So, after Part 1 of the Dream Stroller Hunt culminating in me finding my ideal all-terrain, having loved it more than I can tell you for the past 4 months, I am fast approaching tax season, when I'll be able to afford a mall stroller.
So far we've been using the Easywalker Qtro everywhere. I do indeed adore it, but I still do want a "mall stroller"- something that doesn't take up quite as much of my trunk, so maybe it could stay there.
Since you as a board were invaluable in the hunt for the last one, let's do it again!
I'm looking for a fairly compact but rather full-featured single, with excellent push and great storage and balance.
Single strollers I already have:
-Chicco C1 (which I like a lot but the basket is inadequate for my purposes, and the recline is kinda broken. )
-several cheap umbrellas, which are... cheap umbrellas.
-Maclaren Starck, on which I love the cargo shelf as opposed to basket, the push, tall seat, and huge canopy, but which isn't a full-featured stroller.
(I also have a CCO Flash. And 4 double strollers but they don't count!)
Single strollers I've tried and am not interested in:
-Maclaren singles- Ok, it's not that I'm TOTALLY not interested in them but they're not super-exciting to me. And they don't have accessories I desire, etc. If I end up hating everything else out there I'll probably end up with one anyway. Because the umbrella fold IS really nice.
-Bugaboo anything- I've tried most of the models and I'm not impressed with the push and the seats are awful short for my long-torsoed kids. And, to be honest, I don't love their style.
-Bumbleride Flite: didn't love the push on this either. Too bad because I love their design!
-4moms Origami: I didn't like the push. I'm picky on the push. And I didn't like the handle.
-Stokke Xplory: as much as I do LOVE this stroller, and the push, the handle bugged me a little. And the design isn't really my style. And it's a little too big folded. So again, this is on my fall-back list, but if someone can steer me (heh) toward something with similar push and features but a taller seat and more conventional handle... yeah I know.
-Peg Perego strollers. I haven't loved the fold or push on any of them I've tried (I think I've tried most of them.)
-Orbit. I don't like how far forward the kid sits and TBH I'm not buying this stroller unless I buy the whole system and I am NOT buying the whole system.
-UPPAbaby Vista: the seat was too short. I can't recall exactly but I think I also had some issues with the basket? Otherwise I kind of liked it.
-Quinny Mood: I loved everything about this stroller except that it had 3 wheels (I notoriously am bad at unbalancing three-wheel strollers if I use them on our local sidewalks, which might occasionally happen) and the design, the seat sitting that way is just a deal-breaker for me.
-The Britax strollers- I didn't like the push on any of them that I tried, which I'm pretty sure was all of the full-featured ones.
-Contours (I think that's Kholcraft or whatever?) was a crappy push, hard to fold, and small seat.
-Baby Jogger City Mini/Micro- ok, I'm a brat, but the only thing I don't love about this stroller is the way the recline operates, that the fold is kind of big, and that everyone has one. Yeah, um, I want a little more unique. Ok, they don't have all the accessories I'd love either (more on that later.) Put this on my fallback list.
-All the mainstream cheap brands like Graco, Safety 1st, etc.- their pushes are crappy, I don't like 'em. I'm spoiled.
Requirements:
-Small-ish fold. Doesn't have to be tiny, but smallish.
-Must have an AWESOME push/steering. Really. I love about my Easywalker that it is so well-balanced and designed that I feel like I'm pushing air, even though it's pretty heavy. Same thing with my MBUD. I want that in a push.
-Fold must not be irritatingly hard to operate.
-Must have full recline (or darn near it.)
-Sturdy construction. It needs to last and last and last.
-Four wheels (if it's otherwise absolutely perfect I suppose I MIGHT try a three-wheeler, but I'd have to be completely and utterly in love with it.)
-Good brakes.
-Excellent basket/shelf for storage underneath.
-Very good to excellent canopy coverage.
-Peekaboo window in canopy. Or other method to see kid from the back.
-Must appeal to me style-wise, and preferably not be something you see every day. Because, see above, I'm a brat.
-MUST have a tall seat, and a weight limit of 45 lbs. or above.
-Good leg support/foot rest.
Pluses- nice to have but not required:
-full-featured carrycot available. I'm not sure I'd get it at this point, because I'm not sure how long Katie Sue has in the carrycot before outgrowing it, but I want the option there for future use if nothing else. This almost makes my make-or-break list but not quite, so I suppose we'll say this weighs heavily in the favor of a stroller.
-bright colors. I like 'em.
-reversible seat. I probably won't use it long/much but I like having the option on a mall stroller.
-ability to try it out in Los Angeles area before buying is a huge plus- again not REQUIRED but would be very beneficial.
-wide range of accessories available. I like accessories. I may not use them but I want that choice.
-adaptor/compatibility with Cybex Aton available- not necessary but would be nice for travel, etc. Please note: anything with an adaptor that accepts Maxi-Cosi also accepts the Aton.
-Compatibility with the Buggypod Smorph is a plus, either attachment size, since I already (will) have one, just nice to have that option. Compatibility list: http://buggypod.com/docs/customer/Buggypod_compatibility_list.pdf
-ride on board compatibility- I haven't gone for this option yet, but I may at some point, again, leaving the possibility open appeals to me. But this ranks pretty low on my list of wants.
I don't care about:
-weight, as long as the push and fold are good
-cost- I'm happy to find a deal on a new or used one of course, and the thrill of the bargain-hunt is definitely appealing to me, but I'm willing to consider anything, no cost barred. Including importing from overseas, as long as you can find a store that speaks English and ships here.
-what kind of tires/wheels it has, as long as they're sturdy.
If you read all of that, I'm impressed. Let the suggesting of strollers and me shooting them down begin! (No really, I'd love to consider ones I haven't looked at much, and hear about your experiences with them. Don't take it personally if I don't like them. I'm a brat.)
