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Valco Baby TriMode: Sporty, Fabulous & Functional
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The TriMode is sporty, fabulous and functional all at the same time! This all-terrain stroller can be your everyday stroller, your pram (with the optional bassinette), jogger and double stroller (with the optional toddler seat) all rolled into one. So, basically you are getting four strollers for the price of one. You can't beat that feature!
The Valco Baby TriMode is a great three-wheel, all-terrain stroller. It's called "Trimode" because the front swivel wheels can be changed to three different positions. Full swivel for turning in tight spaces, like stores and busy malls. Fully fixed that locks the front wheel straight for light jogs and trails. And 45 degrees for long walks with minimal tight turns. The wheel position can be changed easily with a knob on the footplate.
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Besides its versatility, we love the look of the TriMode. With the 5 color choices, there is an option for all different tastes. The three-wheel design, the rounded hood and tons of storage give this stroller a fabulous, chic but sporty feel.
We aren't all about appearance though. We wanted to know how it pushed. We are happy to report that the maneuverability on the TriMode is incredible and allows strolling with this stroller a breeze. The full swivel mode allows this stroller to turn on a dime and we were able to maneuver around the tightest corners with ease.
The handle bar is adjustable up and down for taller and shorter parents, which is great. If we had to make one addition, it would be that the handle bar would telescope out as well to keep taller parents with a long stride farther from the frame to prevent any contact between the feet and the frame, in other words from kicking the frame.
The large air filled tires with rear wheel shock absorbers (or suspension) provide a really smooth ride for baby even on rough or rocky terrain. The rear tires are also wide to keep the stroller sturdy. It has a one-touch wheel brake that is easy to apply and keeps the stroller locked in place.
The seat is roomy and with the new rounded canopy (for 2007), we found that our babies and toddlers had plenty of room. The seat has a new, easy "one touch" recline that allows you to put the seat in any position, even flat for newborns. A well-padded 5-point harness, a headhugger infant head rest, and a new (for 2007) perforated, metal footplate that is easy to clean are some other fabulous features of the seat.
There is tons of storage space, with a large basket underneath featuring two pockets on the sides, and a great zip off storage pocket on the back of the canopy. This storage pocket zips off to be used as a small diaper bag on the go or can be hung by its stroller straps on the handlebar for easy access. When you take off the storage pocket, you will find a large mesh window that allows air to circulate through the stroller, keeping baby cool. We love this feature especially for the summer!
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The canopy, complete with peek-a-boo window, is sturdy and rounded to allow for more headroom and even though it appears to be quite large, we did find that our little baby legs would occasionally be exposed to the sun causing us to add a canopy extension. Valco does offer an optional zip in sunshade/insect net (it zips to the front of the canopy) that is great option as well.
The basket is very large, but like most strollers, can be tricky to get things in and out while the seat is completely reclined. Valco has added a zipper to the back of the basket for easy access, which is a great addition, but don't expect to get large items in and out this way.
A great unique feature of the TriMode is the optional toddler seat that attaches to the front of the stroller for an older child to hitch a ride turning it into a double in no time at all. We found this seat is great for closely spaced siblings when you would like to pass on the huge double stroller. The toddler seat attaches and detaches easily so that you can have the option of a double when you need it and a single when you don't. Plus, since the seat goes on the front, the stroller stays only as wide as a single, allowing you to navigate through any doorways easily.
There is also an optional bassinet that is available for the TriMode and we think hands down it's the nicest stroller bassinet on the market. If you are getting this stroller when you have a newborn, you must consider adding the bassinet. The inside of the bassinet is large and so soft that we wish our own beds were this nice. If we could crawl inside and take a nap, we would. Valco also offers a separate stand for the bassinet to be used at home.
Valco offers optional car seat adapters to use the stroller as a travel system with Graco, Peg Perego, Britax and Combi infant car seats. The car seat adapter does go into the same slot as the toddler seat would, so you cannot use the toddler seat and the car seat adapter at the same time.
Weighing in at 23 lbs (2 lbs lighter than the 2006 version), we didn't have too much trouble lifting this stroller in and out of our trunks. It by no means is the weight of an umbrella stroller, but we found it to be in the mid-weight range of full-size strollers - not too heavy and not too light. There is no umbrella stroller that acts as 4 different strollers anyway -- we expect it to be a little heavier. It folds easily and rather compactly but fits better into small trunks with the wheels removed, which is easy to do with the push of a button. The stroller itself has a 45 lb capacity and a 90 lb capacity with the toddler seat attached.
Like other higher end strollers, Valco Baby has left off the cup holders and parent/baby trays. They do however offer a cup holder as an optional accessory for those of us moms that like a place for our Starbucks.
Other optional accessories for the TriMode are: foot muff, hitchhiker board, universal cup holder, travel bag, diaper bag, canopy for toddler seat, car seat adapters, zip in sunshade/insect net, bassinet and bassinet stand.
This well designed stroller retails for $425 with the optional bassinet adding another $150. It's by no means a cheap purchase, but for the versatility of getting the equivalent of 4 strollers in this sturdy, well-made, loaded stroller, we definitely think it's worth it. This stroller will definitely last you from birth through your stroller years.
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