The Valco Baby Snap Ultra stroller is finally here! Like many parents, I’ve been waiting for this stroller since the beginning of 2015. Wondering why?
Well, because this is one of the lightest and most compact reversible strollers on the market. While it weighs only 19 lbs, it has large wheels that can handle a lot of different terrain.
But, the most exciting thing is that you can get all-terrain tires for this model and switch them. Voila!
Now, you have an ALL-TERRAIN stroller that you can take off-road. This way you don’t need to buy two strollers.
You can use regular wheels when you running errands, going to the mall, or grocery shopping, and use all-terrain wheels when you are going to the park for a long walk.
The Snap Ultra truly grows with your child. It also can transform into a travel system and a beautiful pram. The seat is very roomy with plenty of headroom for a taller toddler.
The deep recline goes to almost a flat position suitable for a newborn. The huge canopy will provide your child with complete protection. It also features an adjustable handlebar, adjustable leg rest, adjustable 5-point harness, huge basket, and flip-flop-friendly brake.
OVERALL
I gave it 5 out of 5 stars because despite some little things it’s an amazing stroller that could be easily your ONLY stroller no matter what lifestyle you have. It’s hard to believe that with all the features and the large wheels, it still weighs only 19 lbs.
The travel system and bassinet option make it great for a newborn. Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect stroller although Snap Ultra got pretty close.
I would like to see an adjustable handlebar, suspension system, peekaboo window, and crotch pad added to the next update. I am not sure how this will affect the weight of the model.
It retails for around $399 on Amazon and comes with a rain cover and a bumper bar. I think this is a very good price for all the features you are getting. There are also plenty of accessories you can get like a child’s tray, bassinet, footmuff, stroller board, cup holder, etc.
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Features
CANOPY
The canopy is absolutely amazing! It goes all the way down past the bumper bar providing your child with FULL coverage. I think it’s one of the largest canopies on the market.
It has four large panels including a zipped mesh one that provides great air circulation on a hot summer day. Since there is no peekaboo window, you can use that mesh panel to look at your child.
HANDLEBAR
The handlebar is NOT adjustable but is pretty tall. It’s located 41″ from the ground which is an average height for non-adjustable handlebars.
I think this is a great height that will work for shorter and taller parents. There is also a center grip with for easier one-hand navigation.
There is a run-away strap attached to the handlebar as an extra safety feature. I personally never use it even with my jogger, but I guess it can be helpful if you are going down the hill and afraid to lose the grip of the handlebar.
SEAT
The seat is very roomy. It’s 12.5″ wide with a 20″ seat back and a measurement of 25″ from the back of the seat to the top of the canopy. I like that the canopy is so tall because most reversible seat strollers have it at around 22″-24″. Plenty of headroom for an older child!
The seat can accommodate a child from birth and up to 45 lbs. It has a very deep strap recline that goes to almost a flat position suitable for a newborn. While you can recline the seat with just one hand, you will need both hands to bring it back up.
The seat is reversible so your child can face you or the world. It has the same recline positions in the parent-facing mode and can be folded with the seat attached in either direction. The padding on the seat is very soft and plush.
BUMPER BAR
INCLUDED! The included bumper bar is swing-away and can be removed for easy cleaning. I like that it’s covered with durable easy-to-clean material instead of foam.
We all know the first thing those little angels will do is take a bite of the bumper bar just to get a good taste of the new stroller. LOL. My daughter is known for munching on the bumper bar.
HARNESS
It has adjustable padded 5-point harness with a center release buckle. Surprisingly, there is no crotch pad. I don’t think it’s a big deal, but I would buy one online for like $10.
STORAGE
There are two small storage pockets located in the back of the seat where you can place small items like cell phone, keys, or sunglasses.
LEGREST
It has an adjustable leg rest that is great for little babies who like to stretch their little legs. It’s also very convenient for long naps and quick diaper changes.
BASKET
The basket is not only huge but also very deep so you can fit a lot of stuff in it. You can get in from all the sides. The front of the basket has an elastic panel so you can even get into it from the front if the leg rest is up.
Perfect for grocery shopping! I think this is one of the biggest baskets on the market.
BRAKE
No more shoe scratches! One step on the brake will lock or unlock the rear wheels. Love it!
WHEELS
It rolls on four hard rubber wheels with 8″ wheels in the front and 10″ wheels in the back. The front wheels are swivel but can be locked straight for rougher terrain.
While these are not all-terrain tires, they can easily handle rougher terrain like grass, mulch, or uneven pavement.
