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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Valco Baby SNAP! Review


For the longest time, my husband and I have been searching for the perfect travel stroller. We've bought some and returned some, and we were never fully happy. The lighter the stroller, the less storage you have. You always have to sacrifice something. But not anymore! I was SO excited when the Valco Baby Snap came, I put it together (in 4 minutes!) and threw my son inside to test it out around the house! He fit in it amazingly..a ton of leg room, and an amazing amount of room to grow in the seat. The Valco Baby Snap knocks a lot of its competitors off of my favorite lightweight stroller list, and climbs its way to the top. Have a look!!

 


The Periwinkle color is a beautiful purple. I love the fact that it's not too girly,I didn't mind strolling my son in it. The canopy is AMAZING! Completely covers baby from winds and sunshine. For more coverage there's a pop out visor (shown above) to protect baby even more. It's impossible to find a lightweight stroller with a great canopy. It just doesn't exist. Well it's clearly possible, so every other stroller company MUST take some notes.

The seat is a VERY roomy seat. My son is 21 months old, and weighs 30lbs, and has A LOT of room to grow, (even with his huge puffy jacket on!)
The seat also sits up pretty high, which isn't common on such a lightweight stroller.

(If your like me, and get annoyed from material bunching up in the seat, you can just lift the seat and tuck it underneath easily, and it even lifts the seat higher!)
The stroller maneuvers amazingly. I had no problem steering it one handedly (fully loaded with baby and a packed storage basket). I could open a door with one hand and roll the stroller inside one handedly.  


Now what's really amazing about this stroller, is the storage! The basket is HUGE and SOO accessible! Usually on lightweight strollers like this the storage is small and cramped or impossible to get to. Not the Snap! You don't need to dig your arm underneath a bar to get a diaper bag in there. It's really a PLEASURE!
There's also a pouch where you can store a bottle, keys, phone, etc.




My son won't let me recline the seat with him in it, but I had to show you how great the recline is. It reclines all the way down to a near flat position. The strap on the back is very easy to use. Wherever you stop pulling the string is where the seat will stop. So it has an infinite amount of positions. (I usually despise string reclines, but this one is really easy, and never gets stuck.)
There's a peek-a-boo window, (velcro) on top which you can roll up and allow air to circulate throughout the seat, and also check in on the baby. You can also roll up the pouch in the back and there's a huge mesh window which is great for the summer, so baby won't get too stuffy while napping in the stroller.




The weight of the Valco Baby Snap is an outstanding 13lbs! That makes it one of the lightest strollers on the market, with the features of full size stroller. (For those comparing- the Baby Jogger City Mini weighs 20lbs).
It's technically a "2 step fold" but it is super easy. You push a button, and pull the trigger on the handle bar and push down- and it locks with an automatic lock. The fold is VERY COMPACT and flat. A great part of this fold is that the seat is completely covered- you don't have to worry about it getting wet from rain, or dirty from keeping it in the trunk. It also folds WITH the belly bar attached.
I'm 8 months pregnant and have NO problem lifting this stroller. I literally just pick it up with one hand and easily bring it inside the house, or toss it in the trunk. 



It takes up practically NO room in the trunk of my Toyota Camry. It's a great everyday stroller, and is super easy for quick errands. It's as light as an umbrella stroller, but 10x more comfortable for baby, and an amazing recline!  



The brake is so easy to use, and the most flip flop friendly foot brake I have ever used. Just step down on the right to lock and step down on the left to unlock.






          Pro's:

  • HUGE storage basket
  • Amazingly lightweight- 13 lbs!
  • Compact fold
  • Huge Canopy
  • Great maneuverability! 
  • Seat folds on the INSIDE- doesn't get dirty!
  • Automatic lock


        Con's:

  • Harness is kind of hard to adjust- takes some time to figure it out

Overall, I am very happy with this stroller. The Valco Baby Snap would be an amazing travel stroller. It's light enough to gate check, but also has an amazing storage basket which is a necessity for trips. Another great feature is the deep recline, so no matter where you are, baby can take a nap. It retails for $250- but you can get it for as low as $219 while it's on sale! It comes in Periwinkle, Cornflower blue and black. New to 2013, Valco Baby has come out with "Vogue Hoods" where you can mix and match colors, to give your Snap your own personal style! Love it! (Looks great with the black- check it out!!) If you're looking for an easy to fold, lightweight stroller without having to sacrifice having storage- you will NOT be disappointed with the Valco Baby Snap!

Some more pictures!! 






p.s- Even the Dad gives the Snap two thumbs up! He even said, (and I quote) "wow, this really is light." And even mentioned how easy it is to steer. I'd take his word for it!


Disclaimer: I was given a Valco Baby Snap for review- I was not payed for this review, and everything written above is unbiased and my own personal opinion on this stroller.







