Mamas & Papas Armadillo stroller review: minor investment, major ride

I've been noticing a trend lately away from some of the fancier budget-breaking dollar strollers and toward excellent quality strollers that do everything you want, but still leave room in the budget for other things. (Like, say, an iPhone 5s.) It's not that I'm not into the fancy-schmancy strollers--because I am--it's just that sometimes we parents want more than just a stroller. And the latest stroller from CMP fave, Mamas and Papas, is just that kind of budget-friendly baby ride. The Armadillo stroller (and yes, the name sounds like it could be from Bugaboo) has a lovely array of bright canopy and strap color options, and is an excellent example of a stroller that will do everything most people need without breaking the bank. It's sleek, easy-to-push, and a breeze to fold, three very important features in any stroller. The fold, in particular, is of note as it's very simple, very smooth, and very fast. No fiddling. Plus, it gets so compact once folded that it will fit easily in a trunk or front hall for storage. (Hey, we don't all have the luxury of a garage to store them in.) And I love the fact that the flap on the peek-a-boo window closes with a magnet, so there's no noisy velcro sound when you want to check on a sleeping baby. Plus, it happens to have an extra-roomy seat, too, so kids won't be growing out of it before you want them to.

One thing the Armadillo is not, though, is an all-terrain jogging stroller. Or an any-terrain jogging stroller, for that matter. But if you have no intention of jogging with it, the Armadillo could be perfect for everything else. And unlike most strollers, including the super high-end ones, it even comes with a rain cover. One of my biggest pet peeves is the notion of having to order a crucial (in my opinion) rain cover separately once I've bought a whole stroller system. With some strollers that's the expectation. But not the Armadillo. And yes, Sandra Boynton reference fully intended. -Stephanie S. Choose your favorite bright hue and then head on over to Mamas & Papas for an Armadillo stroller of your own. Thanks to Mamas & Papas for providing a stroller for CMP to test drive.