I really wanted the Stokke Xplory but couldn't justify the 00 price tag. Then I saw this stroller on a parenting website as the less expensive alternative to the Xplory and decided to give it a shot. I've been using it for almost 10 months now and I'm still pretty happy with it. It is bulky when folded up but it fit in the trunk of my Civic pretty easily. As another reviewer said you do have to detach the seat or carseat adaptor to fold it but that is only one additional step, not 6, and they slide on and off easily. My only real issues with it are that the handle is a little too narrow compared to the width of the stroller which makes it harder to turn than it needs to be (but still much easier than a 4 wheel stroller) and that the storage basket on the bottom is on the small side and a little difficult to access. It's also an attention getter; every time I'm out with it at least one person comments (positively) on it. This could be a positive or a negative depending on your personality but I don't mind. Overall I'm very pleased with my purchase although fwiw I paid less than 0 including shipping; I'm not sure I would pay almost twice as much but on sale it was well worth it.
I've been using it for over a week now and I'm very very happy with this travel system. I just returned another one I had purchased when the baby was born because the stroller seat didn't recline and because the canopy was so small it wouldn't protect my baby from the sun. This one is great and doesn't have any of those problems; although the seat doesn't recline all the way (which I thought it did) it reclines enough for my baby to sleep comfortably.
It's a bit higher than I would've liked since I am not a tall person at all and I feel a bit like a kid pushing a big stroller around. But still, no complaints, it's easy to maneuver, a soft ride, my baby is more comfortable than in the last travel system and it's also very cute!
I would recommend it to anyone!
This travel set is great--it's compact and comes with everything you need. The "bucket" is an ideal car seat for newborn babies. The carriage is light weight and attractive looking, too. It's also good colors for a boy or a girl.
The fabric of the car seat is so soft and feels so expensive. I don't understand why this isn't being sold in stores anymore. I love the little pink bows too.
The only downside that I did not like was the stroller has little end caps that keep popping off on the wheels and the connector pieces on the bonnet for the car seat were kind of flimsy. I put tape around the ends the keep it from cracking when adjusting the bonnet.
Other than that, I LOVE this set and can't wait until this summer when I can take my daughter for a ride in the stroller.
This is an amazing stroller. Read the review and watch the 5 minute video by Baby Gizmo if it is still available. She did a great job at putting together that video to explain how it handles and general usage. Be warned where you buy it though, I bought this from BabyAge and had many problems working with them (I'd recommend avoiding BabyAge and going with another Amazon seller, even if it costs more).
(Yes the review is long. Read below for detailed information on the quality, assembly, handling, the all important 5 point harness, and individual reviews of the stroller and car seat as well as how well they work together. I've also submitted pictures showing these features. I'm writing this review since many seem to have disappeared recently when what looks like Amazon merged them all from various sellers into a single product review set.)
First of all is the harness that holds baby into the seat. Unlike some lower end systems, the harness clasps do not all connect at the same point near baby's waist. The arm straps clip together at chest level so that your baby's upper body is firmly held into place. Then the waist belt clips connect to the leg dividing strap for the lower portion to be secured. Rather than looking like a "¥" (Yen, Japanese currency, character #165), think of double parentheses joined in the middle ")(" and sitting on top of a capital "T". The upper (chest) clips and the belt clips are not joined, to allow for a comfortable and solid fit over different parts of the body. This is more comfortable for baby. There is even padding around the head piece and sides for when baby is still small and needs more support / snugness to fit properly.
Yes it is heavy compared to others, but it is solid. We've had it almost a week and have made several trips out with it. We get compliments from almost anybody who notices how well built it is and that it has a sturdy feel to it. We found this one originally while visiting up in Montreal Canada. Unfortunately the retail stores down here don't sell good quality stuff. (I had to find this online because the same store chains sell falling apart discount stuff here for the same price they sell the higher quality stuff in other parts of the US and Canada.)
Assembly was easy and the instructions are simple and industry standard layout (part listings with letters, step by step guide with pictures). They are in English and Spanish (didn't see French). I am classed as legally blind, with vision of 20/300, and didn't find it difficult to put together, so I'd expect that most others should have no problem.
How does it handle off road? You would think that sidewalks are illegal in our city but the wheels show how much they were made for this kind of outdoor and off road situations. We've ran this over gravel and dirt, grass, curbs, speed bumps, and various surface textures (slippery to rough). It handles everything great. The shocks in the front help absorb impact when baby is sitting in the car seat (the basket / older baby seating area hasn't been tested in use yet, but feels like it will absorb the bounces in place of rear wheel shocks).
