Britax B-Ready stroller Review

 B-Ready for Fireworks!!!!!!!

This is how it feels when you find the double you've been searching for, for your whole life, it seems. Pure fireworks. That's the Britax B-Ready. 

It's probably a good thing that it just came out now. Because if I had discovered it years ago, I may never have become Strollerqueen. It was, after all, my quest for the perfect double that led to the path of the Kingdom of Strollerland.

As a single, it's wonderful. Had a nice one-handed bouncy push all over the Strollerqueen Obstacle Course.

But as a double, it's better. (Cue explosions, sound up.)

 There are so many features, this may take a while.  So relax, get comfy, enjoy the show...

 Let's start with the legrest. I just love how high up it sits, to eliminate little legs from the endless dangle.

 There is a napper bar, wheel covers 4-point suspension, and canopies for both seats.

Details are everywhere. Like this soft sueded head pad for each seat.

The harness and crotch strap also has the covers.

The second seat is pretty roomy, for an add-on seat. The seat back is 19", and the headroom to canopy is 23". It holds up to 35 pounds. I have more measurements and weights below.

The snack tray, btw, is an add-on to hold SP 2.0's little cars. It was a long evening! 

 

 But, the B-Ready does come with this awesome console. I could have used that...

 Now, you are not supposed to put it on the handlebar. You are supposed to attach it with velcro, on the rim of the basket, like this.

 BUT, the reason I had it up on the handlebar, and this is way more important than you would think..is that you should NOT attach the second seat with the console on the basket. Don't do it. Trust me, I tried. The second seat will be very unstable, and may slide right off. Something you certainly don't want to happen.

 It is explained in the manual. But, judging on the number of people I see jogging with newborns in car seats, (Totally OT, I know!) many people aren't reading manuals. Uh oh.

You may not need the console anyway, since the basket is huge. So huge, that it has a zipper on the side (oh, that is the official cupholder in the basket).

AND a zipper in front. With the footrest up, it is quite easy to access.

BOTH seats have very deep reclines. Look at the second seat:

And here are both seats straight up.

The second attaches really easily. You just slide these legs into brackets:

 

The legs have a little button you push in, and the seat will collapse all the way down. That is how you can fold it with both seats on. Then you just pull up on the triggers by then handles, and down she goes.

 The side lock is a really nice feature, to help keep the frame together.

 

 There are loads of configurations you can do with the Britax B-Ready, that include the use of bassinettes and car seats. (These are purchased separately, as is the second seat. The main stroller does come with a adapters, cupholder, raincover, and parent console. You can also buy a boot, child snack cup, travel bag, and mosquito net..) But the main configuration is with both seats facing out.

 Now, when you have a little baby, you can have the main seat facing you. There can be plenty of room. But it needs to be fully reclined, with the leg rest up.

Or this is what will result:

The handle is height adjustable. There is a whopping 11" height difference between the lowest and highest position. I felt perfectly comfortable  pushing it at just the "regular" level.

 So as we celebrate the birth of our nation, let's celebrate the ingenuity of companies who bring us not only car seats that save our children's lives (as it did with my daughter in a head-on collision, which is a story for another day), but with strollers that can go from single to double and fold in one piece, easy as apple pie. And it's clever inventions like this that may just have our economy seeing fireworks again for 2011. I'm sure it will mean "explosive" growth for Britax, anyway ;) Happy 4th of July!

