Please look at all my requirements and just tell me what buggy to get

[HarderToKidnap]

I'm feeling almost a bit paralysed but the amount of choice and the things you have to think about when getting a buggy, and I am literally crapping myself about getting it wrong! I KNOW it's not important in the grand scheme of things but it's so irritating when you have an expensive bit of kit that doesn't work for you. Please help me by just telling me what buggy to get (which will at least give me a list of buggies to look at and not worry I'm missing an amazing buggy...)

Needs to lie flat and be rear facing (preferably reversible)
Will be on a bus occasionally but mainly walking/in car. Lots of going round the shops/in cafes will probably be done.
Will walk dog twice a day, often "offroad"
I need an easily accessible good sized bit where you put your shopping
One handle
Price not an issue

Baby due in December so the first months of dog walking will be in boggy muddy conditions


Thanks so much for any advice!

[aswellasyou]

The Bugaboo Bee ticks all the boxes except off-roadability I think. I've never had one so I'm not sure what they're like on bumpy ground. The Bugaboo Cameleon is also a very good option but it's wider than a Bee and is a two piece fold. I think it's worth looking at Mountain Buggy pushchairs too as they tend to be really good off road. For the MBs you can get carrycots that face backwards but the seat units face forwards. or the Baby Jogger City Elite.
Is there anything you've looked at that you really like but aren't sure about how good it is?

[HarderToKidnap]

I like the look of the Uppababy Vista but wasn't sure how good it would be for the dog walking. However I do plan to try and sling a lot too so that could be an option for dogwalks (would prefer buggy though as I am always falling over in the mud!) I'm absolutely awful at mechanical folding stuff up so as easy as possible would be useful, but I can learn anything I guess.

[aswellasyou]

Oh and the iCandy Strawberry is out in August I think and is supposed to be really good. Again, I'm not sure about what it's like on rough terrain. Or the iVandy Apple Jogger.
Do you need to fit it into a small boot? And do you want to fit a car seat onto it? Too many questions?!

[aswellasyou]

I feel like I remember hearing that the Vista was alright on rough ground but not amazing. Hopefully Guildford will come and answer that question.
I have a Bugaboo Gecko which is like a basic version of the Cameleon and, although I love it for most things, it is really confusing to put up. It's easy to put down but I always get confused putting it up and somehow manage to flip the handle forwards. The suspension on mine is fantastic but the Cameleon has proper suspension springs so it should be even better.

[HarderToKidnap]

I heard the iCandys were very heavy but will definitely have a look. Like the look of the Baby Jogger too, thanks for that suggestion. It needs to go in the boot of a Golf, so not tiny, but luckily we have a really good shop near here that puts them in the boot for you when you are trying them out. What difference would suspension make, would it make it more comfy for the baby or is it something to do with being easier to push? Not sure abou fitting the car seat on, is that something that is very useful to have? Thanks!

[Guildfordnanny]

Hmm...parent facing, off road is always tricky. Top of my list would be the new iCandy Peach Jogger Three chunky tyres with a reversible (parent / forward facing) seat, good storage, small fold (although you need to remove the seat but it's no biggy). I love the normal Peach and I have heard the Jogger is great off road. The Peach doesn't feel heavy whereas the Apple Jogger does. Personally I wouldn't look at the other iCandys or a Bugaboo (unless you maybe put snow tyres on the Chameleon?). I had a Chameleon and it's only since that I have realised there are better pushchairs off road that aren't meant to be offroaders than the Chameleon. How about Suzie's favourite the Britax Vigour 3? If you can compromise on the parent facing by having a carrycot for the first six months, then the Baby Jogger Elite or Summit, Mountain Buggy's Swift or more likely the Urban Jungle, Babyzen (although shopping space isn't big), the correct Phil&Teds to take a Peanut (I think it's the Vibe and Verve without looking it up) are worth a look.

[aswellasyou]

Listen to Guildford, she knows her pushchairs.
I'm surprised about the Cam not being great off road. I can push my Gecko over all sorts of rubbish and not notice it, or go straight at a step of up to about 2 inches and it glides up it with no problem.

[Guildfordnanny]

BTW I have just read the other thread on here where a mumsnetter wanted similar to you and they have just bought an Oyster with pneumatic tyres. That could be of interest to you too?

[HarderToKidnap]

I am getting some fantastic advice, thank you both!

I would really appreciate some basic buggy knowledge if anyone has the time, so I can go in to the Baby Barn and sort of know what I am looking at.

