Choosing a stroller and car seat to put on your baby registry is very overwhelming. Every parent has different opinions on which strollers are best and which car seats are the safest. While scrolling through my Amazon search results for travel systems for babies, the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System immediately jumped out at me.
As with the other strollers on my list of favorites, I watched countless YouTube videos and read multiple reviews before I considered this investment. Additionally, some close friends also purchased the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System for their own little one. I was given the opportunity to put my hands on it and test it out myself before purchasing one. After trying it firsthand, I completely understood why so many parents recommended it.
I have very few regrets with purchasing this travel system. In this review, I’m sharing why we chose a travel system, what’s included, my favorite Chicco Bravo LE Travel System features, and a few shortcomings to consider before buying.
NOTE: Chicco discontinued this exact travel system, so the pictures on this post may not match current online listings. The closest travel system to our product is now the Chicco Bravo Trio Travel System.
Why We Chose a Travel System
A travel system combines an infant car seat and stroller designed to work seamlessly together. An infant travel system prevents from having to unbuckle your baby from the car seat to move to the stroller and vice versa.
An infant may outgrow the car seat portion of their travel system within the first year. For most travel systems, the stroller can be used for years to come, making it a worthwhile long-term investment.
Now that our infant has outgrown the car seat of the travel system, we now have to use a car seat that grows with our baby. We desperately miss the days where we could transfer our little one to and from the car without interrupting his naps.
What’s Included in the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System
Below is a list of items that came with our Chicco Bravo LE Travel System.
- Car Seat – This is the part of the travel system that your infant buckles into. Your infant car use the car seat until your infant reaches 30 pounds or 30 inches, whichever is first.
- Stroller – The stroller frame is compatible with the infant car seat and can later be used independently once your child meets the stroller seat requirements.
- Car Seat Base – This base is what the car seat attaches to in order for it to be safely secure in your car. The car seat base stays in your car, and typically does not come in and out. Only one car seat base comes with the travel system. Additional car seat bases are available for purchase if having more than one base is convenient for you (it was for us!).
- Newborn Insert – A newborn insert comes in the package for use in the car seat if your newborn weighs between 4 and 11 pounds to help provide a safer and more secure fit.
- Car Seat Footmuff – In our travel system, a footmuff that attaches to the car seat is included. This acts as a barrier against cold weather when using the travel system.
Favorite Features of the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System
Below are several features on our Chicco Bravo LE Travel System that made the purchase worth it.
Adjustable Handlebar
The handlebar on the travel system stroller adjusts to 3 different positions. My husband and I are different heights. I’m 5’6″ and my husband is 6’3″. As a result, finding a stroller with a handlebar height that suited both of our preferences was important for us as we would be using the stroller an equal amount of time. The adjustable handlebar makes it easy to customize the height with the push of a button on each side.
Cup Holders and Storage Pouch on Handlebar
I was extremely surprised when I learned how many strollers don’t have this feature. For some strollers, you must purchase a separate handlebar attachment to have a place to store your belongings while on your stroll.
With the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System, two cup holders are easily accessible near the handlebar for use. A small velcro pouch between the cup holders is present as well. I can easily fit my phone, keys, pocket wallet, and a small can of pepper spray in this pouch with a little room to spare.
Large Canopy with Mesh Window
The canopy on both the car seat and stroller are quite large, and they completely overlap when used together for extra privacy. Specifically, the canopy on the stroller contains a small mesh window on the section of fabric closest to the handlebar. This feature easily allows to see my baby when I extend the canopy. This leaves no room for guessing if my baby is awake or fast asleep.
Another feature of my stroller that has been discontinued (but you can find it on the upgraded versions!) is an additional flap that acts as an extension to the canopy. This extra flap is the “sun shade” and is simply an additional 6 inches of thin material at the end of the stroller canopy. This provides additional protection on those especially sunny days.
Smooth Ride on Multiple Terrains
This stroller features treaded tires that makes the strolling experience extremely smooth while in use. I’ve used this stroller on concrete, dirt, rocks, and sand. While some terrains may be naturally more bumpy than others, I am overall happy with how the stroller is very effective and easy to maneuver across all environments.
One-Touch Brakes
This stroller features breaks that are easy to apply and release with one foot near the back wheels. Unlike some other strollers, initiating the brake on one back wheel automatically brakes the other back wheel as well. This may sound minor, but it makes a huge difference compared to strollers with independent wheel brakes.
Adjustable Stroller Seat
The back of the stroller seat has three possible positions. Sitting straight up, sitting slightly reclined back, and reclined completely back for a sleeping baby. The handle to adjust is located on the exterior of the stroller. The handle makes it very easy to change positions for your little one when nap time sneaks up.
One-Handed Fold
With the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System, the stroller easily folds compactly with a single hand. The stroller is fairly heavy, so while it can be folded with one hand and has the capability to stay upright while folded, you’ll probably want two hands to load it into your vehicle.
Convenient Click-In Car Seat Base
Securing your infant’s car seat has never been quicker or easier. As long as you install the car seat base correctly, you’ll never have to worry about it again. The car seat simply clicks into the base and an easy release button undoes it just as easily. There’s no adjusting seatbelts each time you need to use the car seat.
The same “click into place” mechanism is also what connects the car seat to the stroller for the full travel system experience.
Shortcomings of the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System
While overall our experience has been wonderful with the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System , we have come across a few shortcomings in this travel system. Most cons that we found pertained to the included child snack bar.
Scratched Snack Bar
The snack bar is an essential supportive part of how the car seat connects to the stroller. The car seat and stroller cannot function together as a travel system without the snack bar present. As a result, the snack bar scratches quickly. By the time your child is old enough to actively use the tray, it may already show noticeable wear.
Awkward Snack Tray Position When Folded
In our stroller, we don’t actually have this issue. However, I bring it up because Chicco’s travel system that’s “equivalent” to ours does.
In some models, the snack bar tray does not fold with the rest of the stroller. Instead, it awkwardly sticks straight up like a sore thumb when the rest of the stroller folds. It’s impossible to load and unload the stroller in one piece this way.
In order to store the stroller folded, you must detach the snack bar tray and store it separately. This means that you’d have the stroller and snack bar in two separate pieces in the back of your vehicle rolling around. This is quite inconvenient in my opinion.
Scuffed Handle Bar When Folding
The handle bar does not “technically” touch the ground when folded freestanding. However, it easily scuffs during the folding process if on uneven terrain or if the stroller accidentally tips over. The stroller is very top-heavy when folded, so extra caution should be taken as not to scratch the handle bar.
Closing Thoughts on the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System
Overall, the Chicco Bravo LE Travel System has been one of our favorite baby gear purchases.
Among the parent-friendly features, this travel system made everyday outings much simpler during the baby and toddler years. While there are a few minor drawbacks, the convenience and functionality far outweighed the negatives for our family.
If you’re searching for one of the best travel systems for newborns and toddlers, the Chicco Bravo Travel System is absolutely worth considering.