Top 5 Best Car Seat Stroller Combo | 2017 Reviews
There are many reasons why parents would want to get a car seat stroller combo instead of just one or the other. Basically, this combo is made up of three things: a stroller, an infant car seat and a car seat base. But, why get the combination of these?
Obviously, the main reason to get this combo is that getting all items in a package is usually much cheaper compared to getting them one by one. Another reason is that it makes getting the baby in and out of the car much easier. You do not have to take them out of the car seat; you can just instead take the car seat out and attach it to the compatible stroller thus avoiding the need to wake the baby up. It definitely makes thing a whole lot more convenient for parents.
So, how do you look for the best travel system that is right for you? One of the things that you should look into is safety. Products from known manufacturers are already JPMA certified but it doesn’t hurt to double check if the seal is there.
You might also want to check if the stroller with car seat combo that you are about to purchase is right for your lifestyle. If you constantly travel, go for a model that is lightweight. However, if you are fond of running or jogging, you might be better off with a jogger or all-terrain stroller. Strollers with four wheels provide better stability but three-wheeled ones are easier to maneuver around narrow hallways and tight spaces. In the end, choose a model that will make things more comfortable and easier for you.
Quick Comparison Table
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Travel System   Read Our Review |
4 to 35 pounds 55 pounds |
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KeyFit 30  Read Our Review |
4 to 40 pounds 50 pounds |
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5 Travel System  Read Our Review |
30 pounds 50 pounds |
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Connect Travel System  Read Our Review |
4 to 35 pounds 50 pounds |
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 Read Our Review |
4 to 35 pounds 55 pounds |
When it comes to all available car seat stroller combinations in the market, the Britax B-Agile is perhaps the best of all. The entire system weighs a total of just 27 pounds – 9 for the car seat and 18 for the stroller – which is quite lightweight already for its kind. Its car seat can also carry up to 35 pounds of baby weight while the stroller can accommodate up to 55 pounds.
What is awesome about the Britax B-Agile is that it comes with a number of safety features that so the car seat absorbs more of the impact in case of accidents. We also love that it comes with a lower latch connector so taking the seat in and out of the car and stroller is a breeze. Other features we like about this stroller is its very huge sun canopy, which provides more than enough protection against the sun, and an adjustable recline, perfect for sleeping kiddos.
But, of course, just like other baby travel systems available in the market, the Britax B-Agile is not at all perfect. There are many things that still need improvement such as putting in more space in the car seat especially around the shoulder area. The car seat is also much heavier than average making it a chore to carry it around for a long time. Its stroller, however, comes with a lightweight design and is very easy to push around.
Tall parents may not quite like the stroller as it does not come with adjustable handlebars. Additionally, active parents who go on runs or jogs or just love strolling on rough terrains cannot rely upon this product as it is not designed to take on bumps very well.
Regardless, we still think that this product is great with an easy folding feature, easy maneuverability because of its 3-wheel design and front swivel wheels so it still deserves to be at the top spot in our list.
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Details of the Britax B-Agile/B-Safe 35 Travel System |
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Car Seat Weight |
9 pounds |
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Car Seat Weight Capacity |
4 to 35 pounds |
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Stroller Weight |
18 pounds |
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Stroller Weight Capacity |
55 pounds |
When it comes to products for kids from birth to three years, Chicco, a European brand, is not to be left behind. And, when we talk about travel systems, among the first thing that comes to mind is the Chicco Cortina travel system.
What is so great about this item? What makes this stand out among the rest is the Chicco Cortina Keyfit 30 car seat’s superior rating when it comes to crash protection. In fact, Consumer Reports has rated it as the best in that category thus making it the best baby travel system in the list. The stroller was actually designed to be made compatible to the car seat and not the other way around.
The infant car seat is made with the EPS energy absorbing foam which helps absorb the impact during untoward incidents and the car seat base also comes with dual level indicators and a one-pull latch for easy tightening.
Meanwhile, its stroller performs quite well when compared to other similar products. It is adjustable and can be fully reclined, has an all-wheel suspension, rear brakes and a 5-point harness. Additionally, it has enough storage underneath the seat and also has a parent and child cup holder.
Other reasons you might want to consider the Chicco travel system is its adjustable handle height (perfect for tall parents), memory recline, easy folding mechanism, easy maneuverability and lockable front wheels. It does have a few cons though including a bulky stroller that is not exactly the most practical to use every day. Its storage compartment might also not be huge enough to accommodate phones larger than the regular iPhone. Additionally, you might find it hard to access the storage basket if you attach the car seat to the stroller.
