As many of you may know, Phoenix just turned one year old, and that meant that we’d soon have to say goodbye to the only stroller we’d ever known, the Doona. Because I’m a first time mama and really didn’t have any experience with any other stroller, I was more than a little nervous. How was I ever going to fall in love with anything else when the whole reason I bought the Doona was to avoid having a big bulky stroller? So on the 28th, Phoenix and I packed up and headed over to the ELK Café in Brooklyn to check out the latest additions to the Britax family.
The Britax B-READY 2017 is a seriously well-built stroller. This is not for those of you who are looking for a lightweight, stow-and-go type of thing. While it folds surprisingly flat, fitting in the trunk of a cab or my overstuffed minivan with ease, it is heavy. I personally LOVE this. Once it’s unfolded, the extra weight means that it glides smoothly, able to handle cracked, uneven pavement and off-roading without getting thrown off course. My lightweight travel system nearly tipped over every time we hit a curb, so the B-READY’s bulk feels nice and secure. Here’s my advice—this is a great stroller to walk around the city with, but DO NOT try to lug it on the train. It’s far too heavy to carry up and down the stairs without assistance, and assistance is not always guaranteed in the New York City underbelly. Get a lift to the city and then stroll at your leisure.
When walking around the mall, the park or Manhattan, I love the huge basket underneath the stroller. I’ve never had the luxury of being able to put down my (often heavy) diaper bag when out with my family, so this was a great added feature. The stroller moves so fluidly that I decided to take my daughter for a thirty-minute walk, just for fun. She loves the seat and being able to look around comfortably. I love that I can keep her facing me (just for a little while longer). The extended sun canopy is thoughtfully designed, and keeps the sun out of her face even when the seat is in a full recline.
I did notice on our walk that the Britax B-READY does not make sharp turns well—the extra weight that gives it that grounded feeling also makes it hard to change direction quickly. My suggestion is to give yourself room and keep an eye out for those considerate people that will always try to cut you off when walking down the street. Previously, I would swerve to avoid them. Not anymore. The B-READY is like a tank and you will always win.
A few other features that are worth mentioning:
- The Britax B-READY is infinitely customizable. You can use a bassinet, car seat, top seat or even accommodate a second child in this stroller. The design is so much nicer for a double stroller than your traditional double-wide models.
- Accessories include a child tray, rain cover, stroller organizer, and even a boogie board for an older child (or immature parent) to ride on.
- The basket under the stroller is accessible from both sides, sturdy and HUGE. I was able to fit a large, stuffed diaper bag, an extra pair of shoes, and a twelve-pack of beer.
All in all, I have to say that I don’t feel as if we’re missing anything in convenience. The stroller was very easy to assemble and takes almost no time to unfold when we’re ready to go. I believe that with twelve seating options, the Britax B-READY is the perfect stroller to accommodate any growing family.
I received no compensation for this post, just the product for testing. As always, all opinions are true and 100% my own.