Which stroller is right for me? All parents ask themselves this question before their baby is born. But the selection is huge, test reports and recommendations abound, and it's not easy for a layperson to keep track of everything.
The problem is that there is no single answer to this question, because every family lives differently and has different needs to fulfill. So, the one perfect stroller for everyone doesn't exist. Instead, it depends on how often and where the model is used, how much space is available, and what the family's lifestyle looks like.
But don't worry, we'll make sure you find your dream stroller before your due date! In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn about the different types of strollers, which stroller is suitable for which conditions, and get an insight into our high-quality Hartan collections.
Stroller Types at a Glance: What Are They?
Before you face the agony of choice, it's helpful to know what types of strollers are available. This will give you an overview and narrow down the selection, making it easier for you to finally decide. Generally, there are 4 main types, which fundamentally differ in their functionality and appearance:
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Combination Strollers
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Buggy / Travel Buggy
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Jogger / Three-Wheel Stroller
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Sibling Stroller / Twin Stroller
Before you look at different brands and models in more detail, you should know what distinguishes each type of stroller and which one is suitable for you. Below, we explain in detail the differences and features of each stroller.
Combination Stroller, Buggy, and Jogger – What's the Difference?
Especially if you're expecting your first baby, you'll be bombarded with numerous new terms when searching for a suitable stroller model. Combination strollers, sports strollers, joggers – each type has its individual strengths and weaknesses and is suitable for different purposes.
Probably the most popular stroller for newborns is the combination stroller. These so-called 2-in-1 systems combine a carrycot, in which the baby can lie safely during the first months of life, and a sports stroller, in which older babies who can already sit can ride. 3-in-1 systems go even further and additionally include an infant car seat that can also be attached to the stroller frame. These models are particularly practical, as you get 2 or 3 products with just one purchase.
Joggers and three-wheel strollers, on the other hand, are special strollers that, as the name suggests, are equipped with 3 large wheels and are suitable for jogging, skating, or challenging hikes. They are especially suitable for active parents who want to be active with their child. But caution is advised when buying: While some models have a compatible carrycot and can be used from birth, others are only approved from 6 months of age.
Buggies and travel buggies are suitable for babies from approx. 6 months of age and can only be used when your child can sit safely and their back and neck muscles are strong enough. In contrast to classic strollers, they are characterized by their light weight, maneuverability, and compactness. Therefore, they are particularly practical for travel or for families who have little space at home and in the car.
Sibling strollers and twin strollers are designed for 2 children. While they take up significantly more space than other types of strollers, they can transport twins or a baby and a toddler together. They are preferred by parents who either have twins or two children with a small age difference.
3-in-1 Stroller Models: Is the Combination System Worth It?
3-in-1 strollers, meaning models that combine a carrycot, seat unit, and car seat, promote their features and the flexibility they offer families. While newborns can ride in the carrycot, the seat unit can be used well into toddlerhood. The portable infant car seat is practical if you drive a lot, as it can be easily placed on the stroller without disturbing the baby's sleep.
However, you should pay particular attention to the quality of the infant car seat – especially if the manufacturer primarily produces strollers and not car seats. The annual ADAC infant car seat test provides information on product safety. Parents who want a free choice of car seat therefore usually prefer a 2-in-1 stroller and attach the infant car seat to it with adapters if necessary. At Hartan, for example, we offer special car seat adapters for our strollers, with which you can attach your regular car seat to the stroller. This gives you the flexibility to buy the car seat of your choice independently of the stroller – and still use them together.
Do I even need a classic stroller?
Expecting parents not only have a long to-do list, but also a long shopping list. Newborns need a place to sleep, a bathtub, a changing area, and also a stroller. But is this large purchase even necessary?
As with choosing the model, the decision for or against a stroller is individual. The fact is: most babies are very happy in a sling or carrier and can be carried around calmly. While parents have their hands free, they still have their child permanently attached directly in front of their body. While this is not necessarily disturbing when walking, if you go shopping or have coffee with a baby, you quickly realize that the limited freedom of movement is restrictive. If you have your baby with you everywhere, it's practical to be able to put them down sometimes or to use the large storage space of the stroller so you don't have to carry bags.
But not everyone needs a large stroller. Compact, lighter models are ideal for parents who carry their baby a lot. Between 6 and 9 months, as soon as the child can sit securely, you can also switch to a small buggy and alternate between it and the carrier. It's best to think about it before birth and decide if a classic stroller is right for your family.
Stroller Tests: Should You Rely on Them?
