Summer Infant brand has been around for a while and is known for budget umbrella strollers and other useful baby items (their baby gates are wonderful!). Unsurprisingly, when their newest non-umbrella travel stroller Summer Infant 3D Quickclose came out, it quickly went viral on social media, as it only costs $99.
Is it too good to be true? Is it as good as its budget stroller competitors? I think it depends on a few factors and most importantly how you travel.
Pros & Cons of Summer Infant 3Dquickclose Review
Age Range – 6 months to 55 pounds (25kg) – newborn with car seat
Stroller Weight – 11 pounds (5 kg)
Folded Size – 26.5 x 20.5 x 14.8 inches (67 x 52 x 38cm)
Maneuverability & Storage
Summer Infant 3Dquickclose comes with various accessories included, which is super nice for such a low price tag. It has a strap to carry the stroller on your shoulder, a parental cupholder and a bumper bar. It’s undeniably a good deal for just a hundred bucks.
From the moment you open the box, everything is very user-friendly and easy to figure out, which a parent can appreciate. Honestly, I was impressed and I don’t say it lightly, because a lot of strollers are a pain in the butt to assemble at first.
The stroller isn’t as sturdy as Yoyo or Joolz, and even a small bag handed from the bag will cause tipping over. The underneath basket is spacious enough to fit a smaller diaper bag, so there is enough storage.
You just need to remember that you can’t hang anything or put too much pressure on the back or it will fall backward. It’s not about the weight, as the Summer stroller is undeniably light, but more of a design.
The wheels are pretty decent and can handle some cobblestones. Will it be a smooth ride? No, it’s never smooth with small travel stroller wheels. Although the wheels are plastic, so they will wear off after a year of constant usage (or potentially even faster).
The other issue with wheels is that even when locked, the stroller rolls slightly an inch or two. It won’t be a problem on the street when the pavements aren’t slippery, but you’ll see it on airport floors or shopping malls where floors.
Seat Design
The seat makes a good first impression with an included bumper bar and cup holder for the parent, but when you take a good look at it you start noticing its flimsiness.
While the recline is decent and works fine with a pull on the back, the child can pull themselves up halfway to the top of the seat.
The canopy on the other hand is great. It has everything you need with a peekaboo window, a little pocket for parental belongings on the back (total lifesaver), and it provides decent coverage.
Combined with a built-in leg rest, it’s enough to provide a good sleep in the shade. At least as long as the child doesn’t resist it and tries sitting up.
Fold & Unfold
The stroller is supposed to collapse with one click, just like Nuna. In reality, it gets stuck a lot. Sometimes you need to press the button on the bar differently or apply different pressure, but often it’s bit of a challenge to open it too and you have to yank it open.
Plus, while it collapses easily it’s not as stable. A 2 year old could easily wiggle around and collapse with the stroller. I also saw numerous reviews of a stroller collapsing with a child inside, which while didn’t happen to us, usually when people start reporting it the stroller is going to get recalled sooner or later (cough… remember Mockingbird?).
My biggest issue with the stroller is that it’s supposed to be a travel stroller, but when folded it’s pretty gigantic for a travel stroller. Honestly, I thought Uppababy Minu was big when folded if you compare it to cabin-approved strollers, but this one is pretty much the size of almost various full-size strollers.
It’s more lightweight, but I cannot see myself wearing this behemoth on my shoulder. I tried, and the strap is super short and gets in the way of a footrest. It’s extremely awkward to carry.
Summer 3Dquickclose vs Nuna TRVL
If you compare these two strollers, as they’re often compared on social media channels, many can say that they look similar. Personally, I think Nuna TRVL has too many flaws and despite the amazing fold, it wouldn’t be my top choice for a travel stroller. It wouldn’t even make the top 5 if I’m honest.
That said, if you don’t care for a stroller fitting in the overhead bin and don’t travel that often, Summer Infant stroller might be a good deal, especially in comparison with a highly-priced Nuna.
Summer 3Dquickclose Stroller Review: Verdict & Final Thoughts
Is the best budget travel stroller? No, ultimately you get what you pay for. I think it’s worth splurging an extra $80 on Mamazing stroller or even getting a Chicco stroller instead.
However, if you need a stroller that reclines for a one-off trip or two, it might be a good solution for you. Summer Infant 3Dquickclose isn’t awful, it’s pretty fine considering the price. There are just many better competitors if you can afford to spend a little bit more.
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