Chicco’s number one feature is safety but after checking other pros and cons, we will have to push it down to the second spot in our list, in favor of the Britax B-Agile.
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Details of the Chicco Cortina KeyFit 30 |
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Car Seat Weight |
9 pounds |
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Car Seat Weight Capacity |
4 to 40 pounds |
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Stroller Weight |
23 pounds |
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Stroller Weight Capacity |
50 pounds |
As you might already be aware that Baby Trend is one of the leading baby products manufacturers and have etched their reputation for great quality. This travel system is just an example of it. The car seat weighs close to 11 pounds while the stroller is at 25 pounds bringing it all to 36 pounds, not bad at all considering that the stroller can accommodate up to a 50 pounds!
Now, what do we like about this travel system? Well, there is the adjustable 5-point harness that comes with shoulder pads. It even has belly pads and a pillow for added comfort and protection. Its extendable canopy also ensures that your kid stays protected from the sun even if you stay outdoors for hours. Also the peek- o- Boo window in the canopy can keep your child amused for a while.
At just 25 pounds for the stroller, this car seat and stroller is among the lightest in the market (though this can still be heavy for some parents). Bringing the stroller in and out of the car is a breeze and you can even fold it easily with just one hand. Additionally, we love that this stroller comes with adjustable handlebars making it very easy to adjust for different parent heights.
It should be noted, however, that this travel system is not meant for jogging. But, it does come with pneumatic tires so it can take on rough terrains quite easily. Plus, the three wheel stroller provides outstanding ease of maneuverability compared to conventional travel system strollers. Parents do not have to worry so much about going downhill because it comes with easy to operate footbrakes on the rear tires.
If you are looking more into travel systems with a good suspension system that you can take easily along uneven surfaces, we highly recommend you get this one. It still does come with a few cons so we have to put this one down to the middle of our list.
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Details of the Baby Trend EZ Ride 5 Travel System |
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Car Seat Weight |
11 pounds |
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Car Seat Weight Capacity |
30 pounds |
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Stroller Weight |
25 pounds |
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Stroller Weight Capacity |
50 pounds |
Another stroller and carseat combo that new parents might want to consider looking into is the Aire3 Click Connect Travel System from Graco. The combined weight for the stroller (22 pounds) and car seat (14.2 pounds) totals to 36.2 pounds, making it the heaviest system in our list. The car seat is able to accommodate an infant up to 35 pounds while the stroller can hold up to 50 pounds of baby weight.
What do we love about this product? For starters, it comes with a one-second, one-hand fold so you can fold and store the stroller (despite dealing with all the weight) with just a single hand. You can freely hold your child with your other hand if that is something you have to do. The stroller also locks in place automatically when folded and can stand on its own, making it very easy to transport and store.
We did notice that the handlebars can be a pain to adjust up and down because of the huge canopy from the car seat. Bringing an infant around with this stroller might cause some problem for parents with different handle bar configurations because of this. Another problem parents might get into is getting the car seat in and out of the stroller. No, you would not have any issues putting it in and out of the base inside the car or into the stroller but getting it out of the stroller can pose difficulties.
This stroller travel system may also result to issues with some kids. The car seat tends to be warmer than usual and also harder and a little uncomfortable. As for the stroller, there is the issue of not being able to leave it standing on its own when folded for transport and storage. This could be very challenging especially for parents who have to go out alone with their little ones.
With all its pros and cons, we believe that this travel system should be placed on the fourth position.
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Graco Aire3 Click Connect Travel System |
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Car Seat Weight |
14.2 pounds |
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Car Seat Weight Capacity |
4 to 35 pounds |
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Stroller Weight |
22 pounds |
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Stroller Weight Capacity |
50 pounds |
When it comes to all things babies, Graco never seems to fail in delivering its promise and this particular stroller carseat combo is no exception. The FastAction Fold Sport is a combination of the car seat (11 pounds) and stroller (21.5 pounds) that brings everything to a total weight of 32.5 pounds, not bad for a travel system.
Why do we love this Graco stroller? For starters, it comes with three wheels which make maneuverability much easier. It even has multiple recline adjusts to make older kids a lot comfortable during strolls plus the large storage basket with extendable rear pouch makes journeys, long or short, for parents. The stroller also comes with parent and child trays each with cup holders. Additionally, the 3- or 5-point harness (can convert to 3-point harness for older kids for added movement) is a great safety feature. Of course, the car seat also comes with the standard energy absorbing foam. Don’t worry because it is very safe even for newborns to use.