When searching for the "best" or "perfect" stroller, you will not only find purchase recommendations in the search results, but also numerous test reports. The model that seemed to meet all requirements until then suddenly only scores "satisfactory" in the results. Since every parent wants only the best for their child, the search then begins anew. But how much should these tests influence the decision for or against a stroller?
First, it's important to determine who is conducting the test. Is it an independent consumer organization, an online shop, or an influencer who might have their own interests or has entered into a partnership? Only use trustworthy test reports for your research.
But even reputable tests like those from Stiftung Warentest should only serve as a guide for safety and harmful substances. The overall rating, however, should never be blindly used as the sole purchase criterion. The test results are intended more as a filter to weed out dangerous models. When it comes to the actual stroller choice, however, individual everyday needs are predominantly decisive. Therefore, check individual ratings, such as handling, safety, and child-friendly design, instead of the overall result, and focus on specific features that are relevant to you.
The Stroller Advisor: 5 Questions to Find the Right Model
Small and agile, large and off-road, or stylish and comfortable? You have certain demands, but you don't know which stroller models meet them. With this checklist, you'll find your dream models after 5 questions:
When do you need the stroller - from birth or later?
Most expectant parents already think about the right stroller during pregnancy and order their desired model in the second trimester. This is partly because many strollers have longer delivery times and everything should be ready for the birth of the child. But whether you need a stroller from birth depends on your lifestyle, your daily routine, and your baby.
If you're going to be out and about a lot, a stroller is simply practical – even if you also use a baby wrap. Because it offers you plenty of storage space, so you can transport your diaper bag, groceries, and other personal items in it. If you're at home a lot with your baby and use a car, it's also possible to only use a carrier or wrap for the first few months. However, as the baby gains weight, there will eventually come a point where a stroller or buggy is necessary.
Where do you live?
First and foremost, your place of residence is crucial. Do you live in the city, in a suburb, or in the countryside? Do you have a house with a garage or an apartment on the 5th floor? And is there a place to store the stroller? While more compact models that are more maneuverable and easier to store have proven themselves in the city, in the countryside you need larger, off-road wheels that remain functional even off asphalted roads. So, think about where you can park the stroller at home and on which paths you will mainly be traveling.
How active are you?
Do you travel a lot on foot, by train, or by car? If you can walk all distances, the stroller should be designed for comfort and offer plenty of storage space. If you want to engage in sports with your child and hike or jog on forest paths, off-road capability is crucial. Those who walk little and drive a lot can also manage with a compact stroller.
How much space do you have?
Where do you store your stroller? Can you store it in the entrance hall, garage, or cellar, or do you have to carry it into your apartment? Do you often have to transport the stroller by car? Families who use the car for many journeys should make sure that the chosen model fits well into the trunk and that there is still some space left for bags or groceries. The ADAC stroller test provides information on which car a stroller fits best into.
How many children do you have?
Is the stroller for one baby, or is it to be shared by siblings? Depending on whether you have twins or a baby and a toddler, you can choose between twin strollers or sibling strollers. With multiple children, you have various options to choose from, depending on how you envision everyday life with a stroller and several children.
Which Stroller is Suitable for Whom?
Have you answered our 5 questions and now know exactly what your needs are and what your dream stroller must be able to do? Then it's time to narrow down the selection. We explain which features match your lifestyle and which Hartan collections fulfill them.
City Life & Everyday Comfort
City life is your lifestyle, and you're used to being able to reach everything you need on foot. To ensure you and your baby can enjoy the same quality of life, your stroller must also meet the demands of the city. It should be easy to transport on trains and buses, maneuverable through narrow streets, and, if necessary, carried up or down a few stairs. At the same time, it must, of course, look stylish and suit your taste.
The products of the Hartan Selection Collection and the Hartan Mercedes-Benz Collection offer you exactly that: luxury strollers that impress with their design, functions, and quality. Models like the Hartan T2City and the Hartan Avantgarde convince with first-class materials, high-quality features, and high comfort. Thanks to the lockable swivel wheels and innovative suspension, you can effortlessly master cobblestone streets, bustling pedestrian zones, and small elevators – without your child having to compromise on comfort.
Nature & Off-Road Terrain
You are an active family, prefer to spend your free time outdoors in nature, and enjoy long walks on gravel paths, forest trails, and rough terrain. To ensure that your baby also experiences every small and big adventure relaxed, a stroller is needed that performs even off asphalted roads. Important for this are a robust construction, off-road wheels, and good suspension that allows your child a comfortable ride.
