Inglesina Avio Review

Take Flight with the Avio

In Italian, "Avio"means "Aviation". So what better place for to take the Avio on her maiden run than the Airport?

The slogan is "Fly the City", which means the Avio can be used all over town, in all different situations. See how the canopy pulls all the way down past the napper bar.

Because it designed for maximum urban versatility, the Avio has a single bar handle, so you can "fly it" one-handed.

If you don't need to pull the canopy all the way down, the pop out visor still provides plenty of coverage.

The Avio is an original design from Inglesina--the first new model in a long time. As you might expect with an Italian-made product, it is understated in it's elegance and simplicity.

In a way, it is like the next generation Zippy. Smaller, lighter, narrower, and more compact.

But it is more. The Tomasi brothers and their team of designers set out to make the stroller as modern and refined as possible, by eliminating all visible signs of joints and hinges.

 

 And no gloppy welds here!

 

The seat full reclines, and is a generous size. And you can get a carrycot for it, as an optional accessory.

Love the leather-like accents! The navy blue and grey are so classy together.

 The ball bearings on the wheels allow the Avio to glide over wood chips and grass.It turned in a stellar performance on the Strollerqueen Obstacle Course. 

 

Check out the cool fold! The single bar handle is jointed, which allows it to fold umbrella style!

The fold is about the easiest out there, on par with Baby Jogger. And in case you forget how...

There's even a reminder on how to use the brakes, haha!

These wheels are so pretty, they deserve their one close-up! They're a nice hard rubber, which you don't see many of these days.

    And if God is in the details...look at the "A's" on the canopy window!

 And on the harness straps.

 Look at the fit and finish. Italian all the way.

  The sky was becoming foreboding...a storm was bearing down...

 But no need to beat a hasty retreat or stop the fun...just open the little magic bag that comes with the Avio, and pop out the raincover!

 The Avio is not only about form, but it is also about function. It is so easy to steer one-handed with a heavier child. It is a fun stroller to push. The suspension is perfect; and allows the wheels to bounce over cracks and ruts and grass. Almost as bouncy as this airplane toy!

The Avio basket holds plenty, like a purse, diaper bag, superman lunchbox...

And yes, there is a cup holder, which doesn't detract from the swooping angles...

The sky is getting darker..

But there are still airplanes to fly...

The Avio stands by, waiting for it's pilot...

 It won't be long now.

Uh oh! The pine tree grabs the glider!

And so we fly, away in our Avio. 

Here's a video of how Luca and Ivan Tomasi designed the Avio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV91FfG25-8&NR=1

 And here's how the Avio flies the city, in Italy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxYhmX1p3E&list=PLE8D6822F50020385&index=16&playnext=1

Inglesina Avio 

   

Weight:  20 lbs.            
Seat Back: 19"
Seat to canopy: 26"
Seat Width: 12"
Seat Depth: 9-12"
Drop to footrest: 9"
Seat to ground: 17.5"
Length: 27.5"
Width: 19.5"
Height: 40-41"
Folded: 40"L x 15"W x 15"H

 If you want to see all the new stroller models coming out in 2011, go to Strollerqueen.net And if you want me to help you find the perfect stroller for you, go to Strollerqueen.com

Mamas and Papas Sola Review

 Sola at the Getty

 When I first saw the Mamas and Papas Sola in "Grass", I immediately thought "Monet."



Do you see it?

 How about now?







OK, well, at any rate, that is how it struck me. Therefore, what more fitting place to take the Sola on it's maiden run, than to the Getty Villa?

The Sola is magnificent. A thing of beauty; a work of art. See how beautifully she blends in with the gardens.

But what's up with the fountain? Halloween is over!

 Aside from the aesthetics, what I love about the Sola is how user friendly it is. To reverse the seat, you just grab the handles and pop it right off. And to fold it, you just pull up the two side levers on the handles, and down she goes. You can fold the Sola in one piece, if the seat is facing forward. It is still quite compact.

 

And as prams go, the Sola is quite small. One of the smallest you can find, really. So I didn't have to worry about bumping into a 6,500 year old statue; some of which had already lost their hands, or arms, or heads.

 The handle is height adjustable, and has an amazing range. The legrest is nice and long, too.

Here is the Sola in full recline. I have the optional matching footmuff on it. I highly recommend it.

 The tires even blend in with the marble floor, haha. They are foam, not air. Some people prefer this, because they are lighter weight, and require no maintenance.

 The wheels also have front and rear suspension, which means they do pretty well outdoors. Oh, and the basket holds a lot more than you think.

 The canopy provides really nice coverage. It has a mesh vent for better visibility, and air flow.
 
 See how far out the handlebar extends? If you attached a riding board to it, your other child would have plenty of standing room.

 These pictures were not that easy to take, btw. Because everywhere you looked there were guards. Like every 10 steps. And the main job they had was to chase us around, and tell us not to use a flash.

 As we left the Getty, the sun was setting. SP 2.0 was sleeping peacefully.

  Until the guard came up shouting, with her walkie talkie on full blast, that she was locking the door, so GET OUT.

 And then suddenly, "A bee! A bee! A bee!" the original Strollerprince was hopping around in circles, and up and down. Before I could even take a look, guards came running. They handed my friend a flashlight. And sure enough, there it was, right between his thumb and forefinger. A giant stinger, that was swelling up his hand and coloring it purple.

But, the Getty guards to the rescue! They said to please wait a moment, while they got out their bee-stinger removal kit. "Oh, no way", I said. "Museum guards carry around bee-stinger removal kits?" "Oh yes ma'am," he responded. "We're first responders."

So they came in handy after all.  Even let me use the flash outside. And then I had to fill out paperwork. Pages of it, with a narrative of the event, ID, stats, etc. SP 2.0 found the whole thing hilarious. All the way back to the car, he mocked his poor brother. "Oh no, A BEE! Haha! A Bee! Haha! It's a BEEEE....Haha"...

Mamas and Papas Sola

Weight:                               25 lbs. (16 lbs. Chassis, 9 lbs, Seat)

                     
Seat Back:                          21"

Seat to canopy:               23"

Seat Width:                      13"

Seat Depth:                       10-16"

Drop to footrest:             11"

Seat to ground:               20"

Length:                               27"

Width:                                23.5"

Height:                               27-43"

Folded:                              33"L x 23"W x 12"H

 If you want to see all the new stroller models coming out in 2011, go to Strollerqueen.net And if you want me to help you find the perfect stroller for you, go to Strollerqueen.com