Featured Review: 2010 I’coo Pacific

Five years ago while pregnant with my first son I did what many first time moms not in the know about baby gear do – I bought a travel system stroller from a chain baby store.  It was one of the pricier models and had many great features but I soon learned the wheels jammed easily and the push was not smooth even on the most forgiving surfaces.  So when it was time to decide on a stroller for my second baby I knew I wanted something great that I would not regret.

I had a few must-have features in mind when I set out on my stroller hunt adventure:

• a height adjustable handle (my husband is over a foot taller than me)
• bassinet option
• car seat adapter
• smooth handling
• a sleek modern design

I chose the i’coo Pacific 2010 in Caviar (black) as it had all these features and more!

When it arrived I expected to take some time reading the manual and assembling the stroller but was surprised at how easy and fast it was.  All I had to do was pop on the four wheels and attach the canopy.  It literally only took a few minutes.  Learning to adjust the stroller and change some of the positions took a little longer but after doing it a couple times it was natural to do.

The great thing about the Pacific is that you can use it from birth right up to 45lbs without having to purchase any additional accessories.  The unit is convertible from an infant bassinet to the toddler seat and comes with a universal car seat adapter if you prefer the convenience of popping on your infant carrier seat when out and about.

I used the car seat adapter with our Maxi-Cosi Mico when out on car trips and found it to be a very secure ride for my son.  The car seat rests in a frame and depending on which way I attached it my son could be more upright in his seat or very reclined which was nice when he was asleep.  For longer walks the bassinet was the way to go with its plush seat padding and boot cover for colder days.  The boot cover hooks up onto the canopy to protect your baby from the elements on windy days and the stroller comes with a UV protection rain shield.

Changing the bassinet into the seat (and vice versa) takes less than one minute using three simple steps.  All I had to do after removing the bassinet pad was clip the straps under the seat, tighten the tether strap and press a button to incline the seat – voila! We really liked the seat elevation feature when the seat was facing us so we could have our son up nice and high and not have to look down to interact with him.  The elevation is the perfect height for food court, picnic and restaurant tables so you don’t have to bother with dirty public highchairs or disturbing your child by lifting him in and out.  The seat lies completely flat using a single handed recline button, a feature we have used often when our son has fallen asleep.

The canopy is a fair size as is and when unzipped becomes over-sized offering optimal sun protection.  The bassinet boot cover transforms into a foot-muff for the cooler days in the toddler seat configuration so along with the rain shield the i’coo Pacific really has your baby covered for all seasons!

This lightweight stroller with German engineered frame pushes like a dream on all surfaces.  The EVA wheels have cased bearings and the option to lock the front wheels on rough terrain for better handling.  I am 5’5” and my husband is 6’6” and thanks to the adjustable handle we were both able to push the stroller comfortably.  With the stroller handle all the way down my five year old was also able to help push the baby.  The basket is a fair size and easily fits a large diaper bag and purse and is accessible from all sides.  When the seat is raised to the highest position you can fit even more in the basket by piling things up.  Locking and unlocking the wheels is a simple single step and the fold and unfold is easy, however to fit the system in my car trunk I do need to remove the bassinet/seat and place them separately.  It fits fine while attached in our small SUV.

The i’coo Pacific is by far my favourite baby item I purchased this time around; we have been enjoying it for seven months and look forward to using it throughout the next couple of years. I would love to see i’coo come out with a parent console and toddler snack tray to attach but otherwise it has everything I need.  If you are looking for a great stroller with high end stroller features at a fraction of the price the i’coo Pacific is the way to go, and since the stroller comes with all the accessories the only decision you will need to make is deciding on one of the great colour options.  Retailing at $499

The i’coo Pacific includes:

• Light weight stroller with height elevation feature
• Greater accessibility to basket with pram attached
• Extra seat/bassinet padding for maximum comfort
• Multi adjustable footrest for maximum comfort
• Removable washable fabric
• Bassinet to seat conversion in under a minute
• Ultra light weight EVA wheels with cased bearings
• No unsightly weld marks

Specs:

• Handle height 23.5 – 42 inches
• Length of seat 10 inches
• Lying area 31.5 inches
• Width of seat 12.6 inches
• Width of stroller 23.5 inches
• Complete inclination of backrest
• Wheel diameter 7 and 11 inches
• Weight of stroller 23 lbs
• When folded 44×18.5×23 inches

The 2011 model has been upgraded with the following enhancements:

• Longer handle 26 – 44 “
• Rubberized footrest
• New recline mechanism
• Updated attachment units
• New frame lock system
• Peek-a-boo window on canopy

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