I am very happy to see this size of wheels on Snap Ultra because this is a large size for its class. Take a look at the competition:
- Armadillo Flip XT rolls on 6.5″ and 9″
- Stokke Scoot V2 rolls on 8″ and 10″
- Sola2 MTX rolls on 7.5″ and 10″
- Uppababy Cruz rolls on 6.5″ and 8.25″
- Nuna Mixx rolls on 7″ and 10″
So, you can see they went with the maximum size of the wheels while still staying under 20 lbs. AMAZING! I don’t know how they did it.
ALL-TERRAIN WHEELS OPTION
If you want to have all-terrain air-filled wheels for when you going to spend a lot of time outdoors, you can purchase them separately and switch them when needed.
How cool is that? Why don’t all the companies do that? You can get them for around $125.
.
FOLD
The fold will require both hands but is very easy and compact. You can fold it with a seat attached facing either way. There is an automatic lock and standing fold.
Since it uses the handlebar for standing fold, it might get dirty. This buggy is very compact with folded dimensions of 11.5″H x 20.5″W x 33″L. For comparison:
- Nuna Mixx – 18.6″H x 23.2″W x 35.5″L
- Stokke Scoot V2 -12.6″H x 21.6″W x 28.3″L
- Uppababy Cruz – 14”H x 22.25”W x 37”L
- Sola2 MTX – 13″H x 24″ W x 33″L
- Armadillo Flip XT – 10″H x 22″W x 30″L (the most compact stroller in it’s class).
RAIN COVER
It comes with a rain cover.
TRAVEL SYSTEM OPTION
You can turn it into a travel system by replacing the seat with an infant car seat. An additional car seat adapter is required. It’s compatible with:
- Graco ‘Classic Fit’ (DOES NOT WORK WITH ‘CLICK CONNECT’)
- Peg Perego ‘Primo Viaggio’ 30/30
- Britax ‘Chaperone’
- Chicco ‘KeyFit 30’/Maxi Cosi ‘Mico’
- Nuna Pipa
- Cybex Aton
BASSINET OPTION
You can also turn Valco Baby Snap Ultra into a pram by replacing the seat with a matching bassinet. This bassinet features a soft mattress, cozy boot cover, and zip-up extra airflow panel in the canopy. It retails online for around $200.
Cons
-No peekaboo window. The canopy is a great size, but there is no peekaboo window. Of course you can reverse the seat to see your child or use the mesh panel in the middle.
-Non-adjustable handle bar. While the handlebar is not adjustable, it’s pretty tall located 41″ from the ground. This is a good average height that should work for most parents.
-No crotch pad. Most of the strollers have a crotch pad to avoid scratching the baby’s skin with the buckle. It also hides the buckle from curious toddlers. Not a big deal. You can buy one for around $10 online.
-No suspension. It’s hard to believe, but this buggy does not have a suspension system. The Valco Baby representative told me that in order to keep this model under 20 lbs and give it large wheels, they decided not to include suspension or an adjustable handlebar.
Specs
Stroller weight: 19 lbs
Weight limit: 45 lbs
Folded dimensions: 11.5″H x 20.5″W x 33″L
Handlebar height: 41″
Seat to canopy height: 25″
Front wheels: 8″
Rear wheels: 10″
Overall length: 30″
Overall width: 20.5″
Warranty
Valco has a 1-year warranty from the original date of purchase and you have to be the original owner.
Available colors
The Valco Baby Snap Ultra model is available in four colors: black, denim, grey and mulberry. All of the strollers come with a grey or black frame.
Where to buy it
You can get Valco Baby Snap Ultra in one of the four beautiful colors for around $399. Comes with a rain cover and a bumper bar.
This stroller looks great! For the suburbs, between this, the armadillo flip xt, urbo2, and uppababy Cruz, which would you get? I also plan to have an umbrella stroller for the car so I want to make sure that this stroller has everything else I need. Thanks!
Hi Katie. Hard choice! I would take Cruz and Urbo2 out of the running because they have small wheels. I don’t think you need two strollers with small wheels. For me it would be between Flip XT and Snap Ultra. I also really like Sola2 MTX. Have you seen my review on it? It also has good size wheels, reversible seat, adjustable handle bar, and comes with a bumper bar unlike Flip XT.
Hi Katrin! Question, if you had to choose the armadillo flip txt and the snap ultra what would be your choice? I honestly don’t care about the bumper bar.
