Friday, January 6, 2012

Gear: Avalon Deluxe Umbrella Stroller

What is it?
Avalon Deluxe Umbrella Stroller

How does it work?
Like all the other umbrella strollers out there, this stroller folds in half & collapses inwards with a plastic clip that secures the frame from unfolding when stored.

More details on the pros & cons after the jump...


Why is it good?
The handles are high enough for me (5'7") & my husband (5'10") to use comfortably. This umbrella stroller has a deep canopy for sun protection, as well as a small storage pocket, which many in this price range don't. The five-point harness is well attached & very adjustable. The seat is a bit padded & seems comfortable. What makes this stroller stand out in it's 'featherweight class' is the fact that the seat reclines. The seat is on a separate frame from the rest of the stroller & pivots, similar to the Uppababy.

What's the downside?
Unlike the Uppababy, this stroller is a bumpy ride, with tiny double wheels that pivot stiffly. The brakes are the usual push down, pull up variety, one on each rear wheel set. There's virtually no cargo space--this is a bare-bones baby transporter. For the price--literally twenty times less than the Uppababy--it makes an okay second stroller, but I wouldn't recommend it as your main choice. I'd say that about any other umbrella stroller, though. A downside to the Avalon in particular is that due to the separate pivoting frame, the seat is quite narrow. The canopy is fairly low when the seat is upright, so unless you removed it, this model doesn't really accommodate a child much taller than age two or maybe three. Folding the stroller up is somewhat annoying, particularly if wearing sandals, as you need to hook your foot under part of the frame & pull up hard.

Where can I get it?
I've heard that The Bay & Zellers sell it.

How much does it cost?
I think it's about $30 new--we got ours for less second-hand.

*I wasn't paid to write this review. We picked up our Avalon stroller from Craigslist & like it.

5 comments:

  1. I wanted to buy an umbrella stroller that would fully recline to accommodate my 7 weeks old baby. Avalon deluxe reclining umbrella stroller seemed like a perfect choice for me (it only costs $30) except that I can't seem to find it anywhere. It used to be sold at zellers but now that it is closed I don't know where to find it. I've searched online but couldn't find it. I would greatly appreciate any help with this. I'm also open to other umbrella stroller suggestions if it fully reclines and is not expensive. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. I haven't ever seen Avalon strollers in stores--online shops or craigslist (used) might be your best bet. I have heard good things about the Uppababy umbrella stroller. It doesn't fold as small & it's a lot more expensive than the Avalon. It does recline to near flat, I think.

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  2. Thanks for the great review! Like you, I mainly use my stroller to bring the 2 year old along on our drop the big kid off at the bus routine. The crummy umbrella stroller I have doesn't really cut it in the snow. This looks perfect!

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