REASONS TO BUY
Compact fold
Nicer brake pedal
Lighter
REASONS TO AVOID
Harder to use
Dated feeling features
Plastic wheels
Peg Perego Booklet 50 Review
Uninsipired, average stroller with limited car seat compatibility
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Full-Size Strollers
The Skinny
With each new rendition of the Booklet, we hope to love it. Unfortunately, the Peg Perego Booklet 50 has more in common with its predecessors than we would have hoped, and it still left us wanting compared to the best full-size strollers we tested. This full-size stroller is okay and brings with it a useful basket and smaller than average folded size. It works with the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 infant car seat we love and has a full canopy, but that is where the kudos stop. The Booklet 50 blocks the storage bin access when you recline the seat, and the fold is more involved than it needs to be. The ease of use is poor, and the overall maneuverability can't meet the competition. While this stroller line might have been great 10+ years ago, Peg Perego doesn't seem to be doing much to keep up with the innovative competition, and sadly the Booklet 50 pales in comparison.
Editor's Note: This individual gear review was updated on December 21, 2021, to include additional sections with details to aid your decision-making.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Peg Perego, an Italian family company, offers a variety of products for little ones, including an option in our best high chair review, infant car seat, strollers, and riding toys. In 1949, the Perego family launched the company, and they are still instrumental in the creation and development of products.
Performance Comparison
The Booklet 50 is an okay stroller with what feels like dated functionality to us.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Peg Perego is one of the harder options in the review to use with features that feel dated and don't function as well as those found in the competition.
The fold on the Booklet 50 is not intuitive and includes flipping the seat forward and accessing a red release before pulling it closed.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Fold and Unfold
The Booklet 50 folds with one hand, self-stands, auto-locks, and comes with a carry handle. However, the fold is counterintuitive and somewhat unconventional as you have to flip the seat forward. The new 50 has a red safety lever on the handle that you have to slide to initiate the fold. It isn't necessarily challenging but not as straightforward as the quick pull handle features we see on the competition.
The brake on the Booklet 50 is easy to use and works well even with sandals on.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Brakes
The single-action brakes on the Booklet 50 are easy enough to use both to set and release with a wide center pedal that runs along the back of the stroller. This design is friendly for sandaled feet and won't damage the tops of shoes.
The Booklet 50 has okay access when the seat back is up, but when it is down you can't get anything in or out.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Storage
The Booklet storage bin is larger than most but has limited access when the seat is reclined. We were able to fit an extra-large diaper bag inside, and it has a maximum limit of 11 lbs. Still, it isn't the best, with limited access and some of the competition offering maximums over 20 lbs.
The Booklet 50 canopy includes a useful peek-a-boo window for checking on little ones.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Sunshade
The canopy on the Booklet 50 is fairly large, and we like the coverage. It is UPF 50+ and has a vinyl peek-a-boo window. There is also ventilation in the back of the canopy for airflow on hot days.
The Booklet 50 harness shoulder strap height adjustment is with a rethread through holes in the seat back.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Harness
The 5-point harness has subpar adjustability with buttonholes to thread the shoulder straps through. The holes are difficult to use and self-limiting, and some children are likely to fit best between the offered adjustment points. Given that some strollers offer infinite adjustment along a strap, there are better ways to provide a good-fitting harness.
The recline adjustment on the Booklet is a simple two strap system with center toggle. It works well one-handed to lower but you'll need two hands to get the seat upright.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Seat
This stroller has a recline adjustment: one hand to lower and two to raise. It consists of two side straps coming together at a plastic toggle. The leg rest is padded with a wide plastic footrest if the legs are long enough.
While the seat reclines deep enough for napping, it would be better if the leg rest adjusted to allow for more flat sleeping.
The Booklet 50 works with the two Peg Perego infant car seats.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Car Seat Compatibility
This Peg comes compatible with the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 and the Peg Perego Nido with no adapters required. The carrier clicks in place inside the toddler seat, and the attachment is surprisingly difficult to complete given it was designed to work together. While we love this car seat, it isn't our favorite combination of products, given the difficulties we had in making a solid and stable connection in our tests.
Ease of Setup
This stroller took us over 14 minutes to assemble, one of the longest times in the review.
The manual is only average, and some of the instructions aren't as clear as they could be. The hardest part is the basket that could have been installed at the factory. You have to install all four wheels, the handlebar, the basket, and the canopy.
The front wheels on the Booklet 50 can be locked in a straight position to help the stroller move over uneven surfaces without veering off course.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Maneuverability
The Booklet 50 has plastic, foam-filled rubber tires that aren't the best for pushing and turning. Plastic has a way of deforming over time and obstacles, and it doesn't give the way rubber does to help cushion the jarring action from moving over uneven surfaces. Over flat hard surfaces, this stroller can hold its own, and you can even do some one-handed pushing, though turns are going to give you some trouble. It doesn't turn as tightly as some of the competition, but there are definitely worse movers in this review.
The plastic wheels on the Booklet aren't the best and will likely become deformed with use, especially if they move over uneven surfaces such as gravel frequently.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Moving over rougher terrain is where things get sticky, as grass and gravel will give you problems. If your off-road time is limited to the occasional greenway or park path, you'll likely be okay, but any more than that, and you'll want rubber tires for a better experience for the passenger and you. The frame still has more flex in it than we think it should, making navigating curbs and bumps trickier.
The Booklet 50 is more compact when folded than the average full-size stroller.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Folded Size
The Booklet weighs 21 lbs, which is below the average for the group, but not as light as some of the truly lighter options, which hover closer to 18 lbs. While 2 lbs may not seem like a lot, it is after you put a baby on board and 11 lbs worth of supplies. However, we concede it is better than some of our higher-ranking strollers that are closer to 25 lbs.
It is 8,740 cubic inches when folded, which is compact for this lineup of products, with the average coming in over 11,000 cubic inches. If you need something small, however, there are small and lighter options available with easier-to-use features, negating one of the strong points of this stroller.
The Peg quality is on par with its average price but it can't compare to the higher end options in this review.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
Peg Perego has long been synonymous with quality, and while the stroller may offer more than a traditional Graco product, it isn't on par with the heavier hitter, in our opinion.
The Peg frame has a lot of connection points and fasteners that both detract from the look and create flex that impact maneuverability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This stroller's overall fit and finish are likely on par with its price using materials and construction that are better than average but not up to snuff for real standout quality. The frame is lightweight aluminum, but it flexes and has a lot of visible connection points, which detract from the pleasing look it could have. The wheels are some of the cheapest feeling in the group, and we hate that plastic wheels can become pitted and misshapen leading to rider discomfort. In our opinion, the attention to detail both in chosen materials and design doesn't show the same level of innovation and thoughtfulness we see in the competition, such as what the BOB Alterrain Pro or Thule Urban Glide 2 deliver.
Should You Buy the Peg Perego Booklet 50?
We think the Booklet is worth passing on. It doesn't bring much to the table, nor does it live up to the competition. Plus, considering its cost, you can select a higher-performing stroller, even an award-winning option, that will be much more enjoyable for the pusher and rider.
What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?
If you're willing to dish out the same price as the Booklet, you're better off purchasing the Thule Spring. It beats the Booklet in almost every category, such as ease of use, maneuverability, and quality. Otherwise, if you're looking to save some money, the Baby Jogger City Mini 2 is a nice step up from the Booklet and cheaper. We consider that a win-win.
—
Wendy Schmitz
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