In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Britax B-Free Combo Review

Compact Britax that works well with car seats and is easy to push and turn
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Britax B-Free Combo Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $380 List
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Manufacturer:   Britax
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Oct 14, 2019
71
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 13
  • Ease Of Attaching Car Seat - 30% 8.0
  • Ease Of Use - 30% 7.0
  • Weight/Folded Size - 25% 6.0
  • Quality - 10% 7.0
  • Maneuverability - 5% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Britax B-Free is a full-size stroller that comes with car seat adapters that work with any Britax infant car seat. This stroller folds small and quickly making it suitable for traveling and transport, but it is heavier than it needs to be, and parents who want something lightweight may want to look elsewhere. The B-Free works well with car seats, and they attach smoothly without a problem. The stroller canopy works well with the carrier in place and offers more protection where you need it. This stroller is a little spendy compared to the similar Britax options, but it is nicer. The B-Free failed to win an award despite its higher score. However, it may fill a niche for some parents, making it one to watch.
REASONS TO BUY
Easy car seat attachment
Compact with easy fold
Easy to maneuver
REASONS TO AVOID
Smaller storage
Small front wheel

Compare to Similar Products

 
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 Best Value Award
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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56
Star Rating
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Bottom Line Compact with an easy fold for transport but storage limits suppliesGreat frame stroller with parent console and easy carrier attachmentHard to push and turn stroller with poor car seat attachmentBudget-friendly, multi-seater with easy car seat connections for up to two infant carriersRelatively universal with multiple strap installation that has too much room for errors
Rating Categories Britax B-Free Combo Chicco KeyFit Caddy Graco SnugRider Elite Evenflo Pivot Xpand... Baby Trend Snap-N-G...
Ease Of Attaching Car Seat (30%)
8.0
9.0
6.0
8.0
3.0
Ease Of Use (30%)
7.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
Weight/Folded Size (25%)
6.0
9.0
9.0
2.0
9.0
Quality (10%)
7.0
3.0
4.0
6.0
4.0
Maneuverability (5%)
7.0
4.0
4.0
5.0
4.0
Specs Britax B-Free Combo Chicco KeyFit Caddy Graco SnugRider Elite Evenflo Pivot Xpand... Baby Trend Snap-N-G...
Weight 22.6 lbs 11.7 lbs 13.3 lbs 24.3 lbs 10.9 lbs
Folded Dimensions 24"W x 10.3"H x 27"L 19.8"W x 11.5"H x 33.5"L 19.7"W x 10.3"H x 31.9"L 26.7"W x 19.23"H x 32.7"L 19.5"W x 11.75"H x 37.8"L
Capacity Limits Minimum: Birth
Maximum: 65 lbs/45"
Minimum: Birth

Maximum: Max allowable weight/height for the car seat.
Minimum: Birth

Maximum: Max allowable weight/height for the car seat.
Minimum: Infant - Toddler

When stroller seat is in infant mode: birth - 6 months


Maximum: 55 lbs/38"
Minimum: Birth
Maximum: 45 lbs
Included Car Seat Compatibility Britax All Britax Seats Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2
Graco
all SnugRide Classic Connect seats, all SnugRide Click Connect seats, Infant SafeSeat
Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax Claims to fit most seats
Click-in Car Seat Adapters Britax All Britax Seats Chicco
KeyFit, KeyFit 30, Fit2
Graco
all SnugRide Classic Connect seats, all SnugRide Click Connect seats, Infant SafeSeat
Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30
Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax
Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30, 35, SnugRide SnugLock 30, 35
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio
None
Strap-in Car Seat Adapters None None None None Claims to fit most seats
One-handed Fold Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Locking Fold Auto Auto Auto Auto Manual
Self-standing Fold Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Handlebar Height - Min/Max 32"/44.5" 36"/42" 37.25"/41" 33"/44.7" 39.75"
Sandal-friendly Brake Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Storage Basket Size Medium Large Large Extra large Large
Included Accessories None None None None None
Setup Time 6:45 8:28 5:59 5:15 5:09

Our Analysis and Test Results

Britax launched in America in 1996 after significant European success. Britax has been creating baby gear for over 70 years, including their international best-selling car seats. Britax strives to develop products that allow families to make the most of every opportunity while living life without limitations.

Performance Comparison



britax b-free combo - the b-free works with any britax infant car seat carrier with...
The B-Free works with any Britax infant car seat carrier with included adapters that work well for an easy attachment.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Attaching Car Seat


The B-Free is one of the easiest options to use in conjunction with a car seat carrier.

