Now the cons. Previously the bumper bar jutted out horizontally from the frame and had a central crotch strap. But, because of silly parents putting their kids in the stroller without strapping them in, some children got stuck trying to climb out of the stroller so the company had to adjust the design. The new bumper bar angles up and has no crotch strap. The net result of the angled up bumper bar is that the stroller does not fold any where near as compact as it used to. This has been VERY frustrating for me since the compact fold was the primary reason I chose this specific stroller. I also dislike the fact that the basket velco disengages every time you close the stroller and you have to reconnect the velcro tabs each time you open the stroller. In an ideal world it would only take a few seconds to reattach them, but given that I'm usually holding a sleepy toddler, a diaper bag and my car keys at the time it's less than ideal since I can't put the diaper bag in the basket and then deal with the baby, I have to do it the other way around. Surely there is some kind of elasticated system they could have used that would have given it the flexibility needed for closing the stroller? Another con is that it doesn't come with a cup holder and every cup holder I have tried has to be removed in order to get it to fold in a relatively compact way. Because of the shape of the handle (if you were looking at a cross-section, it's sort of angled, rather than a smooth circle), it's difficult to get after-market soft cup holder to work. The angular cross section of the handle also means it's not all that comfortable to hold for long periods of time again a smooth handle would have been much nicer.
All-in-all a very well made and stylish stroller with a few unfortunate design flaws. Do I like it yes. If I could go back in time would I have chosen this over some of the other strollers I short-listed probably not.
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I never review and item until I have owned and used it for several months. I have to say, I am very pleased with this stroller. I purchased this for my fourth baby--he was a surprise and I had given away all my (top-of-the-line) baby items. I think this might be the best stroller ever. Being my fourth child, I knew what I wanted and what I didn't want. I also wasn't willing to take out a loan to purchase a stroller for what would be used only for one baby and donated.I am stopped often and asked about this stroller. Most people take one look and not only love the look, but can tell it is a top notch product.
Pros:
Lightweight but as functional as a full-size stroller
Folds flat. Leaves plenty of room in my tiny cargo area of my SUV.
Pushes like a dream, as well as my BOB jogger (Although I wouldn't take it on a heavy-duty run)
FANTASTIC canopy
adjustable handlebar for my other children to push and for my tall husband to push as easily as my average height self
Basket holds more than you'd think
Doesn't tip over with bags on the back
Surprisingly can hold a large child (My tall 6 year old autistic son sat in it a couple of times at Walt Disney World so he could get some "space"--he is thin and under the weight limit).
Nice 5-point harness system (some strollers are a little lacking in how theirs works)
Fits into small areas
Reclines low for sleeping
Cons:
The basket's Velcro comes undone easily (the sole reason I did not give 5 stars--would have given 4 1/2 if it were possible)
The bar in the basket cuts it's holding power
No parent drink holder (must buy after market)
Lack of color choices (but not a deal breaker by any means)
Belly bar is not removable, although even a large child can crawl around it easily
Best Deals for Valco Baby Ion Single Stroller - Raven
I have now owned the Valco Ion stroller for over a year and I would buy it again. Compared to other strollers I've used, this stroller is very well-built (rubber tires/sturdy aluminum frame) and aside from the umbrella strollers, it is the most lightweight stroller I could find. The egg-shape allows for a spacious inside space for your baby with one of the largest shades out there. The shade has a breathable mesh window to peer down at your baby and it also zippers into a larger shade for those sunny/windy days. Other parents are amazed at how large the shade becomes when unzipped. If you live in sunny/windy climates, this does a great job of shielding your baby.The basket is spacious and allows for a diaper bag, sippy cups, snack traps, etc. The handlebars (when pushing side buttons) move up and down easily for comfort based on your height. The seat reclines fully to a lay down position when pulling the clasp on two strings behind the seat. Finally, the last pro that sold me on this item is how easy it is to fold down. A twist of a dial near the handlebars and you can easily push (one-handed) the handle bar forward into its storage position. The brake lock is a bar, which is easily enabled. This stroller is spacious for your baby, but with the egg-shell design is narrow to be pushed in the smallest of aisles. It is also easily maneuverable with its three wheels.
As for cons, I am grasping but it would be nice if it came with a tray or cup holder, but those are all accessories. It's worth considering if you haven't tried it yet!
Honest reviews on Valco Baby Ion Single Stroller - Raven
This is the best stroller out there, in the price range. My son is very comfortable in it. I love that it is hard, if not impossible for a child to undo the straps. It takes two hands to unhook it but it's totally worth it. It is extremely sturdy and even if I clip my heavy diaper bag on the handles without my son in it, there is no way it is going to flip. You really can push it with just one hand, a feature that I really needed to take our huge dog on a walk with us. It folds easily and I love that it comes with a rain cover than encloses the seating area.I had a few strollers before this one and hands down this one is the best. The pros outweigh the very few cons, which are:
*You have to manually lock it after it is folded, which isn't a big deal at all, but an automatic lock would be nice.
*There isn't a cup holder for myself or my son, but that doesn't bother me much, you can always get universal ones.
*There is a headboard for infants when you fully recline it, while it can be flipped back for an older child, but you have to remember to put it back before you fold it or it won't fold as flat.
*An adjustable foot rest would be nice, along with added suspension for bumpier roads (this still works pretty smoothly over bumpy roads, we are living in Germany right now and it works even on the cobblestone roads, it could just be better).
A few more awesome things about it. I tried folding it to pull as "luggage" and it works perfectly. I am going to be flying with my son soon, and I"m sure at some point in the airport he will want to walk or be carried, so this will come in handy.
Overall, this is hands down the best stroller you could find in the price range, and honestly, I think it's even better than most you will find above this price range.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Valco Baby Ion Single Stroller - Raven
This is my 3rd stroller and I finally got it right! Rides like a dream and is super roomy which is great for larger babies. The canopy is HUGE and fully shields my 8 month old. The 5 point harness is weird at first but once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why it seemed so tricky initially. It doesn't fold completely flat but its easy to maneuver or store when folded and collapses in a flash. Very pleased that a rain cover was included. Only complaint is that there is no parent cup holder.
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