The First Orbit

Today, we were all very excited when UPS delivered our very first Orbit Infant System (just one for now). We eagerly opened the box and unpacked our new floor model, completed the simple assembly, and put it through its paces. We have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of this revolutionary new travel system since we first saw a prototype almost 15 months ago. It was genuinely thrilling to see it displayed in our window this evening.

We’ve watched this product closely as it has evolved from prototype to production, and we’ve had the distinct pleasure of getting to know the bright minds behind this amazing product. They are great people, and I’m so glad for them that they are finally ready to launch.

Once we unpacked the various components, our first stop was the scale. The stroller frame weighs in at around 16 lbs. without the basket/bag, and just about 18 lbs. with it. The car seat is a hefty 12 lbs, but the flexible carry strap was quite comfortable on my arm. The rear wheel base is wider than you might expect, and the whole assembly is quite long. We didn’t break out the tape measure, but it would be worthwhile to do that – tomorrow.

The car seat is absolutely lovely. It is very large with a faux ultrasuede interior. The canopy is large and sturdy, and it includes a hideaway fabric shield to protect baby from pesky things, like bugs, sun and paparazzi. It attaches effortlessly to the stroller frame and the base, and everyone here really liked the rotation feature, which allows you to face the car seat in four different directions on the stroller.

The stroller frame folds in an instant with one hand. The rear wheels are air filled, and the front wheels are a very dense foam. The suspension in front is excellent, and all around, it gives a great ride. Parents will be delighted to see not one, but two cupholders built into a center console. Also, we were blown away by the telescoping adjustable handlebars, which seem to go on forever. There are so many thoughtful innovations on this system that it is hard to cover them all. Every time I interacted with the stroller, I discovered something new. The instruction booklet is very well done, if a bit hard to find at first (it was nestled inside the basket/bag, along with the rear wheels and a wheel repair kit).

The early response to the Orbit has been very good, and we’re expecting a high demand. Hopefully, we will be stocked and ready to sell these within the next month or so. In the meantime, if you’re in the neighborhood, you can stop by and get a demonstration. The next big question, of course, is about the shipping schedule for the toddler upgrade. We hope to touch base with the Orbit team in the next day or so and get some answers. I’ll keep you posted, as always.

The post The First Orbit appeared first on Spilling the Beans - Magic Beans.