by guest reviewer Lisa
During my second pregnancy, I realized that I needed a stroller to contain both children in if I had any hope of going shopping. With a daughter who was about to turn 3, I felt a double stroller was not necessary, so when I learned that the Valco Baby Runabout TriMode is the one of the few single strollers with an optional toddler seat, my mind was made up.
The Valco Baby Runabout TriMode is an all-terrain stroller with the three wheel design of a jogging stroller. It’s called TriMode because the front swivel wheel can be locked in three different positions. Full swivel is for complete maneuverability in tight spaces, like department stores or busy areas. Fully fixed locks the front wheel straight so you can even use it for a light jog. The third mode is 45 degrees which is great on long walks where tight turns are not as common and is also recommended for use with the toddler seat.
When it arrived at my home I couldn’t wait to get the kiddos in it and take a spin around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the manual was missing many important steps; it took my husband and I nearly three hours to assemble it because the instructions were so poorly written. There were pieces that had no instructions on where to use them and it took us an hour to figure out where to velcro the hood to the frame. This is a major flaw and should be corrected.
After we got it all set up, I threw the kids in it and test drove it around my house since it was very cold outside. I couldn’t believe how well it maneuvered around the tiny hallways in my home. My Peg Perego Aria would sometimes catch going around a corner in a department store and almost tip completely. The TriMode’s wheels turn on a dime. After the initial test-drive in my house, I’ve used it at the zoo, mall, and parks; in every situation it handles like a dream. The TriMode’s rear wheel shock absorbers lets baby sleep peacefully even if I am walking on rocky trails at the park.
Besides the wonderful maneuverability, what I love most about the TriMode is its appearance. When I opened the box and saw its beautiful black and silver upholstery and frame staring back at me I knew I was in love. It’s so chic, modern and even more important, it’s super comfy and easy to clean. Unlike the majority of jogging strollers, the TriMode looks more like a regular stroller with the nice curved hood, large basket and lots of pockets, but it just happens to have the convenience of three wheels. The TriMode folds very easily, but not as compactly as I had hoped. It takes up the entire trunk of my Honda Accord, but if you take off the wheels (which is easy to do- at the push of a button), it fits much better. It’s also on the heavy side (27 pounds) so it’s not extremely easy to lift it up into your car.
One of the TriMode’s best features is the one-hand recline. You just squeeze the clip and pull on a strap to smoothly adjust the recline and it makes it have an infinite number of recline levels. The stroller makes a full "flat recline," so your newborn or older child can lay flat. Most other strollers only recline to 15-30 degrees or less.
The optional toddler seat was the main reason I chose this stroller over a double stroller. The toddler seat attaches right in front of the main seat so both children can see everything that is going on around them. Plus, I can remove the toddler seat in a matter of seconds. It just clicks in and out with two snaps so if I only have one child with me I can just pop it right off and not have it in the way; with double strollers the second seat is permanently there. The toddler seat does not recline but it definitely fulfills the need of being able to give your older child a seat. You can also purchase a fully retractable hood for the toddler seat.
You can also use the stroller as a traveling system with the optionalcar seat adapters for Graco, Peg-Pérego, Britax, and Combi infant car seats. Since the car seat adapter and toddler seat fit intothe same slots, you can’t use them at the same time, which is abummer. I would have loved it if I could put one kid in the regular seat and one in the car seat on top.
The standard model comes with head hugger, shoulder straps andfive-point harness which make it ideal even for a newborn. All of thematerial on the TriMode is made of a breathable, easy to maintainmaterial called the AIRGO airflow system. It also has a built-in pouch on the back that zips off for better airflow but also can be usedas a mini diaper bag. The hood also has a section that unzips for additionairflow and so you can see baby. As a short mama, I really appreciatethe handle which adjusts to three different heights (also good for tallparents). The basket zippers open in the back to make it easier to find Standard acce
ssories also include a rain cover and tirepump.
I also got the Four Seasons Muff and Hitchhiker board that goes on the back for a child to ride on. The foot muff makes the stroller super cozy. The material makes it toasty in the winter and cool in the summer. Plus, if you don’t need it in super hot weather you can easily remove the top. I was less than thrilled with the Hitchhiker though. It seems like a wonderful thing to have for an older child to just hitch a ride on the back of the stroller but I found that unless you get it on perfectly then it interferes with the back wheels and brakes. Also, it’s rather wobbly and I didn’t feel it was safe to use.
