Getting ready for baby #2, I knew I wanted a stroller that would offer safety and convenience.But what made me decide to choose the Evenflo Pivot over other modular travel systems?
When I found out I was pregnant with our second baby, I decided to get a modular system (stroller, bassinet, car seat), ending up with the Evenflo Pivot. While it’s pretty convenient, the stroller is rather bulky and heavy, and I struggle to fit it into my small car. Now it’s true that the Evenflo Pivot boasts of a certain structural integrity. At the same time, it supposedly exceeds safety standards. Just the same, I’m not sure its level of safety, as well as the other features it boasts of, are unique. Other strollers have the features of the Evenflo Pivot. But it’s good value for the price.
…………
The tale of the 4 baby strollers
As I think about my son’s baby strollers from when he was small, I begin to wonder if people plan on ending up with 4 different strollers. Or does it happen when you realize how unhappy you are with each one?
The first stroller was big with plasticparts. It was a pain loading it into the trunk of our compact sedan, which had about 30 articles of clothing at any given time.
For a lightweight alternative, we bought an umbrella stroller. Then got another hand-me-down. Both ended up with 1 wobbly wheel when we sat on them by accident. We used 1 during the pandemic, and people would often ask us if we needed help, or a sip of water.
Finally, our last stroller was bulky like the first one. We bought this dino for a San Diego trip when we somehow forgot all 3 strollers at home. How do 2 people forget 3 strollers at home? 🤷♀️
toy version of an umbrella stroller.. imagine a full-grown adult landing in that thing
That said… This 4 strollers nightmare story taught me the importance of finding that one perfect stroller that meets all our needs.
Why I bought the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System
Reading positive reviews for the Evenflo Pivot with SafeMax Infant Car Seat (not the Xpand version), I figured the stroller was what I needed to keep my baby safe. The market price seemed standard for modular travel systems, at around $300.
Before getting the Evenflo Pivot, I will say that I didn’t go to a store to test the stroller or see it in person. Thinking back now, I think doing that would definitely have influenced my decision.
During this time, I remember looking around and noticing that many parents seem to proudly show off their strollers and use them as a type of status symbol (wealth, achievement, or just being in the know of the latest accessory marketed by influencers). Which is fine, but I mostly wanted something that would protect my baby and offer me convenience.
PROS / What I LIKE about the Evenflo Pivot
The stroller feels sturdy, and its size suggests that it was made to protect your tiny baby. The structure also shows that the Pivot is made toendure wear and tear, judging by its ginormous wheels.
Touching the handlebar, it feels comfortable in my hands.
A stroller made to fit wheelsof cheese, you say? 🤔
Very spacious under seat storage basket
I’ve washed the stroller a few times now. I can say that the material cleans easily and dries fast. Likewise, folding The Pivot has never been a problem—except when we were first learning how to use the stroller.
The 4 wheels are great, and maybe it’s just me. But I feel like 4 wheels offer more safety than jogging strollers with 3 wheels.
It’s awesome how I can set the bassinet to face me, or face out. With the forward facing feature, baby can watch people and pets at the park.
It’s easy to check on baby
There’s a peek-a-boo window (mesh + flap for full coverage) on the bassinet. So when the bassinet faces forward, I can quickly lift the flap to check on baby and make sure she is fine.
Maneuvers with ease
Yep, it’s easy to turn left, right, or any other way. And while not technically an all-terrain stroller, it does seem to have good shock absorption abilities.
2025 Update
Baby is now a toddler, and I’m using a different stroller (which I rarely need, but it’s convenient for whenever she falls asleep).
The wheels of that other stroller are small.
Pushing it through a rocky area is a struggle. And I’m quickly reminded of how easy doing that was, with the Pivot.
peek-a-boo feature
The snack and cup trays on the safety bar of the bassinet are nice. Apart from that, there’s a coffee/cup holder for mommy’s drink.
Wiiiiide
According to the official page for the Pivot, it’s 25 1/2″ wide. In a way, I like that because it doesn’t make me feel……………………………as wide. Do I even need to lose the baby weight?
