Urbini Omni 3-in-1 Travel System

Urbini Omni 3-in-1 Travel Syste

Web: urbinibaby.com

Urbini is the Walmart exclusive stroller brand owned by Goodbaby, the Chinese baby good behemoth that claims to be the world’s biggest baby gear maker. The company made nearly all strollers and car seats for Dorel (Cosco, Safety 1st, Quinny) until recently.

Not content to merely design and manufacture baby gear for other companies, GoodBaby has gone on an acquisition spree in recent years. First, they snapped up Cybex and then, in 2014, Evenflo.

At the same time, Goodbaby has decided to sell direct, under the both the GB and Urbini brands. Urbini is exclusive to Walmart, while GB is sold in other stores.

The models. The Urbini label has four main stroller offerings:

Omni Plus Travel System: 3-in-1 travel system ($200, 22 lbs.) features an infant car seat (the Sonti) and a multi-function stroller with reversible seat. The infant car seat works from 4-35 lbs. with a four-position base recline and preemie body support pillow. The Sonti also has side impact protection (deep side walls lined with EPS foam).

Tourni Travel System: Travel system with same infant car seat (Sonti) paired with an umbrella-style stroller for $110. Tourni stroller features large canopy with sun visor, multi-position reclining seat and cup holder.

Urbini Avi All Terrain stroller

Urbini Avi All Terrain stroller

Avi all terrain stroller: This $160-$230 model features air-filled wheels, one-hand quick self-standing fold and two-position canopy. It is sold as a stand-alone stroller or as part of a travel system ($300).

Urbini’s latest travel system is the Emi, a full-size stroller sold as a travel system with the Sonti for $200-$250. Urbini bills this stroller as their luxury model, complete with quick fold, fully reclining seat and oversized canopy and storage basket.

New this year are the Swiftli ($70) and the Reversi ($84) stand alone strollers. These strollers come with decent baskets and double handles for an umbrella style fold. The Reversi has a reversible seat (clever, right?) while the Swiftli offers only basic amenities.

Our view. The Omni is clearly the best-selling stroller in the Urbini line. Most impressive: it is one of the lowest-price models we’ve seen with a reversible seat. The Urbini Omni seems to be aiming to be a poor man’s Britax B-Ready ($350) or UPPAbaby Vista ($780, with bassinet). Most parent feedback on this model has been positive, with fans citing its overall ease of use (opening, closing). Detractors point out there is no separate base for the infant seat and the fabric on the stroller doesn’t remove for cleaning.

The Tourni lightweight umbrella stroller is also unique—similar to the Chicco C6, but with a better canopy and single wheels that are popular in Europe. Feedback on this model is also quite positive.

The Avi all terrain stroller earns positive reviews from our readers, but the newer Emi gets mixed reviews at best. The Emi suffers from quality glitches, say readers. The Emi’s seat recline requires two hands to operate and the cup holders are too dinky . . . we’d say pass on this one.

Yes, the Reversi’s seat reverses—but notice the handle bars aren’t adjustable. At $84, this stroller looks like a good deal, but quality glitches make it not worth the effort.

Urbini’s newest strollers (the Swiftli and Reversi) represent a change in strategy for the brand—when Urbini first debuted, their models were more in the $100 to $200 range. The under $100 Swiftli and Reversi are bare bones strollers with little in the way of features. Yes, the Swiftli has a partially reclining seat, but the storage basket is tiny. When folded, the Swiftli is far from compact, complained several readers who tried it. The lack of adjustable handles on both these strollers is another major negative.

We realize the goal for an under $100 stroller is basic transport, but Urbini cut too many corners here. Quality is just not there.

Bottom line: a mixed review for Urbini strollers. The Omni and Avi are well received, but we’d pass on the Swiftli and Reversi). Rating: B-