The Kolcraft Cloud Plus is an inexpensive classic umbrella stroller. This stroller earned a second highest score for ease of use, but disappointed in the remaining metrics being hard to maneuver and heavier and larger than much of the competition. The main perk of the Cloud Plus is the low list price of $70, and while we suspect this will be a draw for many parents, we caution that at least in this case, you get what you pay for. With the lowest quality score in the group this stroller feels flimsy with lots of flex and sub-par materials. We think parents will be much happier saving their time and frustration by choosing a stroller that costs more and offers more. The Inglesina Net is $90 more, but it also scored 9 points more overall and is higher quality and lighter weight.
Kolcraft Cloud Plus Review
Pros: Inexpensive, easy to use
Cons: Poor quality, harder to maneuver
Manufacturer: Kolcraft
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
Our Analysis and Test Results
Kolcraft began in 1946, and is a third-generation family owned and operated manufacturer of baby products based in Chicago. Founder Leo Koltun started making crib pads and in the 1950s his son, Sandy Koltun joined the business and began making crib mattresses. In 1980, they launched the Carri-Cradle®, which was the first infant carrier/rocker with carrying handle that was made entirely of plastic. In 1987, they began making high chairs, and play yards, with new products and affiliations following when Sandy's son, Tom Koltun, joined the company. In 1993, Kolcraft formed a partnership with Sealy® Technology and are still the largest manufacturer of crib mattresses in the United States. The new century brought brand partnerships and the launch of the Contours strollers line.
Performance Comparison
This comparison chart shows how each stroller compared in the overall scoring, including the Kolcraft shown here in blue.
The sections below provide the point by point detailed information that explain how the Cloud earned its rank when tested alongside the competition.
Weight and Folded Size
The Cloud received a score of 6 of 10 in the weight and folded size metric. This stroller weighs 12.6 pounds, with 6 competing strollers weighing less. Folded it measures at 7,551 cubic inches, which is rather large with only 3 products taking up more space. If lightweight and easy to stow are important, this may not be the best option.
Ease of Use
The Cloud earned a 6 of 10 for ease of use. It offers features the competition didn't, like parent and child trays, which helped set it apart from the products that only offered a parent cup holder at most.
Fold and Unfold
The Cloud has a one-handed fold and unfold with a manual lock and standing capabilities. This stroller is easy to fold, but if the wheels are going the wrong way it can be hard to complete the fold and use the lock. The fold is initiated by sliding the red lock lever and squeezing the red button to fold the stroller in half.
Brakes
The Cloud brakes are double action and require both pedals to be pressed for the brakes to be fully set. The pedals are really stiff, difficult to use, and not sandal foot friendly.
Storage
The Cloud can carry up to 10 lbs in the storage basket and we were able to fit our medium size diaper bag inside. This bin is deep but narrow and has very easy access from the back (above left). The Cloud has additional storage with a child tray and parent console. All the cup holders on the Cloud are too small for pretty much any size cup, bottle, or sippy (above right), and the child's tray needs to be completely removed to fit a baby in the seat.
Sunshade
The canopy on the CLoud is medium in size and has a nice peek-a-boo window that is easy to see through, but it doesn't have a window cover, which means the sun will hit baby right on the head, almost negating the reason for a canopy in the first place.
Harness
The Cloud has a 5-point harness with an easy buckle that requires both sides to be removed separately. The rethread adjustment is simple and straightforward, but adjusting the side straps is more difficult as it requires double threading through the adjustment clip.
Seat
The Cloud seat does not have an adjustable leg rest, in fact, it barely offers a leg rest at all. The seat back reclines with a one-handed strap, but it doesn't go flat enough for cozy napping, and its operation is less than smooth. The seat back has a thin piece of removable corrugated plastic inside that gives it shape and stability, but it doesn't feel stable and it can buckle.
Ease of Setup
Setting up the Cloud took us 7:31 minutes with no tools and average instructions.
Maneuverability
The Cloud has plastic wheels with the dual front wheel design that makes maneuverability difficult. This stroller rolls and turns on flat surfaces without some work and it isn't that responsive or smooth. Going off road makes it even harder to push, as the front wheels veer off course or get stuck in thicker grass or gravel.
The Cloud offers front wheel suspension, but given the lack of padding on the seat and the stiff plastic back, it is likely not the most comfortable strolling experience for baby no matter what the terrain.
Quality
The Cloud earned a 2 of 10 for quality, which is the lowest score for quality in the review. The fabric on this stroller feels slick like plastic and not breathable. The padding is minimal and we think the padding combined with the fabric will quickly become misshapen. The frame is less impressive than the competition, and overall the stroller feels cheap and flimsy with gathered fabric that shouldn't be there and exposed rivets and connectors everywhere.
Manufacturer Video
— Juliet Spurrier, MD & BabyGearLab Team
