Valco Baby Snap4 stroller has all the features of the Snap model but rolls on four wheels. While the fourth wheel provides more stability, the weight of the stroller is still under 15 lbs!
With all the great features, I can’t believe how light the Snap4 is. For comparison, similar strollers and main competitors like City Mini and B-Agile weigh 17 lbs.
Snap4 is also designed for parents on the move who live in a busy urban environment and need a light practical stroller for everyday use.
You can take it for a walk around the neighborhood, shopping mall, or doctor’s office.
The small footprint allows for easy navigation of the cramped store isles and in-between the cars in the parking lot. The basket is easily accessible and is a great size for such a light stroller.
Although it’s not an all-terrain stroller, the never-flat tires can tackle some grass, mulch, or gravel. The compact fold, lightweight, and convenient shoulder strap make it perfect for traveling.
Other great features include easy fold, flip-flop-friendly brake, large canopy, and roomy seat. Despite weighing ONLY 15 lbs, it is stable enough to be converted into a travel system.
That’s right, you can use it with the most popular infant car seats by getting a car seat adapter. The seat can accommodate a child from birth and up to 44 lbs.
OVERALL
I gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars because although I like the lightweight and many great features, I had to take some points away for a non-adjustable handlebar, cheap-feel material, and a Velcro window closure.
Overall, I think it’s a practical stroller that you can use from birth till your child wants to run around rather than sit. Many parents who live in an urban environment simply don’t have the space to store 10 strollers.
They want to buy only one stroller that is full of features. Well, Snap4 or Snap would be a great choice for that. You can get the Snap 4 model for about $299.
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Features
CANOPY
The canopy doesn’t look big at first, but it has a hidden panel in the middle that you can open by unzipping the zipper. The canopy goes all the way to the bumper bar providing your child with full sun protection.
The canopy is attached to the back of the seat and does not have a ‘follow-the-sun’ option that I like so much. It has a small peekaboo window with a noisy Velcro cover. I would like to see a magnetic closure.
HANDLEBARS
The handlebar is not adjustable but is very tall. It is located 41″ from the ground. Great for taller parents, but if you are a lot shorter, test it first.
SEAT
The seat is 13″ wide with a 19.5″ seat back and a measurement of 26.5″ from the back of the seat to the top of the canopy. The seat has a one-hand infinite strap recline that goes all the way to a flat position making it perfect for a newborn.
Of course, newborn babies require more head support, so I would recommend using a car seat for at least the first three months. To bring the seat back you will need both hands, but it’s very easy. Just pull on the straps and lift the seat up. Done! It can accommodate a child up to 44 lbs.
Once you recline the seat, you will see a large mesh window in the back that can be covered with an attached closure. This dark mesh window provides great air circulation during hot summer days while protecting your child from the sun.
Keep in mind, the mesh is permanently attached to the top so your older child will have a hard time fitting in if the seat is recline. But, I don’t think it’s a problem because older kids rarely nap in the stroller anyways. I am not crazy about the closure that attaches to a noisy Velcro. I wish it was elastic like on City Mini.
HARNESS
It has an adjustable padded 5-point harness with a hard-to-unlock buckle, so your toddler will not be able to escape.
STORAGE
There are two large storage pockets on the back of the mesh window cover, where you can store small items or a bottle of water.
BUMPER BAR
INCLUDED! It is removable and swings away for easy ins and outs. I like that it’s covered with the same material as the seat, so if your child takes a bite, he is not going to end up with a mouth full of foam.
BASKET
The basket is a great size, especially for such a lightweight stroller. You can easily fit a large diaper bag in it. It has a curved crossbar in the back for easy access. You can even get into the basket with the seat fully reclined.
If I need to make a quick stop at the grocery store to get a few items, I like to have my daughter sitting in the stroller rather than in a dirty shopping cart. So that large basket comes in very handy.
WHEELS
The Snap4 rolls, as you have probably guessed, on four wheels. That’s the difference between the Snap and Snap4 models. I think Valco decided to release a 4-wheel model because some parents prefer to have four wheels for more stability. I personally don’t see much of a difference in performance.
For me, the weight of the stroller is more important, and if the fourth wheel makes it a lot heavier, then I would stick with three. Snap 4 has foam wheels with two 10″ wheels in the back and two 8″ single wheels in front.
This means you will never get a flat! The front wheels are swivel but can be locked straight for rough terrain. Since there is no extra suspension, this stroller performs best on flat surfaces, but it can also tackle some mommy terrain like mulch, grass, or gravel.
BRAKE
Music to my ears! Do you know how many shoes I scratched testing these strollers? Oh… Now, I try to wear my sneakers most of the time. Anyways, the brake pedal is located on the bar between the rear wheels. One step on the brake will lock both the rear wheels in place.
FOLD
Folding this baby is a SNAP! I guess that’s why they called it a Snap… LOL. First, you need to press the gray safety button to unlock the frame. Next, squeeze the lever on the handlebar and push the handlebar forward to fold the stroller in half.
I like that it folds on itself keeping the seat clean and protected. There is also an automatic lock and a convenient shoulder strap. It’s great for traveling! Since it weighs only 15 lbs, you can easily carry it over your shoulder without even asking your husband for help.
We all know how much they like to carry things … As you can see, the Snap4 model is a little heavier because of the fourth wheel. The Snap model weighs only 13 lbs. I don’t know if that fourth wheel is worth an extra 2 pounds.
I would probably go with a three-wheeler since I always try to minimize the amount of weight I have to carry. I swear my diaper bag weighs like two Snap strollers… The Snap 4 is pretty compact with folded dimensions of 20.5″W x 30.5″L x 14″H.
Cons
-Non-adjustable handle bar. It’s located 41″ from the very tall ground, but I still would like to see an adjustable handlebar for shorter and taller parents.
-Cheap-feel material. I don’t like the fabric that much. It’s easy to clean, but it feels very cheap. Britax B-Agile has much nicer and higher quality seat material.
-Velcro closure. The peekaboo window and the mesh window in the back both have noisy Velcro closures. I would like to see an elastic for the back mesh window and a magnetic closure for the peekaboo window.
Video Review
Here is a great video review from Baby Gizmo. Note: The highest height from the back of the seat to the canopy is 26.5″ and not 24.5″ as they say in the video. Also, the seat width is 13″ and not 14″.
Specs
Stroller weight: 15 lbs
Weight limit: 44 lbs
Folded dimensions: 20.5″W x 30.5″L x 14″H
Handlebar height: 41″
Seat to canopy height: 26.5″
Rear wheels: 10″
Front wheels: 8″
Overall length: 30.3″
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
For 2013 this stroller is available in two main colors: silver and black. They both come with black frames.
You can also purchase a different color canopy that is available in seven colors: blueberry, cherry, coral, hot pink, lilac, silver, and spice. The hood fits both Snap and Snap 4 models.
Where to buy it
You can get Valco Baby Snap4 in one of the seven beautiful colors for around $299. Since this is a new stroller, I have not seen any good sales on it.