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When I was doing all the baby research while I was pregnant with my first, I spent a lot of time looking at strollers. I knew that if I loved being outside to run and walk by myself, I would LOVE walking and running with our baby. I was so right. Well, I am now. For the first few months, our first son hated the stroller, so we didn’t use it much (now that he’s older, he loves stroller rides). Our second baby was a different story. He loved the stroller from the second we put him in it. And now, he’s 18 months old and a stroller walk is one of the best ways to get him to nap or calm down if he’s fussy. Heck, it helps me calm down too!
While I’m going to get into the pros and cons below, in short – the Uppababy Vista V3 stroller is our most-used baby item and was the first thing I put on my baby registry. If you want a high-end stroller that has a very smooth ride, both for your little one and for you to push (I promise it does make a difference for the moms and dads too), you’ll love it. I don’t know anyone who regrets buying it and a lot of my friends own it too.
While we do have 4 strollers (I’ll explain which ones below) the stroller that has gotten the very most use in 3+ years is definitely the Uppababy Vista. When I was pregnant, my husband was skeptical of a $900+ stroller. Yeah, the Uppababy Vista stroller is pricey. But now, he and I both agree that it’s worth every penny. And today, I’m sharing why.
You can find the rest of my postpartum essentials linked in this blog post!
Uppababy Vista Stroller Review
Walking is probably my all-time favorite thing to do with the boys. We try go on family walks in the evening when Tommy gets home from work, and when Thomas was younger, I ran with him in the Thule jogging stroller a couple times a week too. Along with the Uppababy Vista, we also have two lightweight strollers from Zoe that we love for travel and when I want to walk with both boys (one of them is a double stroller). I actually just keep the Zoe stroller in my trunk, since I use it when we’re out on adventures throughout the week and it doesn’t take up much space. (See how easily it collapses here. And use this Zoe referral link for 15% off.) I also bought the Doona car seat and stroller when I had my youngest and have LOVED it for the convenience. Read my Doona review here.
But back to the Lexus of strollers, the Uppababy Vista V3.
The Uppababy Vista is a convertible stroller, meaning it will grow with your child. It has a bassinet attachment for when your little one is tiny and also has car seat compatibility (we have the Uppababy Mesa car seat which can be used with this stroller base with the proper adapter). You can also buy car seat adapters for a handful of other car seats. As your little one grows, there is a reversible rumble seat so your little guy or girl can face you or face out. All the different options mean that you can use it from the moment you bring your child home all the way until he/she wants to walk alongside you.
It has a SUPER easy locking system to make sure the seat is in correctly and has one-handed recline for your child’s seat. You can also adjust the footrest as your child grows to support their legs. The telescoping handle bar will allow you to adjust the handle height easily (one-handed, actually) and that option is great for Tommy and I, since we’re such different heights, with almost a 12″ difference.
We also love the massive storage basket underneath the stroller. It has awesome ventilation and super easy access from all sides, so there’s no end to what you could put in there.
Pros
Easy to Find in Lots of Colors
I appreciate that you can get this stroller from so many different retailers. We got ours from Nordstrom (it’s usually included every year in the Nordstrom Anniversary sale), but you can grab it from Pottery Barn, Amazon, Bloomingdale’s, etc., as well. It also comes in lots of colors, which I appreciate. We have the “Gregory” colorway that has a blue mélange seat and shade and a silver frame. It’s easy to resell too, once you’re finished using it
Adjustable Handle
This is super important for both me and Tommy. There’s a large height gap between us (he’s 6′ and I’m 5’1″), and the stroller handle adjusts easily with one hand. This is a feature I really miss when I’m using my other strollers, so if you’re short and/or your husband is tall, you’ll appreciate this. The tallest the handle will get is 44″.
Peek-a-Boo Window
I LOVE this. It’s a little window with a magnetic closure on the top of the sunshade. When Thomas was younger, his favorite thing was to sit outward and look around, so I used this little window to look at him without having to stop, put the break locks on, and walk around to take a peak. It’s super convenient and cute.
Front or Rear Facing Seat
When Thomas and Charles were smaller, we’d face them towards us. But now that they are bigger, we face him outward so he can look around. Having the ability to do both is essential if you’re going to make a significant investment in a stroller like this, and Uppababy Vista is the only stroller I’ve seen that can do it (if you know of others, please share in the comments). I also love that the Vista stroller has 6 seat recline positions, so naps are possible while you walk, and as your little one grows you can adjust how upright they sit.
Bassinet
We used the bassinet right when we brought Thomas and Charles home. This didn’t get a ton of use when Thomas was little, and we actually prefer the car seat attachment with Charles, but for other babies that love to go on walks as infants, the bassinet is amazing. It fits children from birth to 20 lbs or 20″. It also includes a perforated mattress pad and vented base (great for breathability and comfort). You can even buy a bassinet stand for your house that fits this exact bassinet, which is a great way to make the most out of your purchase.
This was on our first-ever stroller walk with Thomas, a few days after I got home from the hospital. I went half a block and was wiped out!
