hannahmont's Full Review: Valco Latitude Single stroller - Silk Black Jogger
We've been using the Valco Latitude single stroller for a few months now. We chose it for the following reasons: it was lighter in weight than other full featured strollers (19 lbs), fully reclines to flat to accomodate newborns who should not spend much time in the sitting position (such as a car seat), it's modern looking and isn't made with gaudy plastics and fabrics, it's cheaper than many of the fancier strollers out there. We bought the adapter so it works with the Maxi-Cosi Mico car seat we use, but we have never used it with the car seat because the full recline is so much better for the baby.
HANDLING/RIDE: It's very easy to steer, almost too easy! It's very responsive. I have a bit of a hard time steering one handed because it turns so well, but I'd rather have it turn well than not. The wheels are plastic, so it's a bumpy ride over rocks and dirt, but it's easy to push over these surfaces. The stroller handle is padded with dense foam and it very comfortable to push. I hang my Skip Hop Dash diaper bag off the back and it works great!
RECLINE/SEAT: The recline works very easily. Simply grab the strap clip thing in the back and pull down to lower. Raising it is a bit tricky and requires two hands - one to grab the strap clip thing and the other to push the seat up. It's much easier if the baby is not in the seat. It's worth it though because I love having infinite recline adjustment choices. I can easily lower the seat back when I notice the baby starting to fall asleep.
5 POINT HARNESS: This is a great feature and it works well. The clip is child safe and requires you to push down on the inserted clip and then push the button to release. It's impossible to open without first pushing down on the inserted clip. A good thing to mention to your babysitter! The straps are padded well. It's a bit tricky to get the straps adjusted to the right size, but once you get it done, you're good to go.
SUNSHADE: There is a peek a boo window which is great. It has a cover that flaps open or closed to block light if needed. The shade is amply big, but not obnoxious. I like that it locks open if you want. I do want to purchase a UV/bug screen to place over the stroller. It comes with a rain shield which is nice, but a UV/bug screen would be more useful.
OPEN/CLOSE: This is the one aspect of the stroller that I really dislike. Closing it up is tricky and usually requires a couple tries. It requires two hands and using some muscles. Also, the front wheel has to be turned a certain way or you cannot close the stroller all the way. There is a strap that keep the stroller closed up and I have a really hard time getting this strap unhooked. I usually don't hook it because it's so tricky getting it undone. Opening the stroller is easier than closing it up. Just have to pick it up by the handle and the seat clicks open. 19 lbs. doesn't sound like much, but when it's 19 lbs. of unwieldy stroller, it's actually pretty heavy. I can't imagine what it's like trying to open one of those 26 lb. strollers!
SIZE: It's funny - the stroller seems huge to me when it's folded up closed, but once it's open, it actually has a pretty small footprint. When I first pushed it around, I thought I looked ridiculous pushing this huge contraption, but when I looked at someone else pushing it, I realized it's actually pretty compact looking. It's definitely not a small stroller (like an umbrella), but it's not huge and gaudy. I wouldn't take it into a small store or restaurant (but that's something you shouldn't do with any stroller anyway), but it does well at the mall and in department stores. It's pretty big when folded up, especially with the bumper bar thing attached. I just purchased a smaller umbrella style stroller for travel and day to day because this one just takes up too much room in the hatch of my car (Mazda 3 wagon).
ACCESSORIES: The stroller comes with a boot cover, which was great in the cooler weather. It snaps on easily and is color coordinated. As mentioned before, the stroller also comes with a rain cover. There is no cup holder, but I think you can buy one that clips on.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 299
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months
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