Hi Britanni. Minus the bumper bar problem, I would hands down get Flip XT because it’s much more convenient stroller. It’s just so nice to be able to fold a stroller with one hand and use the standing fold while you are holding a baby in the other. Much more compact fold! With Valco to get it as compact as on the picture you will need to put some effort. I also like the look of the Flip XT a little more. I think it looks very modern compared to Valco. The wheels are larger on Valco, but it has no suspension vs Flip XT that has smaller wheels but all-wheel suspension. So the ride on Valco not going to be smoother. But it also depends on your lifestyle. If you need to have all-terrain wheels because you like to go off road, I would get Valco. Does that help?
Hi Katrin –
My husband and I are trying to decide on a stroller and are having the hardest time. We live a very active lifestyle and love to run, hike and be outdoors so we plan on getting the Bob Revolution Pro but we are also looking for a more compact lightweight stroller that is good for around town. We don’t plan on getting the Bob until after our baby is born since we won’t be taking him on runs until he is a bit older and it is safe to run with him.
What we are looking for is a stroller that is:
-lightweight
-compact fold for traveling and storage
– ideally all terain wheels and all wheel suspension for a smooth ride
– would like a bumper bar
– love the stroller board option for when our little one is bigger and has a younger sibling
– reversible seating
– large basket
– nice recline seat
– travel system option that is compatible with chicco key fit 30 or Britax be-safe 35
Basically I feel like we want a stroller that has it all but it seems like each stroller is missing something. Based on knowing that we want the Bob revolution pro what would you recommend for the second stroller. We like the Valco Ultra Snap due to the light weight but worry about it not having the all wheel suspension. Are there any other strollers that you think would be good to consider? We were originally thinking the uppababy vista 2015 so it can grow with our family but don’t know when we will have a second kid and not sure we are going to want the added stroller weight and bulk when we might not have our second for three more years. We also then thought about the Cruz but are not sure about the bulky fold and small tires.
Let me know if you have any advise for us. Thanks!
Jenna
Hi Katrin, I could use some advice. I’d like to find a compact lightweight stroller that can also handle walks around the park on gravel paths and slight hills. I think I’ve narrowed it down to the uppababy Cruz and the Valco snap ultra, but I’ve also looked at the sola 2 max and the bumbleride indie 4. I like the true lay flat seat, and the large basket and canopy of the Valco, but like the easy recline, all wheel suspension, and adjustable handlebar on the Cruz. What is your suggestion? I’m stuck!
Hi Brittany. I agree with you. I think if you put Cruz and Snap Ultra together you will get Sola 2 MTX :) It’s something in between. The wheels are great size, nice suspension, the recline is much better than on Cruz and there is an adjustable handle bar that Valco doesn’t have. Sola 2 MTX also has a bumper bar that Armadillo Flip XT doesn’t have. Now, indie 4 doesn’t have reversible seat and is bulkier once folded. It’s a sporty stroller like BOB Motion and City Mini GT. What do you think?
Hi Jenna. Have you guys looked at Mamas&Papas Sola2 MTX? I think it has everything on your list. Keep in mind, that all-terrain strollers are not that lightweight. Reversible seat also adds extra weight. Wheels on Cruz btw are far from all-terrain. Why not get something like Armadillo Flip? The wheels on it are small, but you will probably be using it for running errands. It has super compact fold and is so light! And when you got to the park, you can take BOB. I think it’s overkill to get two all terrain strollers. If you are thinking about a lightweight compact convertible stroller, take a look at Phil&Teds Navigator, or Dot. Great for two kids.
Hi Katrin,
Thank you for all of your great reviews. My husband and I are looking for a stroller that is good for the beach. We want to be able to push it on the sand but don’t want a jogging stroller because they are big and bulky. We are looking for one that is as light as possible, compact, reversible seat, compatiable with chico key fit infant car seat, and an adjustable handle bar (He is tall and I am short). I thought the uppababy cruz would be best but I don’t think the wheels will do well on the sand. I was also cnsidering the sola2 MTX and the Valco Baby Snap Ultra. Please let me know what you think.
Lauren
Hi Katrin!! so i went with the armadillo flip XT! im so excited. when i get it ill let you know my thoughts even though im sure ill be completely happy! i actually bought mine from albee baby and got $100 GC that i used to buy more baby stuff! i had the urban chicco stroller and i cannot tell you how much i hate the stroller it was soo heavy and bulky and took up whole trunk which just annoyed me to no end so im so gld i found you website,thank you again!!
Hi there,
I’m trying to decide between this, the armadillo flip XT and the bumble ride indie 4 or even the city mini gt but I would prefer the other two. which would you chose ? From goin to the shops to holidays with sand or even snowy weather ?