Can I please have a very brief rundown of what the benefits of suspension are
3 vs 4 wheels
Air filled vs solid tyres.

x

[aswellasyou]

Oh I forgot about the pneumatic tyres. I wonder if it's a different wheel attachment though because the Oyster's rubbish at going down steps with its normal front wheels.

[Guildfordnanny]

Lol I am here to learn from you lot about singles . My Chameleon couldn't drive straight across our gravel drive like most of my pushchairs since can. When you put it into reverse wheel mode it was better but a bit all over the place. I loved my Chameleon but I wouldn't recommend it for regular muddy walks - I think there are far better pushchairs for that.

[aswellasyou]

Good suspension makes it easier to push and stops the baby being woken up by bumps on the path.
3 wheels are better off road, 4 wheels are more stable.
solid tyres give a bumpy ride, air-filled or foam are good over bumps but air-filled can get punctures or may need to be pumped up now and again.

[aswellasyou]

I'm glad I'm not rich enought to have bought a Cameleon then!

[Guildfordnanny]

3 wheelers are meant to be better off road I think because its easier to drive forwards without getting stuck. but I personally prefer four if I can get them for stability. Air tyres are meant to give you better suspension ie part of the suspension comes through the tyres but you are open to punctures (but you can Slime air tyres). But Baby Jogger for example do everlasting air tyres which mean you won't get a puncture. Suspension is harder because it comes in many forms. Mountain Buggy's for example are built for all terrain but they don't all have suspension ie the Swift and Duet doesn't but you get suspension through the air tyres and the steel at the front absorbs some of the impact too. The Urban Jungle gives suspension to the adult pushing rather than the child. I personally don't like a pushchair to be too bouncy when I push it. But it's personal choice. Ooh I have just remembered my Mutsy Urban Rider - it is a little odd steering wise but great to drive straight kerbs with chunky wheels. You may even wish to consider a second hand pushchair for dog walking (I paid £50 for my Mutsy chassis) and keep a nice shiny pushchair for shopping etc?

[Guildfordnanny]

'straight at kerbs' ie great off road.

[AppleAndBlackberry]

If money's not an issue why not get more than one so you can get the best off-roader for walks and then a light rear-facing one for cafe's, buses etc. It sounds like you want a Bugaboo and a Mountain Buggy in that case

[Guildfordnanny]

Lol I agree but I would get an iCandy Strawberry or Peach and a Mountain Buggy or Babyzen ;)

[FriggFRIGG]

either get a bugaboo bee,and a mountain buggy swift,one for each situation.

or a britax vigour 3,but you can only get them second hand...

or maybe a babystyle oyster?
or a mima xari??? (guild,what do you reckon on that for off road maybe not,but it is purty!! )

[aswellasyou]

I get the feeling we're not helping the confusion.

[Guildfordnanny]

Lol a Xari is definitely an about town pushchair :) We can probably all agree on a Mountain Buggy though :o So maybe that is helpful [wunk]

[HarderToKidnap]

Money's not an issue for ONE buggy, as GPs are paying. I suppose I could land them a bill for two £800+ buggies and see what they say!

Loving the advice! The pushchair place near me stocks everything mentioned so far so I will able to have a really good play.

[suzie38]

Bugaboo Donkey has 4 air tyres but seems wide compared to most single pushchairs when in actual fact it's narrower than Britax Vigours, B Smarts, Vista...DH took it through a wood and it coped fine...Oyster would be no good as the front wheels would buckle in really rough bumpy terrain, lovely to look at but a city pushchair.

[nicolamumof3]

definitely get two pushchairs, wouldn't want to take something £500 plus through all the mud and crap tbh of dog walking!! I'd get a new nipper 360 for that at around £200 ish due out next month. And then something rf light etc for everyday use?

[Tabitha8]

I use a M&P Ultima for off-road. Four wheels and fab suspension. Bought it from Ebay. With the XCel chassis. No good in the car, though.
I use the apron rather than put the raincover on now that DS is 2.
It is lie-flat and rear-facing. Has a huge tray underneath for shopping.
Can't rate it highly enough for mud and snow.
DH tells me off for never cleaning it, so I have to leave the chassis in the garage in the winter .

[ImogenDale]

I've just ordered a Norton Pure (I'm really excited about it :D) but from what you've said it seems perfect for what you're looking for. It lies flat, reversible , one handle, you can get a carry cot which i've ordered , from experience its helpful to have 2 in 1, big, easy wheels for offroading ;) haha. You seem like a woman who takes care of herself too, and it comes in loads of colours, Ive got pink cos I'm having a little girl :). And even though you say price isn't an issue it's only 450 which i think is a bargain!! Hope I've been of some help hun :) xx