Reader Laurie D. writes in today about her experiences with Combi’s car seats and strollers:
Hi Mr. & Mrs. Fields,
I just wanted to give you some feedback on Combi products. With my first child I bought the combi savvy. It was AWFUL!!! After only a couple of months the whole frame bent where only three of the wheels touched down. My son is light (weighs in the 40th percentile).
When I had my second child I was cautiously optimistic that my first experience was a fluke. So I purchased the Combi Centre infant seat and double stroller because of the light weight. The infant seat is very heavy and was EXTREMELY hard to install (which is a common complaint on the babies r us website)
The stroller (definitely not the infant seat) was significantly lighter than most of the other double strollers but this too was constructed so poorly. The middle wheels which are supposed to make navigating the stroller easier, made it impossible to push. The middle wheels would go in one direction and the front wheels would go in another. With the infant seat attached, I could barely push the stroller with two hands, let alone with one which when you have an armful of bags is what you normally have to do. Also, when you have the infant seat attached, the basket below is completely unusable.
I would give both the single and double strollers and F rating and the infant seat a D+.
I hope this input was helpful. Thanks for your time.
Laurie D.
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I have the snugride and the snugride snap’n’go frame and they have been GREAT and we are now at 5 months. I also have a mclaren stroller which i have used 3 times, I like it but my husband and I both have trouble un-locking the 5 point harness, my fingers simply arn’t strong enough so until it gets broken in I can’t take her out in it when he’s not home or i risk not being able to get her out!!
I have the snugride and the snugride snap’n’go frame and they have been GREAT and we are now at 5 months. I also have a mclaren stroller which i have used 3 times, I like it but my husband and I both have trouble un-locking the 5 point harness, my fingers simply arn’t strong enough so until it gets broken in I can’t take her out in it when he’s not home or i risk not being able to get her out!!
My experience with my Combi Savvy wasn’t nearly as bad as your reader’s, but I also would not recommend this stroller to anyone. I could live with the nearly useless basket, but not with increased danger posed by straps that disconnect themselves. The hook that connects the shoulder and waist belts often becomes dislodged, such that I would look down and my son would no longer be restrained. This doesn’t happen constantly, so I’ve continued to use the stroller due to its size and weight, but it definitely isn’t my preferred stroller. I’ve also discovered that the stroller doesn’t hold up well over time; it is two and a half years old and I can no longer push it with one hand as the wheels constantly stick and require considerable force to keep moving.
My experience with my Combi Savvy wasn’t nearly as bad as your reader’s, but I also would not recommend this stroller to anyone. I could live with the nearly useless basket, but not with increased danger posed by straps that disconnect themselves. The hook that connects the shoulder and waist belts often becomes dislodged, such that I would look down and my son would no longer be restrained. This doesn’t happen constantly, so I’ve continued to use the stroller due to its size and weight, but it definitely isn’t my preferred stroller. I’ve also discovered that the stroller doesn’t hold up well over time; it is two and a half years old and I can no longer push it with one hand as the wheels constantly stick and require considerable force to keep moving.
I have the Combi Twin Savvy. It’s ok, and I don’t wan’t to lambast it, but I can agree with some of the things the other 2 posts have said. One of our belt buckle clasps broke within the first year of ownership, but it was replaced for free with little hassle. The harness that attaches to the buckle on one side does frequently come undone on its own somehow. The baskets are very small and the stabilizer bar on the underside of the stroller prohibit you from utilizing the whole basket. The “Parent” cupholders/pouch/pocket thing that attaches to the top is almost worthless. You can’t put drinks in the so called drink areas because sippy cups & bottles fall out. Other drinks tip so much that they will spill. You would have to find another drink holder to attach to the handle, which I think would be difficult due to it’s dimension. For this type of double stroller, there are few choices and this one is the least expensive one.
I have the Combi Twin Savvy. It’s ok, and I don’t wan’t to lambast it, but I can agree with some of the things the other 2 posts have said. One of our belt buckle clasps broke within the first year of ownership, but it was replaced for free with little hassle. The harness that attaches to the buckle on one side does frequently come undone on its own somehow. The baskets are very small and the stabilizer bar on the underside of the stroller prohibit you from utilizing the whole basket. The “Parent” cupholders/pouch/pocket thing that attaches to the top is almost worthless. You can’t put drinks in the so called drink areas because sippy cups & bottles fall out. Other drinks tip so much that they will spill. You would have to find another drink holder to attach to the handle, which I think would be difficult due to it’s dimension. For this type of double stroller, there are few choices and this one is the least expensive one.
I own the Combi Centre DX car seat and the Cosmo stroller that fit together as a travel system. I agree that the seat is VERY heavy – more on that below – but my biggest complaint is the front wheels on the stroller. They are double and whenever you stop and start, they turn the opposite way of how you were going/sideways making it impossible to get back moving. It doesn’t matter if I’m going straight or turning a corner, once I stop, I’m doomed. Most of the time I find my self resorting to popping a wheely to get going again 😉
My other complaint is the infant carrier seat is extrmely heavy and is suppose to fit up to 22 pounds. I had to get a convertible car seat at 9 months when my son was only twenty pounds. Carrying him in the car seat was causing me to not get over the pain down there from childbirth – it was like I had apulled muscle for over a year. Also at twenty pounds, the seat was too tight and small for my son. He is not a big guy. 20 pounds at 9 months.
If I had to do it over again, I would have definitely test drove the stroller around the store more taking corners and stopping and starting. First time mom – live and learn.
I own the Combi Centre DX car seat and the Cosmo stroller that fit together as a travel system. I agree that the seat is VERY heavy – more on that below – but my biggest complaint is the front wheels on the stroller. They are double and whenever you stop and start, they turn the opposite way of how you were going/sideways making it impossible to get back moving. It doesn’t matter if I’m going straight or turning a corner, once I stop, I’m doomed. Most of the time I find my self resorting to popping a wheely to get going again 😉
My other complaint is the infant carrier seat is extrmely heavy and is suppose to fit up to 22 pounds. I had to get a convertible car seat at 9 months when my son was only twenty pounds. Carrying him in the car seat was causing me to not get over the pain down there from childbirth – it was like I had apulled muscle for over a year. Also at twenty pounds, the seat was too tight and small for my son. He is not a big guy. 20 pounds at 9 months.
If I had to do it over again, I would have definitely test drove the stroller around the store more taking corners and stopping and starting. First time mom – live and learn.
We have had the Combi Twin Savvy (side-by-side), for over a year, and have not had any problems with it. Some of the design features could be better: Sunshade that can be moved, parent’s cup holder, the bar that cuts basket access… But overall, it folds up easily, has a carry strap like a golf bag, and we haven’t had problems with the wheels, straps, or buckles.
We have had the Combi Twin Savvy (side-by-side), for over a year, and have not had any problems with it. Some of the design features could be better: Sunshade that can be moved, parent’s cup holder, the bar that cuts basket access… But overall, it folds up easily, has a carry strap like a golf bag, and we haven’t had problems with the wheels, straps, or buckles.