Great stroller but would pass on the car seat
January 16, 2021
Car seat pros:
- Lightweight and feels lighter than my other infant car seats, but this isn't particularly useful for me beyond 5-6 months. After that, we mostly lift the baby in/out of it.
- Recline is smooth and easy to adjust.
- Seat seems really well cushioned and comfortable. I appreciate the snaps on the strap cushions instead of velcro.
- Base is easy to install in both cars (mid size sedan and large SUV). The load leg is a new feature I haven't seen elsewhere, and it provides extra stability and security.
Cons:
- The release on the handles on car seat bar are placed awkwardly. Difficult to move bar. If sun canopy isn't entirely retracted, the bar cannot be pulled forward over the car seat.
- Sun canopy is useless as it barely covers the baby's head. The plastic part gets stuck on the car seat bar. Since all the edges of the plastic part aren't adhered to anything, it gets caught on things easily.
- Releasing the car seat from the base is difficult and has a learning curve. The release button is placed on the base, which is hard to reach when it is installed in the car, and there are two buttons to push, which is hard to do with one hand pushing up against the back of the seat in front of it. After pressing the release, you have to lift up from the baby's feet first, then the rest of the car seat lifts out. This is all new to me, as I've always had infant car seats that have a release directly on the car seat, which lifted straight up out of the base.
Travel system pros:
- Aesthetically, it is beautiful and classic, definitely a stroller I'd like to show off. The sleek black and silver look great with the brown leather handles.
- The adjustable height handle bar is an awesome feature, as there is a large height difference between my husband and me.
- It is really easy to maneuver and turn with even one hand.
- Generously sized storage basket underneath.
- The sun canopy is generous and looks great, but I don't like how clunky it feels when you open and retract it.
- The adjustable footrest is helpful if the child falls asleep and you wish to recline the seat.
- Wheels are great and smooth for all surfaces that I've tried (pavement, grass, dirt, gravel).
Cons:
- Opening/collapsing the stroller isn't as easy as they make it seem. I can not manage to do it with one hand, and I always fold it down the wrong way. It isn't super intuitive, and it has taken me multiple tries before opening/closing successfully.
- Takes up more space than my other stroller when collapsed, and it is heavier. If I had more storage, this would be a beautiful additional stroller to have on hand for city trips and every day use. If you have limited storage, I would probably pass for something a little more compact and easy to use.
- Brake is awkwardly angled and needs a lot of pressure so when trying to apply the brake without a child in it, the front of the stroller lifts up.
- The cup holder attaches to the side of the stroller, which makes it bump into things more easily. The other strollers I've had utilize a cup holder on the handle, so that it is more accessible and doesn't make the stroller wider.
Overall, the stroller is really nice, and if I had more space, I would definitely get it. It is so beautiful, smooth, and comfortable for the caregiver and the baby. I would just never collapse it unless we were doing a trip downtown or something. The car seat, on the other hand, is a big pass for me. For something higher end, it seems poorly designed/made.
This product review was collected by the manufacturer.