Hi Anna. For snowy weather and sand I would go with Indie 4 for sure. Flip XT has good wheels but not as good as Indie 4. On the other hand Indie 4 doesn’t have a reversible seat. What’s more important for you? Because of the super compact fold traveling is much more convenient with Flip XT.
Hi Katrin,
I’ve been looking at some buggies but I only want to buy one of possible. I’m very keen on the armadillo flip XT with all the features but I also want something with all terrain wheels that would be able to tackle the park, beach and so on.
Do you know of any buggies that would have
All terrain wheels
Suitable from birth
Tall seat back
Deep recline
Reasonable size basket
Not too heavy or bulky
Reversible seat
I love the varco baby snap ultra but I don’t like the fact there is no suspension or anything as I feel on gravel and other terrain my child would be bouncing around in the seat. Also it is quite expensive but that’s not too much of a problem
Hi! We’re very stuck between the Valco baby snap ultra and the Sola 2 mtx. We like that you can buy a Valco ride board for later on for use with a second child and would get the Valco but we just aren’t sure how it will ride without suspension. We need something sort of all terrain so would buy the tires probably. Do you think the Solas’s ride would be noticably better? I’ve also heard rumors that Mama and Papas are having financial issues and they’re really hard to get a hold of for warranty issues or problems with the stroller. Otherwise, I love the look of the Sola more, better recline system, tires and suspension. Any idea?
Hi Katrin, what is your opinion of the nuna mixx? I find the back wheels so anaesthetic. Is it good for a stroller to have large wheels?
Thanks
Great review! Question, I’m looking for a stroller with a reverse seat, lays all the way back, adjustable foot rest, extra large canopy, bumper bar and a good suspension, I’m not sure which would be best for me, Nuna Mix, Valco Snap, Uppababy Cruz or Sola2 MTX. Which would be best for me or is there another one out there that I might of missed? Thanks!
Hi Anna, I love your reviews, it makes it hard to decide, but I think we’ll get the Snap Ultra. I was wondering if it can be folded with the Chicco car seat adaptor? I can’t seem to find an answer anywhere. Thanks!
Hi I’ve just read your review, I’m in Australia and our new snap ultras aren’t available yet but I did get to have a play. The image of it folded did you achieve that? I tried to get it to fold with seat on but seat seamed to be a fixed piece. Demonstrators kept taking seat off to fold. Just wanted to check photo is of snap ultra not just snap that doesn’t have reversible seat.
I like the light weight design of this stroller and also that ability to hold the stroller over your shoulder. How would you compare this to their Snap 4?
Great review – made me buy one of these! One question: because the seat of the chair is so deep how does it go for a newborn? My bubba is 3 months old and when I put her in full recline her torso looks fine but her legs stick up almost at right angles!? Am I missing something here? Thanks
Hi Lauren. The legs shouldn’t stick out because once you recline the seat you can also bring the leg rest up. This creates bed-like environment for your child.
Hi Katrin
I wanted to ask you about a stroller that is all around. I having a baby in July so I don’t plan on doing much active with the baby until 2-3 old and then by then it will start to get cold. What is the normal age of the baby most people become active with walking and running? I do run but with I don’t see my self running with the baby no more than 1-2 a week in the neighborhood or a paved trail. I have picked out the cybex Alton 2 for the stroller but I don’t see one a stroller that would have the all terrain type of wheels I would need by cybex. What kind all around stroller do you recommend for me. I’m also 5-1. I don’t really want to get two strollers but would like an all in one deal and spend the extra money so it can last in case we having another baby. Thanks for your help.
Hi Katrin, I am planning on using the Valco Snap Ultra Tailormade for a newborn, without a bassinet. Will I need more than just a normal pram liner for padding? Could/ should I use a bassinet mattress (with holes for the safety straps)? Maybe a strange question! Thanks
Hi Kirsty. You should get an infant insert for additional support. Summer Infnat makes a great one.
Hi,
Great review! and photos I think you’ve helped me make up my mind to get a valco pram.
Do you know what the difference is between the Valco Tailormade Snap 4 and Tailormade ultra pram?
From all of my research online, the Snap 4 looks as though the Car seat can attach directly onto the pram WITH the pram seat still in place?
Whereas it looks like with the Ultra tailormade, you have to REMOVE the pram seat to insert the car seat?
I prefer the first option! So I’m thinking to get the Snap 4 tailormade as they look identical. Are there any other differences?
Thanks :)