The Chicco (kee-ko) company, part of the Artsana Group, was started by Pietro Catelli. Chicco designs baby-centered products for children from birth to pre-school. It is now one of the most popular baby brands in Europe and the US. Chicco is now found in over 120 countries with a variety of gear ranging from bouncers and strollers to highchairs and car seats.
The Activ3 is only slightly above average for ease of use.
This stroller can be folded with one hand, it has an auto-lock feature, and self-stands, but has no carry handle. The fold is easy if convoluted with 11 steps and very easy to unfold with only 5 steps. While more involved that other options, it isn't difficult.
This stroller has a single action handbrake that is easy to set and release with no worry about hurting your fancy shoes.
The storage bin is medium in size and not very deep, but it has access on all sides. We were able to fit a large diaper bag inside the bin that has a weight limit of 10 lbs. The Activ3 also has a parent console with 2 shallow cup holders with center storage that may not fit larger cell phones.
The sunshade is large (above left), covering to the knee, with a vinyl peek-a-boo window (above right). It has no SPF rating and if you extend the canopy all the way you can no longer see your baby through the window.
This 5-point harness is challenging compared to the competition to use in all aspects from putting on, taking off, and adjusting the size. It is average overall but only adjusting the straps is easy. It has three shoulder positions and the crotch strap is not adjustable.
This stroller has a stationary padded leg rest with a smallish footrest. The seat back has an easy one-handed recline with four positions. The design allows for infinite recline options with a full recline flat enough for napping.
This stroller is only compatible with Chicco car seats. While the options are limited, the Chicco Keyfit 30 is an award-winning car seat that is both budget-friendly and easy to use.
This stroller took 10:31 minutes to set up which makes it average for length and difficulty.
The Activ3 has more to assemble than most with front-wheel mount, three wheels, canopy, and bumper bar. The manual is our least favorite kind with multiple languages in the same space which takes more time to find the right steps.
The Activ3 isn't the easiest to push or turn given its jogging stroller heritage. It feels heavy and clunky with a larger size and less responsiveness than some of the competition. Overall, it isn't as good as we hoped, but it is better than some of the competition. The larger wheels with rubber tires should have translated to a better ride that it is. There is also a lot of flex in the frame and this can cause trouble while pushing and maneuvering on uneven terrain or curbs.
The Activ3 feels large and heavy compared to the other strollers. This stroller is 27.1 lbs, making it one of the heaviest in the group (4 lbs heavier than the average) without much to show for it. It measures 14,229 cubic inches when folded, which is smaller than some of the other joggers or options that can seat 2, but it isn't even close to being as small as some of the competition that is closer to 6,500 cubic inches.
The Activ3 is average for quality with an overall fit and finish are somewhat frumpy and not as sleek as the competition. The seat fabric is sort of pleated with rib structures supported by stiff plastic fibers. This design could be for heat control, but it snags easily and lots of crumbs, dirt and grime are going to get trapped in the crevices which will be difficult to clean. The rest of the fabric on the Activ3 is coarse and feels like plastic.
The frame is nice looking but flexes and has a handlebar that isn't tight enough. The tires are foam-filled rubber giving you the comfort of rubber without the fear of a flat. The shocks are good and adjustable, but the seat is hard combining several features that come together for only average passenger comfort.