Compatible with the MESA Car Seat
If you’re getting the Uppababy MESA infant car seat, you’ll appreciate the compatibility with this stroller. It clicks right in, so you can put your baby in the car, put the stroller in the trunk, and then use them together wherever you go. The Vista stroller has lots of accessories that you can buy as well. These are sold separately, which is a con since other strollers (namely, the Zoe strollers) have so many accessories included or built-in (like a snack cup, water bottle holder, phone holder, etc.).
Expandable for 2 Children
I think this is a huge selling point, especially as a mom of two. This stroller fits two children, which makes the investment that much easier! The VISTA fits two infant car seats, two bassinets, two seats – or a combination of those to make it a great double stroller (although Uppababy does have a traditional umbrella double stroller that would be great for twins as another stroller option). It gave me peace of mind knowing that I would be able to use this if we had a second (and now we do).
This photo is from Vista’s website, showing how you can use it with up to THREE children! There isn’t room for three seats, but if you have an older child, they can stand on the back with this piggyback ride along board.
Smooth Ride
It may sound crazy if you haven’t pushed many strollers, but the way this stroller feels is unlike any others. It’s a very smooth ride, easy to push on uneven terrain, easy to maneuver with one hand, etc.
I took the way that it glides for granted, since I thought it was normal, until I pushed other strollers with average or below-average wheel suspension. The Vista stroller has all-wheel suspension and independent shocks which makes it incredibly comfortable. It’s the best in it’s class. You can also use the front wheel lock to keep the stroller aligned and steady on uneven terrain.
The UppaBaby Vista stroller feels like a Lexus: smooth, sturdy, well-made, etc. And considering how much you’ll use a stroller, this is a really nice perk for the parents!
Brakes
The foot pedal parking brake is convenient and easy to use. Nothing fancy but it is easier to use than my other strollers’ lock brakes, which you have to push up on with your toe to unlock. On the Uppababy, you push down to lock and push again to release.
Uppababy Vista Accessories
You can find all sorts of accessories for this stroller like this snack tray, foot pedestal for a second or third older kid, a stroller caddy basket organizer, etc. We got the waterproof leather handlebar cover and it looks so nice. Since all of these are sold separately, you may want to add a few to your registry since it gets pricey with all the add-ons.
Uppababy Vista Storage
The bottom of the stroller has SO MUCH SPACE, and is easy to access, which is amazing for a diaper bag, snacks, or whatever else you need. The bottom is a vented base so it is breathable if you were to put groceries in the bottom. The storage basket holds up to 30 lbs, so there’s no end to what you could put down there.
Cons
Price
The price is a significant investment at $899.99. But because you can use it for so long AND with multiple kids, I think it’s a worthwhile purchase. You can also buy it used if you keep an eye on Facebook Marketplace, but they go quickly so you have to act fast. Or snag it during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale!
Size
Now that I’ve had other strollers that are more compact, this feels enormous by comparison. But as long as I’m not trying to take it around town too often, I don’t mind at all, since it just stays in my garage.
Not Easy to Fold and Pack
It’s definitely not a travel stroller but it’s easy to break down. First, you remove the seat, and then the base collapses and folds. It takes up a lot of space and it’s not one handed like other strollers. So this is more of a stroller you’d keep at home, not one you’d want to take around town too often. It’s not too heavy, but it does take a couple extra steps and is larger than compact strollers.
It fits in the back of my small SUV, and since the seat takes up so much space, I end up packing things into the seat itself (I took this pic as part of a Justin’s partnership, but it really is what I do with the seat storage if I am taking it somewhere).
How to Clean Uppababy Vista
To clean the frame, I typically use a damp cloth and wipe everything down. I will use Force of Nature cleaner for this in most cases. When the seat itself is super grimy, I will take it off the frame and hand wash it or spot treat it with Force of Nature cleaner or sometimes a mild laundry detergent. Then I lay it all flat to dry outside in the sun.
I love that the fabric is removable and washable. While I don’t wash it too often (I should probably wash it more!), it’s never a real pain when I do.
Uppababy Vista Stroller Specs
What’s Included?
- Frame
- Four wheels
- Bassinet with bug shield and storage bag
- Toddler seat with rain and bug shield canopy + sun shade (UPF 50+!)
- Bumper bar
Dimensions
Stroller Weight: 26.6 lbs (frame + toddler seat)
Weight Limit: 50 lbs (toddler seat)
Stroller Dimensions: 25.7″ x 36″ x 39.5″ (WxLxH)
Fold Dimensions: 25.7″ x 17.3″ x 33″ (WxLxH)
Handlebar Height: 39.5″ – 42.5″
Where to buy
Bottom line: Is Uppababy Worth It?
I LOVE this stroller. My husband and I both agree it’s one of the best things we got as first-time parents. We truly love how smooth the ride is, the extendable handlebar that allows for both my tall husband and and I to push it with ease, the front wheel lock that makes it easier to steer, and the ability to use it with two kids. I truly can’t say better things about this stroller…the hype is indeed real.
Shop the Uppababy Vista at Nordstrom here.
Since you’re shopping for strollers, you might also be looking for clothes for littles! I shared my favorite places to shop for little boys clothes here.
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