Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller
From its compact design to its effortless maneuverability, the Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller leaves little to be desired as a lightweight stroller. It’s my favorite companion for hassle-free summer strolls, but it doesn’t come without cons.
In this review, I’ll go through the 3DLite stroller’s features one by one, shining light over the areas where it outcompetes other strollers and the areas where it fades against competitors. If you want to know whether it’s the right fit for you or not, keep on reading!
Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller in a Nutshell
The Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller strikes a perfect balance between affordability and practicality. It’s one of the lightest strollers I ever tried at 13 lbs, and it features an easy folding mechanism that renders it compact enough to fit in your car trunk. Also, it comes with a reclining seat to ensure your baby’s comfort.
Here’s a quick list of the stroller’s pros and cons:
Pros:
- More affordable than most lightweight strollers on the market
- Theme-park approved
- Comes with a four-position reclining seat
- Extra accessories included (mesh storage basket, cup holder, and small pocket for personal belongings)
- Has a carry strap for better portability
- The seat has a five-point harness to ensure your baby’s safety
Cons:
- Comes with plastic wheels, which aren’t as durable as foam-filled or air-filled tires
- Prone to tumbling because of its lightweight
A Breakdown of All Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller’s Features
Now that you have a general idea about the Summer 3DLite stroller, it’s time to dive into deeper details. Here’s my review of each feature I tried.
Safety
Safety is the first feature I test in any baby item, and the Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller passed my test with flying colors. It features a five-point harness that goes around the baby’s chest and abdomen and between their legs, leaving no room for wiggling out. I felt secure walking down the street with my baby tightly tucked inside it.
The five-harness can be latched and tightened using one hand, which I found incredibly inconvenient as my hands are often full with the diaper bag. It also has three adjustment levels, which means your baby won’t outgrow the harness anytime soon.
Portability
Portability is where the Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller shines among competitors. At 13 lbs, it’s a breeze to push and carry around all day. Also, it comes with a carry strap that makes it convenient to walk around with it when folded.
You can take the stroller on public transportation, flights, trips, and more without feeling shoulder pain because of heavyweight.
However, I can’t deny it can take some improvements. When folded, the stroller doesn’t stand, making it awkward to deal with it when outside the house. This point wouldn’t stop me from buying it, though.
Assembly
The stroller arrives disassembled into four components: wheels, canopy, cup holder, and main body. I found assembling it pretty easy, as the instructions are as clear as day, and there aren’t many steps involved.
First, you’ll need to unfold the main body because it comes folded, then push the four wheels into their designated spaces on the frame. Then, you’ll line up the cupholder with the handlebar and push it till it’s at a reasonable height. Last, you’ll attach the canopy by inserting its two ends into their designated frame mounts.
The process will take you a few minutes, and you won’t need any extra tools to get it done.
Design
The Summer 3DLite stroller has a basic functional design that lacks the sleekness of full-size strollers. While it carries all the features of a typical lightweight stroller, its appearance isn’t one of its selling points.
That said, I like how it comes in four gender-neutral colors because then you can use it for all of your kids, boys and girls.
It’s currently available in jet black, normal black, gray, and teal. I find the jet-black one to be the most practical because it doesn’t show signs of wear and doesn’t need to be washed as frequently as the other colors.
Size
The Summer stroller is 43 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches long, making it compact enough to fit anywhere when unfolded. It’s reasonably sized compared to other lightweight strollers I tried, and it comes with a large seat to accommodate your child as they grow.
Because of its small size and lightweight, the stroller has a maximum child weight of 50 lbs and a maximum height of 43 inches. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use it for many years, as your kid will outgrow it fast. That doesn’t mean you have to throw it out, though. It’s durable enough to wait for your second, third, and even fourth child!
Care
Since six-month-old babies aren’t known for being neat, caring for the stroller and keeping it looking clean is mandatory. Luckily, the Summer stroller addresses this point with its removable fabrics and easy care instructions.
To clean the fabrics, all you have to do is remove them and wash them using cold water and a mild detergent. As for the solid surfaces, you can use a damp sponge, but avoid using any abrasives or bleach. You’ll find the detailed care instructions in the stroller’s guidelines booklet.
