19 Oct, 2007
Travel systems have become increasingly popular over the last few years, as they include both a stroller and a car seat. The Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Travel System is one of the most popular selling travel systems. It sits in the middle of the Graco Travel System range, providing a range of features comparable with more expensive models. The stroller is very strong and is comfortable over rough surfaces. The handle bars are at a nice height and it feels very sturdy and not easy to tip over, even when shopping bags are hung from the bar. The LATCH equipped car seat accommodates infants up to about 1 year of age, before you move them into a larger car seat. This can negate the requirement to purchase an expensive convertible car seat. As the car seat is designed for the 0 to 1 year age group, it supports a full recline allowing the baby to lay almost flat (convertible car seats are inclined a few degrees in comparison).
Stroller Key Features
- For infants and children up to 4 years and less than 50 lbs. Rear facing for infants 5-30 lbs and less than 32″
- Has one hand gravity fold
- Included baby tray
- An aluminum welded frame
- A tuck away sun visor
- Front swivel wheels with locks and suspension
- Has a combination 3 or 5 point harness
- 4-position flat reclining seat
- one-touch brakes
Car Seat Key Features
- 5 point harness
- 2-piece chest clip
- Removable infant head support and cold weather boot
- Stay-in-car adjustable base
- LATCH equipped for fitting in most modern cars
We only used the Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Travel System for a short time, but were very impressed with its sturdy construction and included features. The stroller on its own would be worth the cost and it compares well to similarly priced strollers. The inclusion of the infant car seat only adds to the value.
There are a number of Graco Quattro Tour models available in a wide range of patterns and colours.
The Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Travel System ia available for$195.
Highly Recommended
23 Aug, 2007
One of the criticisms of the many strollers is the lack of convinient pockets. The best selling Maclaren Techno XT does include 2 small pockets at the rear, but if you store the included rain cover in one, then other pocket is very small, and just big enough for a mobile phone.
The Maclaren Universal Organizer offers a convinient may of adding additional storage to your stroller. One of the best features of this organiser is that it is not designed just for Maclaren strollers. It attaches using strong velcro straps to the handles, therefore allowing it to fit a wide range of strollers.
The organiser includes 2 cup holders, conviniently positioned close to the stroller handles. The real problem with the organiser is the size of the cup holders. They are not very large, and can only hold small cans or bottles. They can also hold baby bottles, but you would typically store these in an insulated bag. The main pouch is very large, but you will need to be careful with storing heavy items. As with many strollers, carrying a bag on the back can make the stroller tip easily.
Overall, there is nothing particularly exciting about this product. It serves a purpose and can be helpful if you want to store a couple of small bottles and some extra things. For day trips when you do not want to carry lots of bags, it can help to store more things on the stroller.
[Update] - I have updated the images in this review to give a clearer indication of how the Maclaren Universal Organizer attached to a stroller. After using the product for an extended period, I can confirm some of the points I raised above. The cup holders will only just fit the larger style bottles, and if you have different sized containers (we have a few water bottles) they may not fit as they are too wide. We also found that when loaded with a couple of full bottles and some things in the pocket (perhaps a couple of books or magazines), the extra weight will cause the stroller to easily tip backwards. With a lighter baby, this can be very unsettling, as you are concious to always keep a hand on the stroller for support. I can see how such an accessory can be handy, but think that it may not be suitable for lighter strollers. My 3 star rating is unchanged.
Recommended
