I have scoured the internet for a good year before settling on the Kolcraft Contours Options in Cosmic. So I am writing this review to spare you the pain of having to do that, or at least help you cut you research time in half! I wanted an all-in-one stroller that would serve many purposes (what parent doesn't?) and would work for shopping, walks, jogs, rugged terrain, crooked pavement, grass, beach, you name it. At the same time I wanted all of that for no more that $160, I wanted it to look stylish, and fit comfortably folded in our Honda Accord trunk. The most important feature that guided my search was that it absolutely had to turn to face the parent.

If I ever found a stroller that would stop me from looking at other ones, it would get a rating of 5. This one only gets a four for a few of good reasons:

1. It is pretty big (but then again, I am very little).
2. It weighs a good 27 arm straining pounds.
3. The fold and unfold takes [some] practice. 

But, don't get me wrong! It has so much more positive aspects :) Hence the rating of a 4. Plus if you do compare it to other full size strollers with similar features, they will weigh somewhere in the same range anyway. I was first drooling over the Mia Moda Atmosferra, which is 3 pounds lighter but has a price tag of $280. Once I found the Contours stroller I was sold because not only did it look very similar, and had the same reversable seat, but at $150 it was a lot easier to convince my husband that we need it.

When my husband first saw it I didn't have the parent tray on the handle yet and he said, quote  "it's a lawn mower!". Once we put the accessories on it didn't look as big and after a couple of days I got used to the sheer size of this multi-functional stroller. The woman model in the photos is about 5'8" by my estimates and she makes the stroller look a lot smaller - something that of course did not cross my mind when I ordered it. I am 5'2" and the handlebar that is not adjustable is at my waist, but I find it comfortable. I could not find it at any stores to see it in person, so reviews were crucial and most of them were good. So I kind of knew what I was getting into because most reviewers did say it was big and heavy.

So here are its strong points, in order of importance to me, i.e. item # 1 is what really sold me on this full-size stroller:

1. Reversible seat so that child can either face out or face parent
2. Functions as a 'snap 'n go' (you can take out the seat and just use stroller frame with any car seat using the adapter)
3. Durable with light aluminum frame and not too many plastic parts
4. Suspension system for a smooth ride
5. More or less easy fold that fits into an Accord
6. Never flat wheels
7. Cool looking and stylish, comes in green and red (unisex)
8. Large capacity storage basket
9. Reclining seat, suitable for newborn
10. The standard 5 point harness
11. Parent tray
12. Locking front swivel wheel
13. Stroller stands on its own when folded