Peg Perego Vela Review

 FIESTA VELA!

I've never been a big fan of feeding my children in strollers. I don't like to mess up the fabrics. The exception I will make is at a carnival, or festival. That is when  snack tray comes in handy. Hence, I always keep a "snack tray" stroller in my line-up. 

 I also like them to have huge canopies.

 

  And big baskets, to stuff with Jonas Brothers pinatas, or goodies won in cake walks.

And I am pleased to introduce you to my latest festival stroller, the Peg Perego Vela.

Wow, the steering on this is great! So easy! This would be one to get if you need to always hold the hand of another child, because you can easily push it one-handed, or two-fingered! 

 Despite the nice big canopy and 3-wheels, though, the Vela, like it's predecessor the Aria, is better suited to indoors, than to out.

 But there is plenty to do at an indoor artand music festival.

 

  And snack trays can be used for things besides food.

The Vela has a good recline for napping, and an easy, quick fold. It stands up folded, too. You can see pictures of it in my post comparing it to the Aria.

  PEG PEREGO VELA

Weight:                        15.5 pounds
Seat Back:                   18.5"
Seat to canopy:         24"
Seat Width:                13.5"
Seat Depth:                 10"
Drop to footrest:       9.5"
Seat to ground:          15"
Length:                         30"
Width:                          23"
Height:                         39.5"
Folded:                         39.5."L x 23" W x13" 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

Peg Perego Aria and Vela Comparison

Before there was the Pliko Lite or Si', the Aria was Peg Perego's lightweight answer. It's performed well for many years, but has now had a face-lift, the Vela.

In this front-facing picture, you can see how similar they both look. Roomy seats, snack trays, pretty fabrics.

You can start to see some differences in the back, with the larger wheels of the Vela, and wider wheel base. The brakes are different. It's linked on the Aria, but there are two separate ones on the Vela. The canopy on the Vela, while excellent, is a little shorter than on the Aria. They both still have the same handlebars (without my embellishments), drawstring recline, freedom of movement harness, and big baskets.

 

 

Turn them sideways, however, and the difference becomes apparent. See how much farther the front wheels stick out now, with the new design.

Turning the Aria into a 3-wheeler makes for incredible maneuverability. Literally a two-fingered push. And the change from the center button on the Aria handle to the folding bar on the Vela means it's easier to push one-handed. But the trade-off is the longer front, wider base, and an extra two pounds.

Which means the fold is now bigger, too. Longer, and wider. The Vela is also more back tippy than the Aria. Generally, a 4-wheeler is going to be more stable than a 3-wheeler. It's inherent in the design.

Which do I prefer? Well, I'm hopeless. I really like both. As always, it depends on what your individual needs and preferences are. If you want a stroller with the lightest weight, hugest canopy, snack tray, very stable, and compact fold stroller on the market, choose the Aria. If you want all this, but don't mind going slightly bigger, wider, heavier and tippier in exchange for two-fingered steering, choose the Vela.

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

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