Review of The First Years Jet Stroller

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List Price: $59.99
Sale Price: $44.81
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

I have been looking for a while for just this stroller. I was looking for something to put in the back of the car for mall and short grocery shopping. Also I didn't want it to look cheap, it needed a sun shade and needed to fit my skinny one year old. And something under $40. Finally, this fits the bill.

The stroller was tightly packaged and all the end parts were covered with foam. The 4 sets of wheels were easy to pop on, though I probably should have turned the lights on to see the direction arrow because I ended up putting the first one on upside down. No problem, though, it was easy to follow their instructions to push a button and pop it off. It took me 10 minutes to put together with a toddler crawling all over me and it, which I categorize as a success.

Cons: the back is not breathable, so summers might be a little rough with back-sweat. Also, it claims to have recline, and although it does, it probably only reclines about 2 inches at best. I would not get this for that feature, it's pretty lame actually.

I got it in all black because I didn't want it to look dirty after a while. The stroller is good for up to 50 pounds, though honestly if my child still wants to be in a stroller when he's 7, we've got issues.

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I am posting this review because after receiving my jet I was disappointed that it was not more like my ignite even though the descriptions are the same and I got no decent response from the First years when I emailed!! I really wanted a boy blue stroller!

I have both.......we have the pink dot ignite and navy jet......unfortunately I owned the igngite first, so I was spoiled. But the jet is a nice stroller and better than a small umbrella stroller or the evenflo xsport we had.

The Ignite has much sturdier fabric overall and a more structured back to the seat, there is actually a metal x behind the fabric,(which makes it more flat back like your full size strollers) an inch wider seat base, almost 2 inch taller back of seat, relines 5 inches, and the locking front wheels for terrain.....it has one parent cup holder and a zippered pouch with 2 mesh pockets, but its shade does not rotate down, solid plastic grip handles, and 14 lb...I thought it was a great buy at $50 for the convenience of a big stroller in a small stroller. I HAVE NEVER KICKED THE BACK WHEELS!!! We LOVE IT!!!!

The jet's fabric feels much flimsier, the shade is smaller, but Does rotate down, seat is an inche smaller, it has 3 very visible vertical back of seat supports without the extra metal x support,(which makes a more rounded back like the umbrella strollers), only reclines a couple inches, the front wheels do NOT lock for terrain and don't have as much of a "tread" on them, the parent tray does have 4 spots for drinks with a smaller zippered pouch and 4 small mesh pockets, foam covered handles, the handles at a little different angle and are not as far away from the wheels as the ignite so you may end up kicking it I have occasionally at 5'4" and weighs 11 lbs.........

Both have the same under storage(little larger on the ignite), locking back wheels, 5 pt harness, and variable recline.......overall the ignite is just made better especially if you are looking for that 50lb!!!!

As long as you don't mind the shade not rotating down, I would go with the ignite! If you are looking for a stroller for a big kid....get the ignite not the jet.

Another great buy that makes these stroller even better is a fisher price or safe fit snack pod (depends on where you buy BRU, walmart, target)......it fits perfectly on the side for the kids to have easy access to a snack and drink for $10-12.

Back from vacation......we traveled with both strollers......I have to say both ran across gravel and grass very easy! I can say that the handles on the jet are a little closer together and i did kick it a few times....but I am used to pushing the ignite more often! The folding lock is much easier on the ignite.......I gave up and didn't even lock the jet when folded!

Happy Shopping!!

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We bought the Jet to take with us when we travel by plane, after our Maclaren Quest's hood got pretty brutalized last time we flew with it (even with gate checking). A decent stroller bag is about the same price as this stroller, so it didn't make sense to use to buy a bag just to use our fancier stroller in the airport. This fits the bill. I tried out cheaper models in stores; but they weren't substantially cheaper in price, and they were much cheaper in quality.

This assembles quickly; is attractive; has a structured, non-scratchy fabric seat (rare at this price point); and it has a nifty little organizer that is perfect for holding drinks, snacks, boarding passes and IDs. It is easy to fold and open one-handed, steers nicely, and is very lightweight. It also has some sort of shock absorbing system for the wheels, which was unexpected and appreciated!