The models of the Hartan Outdoor Activity Collection are made precisely for this. With off-road rims for maximum off-road capability, Oeko-Tex certified, durable, and water-repellent outer fabrics, and a reflective zipper in the canopy, they offer safety and reliably accompany you on challenging surfaces. This way, you and your child enjoy maximum flexibility and comfort on every discovery tour.
Travel and Older Toddlers
Your baby is growing and wants to discover the world with you. With increasing age, the urge to move increases, and longer walks, excursions, and holidays become an integral part of your life. Since the combination stroller often seems bulky now, a compact buggy is the ideal addition – because it is light, saves space, and is easy to transport.
The models of the Hartan Buggy1 Collection were developed precisely for these requirements. They can be folded compactly, are very maneuverable, and are particularly light with a weight of less than 10 kg. With practical functions such as an adjustable backrest, an extendable canopy with sun protection 50+, and uncompromising safety, the strollers impress both in everyday life and when traveling. This way, your child enjoys high comfort even on the go, while you benefit from easy handling and great flexibility.
Hartan Collections at a Glance: Which One Suits My Lifestyle?
Selection Collection – Timeless Design for City and Countryside
Classic, versatile luxury collection with a timeless tone-on-tone design, meeting the highest quality standards and ensuring comfortable and protected transportation for your child.
👫 For: Luxury feeling in the city (City variant) and in the countryside (Off-road variant)
🚀 Features: Everyday usability and comfort combined: First-class design meets high functionality
💪 Strengths: Combination of function, quality, and stylish appearance
✨ Look: Large selection of designs and color variations, elegant leather applications, noble quilting, premium outer fabrics
Outdoor Activity Collection – For Rides Off Paved Paths
The perfect companion for adventures in nature – ideal for walks in the forest, park, or on uneven terrain. The Outdoor Collection ensures maximum safety, excellent maneuverability, and comfort off paved paths.
👫 For: Active families who spend a lot of time outdoors
🚀 Features: Water-repellent outer fabrics, robustness, off-road capability, and flexibility
💪 Strengths: Comfortable suspension ensures a smooth ride even off paved roads
✨ Look: Functional design meets sporty character – 5 cool colors for individual selection
Mercedes-Benz Collection – Premium Comfort with Automotive Design
Luxurious special edition that combines extravagance, innovation, and performance. In cooperation with Mercedes-Benz, this premium collection was developed in the style of the Mercedes design world. Discover the exclusive models including practical accessories.
👫 For: Families who want to combine stroller performance with premium automotive aesthetics
🚀 Features: Luxury, innovation, and exclusive design – the Mercedes-Benz of strollers
💪 Strengths: Comfort features like optimized suspension and ergonomic operation, practical accessories like the Bag2go organizer bag
✨ Look: Elegant color schemes and automotive design elements, as well as high-quality materials like Vegan Leatherette
Mercedes-AMG Collection – Sportiest Choice with Handbrake and Compact Fold
The sportiest premium collection in the range, inspired by the design and performance world of Mercedes-AMG. These exclusive strollers combine Hartan expertise with proven Mercedes-AMG tradition, uniting elegance, comfort, and innovation.
👫 For: Parents who value very high-quality equipment with exclusive features and enjoy being active
🚀 Features: Dynamics, sportiness, and high-end technology
💪 Strengths: Particularly compact fold, standard handbrake, and high flexibility. All-terrain wheels and powerful suspension
✨ Look: Striking, sporty design in various colors with typical Mercedes-AMG accents
Buggy1 Collection – Light, Compact, Perfect for On the Go
As children grow, their needs change. The Buggy1 Collection offers lightweight, compact buggy solutions for everyday use that are particularly agile and flexible.
Especially suitable for travel and short distances, but also a comfortable alternative to a large stroller for everyday use with toddlers.
👫 For: Ideal as a second stroller and buggy for older toddlers
🚀 Features: Mobility and uncomplicated use – practical, light, and agile
💪 Strengths: Easy handling, quick folding, very space-saving in the car and on the go
✨ Look: Modern, lightweight design that combines functionality and style
Where can I find personal Hartan advice near me?
You've got a good overview of the many models and collections and have a general idea of what you want. If you still can't quite decide, it helps to see, feel, and try out the stroller up close and get expert advice.
At Hartan, we offer a large network of stroller retailers who will assist you and help you find your dream model. Use our interactive map, find all specialist dealers near you, and get professional support for this important decision.
