Graco Breaze Review

The Graco company began in 1942 as a metal fabrication shop that made car parts owned by Russell Gray and Robert Cone in Philadelphia, PA. Eleven years later, Gray left the company, and Cone hired engineer David Saint to help him design a new line of products. One of their first products was a top-ranked baby swing, crafted from inspiration by a coworker who used an outdoor glider to soothe their new baby. The swing sold millions, and Graco became one of the world's leading baby gear manufacturers with innovative ideas like the Pack N' Play and Travel Systems.

Performance Comparison

Weight and Folded Size

The Breaze is one of the heaviest strollers in the group at 18.25 lbs. The Breaze is also one of the largest, measuring 7,749.25 cubic inches. While it does have a carry handle like the Maclaren Techno XT, a shoulder strap would be easier given the heft and size.

Ease of Use

The Breaze is easier to use than much of the competition, but that isn't saying much in a category where all options are lacking.

Fold and Unfold

The Breaze has a one-handed fold, and it auto-locks (above left). The process is an umbrella-style collapse that doesn't self-stand like the UPPAbaby G-Lite, but it initiates with a hand lever instead of your feet (above right). Unfolding requires two hands but isn't difficult. When the lock is engaged, the opposite side hangs open, staying that way when carried.

Brakes

The Breaze brakes are double-action and hard to set. You need to use so much force that it feels like they will break before they engage. However, the pedal is large, easy to release, and sandal-foot-friendly.

Storage

The storage bin is large enough to fit a large diaper bag inside. It has a maximum weight allowance of 10 lbs with easy access unless the seat is reclined when you won't be able to retrieve items you may need. The Breaze also sports a removable parent cup holder on the left side. The holder is small and may not fit larger water bottles or the best sippy cups.

Sunshade

The canopy on the Graco is medium with UV 50 protection, a pop-out visor, and a mesh peek-a-boo window. The window flap does not have a closure, but the window itself is easy to see through. The canopy is easy to operate, but it doesn't cover as much of the baby as we'd like, and it will be smart to use one of the best sunscreens for babies if you use this stroller outside.

Harness

The Breaze harness is a 5-point harness with padded shoulder straps. Adjusting the straps is relatively easy, but to fully tighten the straps, you'll need to push the extra threading adjustment through the seatback slot to rethread the harness. The padding on the shoulder straps may need to be removed to adjust the straps properly.

Seat

The Breaze seat has an almost flat recline back, adequate padding, and an adjustable leg rest. It has a one-handed recline that is easy to use, with three positions. The adjustable leg rest can be angled down or straight for more napping room, turning into an attachment point for the car seat. The footrest is under the edge of the leg rest, and children will only be able to get their heels on it.

Car Seat Attachment

The Breaze is compatible with all Graco Click Connect infant car seats, including the Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40 and Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35. You do not need an adapter to attach the car seat to the stroller.

Ease of Setup

The Breaze is easy to set up and requires no tools. It took us 4:13 minutes to unpack and assemble the stroller, and it has an average manual with adequate instructions that are not confusing.

Maneuverability

With two single front wheels that are easier to push and turn than the more common dual-wheel variety, the Graco is easier to push than some competitors. The wheels move reasonably well on flat hard surfaces, but on uneven terrain, we noticed a marked decrease in ease of pushing, and it is more of a struggle to keep on your chosen course. The brakes are also a problem when hopping curbs, as they can catch and engage, leaving you unable to roll.

This stroller has all-wheel suspension, a padded sling style seat, and larger wheels that help keep the passenger comfortable while strolling. It could be improved with higher quality shocks, but at least it makes an effort.

Quality

The Breaze uses average materials with average construction. While not the worst in the bunch, this stroller uses heavier materials, exposed connectors and rivets, and is on par with the Graco Nimblelite. The fabric and stitching are okay, but they can't compete with higher-ranking competitors.

Should You Buy the Graco Breaze?

The Graco Breaze is the lowest-ranking product in our review. That being said, there are a many strollers we think are better choices in our best strollers review that we think can serve you better. Although it has slightly better ease-of-use features, we don't think it is worth the trade-off for such a poor-performing stroller, especially when there are better scoring, more affordable options. In short, no. We don't think you should buy this stroller.

What Other Umbrella Strollers Should You Consider?

Graco has some other strollers that are lighter and easier to use than the Breaze, namely the Graco Jetsetter and the Graco Nimblelite. While not top performers, they are in the same price range and earned respectable overall scores. For a bit more, the Zoe Traveler is one of our favorite lightweight options, and we think it is worth the extra cash.

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