Superlite at the Pool, Parade, and Pier
Here's one of the most common questions I get... "Strollerqueen, I love my Volo, but I wish it had big air tires. Is there such a thing?" And the answer is yes, but a qualified yes. Because it isn't actually a Volo. It is the new, and improved "Micralite Fastfold Superlite!"
Check out these 12" beefy air tires. They can really handle the rough stuff. And the brake is flip-flop friendly, lol!
Though the front wheels are spaced widely apart, the rear is extremely narrow. At 15", that is the narrowest you will find on a stroller. In cramped spaces, I tilt it back and roll it on the rear wheels.
The Superlite belies the idea that air tire strollers have to be heavy. It weighs in at an astonishing, Mac-like, 14 pounds! So the "Superlite" part is really true.
One of the places the stroller saves weight is in the seat. It is all mesh, just like the old Volo.
The mesh seat is ideal for the pool, and very breathable on these hot summer days.
The "Fastfold" part is true, too! And it's easy. Just follow the instructions to "Press and Lift".
Slide up the handle...
And it stands alone folded! You can grab the handlebar in the center and roll it behind you for easy transport. The fold is really compact. And you can pop off the rear wheels if you need it smaller.
The handlebar is height adjustable. It goes up or down by unlocking these clamps--from 37" to 45"! On the old version, you had to use an Allen wrench to adjust it. So this is a great improvement.
Another improvement on the "Superlite" is that the frame is feels much more solid. It's not rattly outdoors at all. The one handed steering is still superb. Really as good as it gets.
You might think the design would make it back tippy. But look at how I have it loaded down!
Of course, you can't hang quite as many bags on the back if the seat is empty. But you can recline the seat by sliding down the top two levers on the back of the frame,
and then you have a lot of space between the seat and frame to for your pool bag!
Here are a couple of shots without the bag, so you can see how much the seat reclines. The hammock-y sling seems quite comfortable.
The handlebar is in the tall position, by the way.
The Micralite Superlite isn't just for the pool, though.
We've had fun with it at a parade.
And the pier. For a smoother ride on the bumpy wooden planks, I popped it back and rolled it on the big rear air tires.
You can see here that the basket holds quite a bit, too. Another reason it lives in my car. It takes up little space, yet it is versatile enough to handle whatever summer adventures come our way.
Weight: 14 lbs.
Seat Back: 21"
Seat to canopy: 23"
Seat Width: 14" bottom, 8" top
Seat Depth: 10"
Drop to footrest: 10"
Seat to ground: 18"
Length: 27"
Width: 15" rear, 24" front,
Height: 37"-45"
Folded: 15"L x15 "W x 43"
T-Linx and Legos and Library
One of my goals for the summer is to walk (with a stroller of course!) everywhere. Or to as many places as possible. Another is to have the kids read more books. Guess I'm not alone in that.
It's been fun combining the two, with frequent strolls to the library.
And our first candidate for library stroller is--the new Teutonia T-Linx!
It's a fun stroller to push. Nimble and narrow. Quite important on trash pick-up day.
Can we make it? It's gonna' be tight.
Uh-oh.
Sorry flowers! But, the 23" width squeaked us through!
And here we are! My, oh my, there are a LOT of books to choose from!
What to choose, what to choose....
Maybe I will get down and check it out.
But wait, books aren't the only thing in a library. There's Legos, whoo hoo! Lots and lots of Legos!
And it's a good thing my T-Linx has such a small footprint, because it is crowded in here!
The springy suspension on the wheels helps maneuver around blocks.
There's a T-logo on the canopy, and a zippered pouch behind the seat.
The seat has a deep recline, napper bar, and is quite comfortable for SP 2.0.
The design is quite stylish, although the basket is kinda' small.
But with so many fun things to do at the library, we will be back soon.
So we'll only check out a few books at a time.
There are some familiar Teutonia touches, like the net back on the canopy.
But in other ways, this Rubbermaid Teut has been clearly designed for the American market. There are numbered levers and instructions drawn right on the chassis, to remind you how to do everything.
Here is how you fold it:
Easy as 1-2-3.
But it will only fold in two pieces.
And here is how you reverse the handle:
But, you now have the larger, fixed wheels in front. Which means you are steering in rear wheel drive.
I wish the library instructions were as clear. Because tonight it is closed. The T-Linx, with it's reflective piping, is a good choice for twilight walks.
At least, we have the return bin outside.
Now stretch....
Almost.....
Rats!
Try again...
Alright!!
Well done!
Weight: 25 lbs. (16.5 lbs. Chassis, 8. 5 lbs, Seat)
Seat Back: 21.5"
Seat to canopy: 22.5"
Seat Width: 10"
Seat Depth: 9"
Drop to footrest: 10"
Seat to ground: 19"
Length: 27"
Width: 23"
Height: 39"
Folded: 32"L x12 "W x 15"H, Chassis
36" x 16" x 21", Seat
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!
Weight: 28 lbs. (with seat, harness, and crotch pad, cup holder, wheel covers, console)
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
Weight: 7 lbs.
Seat height: 19"
Seat width: 13"
Seat to canopy: 23"
Seat depth: 10"
Seat to ground: 12"