“Hello, doc? I just realized I longer need to lose the baby weight. Why? Well, my stroller’s really wide…”
Light as a feather bassinet
Which I appreciate. It’s easy to attach it to the stroller, and the 5-point harness and safety bar give me peace of mind. I’m also glad that baby could either sit down or sleep here, as needed.
Baby can lay down and sleep
When he was small, my son would often fall asleep in the umbrella stroller. Unfortunately, this was a basic umbrella stroller, so there was no way to get it to lay back and convert into some type of bassinet / bed. Every time, he would end up in this slumped, awkward position, with his head bowed down uncomfortably.
Obviously, umbrella strollers were made to get our little ones from A to B in the most efficient way possible—not so much for comfort. I felt bad for my little guy.
With the Evenflo Pivot modular system, this situation is not a problem, since I can configure the system 6 different ways.
Since it allows babies to sleep, the stroller is particularly useful at big airports during a layover, as you rush from gate to gate.
At 1 of these airports, I remember another mom fangirling and saying, “I LOVE your stroller!”
CONS / What I DON’T LIKE about the Evenflo Pivot
After 6 months of use, the wheels started squeaking a bit. I had to WD40 them. Not a big deal, but I didn’t encounter this with other strollers. Eventually, the wheels also splayed out (bent inwards), losing their symmetry. To think we never accidentally sat on this stroller.
to illustrate, right: splayed out stroller wheels
Lightweight?
Despite the claims, it turned out that the stroller was still heavier than what I thought “lightweight” would be. Did they mean lightweight compared to a 4×4 truck?
I began to wonder if strollers for infants need a certain weight and bulk to them, to provide better protection. But this Babylist article talks about how that’s not always the case.
The Evenflo Pivot is definitely heavier than the main stroller that I used with my son. That one was mostly made of plastic.
Boy, is it wide
I mentioned that the width of the Pivot has this accidental slimming effect, which I like. Except the wideness isn’t entirely a good thing.
One time, I walked to pick up my son from school, with baby in the Evenflo Pivot. On the way there, we passed an area with some construction. There were sandbags by the sidewalks. And what was supposed to be an easy stroll turned into an obstacle course.
Let’s just say that if the goal had been to hit all the sandbags, then we got an A+ in that.
I remember thinking, “Is this stroller even sidewalk-legal?” If that’s a thing.
“I see doors we’re about to hit…”
Because of the Pivot’s width, I feel like I’ve developed some kind of sixth sense.
These days, I more or less know if we’re about to hit something with the stroller’s rear wheels (like restaurant doors), if we’re not careful.
Of course, the wheels are set even wider than the wide stroller base and bassinet.
So even with the extra effort and awareness, I still hit things with the stroller’s rear wheels from time to time. It’s that wide.
Evenflo Pivot + small vehicle = no
When I got the Pivot, I had a subcompact SUV. It wasn’t easy to fit the Pivot in the back.
After a lot of effort, I figured I would have to take the bassinet off the base to fit it in the back, every time. My first attempt to fit the entire stroller in the back required time, effort and strategy. Only to eventually find out this wasn’t gonna happen.
just hangin’ upside down in my subcompact SUV, as normal strollers do
Because the process required me to slam the rear door hard to force the hatch to close, risking damage to the car. After that, I realized that the setup kept the hatch cover raised, which covered a significant portion of my rear windshield. Which would’ve made driving unsafe.
So I had to decide to take the stroller apart each time. I would place the bassinet in the front, and store the base in the back. A fwp, but something I wasn’t too happy doing, and at my son’s school, I wasThat Lady That‘s Always Fighting With Her Stroller.
Small cup holder
Like someone that’s 6’7″ and wears size S gloves, the big Pivot has a tiny cup holder that can’t even hold my baby’s The First Years trainer cup. Granted, this cup holder is probably for mom or dad’s drink, but I doubt it would fit a Starbucks Grande frap, either. This isn’t vital, but I wish more thought went into it.
Requires both hands to fold
Finally, I’m trying to convince myself that this shouldn’t be something of note and is just a nitpicky fwp. But there are plenty of situations with baby where I find my hands full. Now if I have baby in one arm and holding her bottle of milk as well, and have something else in my other arm (you know how it is, moms), then trying to unfold the stroller, too, then this situation could be dangerous for the baby.
