Safety 1st Aerolite LX

Bottom Line

There are several models of the Safety 1st Aerolite LX travel system, including the S1 that's distributed only by Babies"R"Us. They're actually the same stroller with the same car seat and base included; the only differences are fabric and padding options. The general consensus is that the Aerolite LX is an inexpensive but unexciting choice, with an awkwardly wide wheel base and a car seat that's a tight fit for smaller cars.

Safety

One of the safest car seats. No owners post complaints about the security of the Safety 1st Aerolite LX stroller and the OnBoard Air 35 car seat. It's one of the top-rated infant car seats on the market, with unique side-impact air protection technology. The stroller has a padded five-point harness, but its brakes aren't linked and must be locked individually. The front wheels don't lock, which is standard on even the lowest-end strollers. The Aerolite LX's child snack tray includes protections against the child sliding through, and either escaping or being injured by the tray.

Ease of Use

Wide wheel base hard to maneuver. The Aerolite LX travel system gets good reviews overall for its ease of assembly, snap-in car seat attachment, and easy fold and unfold, although few say it's truly one-handed. It stands when folded and has a manual lock. Where it gets the most complaints is push and maneuverability. A number of reviewers say the stroller's wide wheel base makes it hard to turn and particularly difficult to get around in crowded areas or smaller rooms. Its harness must be rethreaded to adjust, and the stroller has a two-handed recline.

We had to call customer service to get the weight of the stroller -- 25 pounds -- and that was just an estimate based upon carton weight, minus car seat and base, minus packaging. It would be nice for consumers if that information were more readily available. It's a heavy stroller, so be sure you can easily lift that much weight if you need to take it upstairs or in and out of the trunk a lot.

Lifestyle Features

Bigger car seat may not fit smaller cars. One of the biggest potential selling points of the Safety 1st Aerolite LX also draws most of its user complaints. It's one of the few travel systems that accommodates a car seat for a larger child up to 35 pounds; most systems accept car seats with upper weight ratings of just 22 or 30 pounds. The problem is that many owners say the bulky Aerolite LX simply doesn't fit in their car rear-facing, or is such a tight fit that the front passenger has no room. The stroller itself takes up the entire trunk of smaller cars when folded and gets panned for its bulk.

A number of owners add that some models skimp on the rider's comfort, saying the fabric is scratchy and the padding thin. The canopy isn't large, but provides full coverage when paired with the car seat.

The Aerolite does have nice convenience features, a parent tray with two cup holders and storage compartment, and a child snack tray. Owners say the basket is easy to access and large enough for a diaper bag, but it drags on the ground too easily. The handle isn't adjustable.

The Safety 1st Aerolite stroller seat says it shouldn't be used until a child can sit up unassisted, about 4 months old. It has a 50-pound upper weight rating. Although its suggested price ranges from $200 to $300 depending on the fabric option, it can usually be found for much less, making it a very affordable system.

Customer service

One-year warranty. The Safety 1st Aerolite LX comes with a one-year warranty. Owners say customer service is responsive and helpful.