Which? say the Mamas & Papas Sola is a best buy. But do YOU agree?

[HamblesHandbag]

It looks easy to use and er, nice

Or is there something REALLY annoying about it?

What are they saying makes it a best buy? I've never had one and I believe they're ok, but I know there are better options for me personally.

The issue with pushchairs is that there are so many variables and what's best for one person could be terrible for another.

What is it that you need/want out of a pushchair?

I'm kind of bewildered by choice at the moment.

The Sola had: Easy one handed fold.

The seat looked easy to switch from rear to front facing.

Adjustable heights on handle bars. er... can't remember what else!

Hmm, what do I need...

Well, I want from birth. Rear facing is good initially. I don't need it for buses or long rural walks or anything. Just for pottering around town or whatever. Lifting in and out of the car. Decent under pram storage bit.

I've previously had a M&P Pliko pramette which was a PITA to fold and unfold. And the Quinny Zapp which was so uncomfortable on the hands after a while.

Can you offer any advice pls?

The Sola's actually a two hand fold (have a look ). Is a one hand fold something you need? There aren't that parent facing pushchairs which are a one hand fold.

Oh and are you or your OH tall? Most tall women seem to find the type of handle on the Sola where it swivels isn't great. It's a problem because to get the handle to be higher means you having to stand closer to the pushchair - not great if you're tall with long legs. If you are tall, you're better off with a handle that pulls out IYSWIM.

I have it, think it's ace but then it's my first DC and first pushchair so pretty clueless really!

It is very easy to steer, folds down easily and the carrycot is lovely and easy to pop on to the base with babe in it. Erm haven't actually used the pushchair bit yet as DS is only little and is still in the carrycot.

Oh and carseat pops in really easily too for buzzing round shops.

Cons for me - carrycot only in black which is a shame given the lovely fabric choices of the pushchair bit, and there isn't a huge amount of space underneath - my Cath Kidston change bag is all that will fit really.

It looks lovely and smart though, and compact - I'm really pleased with it and the other option in my price range was the Oyster, which IMO looks really plasticky in comparison.

You can get the carrycot in plum and denim too now.

I have an Oyster and it's one of the others I'd recommend if you don't need a one hand fold. It's similar in many ways to the Sola but has a bigger basket, the extending handle which is better for taller parents, and you can get air tyres which make a huge difference to how it feels to push. You can also get a buggy board for it which is specially made for it and tucks up neatly into the chassis. This is something to bear in mind if you want another child.

Another pushchair to look at is the Bugaboo Bee+.

I love the sola but the fold is quite difficult (for me anyway). Also you have to remove seat unit from chassis before folding which can be a pita.

On the plus side my dd is almost eye level with me when pushing so we can talk. It's lovely to push and she looks very comfy in it. I'd definitely buy another one if I had another baby!

My sister has the Sola, i am visiting her and have been pushing my nephew in it, personally i think it is very easy to use, a smooth ride as it were, it is light weight, my sister mainly uses the carseat instead of the chair. It is easy to guide, and has a large ish basket it the bottom. Its also quite pretty

She said that they had issues for one of the wheels, and when they looked it they just swapped the wheels over and that resolved the problem, also a wheel was squeaky but they just oiled it and that it worked.

Whoops forgot to say it is a two hand fold down, but it is very easy to do and is not heavy.

ItsMy - damn, those carrycots are lovely! Got my Sola only a couple of months back and they only had black then. I have the denim / stripes colourway for the pushchair bit but love the plum.

I do need to add that their customer service is utter shite though! Always disappoints - shame as I love M and P.

Ask me in a week or two, I bought one yesterday :S

I have one, it's quite good, easy to push, large hood, looks pretty, is comfy for bubs and the raincovers fit. I don't think the pushchair seat is as well made as the carrycot though.

One thing I regret is spending £60 on the footmuff which was a waste - get a Kaiser instead.

They have also brought out the Glide which is similar but comes as a package.

If I could choose again I'd go for the Maxi Cosi Elea (the new zippered hood version)

I'm surprised you think the basket is largeish cookielove! What do you have yourself if that seems big???

Muslin I like the plum too. You could get it if you have another child!

Tiggy will be a good person to ask. It may be that everyone thinks it's great, but how do you really know if you haven't had loads some others to compare it to. She'll give you a full rundown!

I had one a temp replacement while my rubix was being fixed. I found it quite hard to fold and open and also thought the basket was a bit small.

As with the rubix the rain covers are utter shite and ripped after two uses.

I did find it very light and easy to push though and it is really nice looking.

M&P customer service is crap though and I got the feeling this pram would not last very long at all, which is a shame as I have had prams from them in the past that have lasted ages. Big and ugly, yes, but long lasting.

My rubix is a year old (hardly used) and has been in for repair 3 times.

Watching that Vid that ItsMy posted, the sola now looks a bit tricky to me. The demo woman seemed to have to do a bit of jiggling at each point!

But it Is very pretty

Tiggy, you'll have to keep us posted!

that's useful to know, Thanks mumatron.

Oh believe me you get the honest truth from me!!

The Sola basket is teeeny weeeny BTW!!! Have a look at the Baby Jogger City Select or Uppababy Vista or iCandy Peach for a good sized basket!

Thanks, Tiggy, I think I'm veering away from the sola now. BJCM is definitely in the lead.

Well i don't have my own child yet, but i do work in a nursery and use their pushchairs all the time, and we only have mclaren and cheapo push chairs, so for me the Sola basket is mahoosive. However now thinking about it, you are all probably right about the size and there are probably many more better baskets available. My sister has the biggest nappy bag i have every seen, and my hand bag also pretty big, both fit in the sola basket with room to spare.

My sister (lives abroad) got hers from babies r us, so they use them for problems, and touch wood they have provided brilliant customer care.

I have to add that the BJCM basket doesn't have great access though although it is bigger!

I've been using mine for 21 months, done many many miles over loads of dodgy terrain, really happy with it. The only downsides are that the raincover WILL rip and doesn't fold down into any manageable shape (keeps rain out v well though!) and the footmuff is crapola (barely covers the feet of a baby) though the liner is ace so it is sort of worth the money.

Have had no issue with the basket, better than baskets on friends' pushchairs so no idea what others have that they think it's small!

You can fold with the seat unit on if you have it facing away BTW.

I wouldn't recommend it though if you think you will have another child within 3 years though as I am now irked by having to fork out £££ for a B Dual or P&T, it would have worked out cheaper to buy a B Dual or iCandy to start with.

Oh, the carrycot is a bit pointless unless you have a winter baby as well as the seat plus liner is great for a newborn - it was so hot when my DD was born she hardly went in the carrycot, and she was tiny but still grew out of it pretty quick.

We bought one for our 9mo. It's ok, like everyone else we've struggled with the fold, had a wheel replaced, & the basket next to useless. It's also v popular - you see it everywhere. Last week I bought a maclaren xt, much easier to manage.

Haemmorrhoid, you say no need for the carrycot - does the seat lie flat enough for a newborn then? I think I'm getting confused between prams now