The car seat adapters that work with the B-Free click onto the frame...
The car seat adapters that work with the B-Free click onto the frame with a snap on security strap. These straps are not the kind we dislike that secure the carrier to the stroller but are simple set and forget safety straps to secure the adapter to the frame.
The B-Free comes with easy to use car seat adapters that are easy to...
The B-Free comes with easy to use car seat adapters that are easy to clip on and use.

The B-Free works with all Britax infant car seats, coming standard with car seat adapters (above) that clip onto the frame on both sides. The car seat then clips into the two adapters for a secure and snug fit. You don't need to remove the seat or the canopy, and the canopy can pull over the carrier for additional protection or privacy.

britax b-free combo - the b-free has a fairly compact fold which helped its weight and...
The B-Free has a fairly compact fold which helped its weight and folded size score. It can be folded with the adapters in place, but we worry this could cause damage to the adapters if you aren't careful.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Weight and Folded Size


The B-Free is light and compact for a full-size stroller which is important in a gear category where being small and easy to carry is King. The B-Free weighs 22.6 lbs making it fairly heavy for a car seat stroller, but it folds into 6,674.40 cubic inches which makes it the fifth smallest when folded.

britax b-free combo - the tires on the b-free are foam filled rubber with ball bearings...
The tires on the B-Free are foam filled rubber with ball bearings that help them move smoothly. The single front wheel is desirable over the dual wheel on a single leg we often see.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Maneuverability


Many of the lightweight and compact strollers that make great options for car seats struggled to be easy to push and turn. The B-Free impresses for maneuverability where the only options to score higher have rubber, air-filled tires. The three-wheel stroller has a locking swivel front wheel and a shorter footprint that help it negotiate small spaces and tight turns. The single front wheel is an improvement over dual-wheel strollers helping it move smoothly and easily over uneven surfaces. It isn't an off-road dream, but it can manage a play park or greenbelt easy enough.

This Britax has a padded sling-style seat and an adjustable handlebar covered in soft rubber. The B-Free is comfortable enough for passengers and pushers.

britax b-free combo - the b-free isn't super easy to use with a 6 of 10 but the highest...
The B-Free isn't super easy to use with a 6 of 10 but the highest scoring stroller in the review only earned a 7.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


This stroller is just a little harder to use than the top-ranked options in this metric, but none of them are very easy to use.

britax b-free combo - the pull handle on the b-free is located on the seat bottom where it...
The pull handle on the B-Free is located on the seat bottom where it is easy to access.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Fold and Unfold


This stroller has a one-handed fold that includes an unlock button and pulling a handle to fold. The stroller auto-locks, self-stands, and has a carry strap making it a quick and easy fold on the go.

britax b-free combo - the b-free pedal is small and close to the wheel, but it is still...
The B-Free pedal is small and close to the wheel, but it is still easy to use and is friendly for open-toed shoes with a press to set and release mechanism.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Brakes


The B-Free brakes are single action brakes that are very easy to operate and are press to release which makes them pain-free for sandaled feet. The brake pedal is small and close to the wheel, but it is easy to use.

The storage bin on the B-Free has an internal mesh pocket and can be...
The storage bin on the B-Free has an internal mesh pocket and can be accessed from the front and back.
The B-Free canopy has several easy to access pockets including one...
The B-Free canopy has several easy to access pockets including one with a zipper.

Storage


The storage bin (above left) feels substantial, but the access is limited in the back and the front. The maximum weight it can hold is 10 lbs, but we fit our large diaper bag inside. This stroller also has a zippered pocket on the back of the canopy (above right) for smaller items like keys, cell phones, and wallets.

britax b-free combo - the canopy on the b-free can be used with the car seat carrier in...
The canopy on the B-Free can be used with the car seat carrier in place for additional privacy or protection from the elements.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Sunshade


The canopy on the B-Free can work in conjunction with the infant car seat, making it one of the few that does. It is a large sunshade that works well and doesn't hinder installing the car seat.

Ease of Setup


The B-Free has a straightforward setup with a time of 6:45 minutes. The manual is good, but it may be confusing to parents who aren't familiar with stroller assembly, and we think they could have been clearer.

britax b-free combo - the britax b-free is slightly better quality than the britax b-agile...
The Britax B-Free is slightly better quality than the Britax B-Agile 3 with a more solid and sturdy feel to the overall stroller and higher-end materials like rubber tires over plastic.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Quality


The B-Free is somewhat nicer than most Britax strollers, but it has a higher price too. This stroller has thicker seat padding, nicer wheels, and a design with a more polished finished look. The wheels are foam filled rubber with ball bearing hubs that move smoothly. The material is durable, and the connections are tight with a more solid feel than other Britax options we've tested.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz