I absolutely LOVE this stroller!
My previous lightweight stroller was a Snap-n-Go that the infant car seat attaches to. But recently my 6 month old daughter has begun to complain when she's strapped into her carseat for any length of time -- she can't sit up fully, and she's stuck looking at me instead of out at all the interesting surroundings.
I have a hand-me-down full-size stroller which I've used a few times, but it's big, clunky, doesn't steer all that well, and is near impossible to navigate around tight-fitting clothes isles when I'm shopping. The only plus would be its large basket.
So I set off in search of a lightweight stroller that was easy to maneuver, had a full sun shade, a cup holder for me, a nice cushioned seat for her, could recline, would fold up compactly, and had a useable (if small) basket. I also wanted something my daughter could grow into and use for a long time since I didn't want to have to buy another stroller once she got a little bigger.
I thought finding a stroller that would fulfill all my requirements would be impossible...
After doing a lot of online and in-store research, and reading lots of reviews of the Mia Moda Veloce and other lightweight strollers, I finally went ahead and placed my order. I was a little hesitant buying it online, sight unseen, but it appeared to have everything I wanted and the price was perfect. It arrived in a few days (exactly when it was projected to arrive). I opened it up, snapped on the front wheels, canopy, and cup holder and immediately knew I had made the right choice in buying this stroller.
PROS:
The Veloce is a dream to push. The foamy umbrella handles are very comfortable, and you can easily steer it one-handed. When clothes shopping, I can hang items on the handles or on the crossbar between the handles, making a separate cart or shopping basket unnecessary for most shopping trips.
The basket is a very good size for this style of stroller -- big enough for both my smaller diaper bag plus my purse -- and easy to get into (although the seat needs to be in an upright position to access the basket; not a big deal though).
The seat has 3 recline settings (4 if you lay it all the way back). It doesn't lay completely flat, but reclines enough I can change my daughter's diaper, and she can comfortably lay back and sleep. The multi-position footrest is really nice so my daugher's feet don't dangle, and makes a nice extension for changing diapers. The seat is nicly padded, has padded shoulder straps, and a great mechanism for the 5-point harness. (The shoulder straps on the Mia Moda click into each side clasp for the belt, so you only have to snap the sides of the belt together with the fastner between the legs (Two clicks). My full-size stroller has me fumbling with trying to slide the shoulder strap fastner into waist belt, hold both together and snap as one into the middle clip; repeat on other side. If my baby's being squirmy, it can take several tries to get everything lined up and snapped together; another reason I don't like my full-size stroller.)
I love the full sunshade, so if we're walking facing the sun, or if she's napping, I can extend it down and completely shade her face. When it's fully expanded, there's a nice little window at the top so you can keep tabs on your little one. The canopy has 3 sections, so the coverage can be as little or as much as you need. Most canopies I've seen only have 2 sections and don't provide complete coverage, so this was definately a nice feature. The back of the sunshade also has nice pockets for keys, cell phone, burp rag, etc.
It has a very nice cup holder, perfect for that bottle of water I seem to always drag around with me! Unlike some stoller cupholders, this one is deep, and not too wide, and has rubber grippers to keep the bottle from tipping out.
The Veloce folds up like an umbrella stroller, making it very compact. I have a 2007 Honda CR-V, and it fits under the rear cargo shelf, where not much else does! (It does take up the full width of the back cargo area, but if I slide it back under the cargo shelf, I can easily get a row of groceries (5-6 brown bags) in front of it.) Opening the stroller took a couple tries to get the hang of it (as with anything), and it was a little stiff at first, since it was brand new. It also helps to have shoes on -- when I first tried it in my living room, I was in my bare feet. You have to step down on a little metal piece by the basket to lock it into position, and it's a little hard to do with just your bare toes! Same with collapsing the stroller; you need to hook your toes on the release and pull out towards you which can also be a little hard without sandals or shoes to help. Also, when collapsing the stroller, there's a rubber handle by the basket, that if you pull up on, makes the stroller fold up easier. (I think it says that in the instructions, but I'm not one to read those unless I have to!) Once folded, there's a hook by the handle bars that connects to the front wheels to keep the stroller folded up. It's really a very easy stroller to open and collapse. You can open it one-handed (plus one foot), although I think you need two hands to collapse it.
CONS:
I really don't have any cons for this stroller, although if I was to nit-pick, I can think of three very minor issues:
1) When you collapse the stroller, the foot extension automatically gets raised up. So when you open the stroller, the footrest is always extended, and you have to manually fold it down if you have an older child who wants their feet down. A little annoying, maybe, but certainly a minor issue in comparision to all this stroller has to offer.
2) I occasionally kick at the back wheels when I'm walking. It's not a big deal for me; I just adjust my stride. I think it's because I've got shorter arms and tend to walk closer to the stroller than someone who'd have longer arms. The handles aren't adjustable, but I think most people would find the height comfortable.
3) There's no snack tray/toy bar. Actually, I'm glad there's not. The one on my full-size stroller always seemed to be in the way, and I'd leave it off anyway. If you have a younger child who needs some toys to play with, try stringing some linkable rings from one side to the other and attach toys to those. Works just as well, or even better than a tray.
Overall, I'd highly recommend this stroller. It has become my primary stroller and is a joy to use. I love showing it off to my other mother-friends. I'll only use my full-size stroller now for off-roading walks. If you're tired of the bulkiness of a full-size stroller, but not willing to cut back on features, this is the stroller for you!
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Mia Moda Veloce Deluxe Lightweight StrollerProduct Description: Mia Moda Veloce Deluxe Lightweight Stroller The ultra-light Veloce stroller packs a lot of style into a convenient package. The Veloce has a sturdy lightweight aluminum frame and exceptional maneuverability. You won't struggle to make tight corners with this stroller. A multi-position reclining seat, adjustable leg support, all-wheel suspension, all-terrain wheels, and full coverage sun canopy make this a sleek option for travel.
Buy Now
Got this online even though I saw it later at Toys R Us. Glad, I got it online was $10. cheaper, and I got free shipping can't beat that. I love all the room it has inside,and the bookcase. Was so simple to assemble. Goes with my daughters bed and looks really cute in her room. Would recommend if you are looking for a toy box.
