Strollers anyone?...:) « Back to Group Discussions

[mymaya]

Could we discuss strollers? 

Here are my main questions- I am NOT looking for a light-weight-around-the-city stroller. I will be getting a Maclaren at some point, and I love it. I also have a BOB (used, about 5 years old, but it great shape) for the trails and woods. What I am looking for is a more of a all-around stroller, to be used from infancy to about age 2 or 3, that will be also used a lot for traveling (both car travel and plane travel).

Here is my short list-

Bumbleride Flyer;

Bugaboo Cameleon;

Uppababy vista'

Peg Perego Switch Four

anything else I am missing on my list? I am a total stroller-fanatic, and obsess about it almost like about buying a car...:) 

I had a Graco in the past and find it cheaply made and annoying. I also don't like super-light strollers for a baby.

I do carry my babies around in slings, but absolutely need a high-quality stroller as well.

any experience and ideas are greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!

[momtoafireteam]

This is what I do for a living. :) 

I would knock off the Flyer immediately. Lets not even discuss it. Its nowhere near the same calibre as the others listed. :) Sorry, JMO. 

I have a Cam and a Vista. I like my Vista, I really do. But, if given the option, I would go for a Cam every. single. time out of 100 if I had to choice. Its lighter, sleeker, has a far nicer push, better options, more abilities and just looks prettier. The *only* thing I think the Vista wins in is the one piece fold. But honestly, the Vista is so bl**dy big and bulky I fold it in two pieces most of the time anyway, so its not that big of a win. The two piece fold on the Cam has a quick learning curve and I can fold it in a second. 

Also, if you do choose a Cam you can get one now for a massive discount as they are bringing in the C3. 

I love PP in general, I think they have amazing quality and I love how they are still very handmade and really shower love on each and every product. And I am a big fan of the switch 4 (I saw it at the ABC Expo last year and was in love...). I think its great that it has a one piece fold even in bassinet mode and even rear facing. I think the Cam beats it out in terms of zippiness, agility and function though. As much as I love the S4, I don't think I could have one as much one and only stroller, whereas I would have no trouble having only a Cam. 

I love Cameleons. In case you can't tell. :p 

Happy shopping!!! I am very jealous, the saddest thing about having triplets has been the fact that I haven't been able to buy a hot stroller. All my friends are pregnant and setting up their Xplory's and Orbits and I am crying. Ha!

[mymaya]

wow,mamatoafireteam, thanks so much! I was so hoping for feedback like yours! you know, FROM THE HEART....:) and without the eye-rolling I sometimes get for liking the expensive ones....... I just KNEW IT about the flyer. it's much cheaper for a reason.

I love the way Cameleons look, my ONLY reservation is the fact that you have to take off the bassinet in order to fold. is that what you mean by "one fold" vs "two fold"?

This is my last baby, and I just have to get a nice stroller, for once in my life....... it might even be a gift from my parents, so I don't mind shedding the money, especially considering that I got EVERYTHING ELSE for free from friends.

I will have to decide between the bugaboo and the PP. hard choice, because I am also a sucker for everything-Italian....:)

thanks, again!

[MamanFrancaise]

Ah crap. Those sound awesome. I got a Britax B Agile (with the B Safe car seat). It got good reviews...

 

[momtoafireteam]

Originally Posted by mymaya 

wow,mamatoafireteam, thanks so much! I was so hoping for feedback like yours! you know, FROM THE HEART....:) and without the eye-rolling I sometimes get for liking the expensive ones....... I just KNEW IT about the flyer. it's much cheaper for a reason.

I love the way Cameleons look, my ONLY reservation is the fact that you have to take off the bassinet in order to fold. is that what you mean by "one fold" vs "two fold"?

This is my last baby, and I just have to get a nice stroller, for once in my life....... it might even be a gift from my parents, so I don't mind shedding the money, especially considering that I got EVERYTHING ELSE for free from friends.

I will have to decide between the bugaboo and the PP. hard choice, because I am also a sucker for everything-Italian....:)

thanks, again!

Yep, both the bassinet and the seat have to be removed to fold it. And not just to save space, it physically cannot possibly fold attached (unlike, say, the Orbit where it is a 2 step fold but it can be folded in one piece and just be the size of a bus. :p ). However, its ridiculously easy and once you get the hang of it its lightning fast. :) 

I don't know if you need more cloudiness in your decision, but have you considered the Orbit? Its absolutely the BEST stroller on the market today, ever. And nope, I am not employed or even sponsored by them. ha! 

[mymaya]

going to google Orbit right away.......

[wendipauline]

i think i want a baby jogger city select with the extra seat for my twins... the price is pretty steep, though, but in another forum someone broke it down to costing about $4 a week if i use it for a couple of years.

does orbit make a double stroller? :p

[mymaya]

wow, Orbit. damn....... almost too modern for me! but I wish I could just try them all, lined up in front of me, to make a decision. is there theoretically such a place? TRU?

how about the Zen Yoga stroller? anyone heard of it? link- http://www.giggle.com/Zen-Yoga-Newborn-Nest/ZEN20,default,pd.html

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by wendipauline 

i think i want a baby jogger city select with the extra seat for my twins... the price is pretty steep, though, but in another forum someone broke it down to costing about $4 a week if i use it for a couple of years.

does orbit make a double stroller? :p

I have the old version of the BJCS double, and I LOOOOOVE it. I bought it used for $400 5 years ago, and though it's time to replace the canvas, that thing has taken a beating. I recommend BJ products!

