Taking the Pliko to an even better level

The P3 that we purchased was actually replacing a beloved Pliko that was lost by the airline when we flew to L.A. to visit in-laws. We were now stranded in L.A. without a stroller for our nine-month-old, and buying a new Pliko was first on our list of things to do. When we went into the store to purchase the new stroller, we were amazed at the new selection. While we were originally going to replace our lost Pliko with the exact same thing we decided to upgrade to the P3 Sportivo in the Synergy fabric. The only difference I can see between the Sportivo and the regular P3 is the Sportivo comes with a rain cover. For the extra $20, I figured it would be nice to have the rain cover if we need it. We’ve owned, used and abused our new Peg Perego for a month now, and here are our thoughts.

The P3 is very similar to the Pliko. Some new features are:

Rear Foot-board. The purpose of the footboard is to make it easier for a toddler to ride if you have a toddler. We don’t have another child, but this step also makes it very easy to get up curbs and down stairs. They made it much wider on the new P3 model.

Snack tray for baby. The snack tray replaced the padded bar that was on the Pliko. Personally, I miss the bar because my son loved to hold on to it while he rode in the stroller and you could also easily attach toys. But as my husband pointed out, the tray makes it easier to have meals on the go.

Folding/Closing mechanism. Sorry for all you moms who like closing a stroller with one hand, this one still takes two hands. But, the good news is, if you owned a Pliko you know that sometimes getting the stroller to stay closed required some brute force…. this has changed with the P3. The stroller latches in a closed position very easily up by the handlebars instead of down by the wheels. I promise you its much easier. It also stands by itself when closed!

Ergonomic handles. They took the same great Pliko handles and turned them in making them ergonomic. Very subtle, but it really does make a difference.

The carry handle. The cheap blue strap labeled “carry handle” has been replaced with an actual plastic handle. This makes carrying the stroller out to the car and in and out of the trunk very handy. At times I even carry the stroller and my child into the mall rather than stand in the rain getting him situated in the stroller.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Pliko, here’s a quick run down on what sets it (and the P3) apart from the other strollers. The harness is the best design I have ever seen. It’s a five-point harness that detaches from the back of the stroller. Your child is still wearing the harness but has free range of movement in the stroller. For an active toddler, this makes all the difference when it comes to keeping them happy in a stroller. The umbrella fold makes storage and trunk room suddenly a possibility. The hood comes all the way down to block wind and sun (by all the way down I mean it can touch the front bar or tray). The all terrain tires go everywhere. The padding is plush and wipes off very easily as well. I never used the strollers with an infant seat, so I am not sure how easy it is to turn into a travel system. I would recommend this stroller to anyone. The price is steep but this stroller is worth it for families on the go constantly like ours!