The Valco Baby Zee is a lightweight stroller that is full of great features but has a very compact fold.
I think that the Zee model has been flying under the radar and I am very surprised it’s not as popular as many other lightweight strollers.
It’s designed for everyday use and is very versatile. You can turn it into a travel system, replace the seat with the infant car seat, or turn it into a pram by replacing the seat with a bassinet. You can even add a glider board to it for an older toddler.
Four never-flat tires together with a rear-wheel suspension system will provide a very smooth ride.
Although it’s not an all-terrain stroller, it will definitely tackle mommy terrains like grass, gravel, or mulch. The maneuverability on the Zee model is outstanding!
This is a truly one-hand stroller that glides even fully loaded. It also features a large canopy, large basket, flip-flop friendly brake, and adjustable footrest.
The Zee model got a little upgraded in 2013 and now has an adjustable handlebar and a mesh window in the back. What impressed me the most, was how compact the fold is.
It will definitely fit into the smallest trunk. With a press of a button, you can remove all of the wheels making it even more compact. It also features an automatic lock and standing fold. This puppy weighs only 18 lbs.
OVERALL
The Zee model gets a perfect score from me of 5 out of 5 stars! I think it’s a great choice for parents who want to buy only one stroller. Except for jogging, you can do everything else with it.
Turn it into a pram, or travel system, use it as a frame with a car seat, or add a glider board for your toddler. The only thing I would add is a cup holder and some padding to the harness.
Some additional storage would be also nice to have. Other than that, it’s hard to think of anything else. The 2013 model retails for around $350 and comes with a bumper bar.
Features
CANOPY
The canopy is really large and it has a zipped-in panel that makes it even bigger. It’s a full-size canopy that will provide your child with full sun protection.
There is a medium-sized mesh peekaboo window in the back of the canopy that allows you to see your baby.
I like that the peekaboo window is located in the very back of the canopy instead of in the middle like in many other strollers. That way you can see your child much better.
HANDLEBAR
The handlebar used to be non-adjustable, but the 2013 model has an adjustable handlebar which is great news for taller and shorter parents. It goes from 31″ up to 43″ from the ground.
There is a runaway strap attached to the handlebar to prevent the stroller from getting away from you. Now, this is not a jogging stroller so you might not even use the strap.
SEAT
The seat is 14.5″ wide with 20″ seat back and a measurement of 26″ from the bottom of the seat to the top of the canopy. It has a one-hand infinite strap recline that goes to an almost flat position.
You will also need only one hand to bring the seat back (most strap systems requires both hands to bring the seat back up, so I really like this one).
The seat can accommodate a child from birth and up to 45 lbs. I wouldn’t put a newborn in the seat. Thankfully, you can convert this stroller into a travel system by purchasing a car seat adapter.
Once you recline the seat, you will see a large mesh window in the back that provides great air circulation on a hot summer day. It’s very similar to the one City Mini and Britax B-Agile have.
It used to be just an opening without the mesh (before 2013). Instead, older models have a small piece of material attached to the top of the seat back that prevents a baby from sliding out of the seat. If it gets windy, you can cover it with an attached closure.
HARNESS
It has a non-padded adjustable 5-point harness with a hard-to-unlock buckle. Your toddler will not be able to escape.
BUMPER BAR
INCLUDED! The bumper bar is covered with durable material instead of foam. The cover can be easily removed for cleaning.
LEGREST
The leg rest that is part of the seat is adjustable and has three positions.
WHEELS
It rolls on four tubeless wheels meaning they will never go flat, with 9.5″ wheels in the back and 7.5″ wheels in the front. The front wheels are 360° swivel wheels that can be locked straight for rougher terrain.
While this is not an all-terrain stroller, these wheels are large enough to handle some grass, mulch, or gravel. If you want to tackle more terrain, you can get a set of 10″ air-filled rear tires separately and switch them when you need them! How cool is that?
The rear suspension system will help to absorb some of the bumps and make the ride a little smoother.
BRAKE
The foot brake is located between rear wheels and is flip-flop friendly. No shoe scratches! You will need only step on it once to lock both rear wheels in place.
BASKET
The basket is LARGE and deep so you will have no problem fitting in a large diaper bag. It can be accessed even with the seat fully reclined. This is a great basket for such a lightweights stroller.
Usually get a small hard-to-access basket. You will be happy to see how much food you can fit in while grocery shopping.
FOLD
The Zee model has a very compact fold and will fit in any size trunk. To fold the stroller, first bring the canopy up and put the bumper bar down. Next, lift two grey levers on both sides of the frame and bring the handlebar down.
You will need to push the stroller down to engage the automatic lock. To make the stroller even more compact, you can remove the wheels. All wheels (even the front) can be easily removed with a push of a button.
It has folded dimensions (with wheels) of 28.5″L x 21.5″W x 15″H. It also has a standing fold and can be rolled behind as a luggage.
BASSINET OPTION
What I really like about Zee model is how versatile it is. You can replace the seat with a bassinet (sold sperately) and convert it into a PRAM! Or you can replace the seat with a car seat and use it as a frame.
You can also convert it into a travel system by getting a car seat adapter. While a lot of strollers have a travel system option these days, not many can be used as a frame with a car seat or can turn into a pram.
Cons
-No cup holder. The cup holder can be purchased separately, but it would be nice if it was included.
-Non-padded harness. It’s not a big deal, but I would like to see some padding on those straps.
Video Review
Here is a great video review from Baby Gizmo.
I also found an overview from Valco.
Specs
Stroller weight: 18 lbs
Weight limit: 45 lbs
Folded dimensions: 28.5″L x 21.5″W x 15″H
Handlebar height: 31 – 43″
Seat to canopy height: 26″
Rear wheels: 9.5″
Front wheels: 7.5″
Overall length: 34″
Overall width: 21.5″
Warranty
Valco has a 1-year warranty from the original date of purchase and you have to be the original owner.
Available colors
The Zee is available in four colors: black, blue, purple, and grey. The frame comes in black or silver.
Where to buy it
You can get Valco Baby Zee in one of the four beautiful colors for around $350. The older 2012 model can be purchased for around $220.
Do you know what the differences are between the new one and the 2012 one are?