No, it's not a Maclaren. It's not plush, the shade is not really big enough to be of great help, and it doesn't recline a ton. But it's easy to use, attractive, sturdy, and well-appointed for the price. We have a 10 month old and a 4 year old. Each child fits (though the 4 year old is too tall for the harness and shade). I am tall, and the handles are great even for me, and I don't kick the wheels.

All in all, it's a great value. At this price, I won't worry about getting stroller-jacked at theme parks or this one getting gnarly in the cargo bay of an airplane. And at this level of features, I won't worry about the thing breaking, being outgrown in a year, or my kid being miserable while riding. It's not going to be my "daily driver" at home because I'm spoiled by the Maclaren's features, but it's a wonderful backup stroller for travel or Grandma's house.

[And just a footnote: we got the red one, and the seat is actually an off-white/pale beige with black space-age-looking squares, which was a relief for me! It appeared white in the photo, and I was concerned about it getting gross quickly. Not a concern now!]

Honest reviews on The First Years Jet Stroller

I have been on a long search for a lightweight, umbrella-like stroller to use as a complement for my regular-use City Mini. I needed something that I could keep in the trunk for quick errands and to use for travel. My requirements included (1) had to weigh less than 13 lbs (the City Mini is 17, so I needed it to feel substantially lighter to be worth it); (2) be tall enough so that I didn't have to hunch over or kick the wheels when using it (and I am only 5'4", so you'd think this wouldn't be so hard), (3) have some sort of sunshade; (4) 5-point restraint, and (5) be less than $100 (the less, the better). Bonus, but not required preferences included (a) some sort of parent console, (b) a carrying strap, (c) multi-position recline, and (d) a usable basket.

Besides the many that I tried out in the retail stores, the Jet was the fourth one I ordered from Amazon (I returned the other three). The others I tried:

Chicco c6/Capri in Topazio pros: loved the color, the liteweight, the carrying strap. cons (and the dealbreakers): SO uncomfortable to push around kept kicking the wheels or straining my back/shoulders trying to avoid it. Also very difficult to buckle/unbuckle. Also, at $79, a little pricier. It was returned.

First Years Ignite pros: easy/comfortable to use, to open/close, etc. Loved the parent console and the reasonable price. Cons: no carrying strap, and at 14 lbs, it just wasn't worth the difference between my 17-lb BJCM. It was the first one I tried, and even though I liked it, it went back.

Maclaren Volo this was the highest-priced at $99, and I mistakenly thought it was the new version that had the recline (it was not). Pros: extremely lightweight (8 lbs. Actually almost TOO light to stay upright!) Great carrying strap, and very comfortable to push around. Cons: ugly, uncomfortable-seeming mesh seat, very difficult to lock and unlock, no recline. Just not worth the high price. I returned it.

I was about to give up and re-think about this in a year or so (my son is 10 months old, so several more years left of stroller need), when I decided to try the First Years Jet. Pros: (1) at 11 lbs, perfect weight; (2) great parent console; (3) very similar in feel to the First Years Ignite, so it was comfortable to use and seemingly durable, and (4) at $39 for the red/black color, I just couldn't beat the price. I think we have a winner! The cons include the lack of carrying strap (though I could probably create one if I felt that compelled to do so), the small-ish, and hard-to-access basket (though that seems par for the course with umbrella strollers). Overall, I am really happy, and I feel like I got a fabulous deal for what it is (and, relieved to finally end the Great Umbrella Stroller Search of 2012!)

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The backrest on this stroller was too short for my 2 1/2 year old, and he is only 35 pounds and about 37 inches tall.

His head was hanging out of the top of the backrest with no support.

What is the point of the stroller supporting up to 50 pounds if the backrest can't even support a 2 yr old child 37 inches tall?

I don't understand how they can overlook something like this.

If it were not for the short backrest, I would of been very happy with this stroller.. but unfortunately it will be going back.

I may try the First Years "Ignite" stroller, as I called and they said the backrest is taller on that model.