Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio Review: We Try A New 3-In-1 Travel System

December 12, 2016

If You’re Looking For A Travel System, Read Our Graco Modes 3 Lite Review

Have you heard about the new Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio? It’s a brand new three-in-one travel system, suitable from birth to 15kg, that comes with the Graco SnugRide first stage infant car seat, baby carrycot and toddler seat all as part of the package.

Sounds intriguing, and in an impressive display of pram-product Tetris, it all arrives in one box.

Here’s Our Graco Modes 3 Lite trio review:

We’re working with Graco and our next review is of the Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio; so what did we think?

Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio review - three-in-one stroller buggy with car seat and carry cot

Firstly, What Type Of Pram Is The Graco Modes 3 Lite? 

  • The Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio is a three-wheeled travel system that offers up to seven different modes of travel, from the car seat through to rear-facing and forward facing seat
  • It’s suitable up to about three years old.
  • It has a five-point safety harness, FastAction one second fold (really…more on this later) 
  • It also has ClickConnect technology to make it easy to add and remove the various seat configurations.

Graco modes three Lite Trio review of the Graco buggy

Testing Out The Modes 3 Lite Trio

Having a two-year-old we’re well past the baby carry cot and car seat stage – you can see them in the video – so we’ve been testing it out with the forward facing stroller mode. Although the two-year-old was having a ‘no photos’ day, hence her older sister stepping in…

As part of our Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio review, we filmed an unboxing video of us taking everything out and assembling the pram. So what’s in the box and how easy is it to assemble?

(More about our Pokemon Christmas jumpers here!).

How Easy Was The Graco Pram To Assemble?

The Graco Modes 3 Lite was reasonably easy to assemble – the biggest issue we had was with the back wheels, which were fairly fiddly and took a while for us to get right. But apart from that it is easy to assemble and also to change the configurations (the seat / cot / car seat clips in to the frame).

Graco Modes 3 Lite review - travel system and buggy with car seat and carrycot

What We Liked From Our Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio Review:

  • The FastAction Fold: An amazing design feature is the fold on the pram. It is SO simple –  you just pull the fabric lever that’s on the seat – and quick, it folds in seconds, actual seconds. Considering it’s taken me an embarrassingly long while to master the fold on most of the prams we’ve had this is a big bonus (I demonstrate this at the end of the video, so make sure you watch!).
  • The shopping basket: It’s huge! I know there’s more to prams than the shopping basket but it makes life easier (especially in those days when going to the shop is all you do).
  • The colour scheme: I’m not a massive fan of patterned prams and so this simple design is perfect.
  • The design: For a travel system it’s pretty light – even with the toddler seat in – but still really sturdy. And it’s still comfortable, though – both girls liked the deep, padded seat and even my very tall four-year-old who is way past pram age could sit in it.

Review of the Graco buggy the Modes 3 Lite Trio travel system

What We Didn’t Like About Our Graco Modes 3 Pram Review:

Review of the Graco Modes Three Lite Trio - buggy travel system. Back wheel span

  • A big sticking point for us is the big back wheel span. We live in a standard-sized Victorian terrace house and the pram only just fits down our hall; we also really struggled to get it in and out of the front door unless it was at an awkward angle. The bus is usually our litmus test for prams and I wouldn’t take the Graco Modes 3 Lite on unfolded as the back wheels are too wide to fit comfortably down the aisle and it would take up most of the pram space.
  • The handle height: You can’t adjust the handle so it’s permanently at one height. I’d expect than on an umbrella fold but not a travel system.
  • The cup holder: I’m not a massive fan of this as a permanent feature on any pram. On the Graco car seats the cup holder is removable, which I think would be a better pram feature. Although saying that the girls loved this most of all:

Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio review - cup holder

But the biggest plus point is the price. It retails at £389 for *everything.* Considering most people buy a pram then pay extra for the car seat, car seat adapters, carry cot, foot muff and so on, this is really good value for money.

As in our Graco Milestone review, we liked the fact this is a baby product that will last your child a lot longer without you having to buy any additional extras. It’s sturdy and light for a travel system. and the fold is make-your-life-easier fantastic. You’d get the greatest benefit buying this from birth so you can use the car seat and carrycot (it would be a waste to buy this as a stand-alone stroller for a toddler). But if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly pram or travel system that doesn’t compromise on features – and you don’t have small hallways – then this is a really good option. More info on the Graco website.

Review of the Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio travel system review

If you liked our Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio review then read our Quinny Moodd review, tips for using public transport in London with a pram, how to get a baby on board badge and post-natal depletion – do you have it?

3 Comments

  • Alison

    December 16, 2016 at 10:40 am

    Great review Gill! Loving the sound of the FastAction Fold. Also – NICE BLUE WALL!

  • Candy Pop

    December 16, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    The best thing is the drink (doll) holder – how cute! Great review and as Alison says, that’s a fabulous wall! x

  • Eleanor (TheBristolParent)

    December 17, 2016 at 8:58 am

    I love a cup holder, but mainly because it’s the only thing my trusty Baby Jogger doesn’t have! Great review, and you look fab in that colour coat, btw. x

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