Willow Brook vs Willow Brook S+: Which Travel System?

Quick answer

Choose the Willow Brook S+ if you want a modular stroller that can face your baby or accept other seating configurations, plus the Alpine base. Choose the standard Willow Brook if you prefer a simpler fixed-seat stroller and want to save about $118 at current prices.

What the extra $118 buys you on the S+

The price gap between the two systems is the clearest starting point. At current catalog prices, the Willow Brook is $286.69 and the Willow Brook S+ is $404.99, a difference of roughly $118. That money goes toward two upgrades: a modular stroller (the Brook +) instead of the standard Brook, and the Alpine base instead of the Aspen base.

The modular stroller is the bigger practical difference. A modular seat can be removed and reattached, which typically lets you change the seating direction or use the same frame with other compatible components. The standard Brook stroller has a fixed seat. If you mainly walk forward-facing and don't plan to swap seats, the standard Brook is simpler and costs less.

Where the two systems are identical

Both systems include a Britax infant car seat with ClickTight installation technology. ClickTight is Britax's belt-tensioning system designed to help you get a secure install without relying on a separate locking clip or noodle. Both also include the RightSize system with adjustment points at the hips, so the harness grows with your baby.

That means the safety and fit fundamentals are shared. The decision comes down to stroller flexibility and base type, not to a difference in how the car seat installs.

The base difference: Aspen vs Alpine

The standard Willow Brook includes the Aspen base; the S+ includes the Alpine base. The catalog does not list a detailed feature breakdown for either base beyond the name, so we can't claim one is safer or easier to install than the other. If base features matter to you, check the current Britax specifications for each base before deciding.

In practice, most families use one base in the primary car and buy a second base for a partner's vehicle. Because the two systems use different bases, a second base should match the system you choose.

Stroller size and storage in real life

The catalog doesn't publish folded dimensions or weight for either stroller, so we can't tell you which folds smaller or lifts more easily. That's a genuine gap if you have a small trunk or carry the stroller up stairs regularly.

What we can say is that modular strollers generally have more removable parts, which can mean more pieces to manage when folding and unfolding. If you want the fewest steps possible at the car, the standard Brook's fixed-seat design is the lower-friction choice.

Decision rules for choosing between the two

• If you want to change stroller seating direction: Pick the Willow Brook S+. Its Brook + stroller is modular, so the seat can be removed and reattached; the standard Brook stroller has a fixed seat. Check whether the modular seat is compatible with the seating positions you plan to use.
• If you're shopping on price: Pick the standard Willow Brook. At catalog prices it costs $286.69 versus $404.99 for the S+, and both include ClickTight and the RightSize harness system. Confirm current pricing before you buy, since catalog prices can change.
• If you need a second base for another car: Match the base to your system: Aspen for the standard Willow Brook, Alpine for the S+. The two bases are not interchangeable between systems. Budget for a second base at the same time as the travel system.
• If trunk space or carrying weight is your main concern: The catalog does not list folded dimensions or stroller weight for either model, so compare them in person or check the current Britax specifications before deciding. Measure your trunk opening before ordering if you drive a compact car.

Product facts

• Britax Willow Brook Travel System: Includes the Britax Willow car seat, Aspen base, and Brook stroller with ClickTight installation. You get the core infant car seat and a fixed-seat stroller at the lower price, with the same ClickTight install as the S+.

  

• Britax Willow Brook S+ Travel System: Includes the Willow S car seat, Alpine base, and Brook + modular stroller with ClickTight installation. The modular stroller and Alpine base are the reasons to pay more if you want seating flexibility or a different base.

  

Who each system fits

Best for

• Parents who want a modular stroller that can be reconfigured as the baby grows (S+)
• Shoppers who want the lowest-cost Britax travel system with ClickTight (standard Willow Brook)
• Families who plan to add a second base for a partner's car

Not for

• Parents who need a lightweight compact stroller for frequent public transit or stairs
• Shoppers who want a jogging or all-terrain stroller
• Families who need a convertible car seat that lasts beyond the infant stage