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July 27, 2005
stroller jones part 2
I seem to remember promising to go into more detail about strollers and our whole thought process around them. So here's my 2 cents on various strollers. Obviously, I didn't look at every brand and model out there, but concentrated on a few that I thought would fit our wants and needs.
First of all, we wanted something that could handle your basic surburban outdoor stroll. Sidewalks, not all of which are in good shape. Sometimes you've got the tree roots pushing up from underneath, other places, you've got cracks in the slabs.
Then there is the gravel that covers some of the trails around the area. On top of that, it might sound amazing, but in the middle of one of the more metropolitan centers in the US, we live only a few minutes away from nature in the form of the (rapidly diminishing) open area directly around San Francisco Bay. Not that I need a stroller that can go over marshes and wetlands (hovercraft accessory sold separately) but there are trails that go through those areas as well. What this means in stroller speak, is air-filled tires, which can handle rough terrain much better than the hard rubber of traditional strollers.
Then the mental struggle came in as to buying a stroller to do what I *want* us to do as opposed to buying a stroller to fit what we *currently* do. In that ideal world in my head, we're going to start getting more outdoorsy. Hiking, camping, walking along the beach, things like that. The reality? Jenn isn't a big camper, and having a baby tends to tire people out at a faster rate than the usual, thereby discouraging people from undertaking the more strenuous activities. (Then again, that hasn't stopped Jenn from introducing Naomi to malls already). So I spent a long time debating between strollers which could go both indoor and outdoor equally well, or ones which were more specialized towards indoors.
This was due in part for the desire to get just one stroller and have it serve these multiple purposes. The "Holy Grail", all-purpose stroller, if you will. On my favorite board, many people opined that this wasn't possible and went into great detail on why they owned 4-5 strollers each!!! Since we don't have that kind of money, we stubbornly pushed on for the "closest thing" to an all-purpose stroller.
Onto the strollers we took a gander at:
1) Peg Perego P3 Pliko Classico
Weight: 17.6 lbs
Dimensions: 34.5"(L)x21"(W)x40.25"(H)
Price:$289 at Babies 'r Us
This mouthful of a name is an Italian-made umbrella-style stroller that looks like an old-style umbrella stroller on steroids. This was the one umbrella stroller that we had in mind from day one, based on Baby Bargains recommendations. It was also nice that it was available at Babies R' Us so we could take it for a test drive, check how it folded (pretty easy, once you get the hang of it), and its carrying weight and portability. The one thing that I held me back for a long time was the fact that its tires weren't air-filled and, for some reason, I kept thinking were hard plastic. This led to fears of going clack-clack along the sidewalk and making for a cranky baby. This was dispelled, when after explaing this fear to one salesman, was told, "Um, just touch the tires." To my surprise, they felt more like a synthetic, spongy tire rather than the hard plastic that for some reason I had thought it would be. It comes with a cupholder that tends to break off and really is too small to carry anything other than a child's cup. Finally, one complaint that is shared by many parents about this stroller is that you can't really get to the underseat basket from the back, but you have to stick stuff in from either the front or the sides. More of annoyance than anything else.
2) Mountain Buggy Urban Single
Weight: 22 lbs.
Dimensions: 42"(L)x26"(W)x42"H)
Price: $399 at StrollandGo
Coming to you from New Zealand, this is has been very highly rated from everything that we read. It features a three wheel configuration where the front wheel can either be locked or unlocked so that it can swivel and be more manuverable. We took this for a test drive around Lullaby Lane (Naomi was more than gracious and slept through us putting her carseat on various strollers). It handled incredibly well, especially one handed (It helps that the handlebars are actually connected by a crossbar). The tires are air-filled, making for kind of a bouncy ride. Mounting the carseat to this was a bit funky in that you actually need to remove the existing canvas seating, so that the end product with the carseat bar added looks very skeletal, much like the Kolcraft Snap-N-Go. Its fold is a bit on the bulky side and is a two part-fold (you have to fold it in half once, and then fold another piece down). Also, with all accessories included, it becomes quite expensive.
3) Bumbleride Rocket
Weight: 25 lbs.
Dimensions: 40"(L)x23"(W)x42"(H)
Price: $289 at StrollandGo
The Bumbleride brand was introduced by a husband and wife who were not satisfied with the color choices provided on most strollers out there, so the fabrics on this stroller come in very bright and vibrant colors. This is another all-terrain stroller that comes in a three-wheel swivel configuration. We tried this one out as well at Lullaby Lane (although not with Naomi in it). It felt lighter than the Mountain Buggy Urban Single (or MBUS in shorthand) but measured out a bit taller. The design does seem well thought out, with ideas such as a little pocket on the backside of the sunshade. It is a fairly new product though, having been on the market only this year, I think, so there haven't been many reviews on it.
