11/11/2012

This stroller will go in the van, to the farmers market

I am quite surprised at the overwhelmingly positive reviews for this stroller.
We purchased the stroller when baby was 4 months old (5 months ago) and used it very lightly and succesfully for the first couple of weeks. After the first couple of weeks we started having problems when taking it shopping or on short walks on paved road..
It is nice looking and very light, however it is quite short, as one of the other reviews mentioned (I am 6'3" and my wife 5'4", and she finds it too short also), and it is very cheaply built.
The canopy does stick when opening and closing. The back reclines, but not all the way (baby can't lay flat or sit straight up comfortably). The seat is uncomfortable and baby always slides forward and sits hunched up. The tray is way too high up for our now 20-lb 9 month old (who is about 29" tall) and is still at his eye level, so we ended up not using it. The parent cup holder is also cheaply made and always falls off in the trunk.
My major complaint is its maneuverability. The wheels are pretty large, but they aren't double wheels, so the stroller is quite hard to turn. From the very first few uses we noticed the wheels slide rather than turn on smooth shopping center floors. Soon thereafter, the front wheels started locking and they need to be kicked into place if you need to change direction even slightly. Outdoor walks are not much better, and the locking front wheels make it come to an abrupt halt when even small obstacles come up.
We purchased the stroller for back-saving purposes, and its low height, combined with the wheels locking really outweigh the fact that the stroller is indeeed quite light.
Unfortulately we won't be able to return it, so we're looking at getting a different lightweight stroller. We're looking at more compact umbrella strollers with four double wheels and slightly higher handles. This product was a waste of money and will end up in the landfill a lot sooner than it should.I got this stroller after several failed attempts at finding the ONE. As a first time parent, I thought you had to have two strollers: a heavy duty one for those trips to the national parks, and an umbrella stroller to keep in the van for quick mall trips. Now, after having my second child, I have a better idea of what I want and what I dont need. First, I had the Kolkraft Contours Options three-wheeler which is the best stroller if you never have to fold it away and put it back up ;/. It was heavy-duty and can maneuver on the roughest terrains, but it was cumbersome to fold/go so we've left it open in the garage for park trips. I also had several 'light' strollers and two umbrella strollers. It got ridiculous and I still wasnt satisfied with them all. A month ago I decided it was time to get one stroller to do away with the others and decided (for me) the important amenities would be height (I'm 5'2 and my husband is 6'), to be lightweight but sturdy, and most important..the recline so we can let our baby sleep while we're out & about with our preschooler. None of our other strollers had a decent reclining seat and the reviews on the other lightweight strollers were not good in this respect. The Contours Light is amazing. It's so sturdy but lightweight! It has the superior Kolcraft maneuverability with wheels that swivel without the issues others have. The reclining seat is perfect as it allows for a variety of levels. Our baby has reflux so it's important to us to be able to adjust the degree of recline/incline. The height is perfect for both of us despite the variance. in our sizes. I only wish the handle was as comfy as the Options (which is padded), and I miss the super easy step brake, but.... You lose some amenities when you go down to the Lightweight models. Similarly, the cup holders are ...eh, but they work. I dont understand why parents have issues with their baby being at eye level with the child cup, as our little petite thing doesnt have that issue at all. The canopy is awesome, especially for a lightweight model. You can even undo the velcro in the back to let your sleeping baby get some air on her head without compromising the sun protection. Most of all, she likes the seat and was comfortable enough to fall asleep in it the first time we took her out! Score!! This stroller will go in the van, to the farmers market

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