Folding and unfolding is easy, although unfolding might take a 2nd hand to set it into place. (We're not that experienced at it yet so this could be something that needs getting used to.) The canopy extends about half way over the stroller and has a window built in. The window appears to be angled more for seeing baby while in the car seat rather than in the stroller. Brakes are a bar and cog type. The bar (which extends to both sides and has a brake petal on each end for one foot breaking) snaps down in between the lumps in the cogs. You won't find a pressure pad or clamp that can slip. This is a secure and sturdy braking system that easily holds up against a steep slope (great for when you're on a hill and don't want to use a lot of energy holding the stroller in place).
The car seat actually has 4 holes for the shoulder straps. Our baby was still over 4 weeks premature when he first tried to use it, only weighing 6 pounds (or an ounce under), and he needed the second strap. The manufacturer says it supports 4 pounds, and based on his size (having only grown 2 inches since birth) this fits the description. Adjustment isn't hard to do, and the excess strap can be rolled and tucked into an opening under the seat cover (down near the end between baby's legs). The level is a bubble level built into the top of the sides (so it can be seen from above, not inside the side casing as some are that require you to stick your head in the nearby seat in order to see).
How do they work together? The stroller has 2 buttons that stick out from each side, with the end resting just on the child's tray. (You're aiming so that it barely covers the handle cut outs of the cup holders.) It locks into place securely and the carrying bar does not extend far beyond the stroller's edges, so it is in line with everything else and not an overhanging obstruction. Also, the canopy of both the car seat and the stroller meet against each other (stroller slightly overlapping, securely overlapping if you flex the clear end over the car seat canopy's rim - this is snug enough to keep a strong Oklahoma/tornado alley wind from pushing the two apart).
The manual does mention that replacement parts are available, which is always nice as a backup, even though it shouldn't be needed with this one.
I absolutely love this system. It has great handling which is perfect for shopping and getting down tight aisles. It has a very smooth ride. When used together, the shade from the stroller and car seat pull together to make a full tent cover over baby. It folds up very nicely and is quite compact. I took this along when flying with my baby to Mexico and it worked so well. The cup holders and compartment are great for mom and dad. The car seat is also narrow so that others can still fit in the back seat of a small car and it is very portable. The only complaint I have is that the stroller seat does no lay completely flat for a sleeping baby. Also, as my son is still not sitting up on his own, it would be nice if the stroller seat would also sit completely upright. (like a 90 degree angle) These are very minor details so other than that, it is wonderful.
This travel set is great--it's compact and comes with everything you need. The "bucket" is an ideal car seat for newborn babies. The carriage is light weight and attractive looking, too. It's also good colors for a boy or a girl.
I researched for ages before deciding on the Chicco travel system. There was a lot to like about it..
1) the stroller was relatively light
2) easy to fold, while not quite one touch, folding is a painless process. My wife saw that as the main selling point when we were trying to chose. You do have to make sure the handle is in the right place to make it easier though.
3) maneuverable, very easy to get around on smooth pavement.
4) the infant seat clicks in very easily, you do again have to make sure the stroller's handle is in the correct position
5) the infant car seat fits easily in the base with a very reassuring click. You know it is locked in
6) while little bubs may not look comfortable to me, he sleeps very easily in the seat. Pretty much immediately after I put him in he falls asleep.
7) easy to tighten and sdjust the straps on the infant seat.
Now the dislikes of the stroller
1)very flimsy stroller, it looks cheaply made
2)not a fan of the plastic wheels, they get stuck on every curb and the stroller bounces a lot on anything that is not smooth pavement. I think it is a reflection of the wheels, too small so they limit where you can go with them
3) not much padding on the stroller.
4) The stroller takes up a lot of room in the trunk when folded, we have a VW Passat, and while not the largest trunk in the world, I did not expect not so little trunk space left!
5) Not sure we have a dodgy one but the front wheels sometimes lock themselves.
To be honest, this stroller will not last, while I am a fan of the infant seat, I do not see us with this stroller for very long. We will use the infant seat, which I am a huge fan until he grows out of it then move on to something else. So all in all it is worth 4 stars for the convenience of the travel system and the fact that our little one seems to like being in the infant seat. I am a bit concerned regarding the amount of padding on the seat after we remove the infant insert. For the price of the stroller and the seat, it is a great buy.