[WindyCityMom]

I love my Mountain Buggy Duo... it is a beast but gets the job done!  I really want a single Mountain Buggy for this baby, but I'm going to have to wait until my Baby Jogger city mini (single, with buggy board) calls it quits.  I really do love the Baby Jogger stroller- I use it on bumpy sidewalks 4 days per week and it is living up to my expectations.

I find that buggy boards just suit us easier.  If I'm going to the park, I expect my 4yo to ride her bike (she's already OK with that!)  and my 2yo to be in the stroller.  When we have the baby, baby will ride in the stroller, 2yo on the buggy board, and 4yo on her bike.  If 2yo wants to sit in the stroller, I'll have a sling on hand for baby.  It works :)

I wear my kids, I really do.. but I get migraines triggered by shoulder and neck stress and it really helps to have somewhere to put the non-walker to give me a break!

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by WindyCityMom 

I love my Mountain Buggy Duo... it is a beast but gets the job done!  I really want a single Mountain Buggy for this baby, but I'm going to have to wait until my Baby Jogger city mini (single, with buggy board) calls it quits.  I really do love the Baby Jogger stroller- I use it on bumpy sidewalks 4 days per week and it is living up to my expectations.

I find that buggy boards just suit us easier.  If I'm going to the park, I expect my 4yo to ride her bike (she's already OK with that!)  and my 2yo to be in the stroller.  When we have the baby, baby will ride in the stroller, 2yo on the buggy board, and 4yo on her bike.  If 2yo wants to sit in the stroller, I'll have a sling on hand for baby.  It works :)

I wear my kids, I really do.. but I get migraines triggered by shoulder and neck stress and it really helps to have somewhere to put the non-walker to give me a break!

I have a double and either one of the big ones walks or I wear the baby. I babysat another infant last spring, so someone was always worn and someone always walked. I love having an extra seat, though, to put stuff in if no kid was in it. I keep saying I'm going to get a buggy board, but I haven't yet. I think the weight limit makes it not useful to us :(

As for the BJs, I strongly prefer the regular BJ to the Mini (at least the old ones) because of the seat height and also the pneumatic tires.

[momtoafireteam]

Originally Posted by mymaya 

wow, Orbit. damn....... almost too modern for me! but I wish I could just try them all, lined up in front of me, to make a decision. is there theoretically such a place? TRU?

how about the Zen Yoga stroller? anyone heard of it? link- http://www.giggle.com/Zen-Yoga-Newborn-Nest/ZEN20,default,pd.html

I have played around a lot with the Zen, but I am just not feeling it yet. You won't find it in many stores yet, its definitely not 'mainstream' like the Bugs, BJ's and Orbit. 

The best places for high end strollers are either baby boutiques, or Buy Buy Baby. Or Giggle. Do you have one of those nearby? If not, you could go to one of the websites of the companies you are interested in and find a store locater. Many places that stock one high end brand will stock others. With the exception of the NYC stores, you won't find anything at TRU/ BRU. 

[Lauren82]

I have the Baby Jogger City Select with the extra seat and I LOVE it. It's so easy to put the seats on and take them off or flip them around. The storage basket is huge. This was a huge selling point on this type of stroller vs similar premium strollers like the Bugaboo Cameleon or the UppaBaby Vista. We have a large family and I carry a ton of stuff. I can fit all sorts of stuff in the BJCS basket.

The canopies are huge. I just used it for a trip to Cedar Point and my 4 year old and 13 month old both fit in it nicely. I like that it can be a single stroller if I only need one kid to ride. It can folded with the seats on, but I find it easier to just pop them off and nest one seat in the other and fold the frame. Yes, it is kinda big, but this is a premium double stroller. It can take a beating. I'd never ever go back to the cheap plastic strollers after owning the BJCS.

If you only need a single stroller, consider the Baby Jogger City Versa coming out soon. It's quite similar to the City Select but weighs less and does not have a double option.

The UppaBaby Vista is nice too but I would only get it if I planned on using it as a single. I did not like the smaller 2nd seat at all compared to BJCS.

[2sweetsparrows]

I have a baby jogger city select- I bought it when I was pregnant with the twins- I miscarried- but kept the stroller- I have not used it but I like it because it is a tandem design so you are not annoying to everyone in the world.  I really like fitting on sidewalks and through shops and you can do that with 2 children.  It has the ability to put a car seat on it and a combo for different aged children.   It is pricey - you can find them used on craigslist from time to time.  They have the ability like a BOB to go on grass or sand- glad to hear other's here like it- I really did my research before I bought it.

[mole]

We tried a lot of strollers and did a lot of research and chose the Brio Go. http://www.brio.net/To_Go_Stroller/Prams_and_Pushchairs/Go.aspx We do not have a car, live in a city, and will be using the stroller for traveling, daily movement around the city, grocery shopping, pretty much all the time when the baby isn't in the sling. The other very popular brand here is Emmaljunga. We chose the Go because 1) we wanted 4 wheels not 3 for getting on and off of public transportation 2) it has free moving front wheels so you can easily steer it one handed but you can lock them when it is icy 3) it is relatively light for these super huge daily use strollers 4) it also folds up relatively small for these super huge strollers. I strongly preferred all of the Brios to the Buggaboos- they are lighter, easier to maneuver, and have higher clearance of the underneath basket. We also don't like the Buggaboos brake system. Whichever one you choose, you will also need to buy several accessories that don't automatically come with them- separate rain covers for when it is in pram mode vs when it is in chair mode, something to hold your cups, snacks etc, a parasol if you want, etc. This adds substantially to the price, so just keep it in mind when budgeting for the stroller.