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Choosing a stroller for your little one is an exciting task, and since this is an item you will probably be getting a lot of use out of, you want to be sure that you are making the right choice. There are so many strollers available now, from many different brands, so it’s harder than ever to search through them all to choose the right one for your family.
The choice gets even harder when you are trying to choose between two very similar strollers from the same brand, but with minor differences. This often happens when a brand makes small changes or improvements to a model but continues to sell the original model.
Today we are going to take a look at the Bravo LE, to see what the differences are between the two, and which one of the two is better. We will closely examine the features of each model, as well as the pros and cons, reviews and price, to see which one comes out tops.
Before we start, let’s quickly take a look at the different types of stroller available so you can be sure you are buying the one that best fits your needs. There are three main types of stroller available, and depending on the age of your child, one might suit you better than another, so here we go.
Bottom Line Up Front Summary: Since the snack tray ALONE costs about the $30 price difference, the extra zippered pockets, seat cushion and color options made the Bravo LE an obvious choice for our family.
For a small difference in price, you get a ton of useful extras. The snack tray is a game changer, additional zip compartments, and extra seat cushion rare well worth the $30 price difference here.
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The Different Types of Strollers Available
Lightweight/Umbrella Stroller. A lightweight stroller is perfect for keeping in the trunk of your car, or for bringing with you on holiday. This type of stroller is perfect for frequent short trips as it is lightweight, and folds up very small when it’s not being used.
Lightweight strollers do not adapt to take infant car seats, and so are normally only suitable from the age of 6 months, due to the fact that they do not have a bassinet attachment or lie completely flat.
Full-Sized Stroller or Travel System. A full-sized stroller is a larger, more robust stroller that is suitable from birth. Most full-sized strollers have the option to add a bassinet attachment for newborns, or if there is not the option to add a bassinet then the seat itself will normally recline into a completely flat position making it suitable from birth. An infant car seat can usually be attached to the chassis with adaptors, creating a full travel system.
Jogging Stroller (off-road stroller). Jogging strollers are a great option for people who love the outdoors. The larger rubber wheels and suspension system enable these strollers to handle most types of rough terrain such as sand, rocks, gravel, and mud with ease. Jogging strollers tend to have just 3 wheels, making them very easy to steer, and you can attach an infant car seat to some models making them suitable from birth.
The Main Differences Between the Chicco Bravo vs Bravo LE
The main differences between Chicco Bravo vs Bravo LE are:
- The Chicco Bravo LE includes a reversible knit/mesh seat insert
- The Chicco Bravo LE has an extra visor on the sun canopy
- The Chicco Bravo LE has a zippered storage compartment
- The Chicco Bravo LE has a detachable infant tray
- The Chicco Bravo LE has a black frame
As you can see there are a few differences between the two Bravo models. The differences are small additions that make using the stroller more comfortable and practical, such as the extended visor on the Bravo LE model, which would be very useful in the summer.
The Bravo LE also has a zippered storage compartment, which again is something small that could make you feel a little safer if you have valuables or cash with you.
Chicco Bravo vs Bravo LE: Which One Is Better?
Both the Chicco Bravo and the Bravo LE are versatile 3-in-1 strollers with a quick fold design. Both Bravo models can be adapted into a travel system with the removal of the seat and the addition of either the KeyFit or Fit2 Car seat.
The Fit2® Air offers the same convenience and ease-of-use features as our #1-rated KeyFit® 30 Infant Car Seat, plus the added benefit of extended rear-facing use up to at least 2 years of age.
The KeyFit® 35 ClearTex™ Extended-Use Infant Car Seat offers more headrest height and legroom for extended rear-facing use. Top-rated, innovative safety features make this the easiest infant car seat to install and use correctly.
Both of these strollers fold up into a small size with just the pull of a handle, and once folded the stroller can either stand alone or be carried around by the handle (like a suitcase) which is a great feature for when you are going on holiday and may need to load it on the plane.
The aluminum frame means that these strollers are not only strong, but lightweight too, which them easy to move around regardless of whether they are folded up ready to be stowed away in your trunk, or open and ready to use. We are going to be looking at both of these models today to examine the differences between the two, and see which one is the better choice for you and your family.
Chicco Bravo Stroller
The Chicco Bravo is a clever ‘quick fold’ stroller that folds down with just one hand. A panel in the seat lifts up to reveal the fold handle, and as you start to fold, the front wheels swivel inwards so the stroller can be quickly and easily folded away. Once the stroller is folded, the folding handle also doubles as a carry handle making it easy to move around as required.
