Skip to Content

Have Baby, Will Travel (In Style): The Full Chicco Bravo Stroller Review

Have Baby, Will Travel (In Style): The Full Chicco Bravo Stroller Review
Latest posts by Keith Lindner (see all)

If you are in the market for a stylish, innovative stroller that is sturdy and able to grow with your little one, look no further than the Chicco Bravo Stroller. The Chicco Bravo stroller might have heads turning with its good looks but it is the multiple useful gadgets that will leave other moms and babies envious.

Moms and dads that are a little taller will love the adjustable handle, fit to meet different heights and folding a stroller have never been this easy thanks to the new and improved one-hand folding mechanism and auto-swivel wheels that transform this stroller into a free-standing stroller in no time!

Appearance

chicco bravo stroller

The Chicco Bravo Stroller has a sleek and stylish design, keeping up with the current trends in strollers. It has a neat, fashionable appearance and is presented as a sturdy, yet compact stroller. The Chicco Bravo Stroller has a beautiful silver aluminum frame and is one of few strollers that are available in just black (aside from the wheels and frame), complementing the aluminum frame.

That being said, keeping the black material clean can become quite a challenge as time goes by and your little one starts to have snacks or milk in the stroller.

Chicco used a good quality material for the seat and canopy, so it can be wiped clean without too much effort but it does show spills quickly and if you live in a dusty area, dust will be easy to spot on the black color. Another bonus is that the assembly of the Chicco Bravo stroller is rather easy and effortless and shouldn’t take anything more than 20 minutes.

Durability

When you are on a tight budget, most new parents opt for the cheapest option where baby gear is concerned, especially seeing that there are so many items that need to be purchased before the baby arrives.

Unfortunately, the stroller is one of those items where one should not look at the price tag in isolation but also keep the durability of the product in mind.  Be smart and purchase a stroller that will meet your baby’s needs from infant to toddler – a stroller that can be transitioned as your baby transitions.

The Chicco Bravo stroller does just that – It has three different transitional modes to accommodate your baby during the following stages: infant, baby, and toddler. It is designed to hold an infant from 5lbs. to a toddler weighing 50 lbs.

When your baby is born (infant mode), the stroller can be transformed into a stylish car seat carrier, designed to perfectly hold the Chicco Key Fit 30 infant car seat (bought separately).

Simply remove the stroller seat and canopy for this function and attach the free car seat adapter that comes with the stroller. Unfortunately, the stroller isn’t compatible with any other car seat on the market, so keep this in mind when you have to purchase a car seat or if you already own one.

When the infant stage passes and the baby become a little more curious, wanting to see and explore the world from a different angle, the Chicco Bravo Stroller can be transformed into a reliable travel system. During this time, your little will still be safely secured in the Key Fit chair but with a better view.

As your baby reaches the toddler stage, he or she will be ready to bid the Key Fit 30 infant car seat farewell and the stroller converts into a complete, comfortable stroller.

Comfort

bravo stroller

The Chicco Bravo Stroller has a multi-position, reclining seat that adjusts with just a click, making outings a lot easier when it is time for your little one to take a nap while out. Take note that the leg section of the seat cannot be adjusted so your toddler’s legs will hang at the bottom when he or she is sleeping.

Sited as one of the biggest advantages of the Chicco Bravo Stroller, is the adjustable height handle. Moms, dads, and caregivers that tend to be on the taller side, often struggle to find a stroller with the right fit in terms of height and that can be used by mom, dad, and or a caregiver. This adjustment makes for comfortable steering for anyone behind the stroller.

Wheels, steering and suspension

Let’s talk wheels, brake system, and suspension. The Chicco Bravo Stroller has auto-swivel wheels that turn to steer a real pleasure. The wheels also automatically fold inwards when the stroller is folded but we’ll get to that later.

There have been some complaints that the wheels of the stroller start to squeak within the first month but other than being annoying, it doesn’t seem to be a major issue. One can sort this out by tightening the nuts and securing the washers or perhaps even with a little oil.

The Chicco Bravo stroller has a rear brake system that can be operated using one foot only. The brakes are interlinked, making them easy to use when you have your hands full, which is most of the time once you are a parent. Although the Chicco Bravo Stroller boasts all-wheel suspensions, some owners have complained of a somewhat rocky ride on rough terrain but in my opinion, it does handle fairly well on rocky terrain.

The one-hand fold

The Chicco Bravo Stroller folds up using just one hand, another great attribute to this stroller. The stroller folds when a lever, situated under the seat cover, is pulled. This method is an improvement on most models where the lever is situated at the top of the handlebar.

If you are worried that the lever might get in the way of your baby’s comfort, don’t be. A thick piece of material covers the lever. Once it is folded, it stands on its own and as mentioned above, the wheels automatically turn inwards as one folds it.

This feature makes it easy to store as it is fairly compact once folded and traveling with the stroller alone is a breeze. If you have to carry the Key Fit car seat with it, it becomes a little more challenging. The Chicco Bravo stroller weighs 22 lbs., making it a little heavier than most strollers but still manageable. In return, its sturdiness offers great peace of mind.

The extras

bravo stroller chicco

The Chicco Bravo stroller has an extendable canopy that provides ample shade for your little one and comes with a peek-a-boo window. The peek-a-boo window is manufactured from mesh so if there’s a heavy downpour, you might encounter some problems.

The stroller has a large, sturdy storage basket that is able to hold several smaller items or one or two bigger items such as diaper bags. It has to be said though that inserting/removing items from the basket once the seat is fully reclined, has proven to be a little difficult, and the stroller seat needs to be fully reclined when using the Key Fit car seat.

The Chicco Bravo stroller has a 5-point harness, making sure that your little one is safe and secure during your outing. The stroller also has a nice, spacious parent tray with two cup holders and space to add your cell phone, should you wish to do so. Although the tray itself is spacious, the cup holders are very shallow and if you own a large cell phone, it probably won’t fit in the middle section.

Sadly, the one thing that the Chicco Bravo Stroller is lacking is a children’s snack tray. It is possible to buy one separately but considering the price and the quality products that we’ve become accustomed to from the manufacturer; it’s disappointing that one must be purchased separately.

The Pros and Cons

To recap, let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of the Chicco Bravo stroller:

Pros

  • Adjustable handle
  • Easy one-hand fold
  • Spacious storage basket
  • Stylish look and design
  • 3 different transitional modes as baby grows older
  • Assembles quite easily
  • Multi-position reclining seat
  • Large canopy with peek-a-boo window
  • Interlinked brake system, operated by foot

Cons

  • Snack/children’s tray is not included
  • Only fits the Key Fit 30 car seat
  • Wheels may start to squeak
  • Cup holders in parent tray too shallow
  • Peek-a-boo window made from mesh only

Conclusion

The Chicco Bravo Stroller contains all the features that will leave moms and dads saying: “Bravo!” It’s a little more expensive than strollers in the same class but you rest assure that you paying for a good quality product that will probably last for more than one child.

Although it has a beautiful, stylish design, the Chicco Bravo Stroller’s two biggest attributes are its new and improved folding mechanism and adjustable height handle which parents that tend to be a little taller, found very helpful.

There’s not a lot of criticism one can lay on the Chicco Bravo Stroller aside from the fact that it is only compatible with the Key Fit 30 car seat and that it does not include a snack tray. 

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *