The first time I saw the Chicco Echo umbrella stroller I was at the park with my daughter Sophia and one of the moms had her son in it.
My first impression was what a cool modern-looking stroller! I absolutely loved the bright fresh color (it was turquoise) of the seat and the frame.
I think that the combination of the black and color frame together with the black handlebars gives it a very sleek and stylish look. Have you noticed that more and more companies have been doing color frames lately?
I think it’s a new hot thing. Of course, I had to come over, meet the mom, and take a look at the stroller up close.
The Chicco Echo is a lightweight umbrella stroller that is very basic but is very affordable. It retails for only $99 which makes it perfect for traveling.
Let’s say you are going to visit your relatives in another state and you want something lightweight and compact that you can take with you on the plane and later on to the restaurant, shopping, or park, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money,
Chicco Echo would be a good choice. Also, if it gets damaged at the airport (which happens a lot when you check in), you are not going to be too upset because you only spend $99.
Aside from a great price, it has a nice roomy seat with plenty of headroom, adjustable leg rest, tall handlebars, and medium size basket.
OVERALL
I gave it only 3.5 out of 5 stars because although it has a very sleek and modern look, the canopy is small without a peekaboo window, there is very light padding on the back of the seat, it does not have a flat recline, and it weighs 17 lbs which is a little heavy for such a basic stroller.
But the most disappointing feature was the small plastic wheels that you can use only on a flat surface. I found it hard to push with a 2.5-year-old in the seat and a small diaper bag in the basket even on a flat surface.
So, maneuverability is pretty bad in my opinion. What good is the price of only $99! To save you a lot of headache and frustration, I would recommend adding $40 and getting a Chicco Liteway Umbrella stroller for $139. It has much better wheels, more features, and weighs 17 lbs. Liteway should last you much longer than Echo.
Buy Chicco Echo Umbrella Stroller »
Features
CANOPY
The canopy is on the smaller side and there is no peekaboo window. You can unzip the back of the canopy to provide your child with better air circulation on a hot summer day.
It does not have the “follow-the-sun” option either. Overall, the canopy is a disappointment. I wish it had a pop-out sunvisor.
HANDLEBARS
The handlebars are located 42″ from the ground which is very tall. Great for tall parents! They are organically positioned and are covered with black foam for a comfortable grip.
SEAT
The seat is pretty roomy with plenty of headroom for an older child. It is 12.5″ wide with an 18″ seat back and a measurement of 26″ from the bottom of the seat to the top of the canopy.
Unfortunately, the back of the seat is very lightly padded so your child might not be very comfortable sitting in it for a long time. You can even feel the support bar through the material.
I was a little disappointed about that. BTW, the bottom of the seat has enough padding for comfort. The seat has a one-hand lever recline with four positions. It’s a deep recline, but it does NOT go all the way to a flat position so you can’t put your newborn in it. It is suitable for kids from 6 months and up to 40 lbs.
Because many umbrella strollers don’t have a recline at all, I was happy to see a deep recline. It’s deep enough for a nap or a diaper change. I like that there is a piece of fabric at the top of the seat back that will prevent a younger child from falling out of the stroller (which is very unlikely anyway, but stuff$&% happens).
For those parents who want a very upright seat, this one is at a slight angle even in the most upright position.
HARNESS
There is an adjustable padded 5-point harness with a tricky buckle so your child will not be able to escape.
LEGREST
There is an adjustable legrest that goes up or down. There is also a legrest attached to the frame for an older child.
WHEELS
It rolls on four small plastic double wheels that are only 6″ in diameter. These wheels are designed for flat surfaces ONLY! They are not going to tackle terrain at all.
I also found it hard to push with an older child in the seat. It is easy to maneuver only if you have a younger child in the stroller and you are on a completely flat surface. This would be a good stroller to take with you on the plane, a quick trip to the mall or a cafe, or to a doctor’s office.
It’s hard to tell how long these wheels will last, but I don’t think it’s many years and multiple kids kind of a stroller. The front wheels are swivel but could be locked straight.
It looks like Chicco tried to make the ride a little smoother by adding the front-wheel suspension.
BRAKE
The rear wheels have individual brakes that you can step on to lock them in place the wheel. They are NOT flip-flop friendly.
BASKET
It has a pretty decent basket for an umbrella stroller. You can probably fit a small diaper bag in it, but nothing more. The basket is easily accessible from the back and the sides.
Because of the crossbar in the back, it is hard to get into it once the seat is fully reclined. Typical for an umbrella model.
FOLD/UNFOLD
It folds like most umbrella strollers into a neat compact package. It has an automatic lock.
Cons
-Weight. I know it weighs only 17 lbs, but for the features you are getting, I think it could be a little lighter.
-Small canopy. The canopy is small, does not have a peekaboo window, and does not have a “follow-the-sun” option. A simple addition of a pop-out sunvisor could be an easy fix.
-Small plastic wheels. By far the biggest minus of this stroller! They are small and plastic which makes it very hard to maneuver on uneven surfaces or even on flat surfaces if you have an older child in the seat.
Video Review
Here is an overview video from BabyGizmo. As always, Hollie is very positive about the stroller. Way more positive than me. LOL.
Specs
Stroller weight: 17 lbs
Weight limit: 40 lbs
Folded dimensions: 46.5″L x 13″W x 11″H
Handlebar height: 39″
Seat to canopy height: 26″
Front wheels: 6″
Rear wheels: 6″
Overall length: 33″
Overall width: 18.5″
Warranty
Chicco provides 1-year warranty from the original date of purchase and you have to be the original owner.
Available colors
This stroller is available in 6 colors: turquoise, amber, coral, cyclamen, jade, and dragonfruit. It comes with a combination of a black and color frame. Love the Turquoise color!
Where to buy it
You can get Chicco Echo in one of the six beautiful colors for around $99 on. It comes with a cup holder and a boot cover.
How do you adjust the seat recliner?