Best of a bunch of bad options - but not good
October 26, 2017
We have a three-year-old and four-month-old and went looking for a sit 'n' stand stroller before having the second. I happened upon this one, which was pretty new at the time, and compared to everything else on the market it looked like the best option, so we went with it. I still think it's the best option in this category of strollers, but that's mostly a testament to how horrible the available sit 'n' stand options are. It has good elements, but I definitely don't love it.
Pros:
• My three-year-old is happy with the jump seat and standing board, and actually fits on them without being squashed by the handle bar. This was probably the most important criterion we looked for in a stroller, since there was no point in getting a sit 'n' stand for two kids if one kid wouldn't actually use it due to discomfort. Our oldest (who's tall) definitely has enough room, and that's awesome.
• Adult feet don't hit the standing board as they walk! This was a huge issue with other strollers and add-on boards, and was the reason we rejected just getting a board to go on our otherwise beloved City Mini GT. There's no point in getting a sit 'n' stand if you won't use it because you're constantly walking into the stroller, and Chicco did a great job of solving that problem here.
• Storage basket. Almost the only thing I hated about the City Mini GT I had for my first child was how much work it was to get a moderately-loaded diaper bag into and out of the storage basket. The Bravo for 2 has access to the basket from the front and back and has a great amount of storage space!
• Stands on its own when folded. This is awesome.
Cons
• Feels low-quality and I have very little confidence it will hold up on city streets and sidewalks over time. Chicco makes a good jogging stroller, so I know the company's capable of making a stroller with rugged wheels and solid framework. This one feels . . . cheap. And flimsy. After just a couple of months the wheels have started making a regular squeaking noise. It can't go over minor dips or breaks in the sidewalk without an adult basically hanging from the handlebar to lift the wheels. The wheels look like they'll be pitted and worn through in about six months. We're not that hard on the thing - walking about ten blocks to school three-ish times a week, and maybe two other outings in the neighborhood in between. But this thing seems like it's only suited for someone who only wants to use it inside a mall.
• There is no recline position in the seat. The features say that the seat has two recline positions, but when I assembled it I could only make it do one, so I actually called Chicco. Jean, who I spoke to, said that nope, the only positions are straight up or folded flat down so that you can put your car seat on top of it. She acknowledge this could be "misleading." Uh . . . yup. I'd go so far as to say false advertising. So far my little one's just in the car seat, but I think we'll be majorly limited in using it as the baby gets older because there's no way to recline the seat for a sleeping baby. (For the record, there's room in the stroller frame where the seat could be made to recline more, even without infringing on the older child space - that's why I was so confused when I couldn't get it to lean back further. It just doesn't. Really poor design on Chicco's part.)
• The thing maneuvers about as well as an aircraft carrier. I get it, this is a trade-off for having enough space for both kids, and basically every double stroller of any kind maneuvers horrible. But there are strollers out there (like Chicco's own jogger) that are much more responsive to pressure on the handlebar and ride a lot smoother overall. This thing feels like driving a tank. And while it's not the worst I've driven, it leaves A LOT to be desired.
• It's heavy when folded. I could accept this more if it were a tradeoff for stability, but as discussed, the stroller doesn't feel all that solid and stable.
• The handle bar isn't great. First, it's not adjustable, which was a huge reason we loved and bought our City Mini GT. I'm 5'2" and my husband's 6'4", so it's really awesome to have a handle bar that adjusts to accommodate that difference. We survive with this one, but it would be such a great addition to make it adjustable. Also, the bar is covered in that horrible cheap, dense stroller handle foam that you know will start to break off halfway through its lifespan. Quality rubber would be a much better option, Chicco.
• The parent console is useless. The cupholders can't handle a regular Munchkin sippy cup or an adult insulated Camelbak bottle. The zip pouch can take my keys and, with some maneuvering, my regular iPhone 6 in a Lifeproof case. But if you want a place to stash a snack cup or larger wallet, well, nope. I want to use my old Skip and Bee fabric attachable console, but the Chicco one is built in and completely in the way! Trying to see if I can unscrew it without taking apart the whole stroller . . . .
So that's my take on this stroller. It hits some of the hardest things to find in a good sit 'n' stand, it's just really, REALLY annoying that in hitting the biggest things it's such a huge miss on some of the small things. We'll probably just muddle through with this until I can rely on my oldest to walk consistently, then go back to the City Mini GT. I just hope this happens before my infant wants to nap in the stroller . . . .
This product review was collected by the manufacturer.