So far we've been using the Easywalker Qtro everywhere. I do indeed adore it, but I still do want a "mall stroller"- something that doesn't take up quite as much of my trunk, so maybe it could stay there.
Since you as a board were invaluable in the hunt for the last one, let's do it again!
I'm looking for a fairly compact but rather full-featured single, with excellent push and great storage and balance.Single strollers I already have:
-Chicco C1 (which I like a lot but the basket is inadequate for my purposes, and the recline is kinda broken.
)-several cheap umbrellas, which are... cheap umbrellas.
-Maclaren Starck, on which I love the cargo shelf as opposed to basket, the push, tall seat, and huge canopy, but which isn't a full-featured stroller.
(I also have a CCO Flash. And 4 double strollers but they don't count!)
Single strollers I've tried and am not interested in:
-Maclaren singles- Ok, it's not that I'm TOTALLY not interested in them but they're not super-exciting to me. And they don't have accessories I desire, etc. If I end up hating everything else out there I'll probably end up with one anyway. Because the umbrella fold IS really nice.
-Bugaboo anything- I've tried most of the models and I'm not impressed with the push and the seats are awful short for my long-torsoed kids. And, to be honest, I don't love their style.
-Bumbleride Flite: didn't love the push on this either. Too bad because I love their design!
-4moms Origami: I didn't like the push. I'm picky on the push. And I didn't like the handle.
-Stokke Xplory: as much as I do LOVE this stroller, and the push, the handle bugged me a little. And the design isn't really my style. And it's a little too big folded. So again, this is on my fall-back list, but if someone can steer me (heh) toward something with similar push and features but a taller seat and more conventional handle... yeah I know.
-Peg Perego strollers. I haven't loved the fold or push on any of them I've tried (I think I've tried most of them.)
-Orbit. I don't like how far forward the kid sits and TBH I'm not buying this stroller unless I buy the whole system and I am NOT buying the whole system.
-UPPAbaby Vista: the seat was too short. I can't recall exactly but I think I also had some issues with the basket? Otherwise I kind of liked it.
-Quinny Mood: I loved everything about this stroller except that it had 3 wheels (I notoriously am bad at unbalancing three-wheel strollers if I use them on our local sidewalks, which might occasionally happen) and the design, the seat sitting that way is just a deal-breaker for me.
-The Britax strollers- I didn't like the push on any of them that I tried, which I'm pretty sure was all of the full-featured ones.
-Contours (I think that's Kholcraft or whatever?) was a crappy push, hard to fold, and small seat.
-Baby Jogger City Mini/Micro- ok, I'm a brat, but the only thing I don't love about this stroller is the way the recline operates, that the fold is kind of big, and that everyone has one.
Yeah, um, I want a little more unique. Ok, they don't have all the accessories I'd love either (more on that later.) Put this on my fallback list.-All the mainstream cheap brands like Graco, Safety 1st, etc.- their pushes are crappy, I don't like 'em. I'm spoiled.
Requirements:
-Small-ish fold. Doesn't have to be tiny, but smallish.
-Must have an AWESOME push/steering. Really. I love about my Easywalker that it is so well-balanced and designed that I feel like I'm pushing air, even though it's pretty heavy. Same thing with my MBUD. I want that in a push.
-Fold must not be irritatingly hard to operate.
-Must have full recline (or darn near it.)
-Sturdy construction. It needs to last and last and last.
-Four wheels (if it's otherwise absolutely perfect I suppose I MIGHT try a three-wheeler, but I'd have to be completely and utterly in love with it.)
-Good brakes.
-Excellent basket/shelf for storage underneath.
-Very good to excellent canopy coverage.
-Peekaboo window in canopy. Or other method to see kid from the back.
-Must appeal to me style-wise, and preferably not be something you see every day. Because, see above, I'm a brat.
-MUST have a tall seat, and a weight limit of 45 lbs. or above.
-Good leg support/foot rest.
Pluses- nice to have but not required:
-full-featured carrycot available. I'm not sure I'd get it at this point, because I'm not sure how long Katie Sue has in the carrycot before outgrowing it, but I want the option there for future use if nothing else. This almost makes my make-or-break list but not quite, so I suppose we'll say this weighs heavily in the favor of a stroller.
-bright colors. I like 'em.
-reversible seat. I probably won't use it long/much but I like having the option on a mall stroller.
-ability to try it out in Los Angeles area before buying is a huge plus- again not REQUIRED but would be very beneficial.
-wide range of accessories available. I like accessories. I may not use them but I want that choice.
-adaptor/compatibility with Cybex Aton available- not necessary but would be nice for travel, etc. Please note: anything with an adaptor that accepts Maxi-Cosi also accepts the Aton.
-Compatibility with the Buggypod Smorph is a plus, either attachment size, since I already (will) have one, just nice to have that option. Compatibility list: http://buggypod.com/docs/customer/Buggypod_compatibility_list.pdf
-ride on board compatibility- I haven't gone for this option yet, but I may at some point, again, leaving the possibility open appeals to me. But this ranks pretty low on my list of wants.
I don't care about:
-weight, as long as the push and fold are good
-cost- I'm happy to find a deal on a new or used one of course, and the thrill of the bargain-hunt is definitely appealing to me, but I'm willing to consider anything, no cost barred. Including importing from overseas, as long as you can find a store that speaks English and ships here.
-what kind of tires/wheels it has, as long as they're sturdy.
If you read all of that, I'm impressed.
Let the suggesting of strollers and me shooting them down begin! (No really, I'd love to consider ones I haven't looked at much, and hear about your experiences with them. Don't take it personally if I don't like them. I'm a brat.)
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