In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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The Peg Perego Booklet came to the party but forgot to bring a gift. We wanted to like this stroller, but it didn't perform well enough in our tests to break into the top half for this review. This stroller managed average scores in most metrics and didn't truly disappoint testers so much at it didn't impress them. With no standout features and few conveniences like storage pockets and cup holders, it is hard to justify the budget friendly price of this stroller when there are other products that scored better and cost less or managed to offer more for a reasonable price bump.
REASONS TO BUY
Doesn't hold many supplies
Easy to lift
Carry
And stow
REASONS TO AVOID
Hard to push and turn
Update - 2020
Peg has discontinued the Booklet and is now offering the Booklet 50. This upgraded stroller is similar to the old Booklet. We now link to the newer Booklet and provide additional information below.
Our Analysis and Test Results
New Booklet 50 vs. Old Booklet
The Booklet 50 is the newest version of the Booklet we tested in this review. The Booklet 50 is still compatible with the Peg infant car seats and works for little one up to 50 lbs. The new version is larger and heavier with a roomier seat. The handlebar is more ergonomically shaped and it looks like the storage bin is roomier. You can see the new Booklet 50 below on the left and the old Booklet below on the right.
The new Booklet 50
The Peg Perego Booklet
Hands-on Gear Review
The Italian company, Peg Perego, creates multiple types of products for babies and toddlerhood including everything from car seats, to strollers, and toys tots can ride on. The company has a history of offering quality products with attention to detail. The company was started by the Perego family in 1949 who continue to take part in the design and development in product production.
Performance Comparison
The Booklet has a nice recline and the back of the canopy expands to help protect baby from the elements.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Peg Perego performed better than average for this metric, but it still isn't anything to brag about.
The fold process on the Booklet includes pulling a handle under the seat, so the seat back must be in the upright position.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Fold and Unfold
The Booklet has a one-handed fold that is two steps and easy to operate. It features an auto-lock and carry strap, and it self-stands which makes it easier to transport. The fold is somewhat unconventional and a little counter-intuitive; the seat needs to flip all the forward to complete the fold, but it is still easy to operate.
The Booklet has an auto-lock feature that works well.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Unfolding the stroller is a two-hand operation and is average in difficulty. The process is two steps, which is nice considering that parents will often need to unfold the stroller while holding the baby.
Brakes
The brakes on the Booklet are single action brakes that are easy to set and release and are sandal foot-friendly.
The back bar on the Booklet storage basket is spring loaded and can move down somewhat to accommodate larger items.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Storage
The Booklet storage has a maximum limit of 11 lbs. It is a large basket and we were able to fit out extra-large diaper bag inside without difficulty. Accessing the bin is easy and can be done from the back and sides. The bar that holds the back of the basket up is spring-loaded and can be pushed down to help fit things in the bin.
The Booklet has a nice size peek-a-boo window.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sunshade
The canopy on this stroller isn't great and came in below average for the group. It is medium in size and has a UPF of 50+. The canopy does offer ventilation for increased airflow, and it has a medium, vinyl peek-a-boo window for spying on the baby.
The harness on the Peg is easier to put on than it is to adjust.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
The 5-point harness is relatively easy to put on but can be challenging to remove. Adjusting the harness shoulder straps is harder, but it does have an adjustable crotch strap. The buckle is similar to the found on the Baby Joggers with a button on the back that you can't depress while pushing the release button, or it won't release. This is a problem because ergonomically it is hard not to press the back of the buckle when you depress the release button.
The side straps for the Booklet recline are hidden in fabric sleeves unlike some that have them exposed and hanging loose.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Seat
This stroller has a padded adjustable leg rest and an adjustable wide footrest that is made of plastic and wipes easily clean. The seat back on the Booklet reclines with one hand and adjustable straps allow the back to recline in an infinite number of angles. It is difficult to operate, and the design isn't as nice as those with a lever or button.
The Booklet is one of the few options that works with the toddler seat attached to the frame.
Fitting the seat on the Booklet in front of the bumper bar but still behind the canopy can be difficult, and the seat back must be fully reclined to attach the carrier at all.
The Booklet is only compatiable with the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 and it attaches to metal attachment points that hide under the seat padding when not in use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The infant seat attaches above the main seat and it is difficult to install. You need to line up the latches just right, which takes more effort than most of the competition, and it takes more pressure to get the seat to click in. However, once it is in it feels very secure.
Ease of Setup
The Booklet is a bear to put together. It took us almost 11 minutes to put this stroller together. The documentation is only average with illustrations that are not detailed enough, leaving parents to fill in the gaps. There are multiple parts that need to be attached to the frame, and even one part that has to be unattached threaded through the basket and then reattached.
The wheels on the Booklet are made of plastic and are small compared to some of the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Maneuverability
The Booklet didn't fare that well for maneuverability with an average performance that isn't enough to stand out.
The front swivel wheels on the Booklet can be locked in place.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This stroller can be pushed with one hand, but the turns were on the wide side even though the width of the stroller is fairly narrow. The narrow footprint allows it to fit easily into smaller spaces, but it moves a little rough. We also had difficulty controlling the Peg over the carpet. For pushing and turning on the pavement, it is once again average. We had difficulty rolling it over a 1-inch curb, and there is a lot of flex in the handle that gives the ride a loose feeling when pushing over rougher terrain. It results in a more wobbly feeling than some of the competition.
The Booklet self-stands and has a below average folded size.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Folded Size
The Booklet weighs 20.2 lbs, which is far better than the average of 24. It is one of the lighter strollers in the group, but not as light as some of the competition that are almost light enough to be considered lightweight strollers. It is also on the smaller size at 10,7578 cubic inches. But again, several strollers are closer to 6,500.
The Booklet scored below average in our tests for quality.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
Peg Perego has long been synonymous with quality, however, in our tests we found this Peg to be lacking and only average compared to the competition.
The fabric on the Booklet seat and canopy are both made of a smooth, tightly woven canvas that we think easily wipes clean. On either side of the seat, there is a textured rubber/imitation leather (we aren't entirely sure). At the foot of the seat, there is a large strip of the same material that looks like it will be easy to clean. The sunshade on the canopy is made of a thin, semi-reflective fabric that is smooth to the touch. The peek-a-boo window on the shade is a high-quality vinyl that is tinted and easy to see through. The storage bin is a slick canvas with mesh sides that didn't snag in our tests.
The frame on the booklet is a disappointment. There is a lot going on with this frame and some flex with lots of different components that can break. The overall fit and finish aren't bad, it looks kind of nice, but it is busy, and the leg rest flipped up when we didn't want it to.
The wheels on the Booklet are foam filled plastic and look on the cheap side. We prefer rubber wheels over plastic because they usually offer a better ride and quality. Plastic wheels might get damaged over time, and while this won't result in a flat tire, it could give the feeling of a bum shopping cart.
The Booklet handlebar rotates to adjust with two buttons on either side of the frame.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The handlebar is adjustable and offers a relatively comfortable feeling in the hand, with nice soft foam. The hard plastic bumps that protect the bar during the self-stand could be annoying, and we found they rubbed on our thumbs during testing. Our testers found they kicked the stroller frequently during strolling.
This Peg has non-adjustable rear shocks and has average padding over a fairly hard seat. The combination of hard plastic wheels, two-wheel stiff suspension, non-sling style seats, and limited padding create an uncomfortable experience compared to the competition.