That said, Graco’s strollers have a “one hand fold” feature, and I think that that’s a good, well-thought-out safety feature.
Was the Evenflo Pivot modeled after this?
a reminder of our promise to help Sally from next door prune their trees 🤔
Some part of me wonders if the stroller designer was checking out their swole gardener through their plantation shutters when they took notice of the structure of the lawnmower and wheelbarrow in their garden, thereby finding their inspiration for the Pivot.
Not a big issue, just pointing out form similarities.
“By golly, I think I’ve got it! It would be most wise… to fashion a baby carriage after a wheelbarrow!”
Similar modular travel systems or baby strollers
Measurements given (LxWxH) are in inches. Weight provided is for entire travel system.
The Evenflo Pivot $$ measures 34 x 25.5 x 47 inches and weighs 38 lbs.
Graco Modes Element LX $$
LxWxH: 22.3 x 20.9 x 31.2 / Weight: 26 lbs.
Graco Modes Trio $$
LxWxH: 31 x 25.5 x 47 / Weight: 43.9 lbs.
Baby Trend City Clicker Pro $$
LxWxH: 41 x 24.5 x 45 / Weight: 33 lbs.
Summer Myria $$
LxWxH: 20.63 x 23 x 46 / Item Weighs 36.2 lbs.
I could recommend the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 / 5)
While the Evenflo Pivot is a good stroller and modular travel system, I have a feeling it’s very comparable to the other strollers mentioned above.
Tell me if I’m wrong. But there are safety standards set by the law, and stroller manufacturers have to meet these. When I researched different safety standards for modular travel systems, I often encountered the claim that the modular travel system does “meet or exceed” safety standards.
As far as I know, anything that doesn’t meet safety standards are recalled. The other Chicco stroller that I got has a sticker on it that says it is JPMA certified. That’s a good thing, right?
What was the 1 reason I chose the Evenflo Pivot?
It looked sturdy, and I was able to get it for a good price (under $200). That’s about it.
Of course, I haven’t really used any of the other strollers mentioned above, not firsthand. So this is mostly based off of others’ positive reviews for the other strollers.
And if you own 1 of these modular travel systems or strollers, I’d love to hear your opinion below.
Before making any purchases, of course I do recommend testing out the modular travel system you’re interested in, if you get the chance.
“but I’m majestic and everything”
What 1 thing made me rethink my choice to go with the Evenflo Pivot?
I don’t believe it’s that special. At least not any more than similar models are special. Other modular systems seem very similar in features and construction.
What is the USP of the Evenflo Pivot? I’m not sure.
It’s as if someone came up with a template, and the different modular travel system manufacturers just created minor spin-off versions of the template, to create their own vision of the modular travel system.
Did the Pivot turn out to be the one and only stroller I needed?
No. In fact I got a second (Chicco Liteway), third (Kolcraft umbrella stroller from my mom) and fourth stroller (Ingenuity 3Dquickclose CS+ Compact Fold Stroller). At some point, I was itching to get a fifth stroller, but did some self-reflection and convinced myself that doing some retail therapy won’t make all my other problems go away.
It’s not as if I’d check my bank account and suddenly, there’s more than $2 in there. But yeah… The reason for the many strollers was that I didn’t feel that the Pivot was the best stroller for each and every situation. Only to realize that the perfect stroller probably doesn’t exist.
AI says pens are this big. But thanks for the flattering depiction.
Like with the Dr Brown Deluxe sterilizer, using the Pivot felt like driving a huge, gas-guzzling SUV to buy a single pen from the store. You don’t really need all of that for the simple thing you need to do.
If you could do it all over again, which stroller would you pick?
Whichever is cheaper, and of similar quality. I still think the Evenflo Pivot is good value for the money. But based on other reviews, the Graco Modes Element seems to be a good alternative.
Whatever brand or model I end up with in some alternate reality, I hope it’s also a bit more compact and has the one hand fold feature.
Do you have an Evenflo Pivot, or any of the strollers mentioned above? What do you love or not like too much about your baby’s stroller? Share your experience with us in the comments.
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