Folding Mechanism
The stroller’s manufacturers market its folding mechanism as a one-hand mechanism, which is only partially true. It’s an easy one, to be honest, but you’ll have to use your hand and foot to fold the stroller. To fold it, you should put your foot on the safety lock lever, pull the folding handle using your hand, and then push forward and down.
I tried it while holding my baby in one arm, and it worked, but it did take some maneuvering and balance. Overall, it’s better if both your hands are free while folding it for more safety.
Wheels
The Summer 3DLite stroller’s wheels didn’t live up to my expectations. Starting with the positives, the two front double tires are anti-shock, which lessens the feeling of road bumps and cracks while walking. As for the rear ones, they’re lockable, so you can rest assured that the stroller won’t slide down the street if you have to stop and do something.
My problem with them lies in their manufacturing material, as they’re made from plastic. Plastic wheels are lighter on the ground than foam-filled and air-filled tires, but they aren’t as durable. If you use the strollers a lot, you might have to change its wheels in a few months because they’ll dent.
The wheels also make it impossible to take the stroller on bumpy terrains, as they won’t perform as smoothly as you want. However, that’s typical for nearly all lightweight strollers. They’re only suitable for use on smooth streets, not sloped surfaces. If you often go on hikes and on uneven terrains, you might need to take a look at other types of strollers.
Seat
One of my favorite features about this stroller is its reclining seat. I didn’t expect an adjustable seat in a stroller at this price, so it was a pleasant surprise. You can adjust it to four different supporting positions, depending on whether your baby is sleeping or sitting.
That said, the four reclining positions don’t include a flat one, so you can’t use the stroller’s seat till your baby is old enough to support their head and spine. This usually happens around six months.
Canopy
The lightweight stroller features an easy-to-unlock canopy that protects your baby from the sun. It extends just enough to cover your child’s face, but I wish it was large enough to cover the rest of their body as well. I also missed the option of having a peek-a-boo window to check on my kid while walking, as the stroller doesn’t feature one.
On a positive note, the canopy has a pop-out sun visor that blocks out UVA and UVB rays. It’s helpful if you have to go out during the hot summer days, but it doesn’t cancel the need for sunscreen.
Handlebars
The Summer stroller comes with two handlebars that stand at nearly 42 inches, and sadly, they aren’t adjustable. While this height is fine for most parents, if you’re short, it might pose a bit of an issue for you.
Before making your purchase, I suggest trying the handlebars first to make sure their height is suitable for you. You’ll be using this stroller a lot, so you need to be comfortable pushing it around for a long time.
Extra Accessories
The 3DLite stroller comes packing three extra accessories for more convenience and practicality.
My personal favorite is its mesh storage bag, as it’s large enough to take the diaper bag and let me walk around with free hands.
I wish it wasn’t mesh so that I could put smaller objects inside it without fearing they’d slip out. However, the manufacturers made up for this point by adding a small storage pocket on the back of the stroller. You can use it to put your money, phone, keys, or any small belongings.
The last accessory is a cup holder on the stroller’s handle. This way, you won’t have to go through the inconvenience of carrying your favorite drink in one hand and pushing the stroller with the other.
I admit these accessories can make your life easier, but I would’ve liked the stroller to have a lunch tray. Since it’s perfect for summer days and picnics, it would’ve been convenient to leave your child to snack while sitting under the protective canopy.
Common Questions Asked by Parents!
Does the Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller Come With Warranty?
The Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller comes with a 12-month warranty from the date of the purchase, but you have to be the original owner to qualify for it.
Can I Use the Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller as a Full-Size One?
No, you can’t. The Summer stroller isn’t practical for everyday use because it can only be used after six months of birth. Also, it isn’t as durable as a full-size stroller and doesn’t come with as many convenient features. In my opinion, it only works as a second stroller, not the main one. If you want a reliable full-size stroller, check out my best strollers for babies and toddlers guide!
To Wrap Up
From my experience, I think the Summer 3DLite Convenience Stroller excels as a lightweight stroller. It’s easy to take and carry anywhere and works perfectly for short errands and trips. Also, it comes with extra features for more convenience, like a retractable canopy, a large storage bag, and a cup holder.
It can take some improvements, like sturdier wheels and adjustable handlebars. But for this price, I wouldn’t mind buying it again.