In It's Sixth Year Of Service And Going Strong
Written: Aug 25 '06
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Pros: Reliable, durable and easy to use
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: This stroller has reliably served two kids over five and a half years and is still on the job.
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| kengrubb's Full Review: Evenflo Trendsetter Travel System |
In December of 2000, we purchased an Evenflo Trendsetter Travel System in anticipation of the birth of our first child. We based our purchase decision upon positive reviews in Consumer Reports.
In January 2001, our son came home in the included On My Way infant car seat. The infant car seat and detachable base concept is sheer genius. The base remains securely belted in the vehicle, and the infant car seat is easily locked in place or removed.
Extra bases can be purchased if one owns more than one vehicle, but not all Evenflo bases and infant car seats are compatible. In recent years, Evenflo has made several lines of infant car seats including On My Way, Discovery and Embrace.
We have found store employees at Babies R Us and Baby Depot at Burlington Coat Factory very knowledgeable and helpful in matching infant car seats to bases. Results may vary at these and other stores near you.
If you want to make absolutely certain, you can call Evenflo's 800 number on their website and order direct. Have handy the model number and date of manufacture located on the car seat label. Evenflo representatives are extremely helpful, but without those numbers they cannot give you a lot of help.
The wide base and our small car weren't an ideal match. At a car seat inspection day, the inspector pointed out that the base still wobbled in the center rear seat position and recommended we move it to right rear seat position. There we were able to get a very snug fit with no wobble.
When he turned one year old, our son had outgrown the infant car seat so it was retired. However, the stroller has remained in use to this day--five and a half years and counting.
My wife refers to the stroller as "the battle wagon", and it's an appropriate appellation. If there is a paved road or walkway and we need the "carrying capacity", it goes with us. A roomy carrying pouch underneath and outside mesh pockets on either side make shopping a bit easier. I don't know what weight the underneath pouch is rated for, but we stuff it completely full and it's neither ripped nor sagging.
After about three and a half years of use, we had two plastic parts break. First the hook that secures the stroller when folded for storage, and then the center handle that allows one to steer the stroller one handed. The hook was available to order online as a replacement part, but unfortunately the center handle was not. We never really steered it one handed before, and we don't miss that option now.
When a second child, a girl, was due in April 2005, I called Evenflo and inquired about an infant car seat and base that would work with the stroller. The representative told me that while the On My Way product line was no longer produced, the Discovery product line was available in stores and that any Discovery infant car seat would work fine. Our daughter used the Discovery infant car seat with the stroller until she outgrew it, but she still uses the stroller.
A few weeks ago, one of the locking tabs for a front wheel cracked. It's still usable, but I checked and there's a replacement part available for about $10.
Other than that one replaced hook, everything else is original. The wheels show wear, but they still roll just fine. The cloth seat cover shows some fading, but it remains in very good condition. All the buckles still work fine, and the webbing isn't frayed or damaged. Canopy folds, seat reclines, and the wheel locks lock. The stroller folds and securely locks in the folded position for storage as easily as it unlocks, unfolds and locks in the open position for use.
Some might think it a bit large and bulky, but we used it just fine with our small Saturn SW2 wagon. Now that we have a minivan, space isn't a problem and we're quite happy with the durability and reliability.
If I'm successful in "negotiating" with my wife for a third child, this stroller might be in use for a few more years to come.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 150
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
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Epinions.com ID:
kengrubb
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Member: Ken Grubb
Location: Puyallup, WA, USA
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 0 members
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