What else is there to like about this travel system? This one is perfect for families that drive compact cars. The base fits comfortably in small cars and comes with an easy release car seat so you won’t have a hard time getting it in and out of the car or stroller. Meanwhile, the stroller is light to use and easy to assemble and comes with an extended canopy for added sun protection.
The only thing we didn’t quite like about this Graco stroller is that unlike other similar travel system strollers, it is less compact when folded. In fact, we did notice that it stays slightly open and does not lock in place even when it is being folder for transport and storage.
After weighing all the pros and cons that this awesome travel system has, we believe that it deserves to be placed at the bottom spot in our list.
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Graco FastAction Fold Sport Click Connect |
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Car Seat Weight |
11 pounds |
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Car Seat Weight Capacity |
4 to 35 pounds |
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Stroller Weight |
21.5 pounds |
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Stroller Weight Capacity |
55 pounds |
Looking for the best travel system for you and your kid can be really intimidating. This is the reason why you shouldn’t make a purchase on the very first product that you meet along the way. Instead, look through the functionalities, features, pros and cons of each item and decide if it is best for your lifestyle or not.
You may end up saving a few hundred dollars but if you are not careful, you could end up spending more because you went with the stroller and car seat combination that used cheap materials. Check carefully and make sure you know what you want.
FAQ (By Our Ardent Readers)
- What is a baby car seat stroller combo? As the name itself suggests it is a car seat and a stroller combo. The stroller comes with a car seat attachment, so that you could just lift the car seat from your car and plug it in into the stroller without having to wake up your baby.
- Why do i need a combination of car seat and stroller? Mainly for 2 reasons; one, it makes your life easier when you have to get your little one in and out of the car several times and two, most importantly saves you a lot of money.
- How affordable is the car seat with a stroller attached? It is definetely more affordable than buying them separately and is also put to good use when you need it the most.
- Is the car seat stroller combo an all terrain stroller? Though the safety features are very well taken care of in all models, they are not particularly designed for joggers or moms who would like to be very active. They are not very good at taking the bumps very well. It is best suited for daily shopping, or a small stroll down the road.
- Can i use them as an alternative for jogging stroller? Not really. Though certain models are strong enough to take the impact of bumps, they are not particularly designed for the jogging purpose. We would strongly recommend a jogging stroller instead. Please read our in-depth reviews of jogging strollers and decide for yourself.
- Can i put my new born in when its used as a car seat and not stroller? Yes but on a car seat. The stroller seat has reclining positions but may not be well suited for a new born. They may have to be a little matured to be able to put on a stroller.
- Is there enough storage space in the especially if its sold as a combination stroller? Yes certainly there is. You could keep all you baby stuff and also a small bag of shopping in it.
- Are there cup/bottle holders in it? Yes of course there is. Some of them provide a cup holder for moms too with an added luxury of putting away your mobile/keys while you are tucking in your child into the stroller.
- Does the combo stroller/car seat comes with an extra car seat base? Yes most models do. So please read the product details before buying them.
- Can i get a car seat stroller combo for twins or triplets? Yes there are a few available in the market, but not many. You need to be careful about reading through the manual and be able to choose the right one for your family.
- Can i take them on a airplane? Yes but you may have to checkin at the counter or at the gate for easy store away during travel.
- Is the combo system bulky? To your pleasant surprise NO. It is strong but not very heavy and most importantly easy to handle.
- Can i fix the car seat easily on the stroller? Yes of course. Some of them have lower latch connectors that makes it really easy to fix the car seat without any hassle. Always be sure the car seat is perfectly locked in place before you start moving the stroller.
- Can i get the car seat in various colours with and without the stroller? Yes but very rarely. They are normally unisex colours like black or brown. But some models do pink and blue to highlight the sex of the baby.
- Can i get car seat stroller combo with characters like disney, frozen, owl, winnie the pooh, monkey, zebra etc? Yes you can. Now a days the manufacturers keep in mind the taste of customers and manufacture products that gives maximum satisfaction to the buyer.
- Where can i buy a cheap car seat stroller combo for our family? When it is the safety of your loved one, we wouldn't recommend cheap or used products as it may compromise the safety of your child. Having said that, there are many branded strollers with good safety records that are available in the market to suit the budget of everyone. Kindly read through our in-depth review and check the pricing before you buy them.
- Where can i buy the car seat stroller combo?Are they only available in stores? You could buy them in store or through trusted online retailers like Amazon. Don't forget to read our in-depth review about the strollers before you decide.
The post Top 5 Best Car Seat Stroller Combo | 2017 Reviews appeared first on ParentsNeed.
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