43 comments:

  1. was looking for a review on the snap for a while thank you for the pictures. i really dont love the city mini, but love the colors of the snap, and the storage really does look much much better. what are the pros of the city mini vs the snap? which would u choose?
    would love a giveaway! heheh

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    1. The storage on the Snap is really great. The basket is HUGE and accessible, which is my favorite thing about it. The Snap is also extremely lightweight, weighing only 13lbs (amazing) and the City Mini weighs 20lbs. I've had the city mini, and returned it. I thought I could use it as my lightweight stroller, but there are much better options out there as far as lightweight goes, (like the Snap!) People think the Snap fold isn't as easy as the City Mini, but it is honestly one of the easiest on the market. The only difference is you have to click a safety button, (which makes no difference in the amount of time and energy it takes to fold it) and then you also get to keep the stroller seat safe on the inside of the frame without getting dusty and dirty. As far as an every day, lightweight stroller, with the option to buy colors and spruce it up- I'd go with the Valco Baby Snap for sure!

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    2. I agree like it much better than city mini, not that anything is wrong with city mini but a lot of things are right with the snap lol can u please do review of spark duo, dying to see what kids look like in that seat!!!!!!! Deciding between it and stroll air just need to see spark! Looks great

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    3. Haha- valco has a lot of great stroller options. I'd love to review the spark duo, especially with #2 on the way- you never know, keep checking back :)!

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    4. Hi, I was wondering wether you got spark duo yet? I need a double stroller for my 2 1/2 & my 4 month old. I really cant decide between Jogger duo city mini or the valco snap duo!

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    5. The spark duo is amazing!!! Incredibly light, easy to maneuver and huge basket. I have a one year old and two year old, and wish I bought this a year ago. I bought the city mini duo, and although its a good stroller it's much heavier, seats are less spacious and the basket is super hard to reach, which makes shopping difficult. The valco is honestly such a pleasure to use.

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  2. thanks for the reply and the great review
    the pictures really help out so happy i found your post on WTE.com and so happy you finally started the blog!! good luck!

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  3. Have the snap! Love it also great review

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  4. is this the one that transforms to a bassinet or something lol

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    1. No, that's the Valco Spark.

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    2. Nope, that's the Valco Baby Spark, another great option. The seat can face parent or out, and the seat can actually transform into a bassinet and back to a seat again. (Great for people with limited storage space, but want a bassinet option.) check it out at valcobaby.com

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    3. I have it too and looooove it it's great for traveling. We took this thing all over the world lol. Amazing amazing, no negatives! Also have the trimode love that too. Their new zee and spark look fancy fancy

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    4. Valco Baby has an amazing line of strollers.
      Lightweight, all terrain, "luxury", and many doubles (spark duo, zee two, snap duo and more..) And truly
      great customer service. They answer customer service questions on their facebook almost immediately! A great stroller and company to invest in.

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  5. Was thinking about this or the new compact BOB or britax bagile. Any reviews in those?

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    Replies
    1. Just wanted to share I had the bagile and returned it for the snap. Hated it too heavy for me lol

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    2. The BOB Motion is a great stroller, I'm a huge BOB fan. It depends mostly on what you need it for. If youre looking for a great stroller, easy to travel with, and very light, the snap is the definate choice. They all pretty much have the same features, only difference is the weight and then wheels. Do you travel a lot?

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    3. Oh and I love the new vogue hoods that Valco made for the snap. The black frame looks amazing with any of the colors- apricot,hot pink, etc. check those out!

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  6. Great stroller dying to see the spark though can't find any reviews I'm very hesitant to spend the money

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    Replies
    1. The spark is amazing- you should check out their website or contact them via fcebook and they can help you find a retailer closest to you. They're customer service is excellent, (and quick!).

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  7. Love how u show a pic on escalator!

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  8. hows the double?

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  9. Wanted to say thanks after reading this review and seeing that they really did have great customer service I ordered the snap for traveling abroad next month. So excited yaaaay
    (Camilla from WTE)

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    Replies
    1. Yay! You will love it! Let me know how it does abroad!

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  10. Do you find the seat upright enough? Do you happen to know the angle of the most upright position? Thanks

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    1. Hi! I don't know the exact angle but I will ask Valco now via email. But the seat is very upright and when you push the good material behind the seat, it pushes it even higher! My son refuses to sit in any seat that doesn't have an extreme upright position, and he loved sitting in it. Zero slouching, honest! Really really great seat.

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    2. Thank you very much for your quick reply! Just one more question, it says on their Facebook page that the Snap does not have suspension. I think GLuxe and Bugaboo Bee both have 4 wheel suspension. Does it seem to get bumpy over uneven surface? Thank you.

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    3. The bugaboo bee has an amazing ride but it is also a steeper investment. The gluxe is one of my favorite umbrella strollers, but the SNAP has may more storage and only two pounds heavier. I took it to the park, on grass, and mulch- handles it great. It's no all terrain stroller but it gets the job done! I never use two hands with it on smooth surfaces, when going on grass you may have to use two hands but that's about it. No heavy labor, and I'm 9 months pregnant!

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  11. Would this stroller be appropriate for an infant under six months? If not, could it be adapted (with inserts, or attached carseat), or would someone have to buy an additional stroller for the newborn stage?

