Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

(See 2 Year Update at Bottom) In the course of a recent transition, we (that would be mostly me) had a brain cramp and packed our full-size Graco away with long-term storage items. Oops! Being eight months pregnant, carrying my squirmy 30lb eighteen-month-old around on my hip was just not going to cut it till we could get our original stroller back in a few months. I immediately knew I didn't want a typical umbrella stroller (too flimsy, not enough options) so I did a lot of research and decided firmly on the Jeep Cherokee Sport Stroller. Only problem? The "new" model (identical to this Kolcraft, but in blue and pink) was super difficult to find. When I did locate it on Amazon, it was way more expensive than I was willing to spend for a lightweight, possibly temporary stroller. Fast forward to stumbling across this Kolcraft. It looked suspiciously - exactly - like the Jeep Stroller, and a bit of research revealed that Kolcraft is the maker of the Jeep stroller. Same stroller, different names. So I ordered this one to try out. Important (to me) options: - Oversized visor - my little guy hates having the sun in his eyes, and I love that this stroller has a fold-down portion (black) that can also be pushed back into the red part of the visor. Simple but effective. - Five point harness - did I mention little guy is squirmy? He can get out of almost anything, but has not yet mastered evasion of the five point harness. - Nice recline - the recline is so easy, just an adjustable strap across the back that you can tighten for "upright" or loosen to whatever recline you desire. (It does not go flat, but that was not a requirement for my toddler. It does recline plenty far for him to rest comfortably when he is tired.) - Smooth ride - my biggest gripe with my full-size Graco was that it was unwieldy. Everyone who used it commented on this - the toddler was comfortable, but maneuverability was definitely compromised! When this Kolcraft stroller came, I took it out of the box and pushed it in circles around our kitchen (with toddler gleefully inside) - back and forth, side to side, twirl, etc. I was amazed at how easily it handled. A few days later, I took it out shopping and it did great navigating aisles and various surfaces. - Storage basket - definitely smaller than on my full-size, but still fits the diaper bag comfortably, or, if I left that in the the car (I don't usually have to have it along on short trips) would fit my purse with lots of room to spare. - Snack tray for rider - the cupholder definitely won't fit my little guy's go-to water bottle (Nalgene sippy) but I wouldn't have put it in there unsecured anyhow (he'd throw it). My main reason for wanting a bar across the front was that he likes to hold onto it when he's in the seat. So it accomplishes that purpose. I suppose I could put snacks in the tray. But I didn't even use the snack tray on my full-size for that purpose, so again, this one is fine. - Adult cupholder/tray - skinny cup holes...would fit a standard thin water bottle, maybe a Kleen Kanteen-sized one. I tend to use the adult tray simply for my keys, so again, this isn't a huge issue. Besides, the stroller is so light and easy to move, I can EASILY do it with one hand...so I can just hold my coffee, if I do happen to have some along. - Easy fold - I feel like there is a slight learning curve to the easy-fold, but that might just be that my model catches a bit. I think this will correct as it wears in. Mine does not stand upright by itself, but since it is stored either in my trunk (flat) or basement hall (leaning against the wall) that really doesn't make any difference one way or the other. Overall, this stroller is so lightweight that it's hard to believe it can hold up to 50lbs, but it did not "give" at all when I put my 30lb'er in it. I'm curious to see how it wears, but all the seams appear to be tight, the fabric seems rugged and there is nothing wobbly about this stroller. I am loving it, and highly recommend for the price and quality! The take-away? Pretty much as soon as I started pushing it around my kitchen, I told my husband we were getting rid of the full-size when it comes out of storage. Goodbye bulky, hello lightweight! Update (April 12, 2016): We have had and used this stroller for two years now, frequency ranging from daily to once or twice a week, depending on activities. I am still completely happy with my purchase. All of the seams are intact, there are no broken parts and it rides as well as the day we got it. We took the front tray off ages ago (it can be right at eye level for your child, depending on his/her size). Now our second child (another 30lb toddler) uses it comfortably, and his older (3.5 yr old) brother likes to help push it. I got the hang of the folding mechanism (the slide on the upper side of the handle needs to be moved and held BEFORE compressing the red "button" on the lower side of the handle) and it folds like a dream. I can easily fold and lift it in to my van with one hand, while wrangling the kids with the other. For the majority of stroller-worthy-tasks, this stroller has been fantastic. The only thing it does not work well for is when I want to power-walk, but let's be honest,it's not designed for that. I'm 5'9", though, and at a normal sidewalk/playground/grocery store pace, I'm completely comfortable pushing it. I highly recommend this stroller - two years, two sturdy kids, and barely any visible/functional wear and tear. We're keeping this handy for baby #3! *Be aware, there is no structure under the seat - it is essentially a fabric sling, but neither of my boys have ever complained about being uncomfortable in it; on the contrary, both have LOVED this stroller.