Delta LX

Safety

Lower safety rating. The Delta LX is equipped with a padded five-point harness, the stroller frame has a mechanism to lock it in the folded position and the rear wheels have independently operated brakes. Some models have reflective elements on the stroller canopy. One respected product review source gives the Delta LX a lower safety rating due to an unspecified harness issue.

Ease of use

Some features take practice. Parents say the Delta LX is easy to fold and unfold. The Delta has a manual lock to keep it folded when its carried and a padded carry handle on the frame -- which is a good thing considering its 18-pound weight. Parents say the recline system and harness buckles take some practice, and one or two complain that they're very hard to operate.

Lifestyle features

Made for urban terrain. Delta LX has larger 7.5-inch rear wheels with smaller 6.5-inch front wheels to provide a combination of sturdiness and maneuverability on more challenging terrains. The wheels also have 360-degree shock absorption and the front swivel wheels lock for further stability.

The seat on the Delta LX reclines, but not fully. A Delta representative said the stroller is intended for infants 3 to 6 months. It has an upper weight rating of 35 pounds, which is low even for a stroller in the LX's price class.

The LX has a decent canopy, but it's not large and includes a cup holder. The under-seat basket is small and hard to access when the seat is reclined, but there is an extra storage pocket on the back of the canopy. In addition to the reclining seat, the Delta LX has an adjustable footrest for sleeping babies that parents say folds up enough to almost enclose the baby bassinet-style. Parents say the seat is roomy and comfortable for older children.

Customer service

Good customer service; website is lacking. While Delta only offers a 60- to 90-day warranty on the Delta LX stroller, a customer service representative for Delta assured us that any defect in manufacture or materials would be replaced or repaired by Delta after the warranty period expires. According to parents, Delta representatives quickly take care of problems when they arise. One quibble we have with Delta: The information on the website is wrong. It says the LX has a three-point harness, when the picture clearly shows a five-point harness (it does have a five-point harness). There are no weights of the stroller or recommended upper or lower usage weights. When we called customer service, they were not able to answer most of our questions -- although they were very pleasant. We were eventually able to get answers from marketing. Today's always wired consumers like to be able to get those basic facts from a website.

The bottom line

The Delta LX is heavy for an umbrella stroller, even outweighing some full-featured strollers, and has a limited useful life, from 3 to 6 months to 35 pounds. On the plus side, the larger wheels and suspension means it can handle rough terrain, but there are much better -- much lighter -- choices that can do so as well, even in this price class.