the joke’s on Colugo? (Just kidding!) I didn’t even have a blog at the time, so I’m voluntarily posting this review now. So let’s get to it!
The Unboxing
The box the stroller arrived in was sturdy and well designed. To be honest, it was bigger than I expected. But, that’s because there wasn’t just a stroller in there. There was also a travel bag/carrying case with backpack straps, a rain cover, AND this particular style also comes with a mosquito net. This was all included in the price (which at the time of this publishing is $285.)
The stroller itself, when folded, feels so small, and easy to carry with the attached strap (which isn’t visible here.) It is 16 lbs, and to be honest, I was looking for a stroller closer to 15 lbs or less. However, it’s so easy to carry and hits all my other major points, so I don’t even consider this to be a negative.
The Test Run
I immediately strapped baby in and took the stroller for a test run in our semi-urban neighborhood. We had been out of the house for less than ten minutes before a stranger stopped me and asked, “Is that a Colugo stroller?” Why yes, yes it is! We proceeded to chat for a few more minutes, and when we parted, I knew I needed to write my Colugo stroller review quickly. But I digress.
The stroller rolls very smoothly. The handle feels a little thinner and higher than what I’m used to, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. If I had one criticism, it’d be that occasionally the stroller felt like it could tip to the side during sharp turns with one hand on the handlebar. But I think the lesson here is that perhaps I should stop making sharp turns with one hand on the handlebar.
One important feature for the stroller was that it had to have a tall back. It’s common on umbrella-style strollers, but the strollers with the newer 3D style fold all seem to have shorter backs. I’ve sat the baby in countless strollers at 18 months, and none of them would support his head. He’s 2.5 years old now and still 90th+ percentile in height and this one does! I’m not sure how much longer it will support his head, but the fact that it does now is miraculous to me.
More Features
The recline on the stroller is excellent. I don’t need a stroller than reclines 180 degrees, but one that lets baby sleep comfortably requires more than a couple inches.
When we travel to warm destinations, or even during the hot, humid summers at home, baby tends to overheat. This particular model, Cool Gray, not only has mesh on the sides of the canopy, but also the top. (Note: I believe this color option is the only one with this much mesh.) I’m so happy to know that air will circulate to help keep him cool. This is particularly important because this is no wimpy canopy. When it is extended as shown above, it is nice and deep.
Also mesh? The parent peek panel, and it’s magnetic, so it’s silent. The slim panel you see hanging on the back of the stroller is detachable. It is also THE RAIN COVER! The rain cover folds into itself, into that bag. No more crumpled mess of a rain cover taking up the entire basket under your stroller. (What you ARE seeing in the bottom of the stroller in these pictures is the mosquito cover, which I should have taken out so you can see the basket, sorry!) One minor criticism is that it’s a little tedious to attach/detach the covers because there are a lot of little velcro strap attachment points along the frame of the stroller. I will probably only attach a few when using them; it doesn’t need to be hermetically sealed.
Back to the basket, it’s not huge (this is a compact stroller after all) but it’s very accessible. The stroller does stand when folded, and the light gray seat cover is removable and washable. I didn’t show it, but the leg support can be folded down (I forgot to do this in my eagerness to take it out for a stroll!) Also, it has a one-handed fold, which isn’t personally so important, but I know it is to many other parents.
Conclusion
The Colugo Compact Stroller in Cool Gray is basically the stroller of my dreams. It’s perfect for travel and everyday, but I wouldn’t recommend it for exercise or off-roading (it’s not really designed for that.)
If you’ve read this far, and you’re interested in finding out more, check out their website here AND get $20 off your first order. Again, I’m not receiving any kickbacks for this. I’m just a happy customer wanting to share this new stroller company with other parents who are on the hunt. Hope this Colugo stroller review has been helpful; if you have any specific questions, leave me a comment!
1 Comment
This is a terrific review. My wife and I were interested in this stroller. Very informative!