Kolcraft Contours Option 3 Wheeler ZL018 - Ruby Jogger Stroller

After using one of the bigger travel systems I was in the market for something more stylish, lighter and more "user" friendly. I did a lot of research and had my mind set on one of the high end strollers that cost $700 .

Imagine my excitement when I came across this stroller - better yet on CLEARANCE! We tried it out in the store, and my son just loved it. The seat has more cushion for his little behind than any other stroller we have tried.

I was concerned that it is a three wheel, because others we have tested seemed to tip easily, but the Contours is solid - even when I purposefully tried to tip it. The front wheel will also lock instead of swivel for off road terrain. It has a lot of great options like baby can face you or face forward, three level reclining seat with the pull of a bar on the back , large under seat storage, cup holders and tray for parent and baby, adjustable foot rest with a rubber scuff lining on the bottom for toddler shoes, extra large sun canopy - I could go on and on - and it is user friendly.

My husband and I were able to figure out how to use all the options, and how to open and close the stroller right there in the store without the directions. Everything is removable. To turn the seat to face different directions you have to grasp the handles on each side and press a button. Then lift the entire seat and turn it around, set it back down and listen for the clicks. Not hard to do if the baby is not in the seat yet or is still small. My son is 26lbs now, and it is heavy to lift the entire seat with him in it. My husband can flip him around with out even disturbing him if he is asleep.

The fabric - which feels like a soft canvas type of material is stain resistant and easy to clean, Just simply wipe it with a warm wash cloth. The handle is a good height - even for my husband. It even comes with a car seat adapter that fits most major car seat carriers and is simple to use, an infant head roll pillow, and seat belt strap covers.

It is lighter than the larger travel system strollers, and takes up about half the room in the trunk of the car. It folds up nicely, but I wouldn't classify this as a light weight stroller - it is certainly not an umbrella type. I would say it is more mid-size. It takes two hands to fold it up, but once you get the knack it is simple and quick - and it stands upright when folded, making it easier to put into the car. No bending down to pick it up off the ground.

The most noticeable thing about this stroller is the ride - it practically glides. It is so smooth to push, and turns on a dime. The suspension is impressive, and even on rough terrain like cobblestones my son will not stir if he is sleeping. It is easy to steer even with one hand - which makes it easy to open doors with one hand and push the stroller through with the other.

There are really only a few things I could think of that are missing from this stroller to make it perfect. First I think a covered tray on the parent cup holder would be nice to secure things like keys and cell phones. Currently it is an open tray between the two parent cup holders. Also it only comes in one color - red. The blue was discontinued in 2006. Although the red is a nice color and a real attention getter, more color options would be nice. Last the seat back could be a little taller. My little boy is 16 months and his head is only an inch below the top of the seat back. He is only 50% for height, so I don't believe he is overly tall for his age.

Overall this stroller is a great bargain for what you get. It is very stylish, and competes with the other high end movie star type strollers but at a price that is more suitable for us regular folks!

Update: March 18, 2008:

My son is now 19 months old and has completely outgrown the Contours stroller. He weighs 29lbs and is 33 inches tall. When he sits in the seat his head is three inches past the back of the seat, and his feet hang over the foot rest. Also his shoulders are hunched in and are touching from side to side. His head presses against the sunshade if I open it while he is sitting or laying down.

Also I needed to mention the failure of the 5 point harness. Once my son arched (he was yawning and stretched) his back and broke both shoulder clasps off of the waist buckle. The shoulder straps are clipped on to a thin loop of plastic on each side of the waist buckle. These thin loops snapped easily when light pressure was applied to them. Kolcraft immediately sent out an entirely new seat cover at no charge. It should be noted that the new buckle has not been improved and is the same as the one broken.

Over all this stroller has worked beautifully for the nine months we have used it. Sadly it did not last until my son was 40lbs, and I am now in the market for another stroller.