Mountain Buggy Urban Elite

I would just like to add to me initial review. Since a few days after it arrived, the buggy had a very stiff brake. It would go on Ok then be very difficult to release.

I contacted the shop who said it was probably nothing to worry about, and I am afraid to say I assumed it would improve with use.

Sadly it did not, and became worse and worse until this summer when it required me regularly to crouch down and remove the brake by hand. I was avoiding using the brake because of this.

In October it jammed on altogether. I was advised by the shop to return it to the manufacturers who sent it back after about 2 weeks, having found nothing wrong with it but - erm- repaired it anyway. It was fine on unpacking it, but very rapidly began to seize up again and is currently jammed once more.

The brake was also randomly self applying and to remedy this they have cut some of the plastic away at the top of the holdings. It no longer self applies but is almost impossible to apply when required.

I have asked for a replacement frame but they want to reinspect it before deciding.

I'm frustrated and furious at the lack of customer service. I have an unuseable buggy, I have heard from another owner who also has to get down and manually remove the brake however assumed this was normal...

I would sincerely advise against buying this product, it is being discontinued in the UK anyway but just don't get one if you have the chance.

The fabrics are lovely but the brake is awful and being a vital piece of equipment I feel it ought to function for more than 10 months.

We love the Mountain Buggy - we have had it for a year and a half now and it's still great, as are all the accessories (raincover/suncover/fleece lining).

We bought this pram after reading other Mumsnet reviews and trying to work as best I could if it would fit our lifestyle. It did & does, although I now realise that there is no one size fits all pram (we have a Maclaren buggy to chuck in the car if we just go to the shops). If I had to pick one pram I would choose the Mountain Buggy.

I think most of the points have been covered by other reviewers so I thought I'd just describe how we've used the pram over the last 18 months. We have an outdoor lifestyle - I spend a lot of my day outside looking after horses. My son has watched the seasons go by from the comfort of his pram (and sometimes from inside a stable) in the cold of winter (raincover=mini conservatory), the spring rain(raincover again), summer (suncover occasionally), autumn winds (raincover again) and he has been snug & comfortable throughout. One word of caution is that on a beach with a fair wind the rain cover acts like a sail - leave the brake if on if you stop. My husband once had to chase the pram as it blew along! We regularly push the pram across fields - long grass is harder than shallow mud. After a frustrating morning repairing a puncture, my husband filled the tyres with a puncture resistant foam which gives the pram a harder but faster ride.

I still find it easy to push but obviously our son heavier now- my husband takes over for the hills out on walks.

It's not as easy to transport as our Maclaren, although the wheels do come off quick and it folds up well.

Absolutely fantastic. I could build my whole life around this buggy. But I don't have to because it already is built around mine!

It only arrived today so please bear with my excitement - but I have owned over 50 different buggies and prams and this is without doubt the best. I had an older Urban which was also lovely, pre 2005 model with fixed handle - but not quite so sturdy I think.

This model has a few differences, upgraded fabrics being the most important - the material is back to the beautiful cotton canvas, not like the cheaper, manmade, colourful covers of the past few years. These are double thickness in places and are built to last - a bit like a Bell tent. Once you have it you have it for keeps iyswim.

The basket is brilliant - easy to access and get your shopping into, unlike so many others. It also holds a lot. The raincover is quick and easy to use without faffing around.

One thing I do notice with this version is the seat seeming shallower. I don't know if this is due to the liner which is included - but ds does look a little bit perched and is quite exposed on the seat, which is good in a way as he can see everything, but I wouldn't be comfortable not strapping him in like I would on some buggies (bad mother!)

Also the seat doesn't sit fully upright. But near enough.

When reclined it is a jewel and very cosy indeed with the hood up.

Ds climbed into it straight away and seems to love it, he slept for a couple of hours round town, so it must be comfy!

The nappy bag that comes with it is a bit of a gimmick but most people have their own anyway. I haven't found out if it tips with shopping on yet, but having a big basket seems to avoid that issue to a degree anyway.

All in all I kind of knew I was going to spend a lot on a new one of these, and will make the most of it for the next few years - we have to walk up a hill twice a day and it is light enough and narrow enough to make it an easy - even enjoyable - journey.

I wouldn't want to put it in a car very often as it is so long when folded but the wheels are easy to remove on this one, so if you do have to it's easier than it used to be.

I wish I had not had the other fifty now! Worth getting from the start.