Having a brand new little bundle of joy enter your life is amazing and nerve-racking at the same time!  I can remember thinking that my precious Riley was just so fragile and delicate that honestly, I was a bit scared to travel with her for several months.  Even a trip around the block to the grocery store found me driving about 20 miles per hour.  :nervous:

Thankfully, Eddie Bauer has designed a unique travel system which not only makes baby feel comfortable and safe, it's everything mommy and daddy have been searching for too!

Safety, Style and Comfort Abound in this Eddie Bauer Travel System

I've long been a fan of Eddie Bauer, for this brand always creates durable, rugged products with great design and style.  I've reviewed several Eddie Bauer items over the years and have loved each and every one.  I was hoping the new Trail Hiker 3-Wheel Travel System would be no exception.

This Eddie Bauer travel system is composed of three pieces: a stroller, rear-facing car seat and car base.  It comes in three color combinations (red, blue and gray) and is available exclusively at Target.  All three colors available are rather masculine, so I hope that Eddie Bauer is considering a more "feminine" color palette to the Trail Hiker lineup very soon.  I'd love to see a purple, teal or pink color choice added to this collection.

The car seat is rear facing only and designed for children up to 32" in height, weighing between 4 and 35 pounds.  Comparably, the stroller is perfect for all children weighing up to 50 pounds.  Both the Trail Hiker stroller and car seat are loaded with amazing features that prepare you and your little one for anything the open road may bring.

Features of the Eddie Bauer Trail Hiker 3-Wheel Travel System (Model TR236BQB):

Stroller:

• 3-wheel design for superior maneuverability
• Adjustable handle
• Parent Assist tray with two cup holders and covered storage
• Child tray with cup holder
• Multi-position seat recline
• Large storage basket
• 2-section adjustable canopy
• 5-point harness
• One hand fold and stand
• Accommodates child up to 50 pounds

Infant Car Seat:

• Rear-facing: Accommodates child 4-35 pounds in weight and up to 32" tall
• Side Impact Protection
• Removable infant head support
• Adjustable, stay-in-car base
• QuickClick™ attaches car seat to stroller with one click: no extra parts required
• Easy-to-read level indicator for quick and simple installation
• LATCH equipped
• Meets or exceeds Federal Safety Standards

Of course, my favorite feature of the Trail Hiker 3-Wheel Travel System is right there in the name...the stroller has only 3 wheels!  This is like getting a durable family stroller and jogging stroller all in one.  When I had Riley, I received a typical travel system which came with a typical stroller with four small, thin wheels.  I tried running with this stroller a time or two and believe me, it doesn't work.  The wheels just can't handle either the terrain or the speed and are only meant for walking on smooth surfaces.

That's definitely not the case with the Eddie Bauer Trail Hiker Travel System.  This little beauty can handle a hike both on and off the sidewalk.  I tried it out on a short trail behind our house and it handled great!  Having just one front wheel means that this stroller can maneuver much better than its 4-wheeled counterparts and the larger tires can handle more speed too.  I can't speak to how smooth the ride in the Trail Hiker Stroller is, since I no longer have a small child to try it out with, but it definitely appeared to be smooth and was a breeze for me to push.

This Eddie Bauer Travel System also makes life on the go much easier, providing plenty of storage space in several places.  The large basket under the stroller itself was quite roomy and the perfect size for mom's purse, a baby bag and quilt.  The parent tray contained deep cup holders and a covered compartment, just perfect for storing your keys and cell phone.  Finally, I was impressed that even the child's tray had a deep cup holder and spacious tray.  Now snacks, toys and a variety of bottles and sippy cups can be stored with ease.

I also love the design of the stroller's handle because it's completely adjustable, so no matter whether you're super tall or super short, you can travel in comfort.  Also, both mom and dad can have a custom fit because gone are the days of the "one size fits all" handle.

Both the stroller and the car seat have a 5-point harness for the ultimate in safety, and with a quick pull or release of the zip cord behind the stroller's seat, your child can be elevated or reclined into a variety of positions.

As for the car seat, it's important to note that this model features a rear-facing car seat only, accommodating children up to 35 pounds.  Personally, we turned Riley forward once she reached both the age and weight requirements.  If you are planning on doing this too, you might not get quite as much use out of the car seat.  That's why the Eddie Bauer Trail Hiker 3-Wheel Travel System is truly the perfect baby shower gift for brand new parents.  This system is definitely designed to be used as soon as baby is brought home from the hospital.

The car seat features side impact protection as well as a removable infant head support.  I love that this head support comes as part of the travel system itself, for I had to go out and purchase one separately when Riley was born.  Those precious little necks just can't support those noggins during the early stages of life and an infant head support is mandatory.  This car seat also features an adjustable car seat base so that the car seat itself can "QuickClick" in and out to double as an infant carrier.  Who wants to dare wake a sleeping baby?  :sleep:  Now with the QuickClick feature, both parents and baby can rest!

Finally, because this car seat is LATCH equipped with an included level, it's super simple to safely and accurately install this system in any car.  My husband has installed numerous car seats in several cars over the years and admits that the LATCH installation method is the only way to go.

If you are expecting or know someone with a brand new bundle of joy, be sure to check out the amazing features, rugged design and overall good looks of the Trail Hiker 3-Wheel Travel System from Eddie Bauer.  Now, no matter where the road may take you, baby will travel in the utmost of style, safety and comfort...and so will you!  :wink:

Disclosure: I received the Trail Hiker 3-Wheel Travel System in Red from Eddie Bauer in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my own personal experiences with this item and is completely honest and objective.

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One lucky reader will win the Trail Hiker 3-Wheel Travel System from Eddie Bauer!  (ARV $250)

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