Britax B-Ready  

 Weight:  28 pounds                
 Seat Back:      21.5"
Seat to canopy:   26"
Seat Width:   12"
Seat Depth:   10-17"
Drop to footrest:   8"
Seat to ground:  27"
Length:  36"
Width:   25"
Height:   33"-45"
Folded:   34"L x 26"W x 13"H

Britax 2nd seat for B-Ready

Weight:  7 lbs.
Seat height:  19"
Seat width:  13"
Seat to canopy:  23"
Seat depth:  10" 
Seat to ground: 12"

I can help you find the perfect stroller for YOUR needs. Don't let a salesperson sell you a stroller that won't work for you! For more info on consultations, visit strollerqueen.com There are lots more reviews here, and info on how to get the 2010 BIG Stroller Roll-Out, an online video magazine of all the new stroller models. strollerqueen.com

Aprica Cadence Stroller Review

 The Cadence of Soccer Fever

 Brazil vs. Ivory Coast, United States vs. Algeria, Mexico vs. Uruguay, GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL...and the blare of the vuvuzela  horns...All across the country, you can hear it, The cadence of Soccer fever! Of course the World Cup has helped soccer to gain popularity in the US. And those who aren't watching, are out playing. 

 Now I get asked a lot, what stroller (s) are suitable for soccer fields? A lot of parents are taking little ones out to watch their siblings play, and a comfy stroller is a must. Usually I recommend, and take myself, an air tire stroller. But what if you are a minimalist, and don't want a whole fleet? What if you rarely use strollers, except for week-end shopping, parks, and soccer? What if you have an older child who doesn't use a stroller on a regular basis, but can use a ride when tired?

I decided to see how the new Aprica Cadence would work on a soccer field. It wasn't totally crazy. This little buggy has a two-fingered push on smooth surfaces. And it has shocks on all four wheels. So it was reasonable to assume that it was at least doable. And it wasn't bad at all! 

The only thing is, that our particular field is Astro-Turf. Weird stuff, that is. ("No coffee on the field! Sir, bring that back!" the Coach hollered as he chased down the old man. "I'm 80 years old! How'm I gonna' stay awake for 3 hours!" the old man hollered back. The wife apologized as he shuffled away, uttering expletives deleted. ) But look how it clings to the wheels, ugh. 

The Aprica Cadence is the first umbrella stroller to hit the market that says it can hold 70, yes, a whopping 70 pounds! That is the weight of my 9 year old soccer player! (Who would sooner get Astro Turf under his finger nails than to have his friends see him riding!) But once you are an adult, who cares...

 Gotta' love the fact that the Cadence can double as a game chair, even if it displaces the toddler! 

 And speaking of a game chair, check out the fold:

 It's about the size of a Pack n Play, which has a certain symbiosis, since Graco has taken over Aprica. I like the fact that it stands alone, and you can roll it behind you.

 

  You can pull it by it's carry strap, or just sling it over your shoulder.The fold is quick and easy, too. You just push in the side buttons, then yank on the carry strap.

 I love the fabric of the Cadence. It reminds me of, well, a soccer jersey.  It's very breathable for hot days, or sweaty little soccer watchers, or players. And it has a "heat reflecting panel" to help keep babies cool out on the field.

  Comes with a rain cover, too, for when the weather changes. The seat sits up higher than most umbrella strollers, which means you can fit a few soccer balls in the basket.

The handles aren't adjustable, but they are pretty high, so suitable for a taller parent. But for a shorter one, like me, they were still comfortable.

I think the black frame is stunning, and the design quite striking.

One thing interesting about the design is how angled back the seat is. Makes for a roomy seat and easy pushing. But maybe not the best choice for a younger child who likes to sit up straight.

Also, there is no front napper bar, and the recline is minimal. There is an extended leg rest, though. And don't forget, it holds up to 70 pounds--and more!

 APRICA CADENCE

Weight:                      14.5 pounds
Seat Back:                21"
Seat to canopy:       27"
Seat Width:               13"
Seat Depth:              10"-14"
Drop to footrest:      9"
Seat to ground:       19"
Length:                      28"
Width:                         21.5"
Height:                       41"
Folded:                      17"L x 14" W x 37" H

  I can help you find the perfect stroller for YOUR needs. Don't let a salesperson sell you a stroller that won't work for you! For more info on consultations, visit strollerqueen.com There are lots more reviews here, and info on how to get the 2010 BIG Stroller Roll-Out, an online video magazine of all the new stroller models. strollerqueen.com