4) Valco Runabout
Weight: 25 lbs.
Dimensions: 36"(L)x26"(W)x40"(H)
Price: $375 at StrollandGo
Heard a lot about this one on the Baby Bargains forum, so we had to chase this down to another store in Menlo Park just to see what it was all about. Like all others on our list (except the P3), it is a all-terrain, 3-wheel stroller with a lockable front wheel. What it has that the others don't is the ability to add a toddler seat so that it becomes a double stroller. And a much better-sized double stroller than most of the ones you see out there, which are side-by-side strollers. Since the toddler seat mounts in front of the existing seat, it retains the original width. You do always have to take the toddler out first to prevent the stroller from tipping over though. We tried it out, but unfortunately, the store was too small for us to really get a good feel for its handling.
5) Bugaboo Frog
Weight: 22 lbs
Dimensions: 37.4"(L)x23.65"(W)x42"(H)
Price: $729 at StrollandGo
The famous (or infamous) $700 stroller made popular by Sex in the City (never watched it, so I don't know when they showed this stroller). Why does it cost $700? Who knows? Why do people pay $700 for it? Many people feel it represents the best of both worlds, for both indoor and outdoor strolling. It sports a 4 wheel configuration, with 2 small wheels and 2 large air-filled tires. And it makes its money from its excellently designed customizability. You can reverse the handle so the baby can face towards you or away from you. You can adjust the angle of the seat from upright all the way to reclining. You can pop out the seat and carry it and pop in a bassinet instead. On the negative side, it isn't the lightest stroller around, and it has a two part fold, so it isn't as portable as most of the umbrella strollers out there. While I put Naomi's carseat into one just for kicks, there's no way I can rationalize putting that much money into a stroller.
6) Phil and Ted's e3 Explorer
Weight: 21 lbs
Dimensions: 37"(L)x23"(W)x43"(H)
Price: $380 at The Right Start
I haven't had a chance to see this one in person yet as it is popular enough that it seems to be constantly in short supply. Another one from New Zealand (the terrain must be murder on poor old umbrella strollers there), this is the other entry on this list that offers a unique add-on. You can add a toddler seat onto the e3, but it goes on the back (as opposed to the front of the Valco Runabout). This gives it many of the advantages of the Runabout, but you definitely have to take the toddler out first, otherwise the whole stroller is pitching backwards. Also, some parents have mentioned that this toddler seat is a little too close to the ground (and to the rear wheels) for them to be comfortable.
7) Quinny Buzz
Weight: 26.5 lbs
Dimensions: 42"(L)x25.5"(W)x39"(H)
Price: approx $500 at Babycare.nl
This stroller has caught the eye of the savvy parents looking for the "next Bugaboo". It does run a bit cheaper, but currently is not sold in the US -- you have to import it. (And somehow, crazy parents do so). Like, the Bugaboo, it allows for reversible seating, which many parents like because they can face their children during these walks. Its three wheeled configuration is unique among these others because it has a pneumatic suspension system (think office chair). Unfortunately, parents have reported that it is a bit on the wide side and that its weight and fold makes it not the best candidate for popping in and out of a trunk.
8) BOB Revolution
Weight: 22.6 lbs.
Dimensions: 45.8"(L)x23"(W)x41"(H)
Price: $359 at StrollandGo
BOB is a big name maker of jogging strollers, which are essentially the same as all-terrain strollers except they have a fixed wheel and (by necessity) a better suspension. BOB brought out the Revolution as its crossover model. It shows its jogging stroller lineage in its bigger sunshade, larger rear wheels, and springy suspension. However, these same rear wheels make it more difficult for mall and store aisle navigation. Sueanna and Waymond do have this as their outdoor stroller and give a favorable report on it.
Ultimately, all of the all-terrain strollers fit the SUV adage of doing all things, but none of them well. They aren't recommended as full-time jogging strollers, and they are large enough to be a bit inconvenient for trunk-storing, store-walking, errand-running strollers. But I can't help but want one of these for the day we head out camping, or out hiking, or to the beach. Then again, maybe we should wait to do these things until Naomi can enjoy them by *not* necessarily being in a stroller.
Posted by spoof747 at July 27, 2005 06:41 PM