Stroller frames vs: travel systems?

MilesOfSmiles · July 2009

I'm not a fan of lugging around a huge stroller when the baby won't be needing it until they no longer fit in the 22 lb weight limit car seat it comes with. I have a mid-size car with a pretty small trunk. I thought a stroller frame would be a great solution, the car seat snaps into it just like a travel system. When baby outgrows the car seat, upgrade to a 65 lb weight limit capacity seat, and buy a new stroller. What are your thoughts on these? Do you have them? Do you like them? Do you think they're much more compact than a travel system?

I was looking at the Graco Snug Ride.

fnkeefresh · July 2009

If you have the money to do it, then go for it. I like the travel system better myself, the one we have is a graco and its light. The stroller weighs under 15lbs and it has the features that were important to us (cup holders, a tray for LO, adjustable height of the push bar & storage underneath) and we only wanted to buy one thing, not have to get one now and one later. SIL has the frame and it works for her, she really likes it.

Mereou12 · July 2009

We opted for the Baby Jogger City Mini. There's a carseat adaptor (sold separately, unfortunately) that accommodates quite a few carseats, including the SnugRide, which we're getting.

The stroller itself is only about 17 lbs, which is significantly less than the travel systems, and as far less bulky. I tried to pick up a travel system stroller in the store, and damn near threw out my back. The BJCM folds down really easily and *really* small, and will fit into the trunk of my Toyota Corolla with room to spare.

We did a TON of research on the subject, and finally realized that this is the best bet for us. We're hoping that this will be the only stroller we'll need (other than a smaller umbrella stroller for later on), as it will accommodate from infant to 50+ lbs.

lolo317 · July 2009

we plan to get the full stroller that a regular car seat snaps into. We have looked at all the options and that seams to be the best buy. We found one at target we like that's $170 (i think) that comes with the stroller, car seat and car base. Hubby took it down from the shelf at target and took the car seat off (which came off very easily) and folded the stroller up, it's not a bad size. That's our plan. Good luck

MadameFancyPants · July 2009

We have a Snap-n-go. I fell in love with it last year when my friend got one. It's super light and really compact. When A grows out of his carrier, we are just going to buy an umbrella stroller for him to ride around in.

tashacu02 · July 2009

We got a travel system so that we will already have the stroller available when she no longer needs the car seat to be attached. This is my first, but I was around my niece a lot when she was a baby and you will be amazed at how quickly they reach the 22lb mark. I would say if you have the extra money now to buy the travel system because the baby may need the stroller sooner than you think and I know that funds will probably be tight for us once the baby gets here. Also, I think even if you just got the frame, you would need to purchase some sort of stroller before the umbrella type stroller they can use when they get older. My niece was using her stroller from the travel system when she was about six months old and it was helpful because although she was big enough to sit up on her own, she still needed the bigger stroller for everything my sister needed to carry and it reclined back when she fell asleep. Good luck!

neonvicki81 · July 2009

I really want to get a jogger stroller because I'm super active. But, because there are all the additions to get a certain infant seat that fits in certain joggers, I'm just waiting to buy the jogger later.

I don't know what I'm getting for a stroller yet. I have been told the travel systems are a little too much.

whatever I buy, I'm buying for the next baby we have too!

nolongerdinks · July 2009

We're just getting an infant carseat and the Snap-and-Go Universal stroller base. (Baby Bargains also rated the Snap-and-Go as their top pick) This stroller is just much easier to use. One of my girlfriends had her son last year and bought a travel system. After a couple months she went to the snap and go and said it was WAY better than spending all the $ on the travel system.

When our little one grows out of the infant car seat, then we will just buy a new carseat and a more practical stroller (maybe jogger) that we can use with her until she is out of a stroller all together.

TDKitty · July 2009

I got a Snap n Go slightly used from Craigslist for $30, and I'm registering for a Snugride 32, which holds babies up to 32 lbs. I know I won't be carrying the infant seat around when my kid actually weighs 32 lbs, but with the higher-weight seat I should be able to keep using the Snap n Go for quite awhile. By the time he outgrows the Snugride/Snap n Go combo, I figure we'll have a better idea whether we walk enough to justify buying a really nice stroller or just get a $50 umbrella stroller. Either way, I think this is going to be the cheapest and easiest option for us!

