Britax B-Free Review

In 1996, Britax came to America after much success in Europe. They have been making products for children for the last 70 years, and they are an international best-selling car seat brand. Britax believes that families should live without limits making the most of every day. Their goal is to create useful gear with safety in mind with an emphasis on side-impact protection, car seat installation, and strollers. The company works closely with manufacturers, government, and safety experts to create safe products for children.

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The B-Free is average compared to the competition for ease of use, but only a handful of strollers were easier.

Fold and Unfold

The B-free has a pull handle on the seat bottom that folds the stroller in half with only a single hand. This stroller has a push-button frame release, automatic locking feature, and it self-stands, a departure from the B-Agile.

Brakes

The single-action brakes operate with a small press pedal near the right wheel. While not as handy as a bar pedal, they are very easy to set and release, even with open-toed shoes.

Storage

The B-Free has a medium-sized storage bin with a 10 lb capacity (above left). Our large diaper bag fits inside, but not much else. You can access the bin from the front and back, but access is limited. The canopy has two small pockets and a medium zippered pocket (above right) that can collectively hold up to a pound. The pockets are useful for smaller items like cell phones, keys, or a wallet. This stroller also offers passenger stow pockets on either side of the seat. The pockets are shallow and hard to open wide enough for water bottles and sippy cups. The B-Free doesn't bring much to the table when you compare it against a contender, like the UPPABaby Vista v2, which sports easy access storage with a maximum capacity of 30 lbs.

Sunshade

The shade on the B-Free is reminiscent of other Britax strollers with ample coverage and a mesh peek-a-boo window. This canopy has zip-open panels in the center for additional coverage and ventilation for airflow when the weather gets hot.

Harness

The 5-point harness on this Britax is easy to adjust for fit but harder to put on and take off. The B-Free sports the same buckle as the B-Agile with a two-piece buckle that is harder to connect. Sliding the buckle for harness adjustment could be problematic with the shoulder padding, and the rethread style of height changes is basic but doable.

Seat

The B-Free seat back has a deep recline operated by a plastic toggle for comfortable napping. The toggle works with one hand to lower and two to raise, providing infinite angle possibilities, but it isn't as smooth as some of the competition. The leg rest is padded but not adjustable and slopes down to a narrow footrest.

Car Seat Compatibility

The B-Free is compatible with any Britax infant car seat and comes with side click-on adapters. The adapters are easy to use, and the seat slides easily into place once the two sides are aligned. A reassuring click tells you the installation is correct, and while we didn't have any problems, parents should still give the handle a tug to ensure connection.

Ease of Setup

The B-Free has a setup time of 6:45 minutes, and no tools are required.

The manual is good compared to the competition, but the illustrations are not as useful as they could be. If this is your first stroller assembly, it could be difficult to figure them out.

Maneuverability

With a single front wheel, the B-Free is an improvement over the dual-wheeled options performing better for maneuverability than much of the competition. The B-Free has a swivel front wheel (above left) you can lock in place (above right) for more control over uneven terrain. The shorter footprint helps this stroller navigate smaller spaces and crowded areas with ease. The foam-filled rubber tires are nice but could be larger for improved pushing ease.

Weight and Folded Size

The B-Free is better for weight and folded size than most of the competition with a weight of 22.4 lb and a folded volume of 6,674 cubic inches. The folded size is one of the smallest options in the group, making it a potential contender if your space is limited and you value maneuverability.

Quality

The B-Free is a little nicer than some of the older Britax strollers, but its price also reflects this. This stroller has a sturdy frame, nice canvas material, and thick elastic on the fold joints. The connections are solid, and there is little flex in the frame when pushing the weight.

The seat of the B-Free has thicker padding that extends down the leg rest. There is a seam at the knee bend that could be irritating on bare legs, but overall, passengers should be comfortable.

Should You Buy the Britax B-Free?

We understand why the Britax B-Free is a well-loved stroller. You get a decent amount of stroller for its price, and if you're using a Britax car seat, it might be a no-brainer option as it is compatible with any Britax infant car seat and comes with side click on adapters. It's also effortless to fold, lightweight and compact when folded, and offers better maneuverability than a good chunk of the competition, making it an attractive option for transporting in and out of the car. Its smaller storage bin could be a hindrance and limit what you bring on all-day adventures. But, as an everyday stroller for daily walks or errand runs, the Britax B-Free might be a fit. We would consider purchasing it if we were using a Britax car seat.

What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?

If you're not using a Britax car seat, we think the Thule Spring is an attractive and compelling alternative to the Britax B-Free. This award-winning stroller is one of our favorite strollers. Although the B-Free surpasses it in maneuverability, the Thule Spring offers more user-friendly features and better quality. It's also lightweight and compact when folded, so it shouldn't interfere with transportation.

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