Cybex Balios S Lux Review

Ease of Use

The Balios is easy to use, and while not a top-ranker, it performed well enough for parents to avoid frustration.

Fold and Unfold

The Balios folds with one hand and stands when folded. If you lock the front wheels, you can roll it like luggage, which can be handy. The main gripe is the preparation required before folding. To get the most compact fold, you need to lock the wheels and recline the seat, and the seat will not lock in place when folded. If the leg rest on the seat isn't in the lowest position before the fold, it will cause a hiccup you must resolve before finishing. It all ends up being a lot of steps that feel convoluted but doable.

Storage

The Balios storage bin is large and has good access. It has a respectable 22 lb. weight limit, better than most of the competition.

Our large diaper bag fits inside with no problem, and 22 lbs is plenty for baby supplies and some shopping. There is also a seatback pocket for quick-access items like keys and a phone. The pocket can hold 2 lbs.

Harness

The Balios harness is one of the better ones in the group, but it has some quirks. The shoulder height adjustment is infinite and slides on an exposed strap. However, smaller kids will have a longer strap hanging down in front when it's tightened to fit, and the release button is a little tricky with larger hands.

Adjustments to the webbing are also easy, with a single pull to tighten or release. The straps feel smooth and are wider. It looks and feels comfortable.

Brakes

The Balios has single-action brakes with a rocking pedal that pushes forward to set and pushes back to release.

Not lifting the pedal from the bottom to release makes this design more foot and shoe-friendly.

Car Seat Compatibility

This Cybex is compatible only with Cybex infant car seats.

Ease of Setup

minutes) than most, earning it an average rating for setup. There is a lot of packaging to protect the stroller, which feels a bit like overkill. The sunshade has 8-10 small, tricky-to-snap button snaps. We think anyone with finger dexterity troubles might end up cursing this design. The instructions are multilingual and include many illustrations.

Maneuverability

The Cybex scored a little below average for maneuverability, but it isn't frustrating if you choose surfaces carefully.

The Cybex feels almost nimble on hard or flat surfaces and rolls well over smooth ones, including thresholds and cords. Carpet slows the wheels down a little, and it can get sluggish.

Even crossing an occasional greenbelt to a play structure will be frustrating in the Balios, in our opinion.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

Those who stroll primarily on sidewalks and flat surfaces will likely have no problem with the maneuverability of the Balios.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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Off-road is where it falls apart and feels like a slog. In fairness, we don't think it was designed for adventure, but it would be nice to cross a park greenbelt to reach the play structures. It rolls fairly well on grass, but it took significant effort to make turns. Transitioning from one surface to the other was also disappointing. This Cybex might be a better choice for city dwellers who are unlikely to move far from the sidewalk.

Transporting and Storing

The Cybex is about average for transporting and storing.

It is 25.31 lbs, neither heavy nor light for this group. Loading it into a car is a two-handed job, but getting it onto a bus is a bit more of a chore because it's wider and heavier than some competitors.

It folds reasonably compactly for a stroller of this type, measuring 11,904 cubic inches.

Quality

The Cybex performed well in our quality tests, with an average result compared to competitors.

The wheels on the Cybex are smaller and foam-filled plastic, which aren't our favorite and probably impacted its performance during maneuverability testing.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The Balios front wheels can be locked and have spring shocks.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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The material feels durable but still skin-friendly. Cleaning might be challenging with the mesh sides, but it can be washed and easily removed. The storage bin feels sturdy.

The wheels are foam-filled plastic, which isn't our favorite, but they are above average in diameter, and the rear wheels are wider than other plastic options. The frame is minimalistic and slightly flexed from right to left, but it isn't excessive or impedes functionality. The final product has a clean look, and all parts fit together well and have tight connections.

Kid's Comfort

The Balios offers more than the average stroller for kid comfort, with a higher score than most, but not everything is spectacular.

The Balios has an easy-to-use recline button on the back of the seat, and the entire thing tilts, including the leg rest.

The back of the seat lever for recline adjustment on the Balios is easy to use.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The entire Balios seat tilts as one with the recline adjustment but the leg rest can also rotate to find a comfortable position.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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It tilts into three possible positions that encourage napping, with a lightly padded leg rest. The real problem here is that the leg rest is oddly short, and our toddler tester had legs dangling off the end. There is no frame or footrest. It feels like a design mistake not to give children a place to put their feet, and the end of the leg rest is only canvas, which likely isn't durable enough to withstand multiple kids and many years.

The Balios canopy has a zip-open panel and visor to increase the coverage.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The Balios has a small, mesh, peek-a-boo window for spying on passengers.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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The canopy is large and offers UPF 50+ protection. It has a mesh peek-a-boo window. It is large enough to create a nice privacy cocoon with ample sun protection and includes a pop-out visor.

Continuous Sleeping Comfort

Sleep comfort is the name of the game when it comes to parent satisfaction; a sleeping kiddo is always a win-win. We put this to the test, looking for wake-up events going over standard asphalt and bumpier terrain. The Balios vibrates a little more than most, but at walking speeds it handles the bumps and cracks like a champ, resulting in only two potential low-intensity wake-up events for an above-average performance.

Should You Buy the Cybex Balios S Lux?

The Balios is a strong contender, bringing a high-quality look and feel. It performed well in our kid comfort tests and is easier to use than much of the competition. This full-size stroller is a sleek-looking option that can save you some money over similarly styled, higher-ranking choices. Our testers felt that most families won't realize they are missing out by choosing the Cybex over spendier options, which makes it a good choice for those who want this style but can't afford more expensive strollers.

What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?

The UPPAbaby Cruz v3 offers impressive features, ease of use, and is easier to push and turn. If you can afford the price difference and want the absolute best, it is hard to ignore the Cruz. However, if your budget is limited and even the Cybex is a stretch, the Joie Ginger dlx is an impressive contender that is easy to love and can save you hundreds. It cosplays as a spendier stroller with styling and features that split the difference between the Cybex and Cruz, but it has a price that won't break the bank.

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