Both the seat and the canopy can easily be detached, leaving the lightweight frame which is suitable for adding a car seat. Car seat adaptors are included with the stroller, so there is no need to purchase these separately, however, you will need to purchase either the KeyFit or Fit2 car seat.
The Bravo features suspension and swivels the front wheels, ensuring a smooth journey wherever you end up going. As well as this, the Bravo features a one-touch brake for easy parking and a height-adjustable handle. There is also a parent tray with two cup holders (perfect for your morning coffee!) and a large storage basket, where you can store your baby changing bag, your own bag with plenty of room left for shopping if you need it.
Add on options for the Chicco Bravo Stroller
The Chicco Bravo stroller comes with pretty much everything you need, but there are a couple of additions available to purchase:
- Child tray with two cup holders
- Rubber wheel kit
- Replacement parts
Features
- Quick fold design/ One-hand fold
- Large sun canopy
- Breathable backrest
- Suspension
- Accepts a car seat
- Parent tray with two cup holders
- Removable seat and canopy
- Large storage basket
- Assembled weight: 23lbs
- Assembled Dimensions: 35.5″ x 21.75″ x 43″
- Folded Dimensions: 16″ x 21.75″ x 28″
Pros
- Lots of storage
- Easy to fold with one hand
- Suspension for a smooth ride
- Can be turned into a travel system with the addition of a car seat
- Includes parent cup holders
- Breathable backrest
- Large storage basket
Cons
- The child tray is not included and must be purchased separately
- No reversible seat option
Parents Opinions on the Chicco Bravo Stroller
We’ve been checking out the reviews to see what parents think of the Chicco Bravo 3 in 1 stroller:
- Great for tall parents due to the adjustable handle
- Wheels work well on all terrain
- Easy to transport
- A pleasure to use on long walks
- Easy to push
Overall the Chicco Bravo received great reviews from parents on Amazon, with 4.3 out of 5 stars. There were quite a lot of reviews mentioning how good this stroller is for taller parents due to the adjustable handle.
Chicco Bravo LE Stroller
The Chicco Bravo LE Stroller is essentially the same as the original Chico Bravo, but it is a newer model with a few additions and improvements.
Like the original Bravo, the Bravo LE features a simple quick fold system that can easily be operated with one hand. The seat is comfortable and features a multi-position recline backrest, which reclines almost fully, allowing your toddler to have a good nap while you are on a long walk. The Bravo LE also has an included child tray with two cup holders and space for a snack so your little one can have easy access to their drinks and snacks while you are on the go.
Again, as we see in the original Bravo, the Bravo LE has a large storage basket and parent tray, but the difference here is that on the Bravo LE the parent tray has a zippered compartment, perfect for safely storing keys and cash when you are on the go, without having to fumble in your bag to find them.
The large canopy on the Bravo LE features an extendable visor for extra sun protection, with a peekaboo window, so you can easily check in on your little one while you are on the go. All-wheel suspension ensures a smooth ride for your baby, and swivel wheels allow for easy steering around tight corners.
The extendable handle makes this stroller suitable for taller parents, and a foam hand grip keeps your hands comfortable even when you are out and about all day.
Add on options for the Chicco Bravo LE
The Bravo LE comes with everything you need, including an infant tray with two cup holders, but you can also purchase:
- Rubber Wheel Kit
- Replacement parts
Features
- Large sun canopy with extendable visor
- Extra seat cushion with reversible knit/mesh fabric
- Breathable backrest
- Suspension
- Accepts a car seat
- Parent tray with two cup holders and a zipped compartment
- Child Tray with two cup holders
- Removable seat and canopy
- Large storage basket
- Assembled weight: 23lbs
- Assembled Dimensions: 35.5″ x 21.75″ x 43″
- Folded Dimensions: 16″ x 21.75″ x 28″
Pros
- Lots of storage
- Easy to fold with one hand
- Suspension for a smooth ride
- Can be turned into a travel system with the addition of a car seat
- Includes parent tray
- Includes child tray with two cup holders
- Breathable backrest
- Comes with an extra seat cushion with reversible knit/mesh fabric
- Large storage basket
Cons
- No reversible seat option
- Slightly more expensive than the original bravo
Parents Opinions on the Chicco Bravo LE Stroller
We’ve had a look at the reviews to see what parents are saying about the Chicco Bravo LE stroller:
- The one-handed collapse makes life so much easier
- Easy steering due to the swivel wheels
- You can reach into the basket from both the back and the front, even with the seat attached.