JulieandBen · July 2009

I had a Chicco TS last time. I'm just getting a seat and a stroller frame this time. I have a Phil & Teds for my bigger stroller as I have another child.

You don't always have to use the carrier with the stroller. That's one thing to keep in mind. Strollers lay flat which is why you can put a newborn in them.

Mrs. Erin · July 2009

I'm planning on getting the Graco Snug Ride and the stroller frame. My sister had a travel system and HATED it, it was just so bulky, she wished she would have gotten the frame... so that's that I'm going to try!

emmyloustu · July 2009

We are also going with the Snap n Go frame and the Chicco Keyfit infant seat. I am just not a fan of the travel systems- too bulky and I have heard so many mommy complaints about them. We will invest in a nicer stroller (Maclaren, perhaps?) when baby outgrows the infant seat and I have a better idea of what our needs/wants are.

We spent awhile at a baby store yesterday with a salesperson going over the pros and cons of Graco Snug Ride vs. Chicco Keyfit and the Chicco was the better fit for us - the base is soooooo much easier to install and it has a few more convience factors.

Have fun choosing!

octoberbella · July 2009

emmyloustu:
We are also going with the Snap n Go frame and the Chicco Keyfit infant seat. I am just not a fan of the travel systems- too bulky and I have heard so many mommy complaints about them. We will invest in a nicer stroller (Maclaren, perhaps?) when baby outgrows the infant seat and I have a better idea of what our needs/wants are.

We spent awhile at a baby store yesterday with a salesperson going over the pros and cons of Graco Snug Ride vs. Chicco Keyfit and the Chicco was the better fit for us - the base is soooooo much easier to install and it has a few more convience factors.

Have fun choosing!

Have you bought this or tried it out yet? I was thinking of doing this same thing but I've heard that the Chicco doesn't fit well in the Snap N Go frame. I'm not sure how true that is because I haven't talked to anyone first hand who has actually used it.

emmyloustu · July 2009

octoberbella:
emmyloustu:

We are also going with the Snap n Go frame and the Chicco Keyfit infant seat. I am just not a fan of the travel systems- too bulky and I have heard so many mommy complaints about them. We will invest in a nicer stroller (Maclaren, perhaps?) when baby outgrows the infant seat and I have a better idea of what our needs/wants are.

We spent awhile at a baby store yesterday with a salesperson going over the pros and cons of Graco Snug Ride vs. Chicco Keyfit and the Chicco was the better fit for us - the base is soooooo much easier to install and it has a few more convience factors.

Have fun choosing!

Have you bought this or tried it out yet? I was thinking of doing this same thing but I've heard that the Chicco doesn't fit well in the Snap N Go frame. I'm not sure how true that is because I haven't talked to anyone first hand who has actually used it.

I have not, but the sales guy assured us that the Keyfit is compatible with the Baby Trend Snap n Go. He said it is not advertised that way, but it is a good fit. The Snap n Go were sold out and on backorder so he could not demo it for us. I read some reviews of the snap n go on BRU.com last night and many people said they use the Chicco with Snap n Go and it works well. A few even said they called the companies just to be sure. Me thinks Chicco does not "advertise" this, because they would rather you buy their system? Who knows though? I am hoping that either BRU or Buybuybaby will have both the snap n go and the keyfit on the floor so I can test it myself.

lgurian · July 2009

i got one of each for when they outgrow the snap n go. my friend had one and said it was way easier then lugging around a whole stroller. when they get bigger and i can take them out of the car seat we will use the regular stroller.

kuzzu25 · July 2009

I have a stroller frame from last time and LOVED it. much smaller. I never got a travel system. Just a jogging stroller and the stroller frame and that was all I needed until he no longer needed the stroller.

Kathy02912 · July 2009

That's exactly what we did. I cried when it was time to stop using the Graco Snap 'n Go frame, I loved it so much. It was the best $65 we spent.

Once we bought a "big girl" stroller, we were able to get a lightweight stroller that we love. (Peg Perego Pliko P3, although we almost got a Maclaren.) You have a lot more freedom if your stroller doesn't have to accomodate a newborn.

Want a personalized experience?

Stroller frames vs: travel systems?

Re: Stroller frames vs: travel systems?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards