Kolcraft Contours Option 3 Wheeler ZL018 - Ruby Jogger Stroller

We are on baby number two and with our first child, we went with an Eddie Bauer Stroller/Car Seat combo. While the combo was a good option, the second time around I wanted to choose a car seat based on the best safety rating I could find and if we could afford a stroller after purchasing car seats, so be it. I was more than thrilled when we found this stroller on clearance at Burlington Coat Factory. I wanted a jogger, but knew that wouldn't be practical for me. (In reality, if I'm on a run, it is me-time and I need to focus on my running form and being safe b/c I'm not in the best of shape -- not something you can do easily if you are also pushing a stroller, monitoring your baby, etc..) I realized that I wanted the looks of a jogger, with its maneuverability, but needed something more versatile and practical (and not so expensive as a jogger). I didn't think all those criteria could be met until this stroller came along.

Here is what you get:

* Cupholder and tray for baby (when they are ready)

* Cupholders and tray for you (detachable if you don't want them)

* A Convertible seat for the baby - can work either front facing OR facing you - like a carriage. This is a WONDERFUL feature! This means the stroller is as great for a newborn as it is for a toddler. Reclining the seat is a one hand operation and is super easy. Switching the seat from front facing to back facing takes both hands - not a big deal, because it is such a smooth operation. The seat also has a wonderful canopy so baby has sufficient privacy and coverage from the sun while she is snoozing away. The "boot" area is also adjustable - it flips up to keep the carriage enclosure comfy for baby while she is little, and then flips down to be her padded leg rest as she grows and is able to ride facing forward and upright.

* The seat is comfortable and comes with a head rest, extra cushion and belts for baby. When I say comfortable, I mean it. Our daughter has acid reflux and HATES to be on her back. However, she is so comfortable in the stroller, we had to put her in this to get her to sleep on several occasions. She has taken her AM naps in the stroller while I be-bopped around the mall. When she is in her stroller, she is undisturbed and rests so well! We even took the seat with us recently to a High School graduation ceremony - I couldn't get the stroller up the bleacher steps, so we popped out the seat, carried baby in it while she slept, and never missed a beat!

* Great storage under the seat area. I packed a large diaper bag, my briefcase-sized purse, snuggli, 35mm camera bag and lunch for four (including water bottles) to the zoo just last week! (I don't recommend taking so much, but if you have to, you can)

* Fold-up and storage is a two-handed operation, and the stroller must be separated from the seat. This can be a downer, but it is not a deal breaker in my opinion because each piece is lighter in weight to lift and move around than having a large, one-piece unit that you can't break down if necessary. That said, it can still be kind of awkward - but it's not so bad when you get the hang of it. We have a shorter length Ford Windstar and I will admit, the stroller takes up almost all of my cargo space if I leave the third seat upright. This has been an issue when packing home groceries and stuff, but not something that has created a serious problem. I can still fit everything in!

* The set also comes with a carrier so you can USE YOUR OWN CAR SEAT instead of popping in the seat that comes with the stroller. This added feature is PRICELESS! If baby is snoozing in the car seat, you can keep her in the car seat and still stroll into the store. We have Graco Snugrides in our cars and they work fine with the Kolcraft carrier.

* Some other invaluable features include the front wheel - it steers and is not stationery - unless you lock it in. This alone is worth all the money - I can drive this with one hand, while holding baby if she is fussy and wiggle in and out of stores no problem. The handle is a great height (I and my husband are 5'9"/5'10") and it is foam padded for comfort. We have manuevered into some tight bathroom stalls with ease thanks to that wheel. I wouldn't touch a stroller now that doesn't have that feature.

The entire unit has all the looks of a sporty jogger, but is a much smarter stroller though because it is so much more functional. I recommend picking up an inexpensive mosquito net for your stroller too - this is such a great stroller, you will have it outdoors alot! It handles bumps as well as any buggy - and probably somewhat better too because of the good wheels and the springs on the seat.

The only downsides I discovered is that we couldn't find it in other color combos and that, after not even two months of use, I have managed to scratch it up and the foam padding on the handle has a slight tear. If nothing else, I guess that attests to HOW MUCH I have used this stroller because it is so versatile and easy to take along. I didn't use our other stroller at all until our daughter was much, much older and even then, we rarely took it into the mall. It was so large, even with it's one-handed collapsible operation, that I preferred to use the mall strollers!