Travel Systems

Matching stroller/car seat sets

Some parents like the look of a coordinated travel system, and experts say if you have your heart set on one, you should get one with a top-rated car seat. Most Graco travel systems come with the top-rated SnugRide car seat, which comes with a stay-in-car base and is rear-facing for infants up to 22 pounds. (See our report on infant car seats for more information on the SnugRide.) Some Graco travel systems come with their SafeSeat car seat, which does not get quite as high ratings as the SnugRide but which has a higher 30-pound weight limit.

Graco sells a bunch of its strollers as travel systems complete with a car seat, including the Quattro Tour Deluxe (*Est. $230) and Passage (*Est. $190) travel systems. But we found the best reviews for the Graco MetroLite travel system (*Est. $250) , which isn't as heavy. The MetroLite stroller weighs just over 17 pounds without the car seat. While it has more features, the Quattro Tour system weighs more than 35 pounds.

The Graco MetroLite (*Est. $250) has been a long-running favorite, and the stroller is intended for babies up to 40 pounds. It performs well in safety tests. The stroller's features include a height-adjustable handle, pivoting snack tray, windowed canopy and a convertible three- or five-point harness. Testers say the MetroLite is light enough for one person to transfer in and out of the car without too much trouble, although we did notice a few complaints from parents who say it can be tricky to fold. The MetroLite car seat stroller system comes with a SnugRide car seat and is sold in several colors including tasteful shades of tan, pink and blue.

The Quattro Tour Deluxe (*Est. $230) gets the best reviews of Graco's full-size travel systems, but experts really don't recommend such full-size systems overall. The Quattro Tour is a full-featured stroller, and as such is very heavy. The stroller alone weighs almost 27 pounds empty, and the car seat adds almost 10 pounds. This system has what one reviewer refers to as "feature bloat," with a fully enclosed hood, all-weather boot (on some models) and plush padding. The Quattro Tour Deluxe comes with the Graco Infant SafeSeat (which is rated for babies up to 30 pounds) rather than the SnugRide. Since reviewers say that most parents end up buying a lighter weight stroller once their baby outgrows the infant seat, you might want to opt for a lightweight travel system like the MetroLite from the start.

You can spend an incredible amount of money on a travel system, especially when a manufacturer mandates that you have to buy their car seat as well to make it work. Some expensive systems are taking a stab at innovation. The Orbit Baby Stroller System (*Est. $900) has been getting glowing reviews from parents since it was first introduced in 2006. Parents love the seat's 360-degree rotation and praise the stroller for its smooth ride and easy steering. As for the car seat, reviewers like the infant seat's soft carry handles and the fact that it snaps into the base from any angle. Most parent reviewers say the Orbit is worth the high price, although there are some complaints about its weight and limited storage space. Besides the basic stroller system, options include a toddler seat (*est. $180) and a bassinet attachment with a stand (*est. $240). While reviewers give the Orbit credit for its innovative features, they say you'll do just as well with a moderately priced lightweight system like the Graco MetroLite. We haven't seen the Orbit car seat tested by any independent organizations.

Instead of buying a complete travel system, one option is to select a car seat compatible stroller that you like and pair it with a separately purchased infant car seat. Highly rated strollers like the Peg-Perego Pliko P3 Classico (*Est. $330) and the Inglesina Zippy (*Est. $350) come with universal car seat adapter straps, which let you attach a separately purchased car seat. Buying these components separately is one way to ensure you end up with a stroller you really like rather than a compromise.

In summary, we consistently found reviewers who advise against buying a travel system, saying that the bulk and expense don't justify the short-term use, since many parents end up scrapping them for a lighter, better-quality stroller after their child outgrows the infant seat. Experts say the best solution is to buy a stroller frame like the Baby Trend Snap-N-Go or Graco SnugRider. Make sure to try your infant seat on the frame in the store to be sure it fits. If you really want a matching set, consider a lightweight travel system like the Graco MetroLite. You get a coordinating set at less expense than high-end strollers. That's a plus since parents and experts say you'll probably prefer a different stroller down the line anyway.