    I'm seriously considering going for the Snap but I'd be curious how many different strollers I would need as the baby grows.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jackie!
      The Snap has a padded seat and a FULL recline, making it newborn friendly! You can lay your baby in the stroller and open up the mesh window on a hot summer day and baby could have an amazing nap in it.

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  12. Hi,
    i am actually from Prague Czech republic and just deciding between Valco Snap 4 and Britax b-agile. I know the Valco is very light but is it stable enough? If you conside the light weith... My girl is only 1 year old and have 8 kg only but later when she is bigger, and she is already moving so much :-)
    thank you
    Lucie

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    1. Hi lucie!
      The snap 4 is extremely stable. When your using it, you forget how lightweight it actually is until you need to fold it and lift it!
      No one moves around more than my son, and I never had a problem! And that's with the regular snap which is 2lbs lighter!
      The bagile is a great stroller, but I love the easiness and the look of the valco snap4. Especially with the new option to change the color of the hoods! Really cool.

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  13. Can't find a zee two review anywhere loosing my mind no stores carry around me

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    1. There's a babygizmo video on the zee two! Should help you out! :)

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  14. My friend just got this instead of the city mini. Those vogue hoods are pretty cool, love that.

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  15. Hello I am interested in te valco snap4 have you tried this?

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  16. I bought a snap for the similar mini city features but lower weight. The weight difference has a huge impact on quality. The snap is not stable, the harness is very difficult to adjust and does not stay in place, and worst of all my snap frame actually snapped in half! I'm now a very satisfied owned of the mini city 4 wheels despite the extra weight.

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  17. Its been days I have been trying to figure out which one to buy between the two. B-Agile Double and Valco Snap duo?

    I have a hatchback car and so the folded stroller size is important for me. These are the dimensions folded:
    Britax-13H x 30.5W x 30.5
    Valco -13.25x 29.5 x 33L

    So Valco is only bigger in length by about 2.5 inches. Which is not too bad.

    Also I want to consider travelling - which one would be better. Whether it be small weekly trips to the grocery store so there will be lot of removing the stroller from the car trunk, or also the occasional air travel (domestic/international). Ease of have 2 kids in the stroller and navigating through the security checks?

    One of the other uses I am thinking of is - I would like like to keep the kids(3.5 year old and a 1 year old) in the stroller and allow them to be fed near the table when in restaurants rather than remove them and make them seat in the highchairs at the table. Anybody tried this and how feasible is it? So in this scenario I am guessing what would help is that the less space/compact the opened stroller is the better, also higher the seat above the ground the better it would be to feed the kids.

    So keeping this things in mind would love to hear from the experiences of you all.
    I hope I can make up my mind soon with your inputs.

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  18. I have the mountain buggy duet - a bit pricey but it had the compromises I wanted. It is not too big or heavy but not too flimsy. It has the capability of both bassinets and clip in seats. Great for outdoors and mall cruising. Narrowest on the market but still spacious. Large easy to access basket underneath. Careful not to strap too much on the back handle bars as the weighting isn't in the middle but rests mostly on the back tyres which means it could tip if overloaded on the back (guess most could but you can take off a front wheel with both twins in it and it has no impact). A lot of the twin moms I know have the Bugabo Donkey but I think it is too heavy. I had VERY limited choice not being in the states; would recommend starting with deciding whether you want side by side or tandem and going from there. I like side by side as then both seats can recline and no one is kicking the others seat, it also helps that I can just push the stroller to a rest. table and feed them there. But on the cons I sometimes just wont go into a shop as the aisles are too packed and I wont fit. You also get in ppls way a bit more. I fit in all the disabled toilets, some of the long ones wont fit :/

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  19. I have a snugli carrier. I was wondering if I am going to have to completely remove it and my child when going through security or if it is ok to wear him? Also, does anyone know if you are allowed to pack the gerber baby food plastic containers in your purse or carry on? Or if they will toss it? I am trying to plan ahead so i know what to pack. I have never flown before so i'm not sure what to expect. I will be traveling with a 3yr old in an umbrella stroller, and my 10mo old in the baby carrier. With 2 carry on bags and my purse. I was planning on bringing both of them a sippy cup and packing some of the gerber baby food containers or the Plum organic's pouches. Both of which are about 3.5 oz each packet which I know is .5 oz over the limit but since it's for a baby, I figured it would be ok. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm worried about taking my toddler out of the stroller while trying to hold the other one to go through the security stuff and then get the one back in the stroller and putting the carrier back on. Seems like a lot of work and i don't want my toddler running off while trying to grab all our stuff and getting them situated into their carriers lol
    Thanks for any advice ahead of time!

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  20. Wanting to buy a cradle swing for a very first grand baby. I have been looking at the fisher price Papsan and the my littlecradleswing. I don’t won’t one that is going to be noisy and I will like it to have a power adapter. Could you please help me choose the right one . Thank you.

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  21. Such a classy gears for babies. Hard to choose one.

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