Chicco Lite Way Review

Quick Summary: The Chicco Lite Way - as the name suggests - is light, compact and practical. It is quite sturdy for a stroller and comes in a various selection of funky colours. The price is reasonable for what's included in the box. The single front wheels make manoeuvrability easy and the fact that they are quick release is an advantage for cleaning.

For more than 50 years Chicco has been a renowned name in the world of baby goods. You will find Chicco products in more than 120 countries over 6 continents. Along with many other products Chicco strollers are both fashionable and functional; the Chicco Lite Way is a perfect example of both.

The Lite Way comes in a range of colours that are varied enough to suit everyone's taste in one way or another. It has a compact fold and some well designed elements that help it stand out from other strollers. With all the accessories included it is a pushchair that will suit your pocket as well as your style.

Chassis

The handles are non-adjustable but a nice height of 103cm, I am 5 foot 2 and find some stroller handles far too high whereas these are just right. Weighing only 7kg means it is also extremely manageable when transferring from the car or carrying when folded.

The front wheels are small at only 14.5cms wide, however the back wheels are 17cms, the front can be fixed or swivel, locked off by a lever above the wheels. They are also quick release to enable them to be removed for cleaning.

The basket is not very deep but wide enough to carry a bag of shopping, it can also be used as a very practical rucksack to be worn on the shoulders, very handy when the seat is reclined as it makes it tricky to access the basket.

The brake runs along the back axle to affect the rear wheels. The mechanism is linked so that either of the pedals on the left or right will bring your pushchair to a halt. Release the brake by flicking either of the levers up with your foot.

Fold

The Chicco Lite Way is easy to fold and unfold, I wouldn't say it's a one handed fold but its close. Firstly, you need to close the hood by releasing the tensioning brackets on each side and then pull the hood towards you. From here, the fold is as simple as any other stroller, matching the mechanisms of other manufacturers worldwide. Just lift the black plastic lever centrally located above the rear wheels, this can be done with your hand or your foot, I think foot works best. Then push down on the safety lever on the right of the frame to feel the frame become loose and foldable. Push the handles completely forward towards the front wheels and the stroller will fold. A real plus point about the Lite Way is the fact that it has an auto-lock which will save it from opening accidentally and make it easy to carry.

To unfold, release the auto-lock and push the pushchair forward, then push the central black plastic lever downwards with your foot to retension the frame. Always ensure the pushchair is fully open and locked in the correct position. One of my pet hates is seeing pushchairs that haven't been fully opened properly, I find myself wanting to intervene.

The Chicco Lite Way is sufficiently compact when folded, however it lacks a carry handle which often -  no pun intended  - comes in handy!

Seat

The seat unit is very spacious, both my 3 year old and my 1 year old have plenty of room and look comfortable. The Lite Way is suitable from birth however there is no head hugger included and the seat is a little firm for a newborn. The calf rest can be adjusted in two positions using the buttons on the outer edge of the seat. The five point harness cannot be adjusted in height but includes D rings in case you wish to add a separate safety harness for if you have a little Houdini like I do. The fabric can be removed to make cleaning easier.

There is a five position recline that affects the backrest of the seat. It is effortless to adjust by squeezing the lever on the rear of the seat. The Summer/Winter hood has a zip that allows the rear apron to be removed to give more ventilation to your passenger on warmer days.

Accessories

The rain cover is easy to throw over the pushchair and attaches with Velcro around the handles and near the front wheels. It allows plenty of room for knees so your child won't feel like they've been vacuum packed into their pushchair.

Conclusion

The Chicco Lite Way - as the name suggests - is light, compact and practical. It is quite sturdy for a stroller and comes in a various selection of funky colours. The price is reasonable for what's included in the box. The single front wheels make manoeuvrability easy and the fact that they are quick release is an advantage for cleaning.

I love the recline. This type of adjustment mechanism is rarely found in a stroller but it makes it so easy to perform. It's such a gentle movement that you won't wake your child while you are trying to make them more comfortable.

The only bad points in my opinion, are that when the seat is reclined fully flat, access to the basket is limited but this is the same issue that affects most strollers.

I would prefer a head hugger to be included if I was going to use it with a newborn and I would definitely include a liner to pad the seat a little better.

Altogether, you get a good deal for your money with the Chicco Lite Way. Strollers are not normally this user friendly, so it should definitely feature among your list of potential pushchairs.