- Nice and sturdy
- Child Snack tray is very useful
- Great for travel
Like the Chicco Bravo, the Bravo LE has great reviews, with parents commenting on how smooth the ride is and how easy it is to use. There were a couple of comments saying the child tray is tricky to remove as you need to press buttons on both sides of it, but this shouldn’t be a big issue for most people.
For a small difference in price, you get a ton of useful extras. The snack tray is a game changer, additional zip compartments, and extra seat cushion rare well worth the $30 price difference here.
The Verdict: Bravo or Bravo LE?
The Chicco Bravo and the Bravo LE are both very similar, but overall the Bravo LE is the winner as it has a few more features that make it more convenient to use. The extendable visor on the already large sun canopy offers extra shade for your little one, which you will find very useful in the summer or on holiday anywhere with strong sun.
The fact that the Bravo LE has a child tray included is a big bonus, as it means your baby or toddler can easily access their drinks and snacks while you are on the go without you having to search for them in the basket. You can buy an additional tray table for the Chicco Bravo, but it’s around $30 extra, so in our opinion it’s worth spending that extra money for the Bravo LE instead, particularly as the cost of buying a tray for the Bravo is almost exactly the same as the difference in the price between the Bravo and the Bravo LE.
The clever addition of a zipped compartment on the parent tray of the Bravo LE is very useful for storing small items such as keys and phones where you can reach them easily, again this is a small addition which can make daily life a lot easier, saving you from having to search in your bag for those items.
When we start looking at aesthetics, the Chicco Bravo LE is also the winner. The Bravo LE features a smart black frame whereas the original Bravo has a silver frame. This might sound unimportant but it makes a big difference to the look of the strollers, making the Bravo LE look more sophisticated and expensive. The Bravo LE also has an extra seat cushion pad which adds a little more luxury to the look of this model.
Overall they are both great strollers, but by paying just a little extra you can upgrade to the Bravo LE and have all of those extra features.
Final Thoughts on the Bravo LE vs Bravo Debate
Bottom Line Summary: Since the snack tray ALONE costs about the $30 price difference, the extra zippered pockets, seat cushion and color options made the Bravo LE an obvious choice for our family.
The Chicco Bravo LE is the clear winner here. With only a small difference in price, you get a lot of very useful extras with this model, that isn’t included in the original Chicco Bravo.
We also think that it looks smarter and more expensive too, due to its chic black frame, and additional seat pad. It’s clear that the Chicco Bravo LE is the better purchase out of the two, and with all the extras it’s excellent value for money too! Check the price on Amazon here.
Recommended Reads:
- Chicco KeyFit 30 vs Chicco Fit2 – What Are The Main Differences?
- Full Chicco Bravo Stroller Review
- The Ultimate Chicco Liteway Stroller Review
- The Chicco Urban Stroller Review: Is It The Best for You?
- Chicco Cortina CX Travel System Review
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The ultimate urban luxury - flawlessly navigate city streets with Diono luxe fabrics designed to make you stand out from the crowd.
Converts from a single to a double stroller, or make it a triple with a glider board.
For a small difference in price, you get a ton of useful extras. The snack tray is a game changer, additional zip compartments, and extra seat cushion rare well worth the $30 price difference here.
3 strollers in 1: Infant Car Seat Carrier, Infant Stroller, and Toddler Stroller to stroll from infant to toddler (infant car seat sold separately).
FAQs
Question: Is this stroller suitable for jogging?
Answer: No, this type of stroller is not suitable for jogging. You can find suitable jogging strollers here.
What is the minimum height and weight requirements to use the Chicco Bravo or Bravo LE without the car seat?
The Chicco Bravo and Bravo LE can be used from birth to 6 months with the addition of a Chicco car seat. After your child reaches the age of 6 months they can sit in the main seat of the stroller and the car seat no longer needs to be used.
Question: What is the weight limit for the Chicco Bravo and Bravo LE?
Answer: The weight limit for both of these models is 50lbs.
Question: When reclined does the leg section go up, or does it stay down?
Answer: The leg section stays down even when the back of the seat is reclined.
Question: What material are the tires made from?
Answer: The tires are made from EVA foam, and therefore do not require air to inflate. This has the advantage of meaning you will never get a flat tire. Replacement tires can be purchased if required.
Question: How much does the frame weigh without the stroller seat attached?
Answer: The Bravo weighs just 18lbs without the seat and canopy attached. This is great for when you are using the frame as a car seat carrier, as it’s lightweight and easy to fold into the trunk of your car.
Question: Does the Bravo stroller recline completely flat?
Answer: The bravo stroller reclines almost completely flat, allowing your child to take naps in the stroller when you are out and about.
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