Other optional accessories include the universal cupholder (which Danielle and Teba have used on their strollers), travel bag (so it doesn’t get destroyed on airplanes), diaper bag, universal sunshade for three wheel strollers, and zip-in insect and UV-protected sun shade. You can also purchase a bassinet to use on the frame (after removingthe seat) and/or an optional bassinet stand so that it doubles as aplace for baby when you travel.
Apart from the minor annoyances, the Valco Baby Runabout TriMode has still proved to be an essential in my daily life as a new mom of two. It definitely will last me the rest of my strolling days. If you’re looking for a well-built, convenience loaded stroller that can be used for many years, then the Valco Runabout TriMode is it! It retails for $425 and is availablein 5 color combinations (Harlequin/Black, Harlequin/Navy, Sunrise/Navy, Bubblegum and Scarlett). The toddler seat, toddler sunshade, and carseat adapters are $40 each. The bassinet is $150. The footmuff is$60. The Hitchhiker is $70.
The Valco Baby Runabout TriMode and accessories can be purchased at the following online stores who have given CBB Readers the following exclusive promotions- be sure to use the coupon code to get the special deal. (Please note: You must be buying the Valco Baby Runabout TriMode to get these deals.)
-StrollerMama.com - Get a free coordinating Valco diaper bag and Valco Cup Holder and free shipping with purchase of a TriMode when you use coupon code cbb-07 with the purchase of a Valco Baby Runabout TriMode. (A $64.99 value.)
-LetsGoStrolling.com – Save 10% and receive a free Valco Cup Holderplus free shipping when you use the code CBBVAL10 with the purchase of a Valco Baby Runabout TriMode (expires 4/30/07).
-HipBabyGear.com: Get a free ValcoCup Holder and a $25 online gift certificate toward any stroller accessory atwww.hipbabygear.com when you use the code CELEB with the purchase of a Valco Baby Runabout TriMode (expires 5//31/07).
-CarlaPie.com – Save 10% AND get free shipping and a Valco Cupholder when you purchase a Valco Runabout TriMode single stroller and all other VALCO strollers and accessories when you use code CELEBRITY. (You’ll also get a 15% off coupon code and FREE SHIPPING on ANY future diaper bag purchase including, Fleurville, Timi and Leslie, OiOi, Paulina Quintana, Skip Hop and many other brands.)
-HappyMothers.com – Get free shipping with the purchase of a Valco Baby Runabout TriMode (no code needed).
To learn more about the Valco Baby Runabout TriMode and their complete line of strollers (which also includes a side-by-side Twin stroller), visit ValcoBaby.com.
Look forward to Nancy’s review of the Valco Baby RAD in early May.
Other stroller with toddler seats
Some readers have pointed out that the Valco Baby Runabout TriMode is not the only stroller with a toddler seat. All of these models will run you $350 plus. Other strollers that have this feature include the three wheeled Phil & Ted e3, which we reviewed in January ($379 + double kit $80) and its updated version, the Sport $400 + double kit $90), the four wheeled Bumbleride Queen B ($430 + toddler seat $80), four wheeled Bertini Somerville
($370 + toddler seat $65) and Bertini Bidwell
($350-450 + toddler seat $65). For those readers outside of (or traveling outside of) the United States, you also have the Swedish Emmaljunga four wheeled strol
lers and the New Zealander Adventure Buggy Company‘s all terrain three wheeled strollers. (I believe that ABC is owned by Phil & Ted, which is distributed in the US, but ABC strollers aren’t distributed here.)
With the exception of the Phil & Ted models, all of these strollers’ toddler seat are mounted above the regular seat. The Phil & Ted model is mounted above the regular seat when the younger child is under 6 months old, and then moved below the seat when the younger child can sit up on his own.
Additionally, as CBB Reader Angela pointed out, older Valco models take the toddler seat too- IF you can find them. They include the 2004 and 2005 Runabout and the 2005 Rebel.
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