Hello, can anybody recommend a buggy? No upper limit on cost really, as we've haven't bought much due to so much from previous DCs so I'm treating myself to a new pushchair without looking at the price tag this time around. No need for a full travel system unless it's already included in the price as we've been using a sling up until now but ds has outgrown us (too heavy!). We had a quinny speedi last time but it was awful imo, it was forward facing and I couldn't get it in and out of the car as it was too wide for me to get my arms round and very heavy! The handle height was also very high. I had a Mamas and Papas Luna which was much better but the front wheel was a pita getting up and down pavements and not parent facing. We do a lot of serious off roading and I have an Out N About Nipper sport which can be knocked and scraped and generally dragged over all kinds of rough terrain, but as it's permanently covered in mud and forward facing it's not going to be my everyday buggy, that and my ds seems to hate it because he can't see us when he is in it. Also, again, like the speedi, it's too much for me to manage comfortably on my own all the time.
I've been looking at uppababy, bugaboos and icandy's, mostly because I have fallen victim to the luxury branding but I'm not sure if there is something better out there I haven't considered and/or what model would suit me best.
What I plan to use the buggy for:
Walking to and from school, shops, pushing over grassy parks and occasionally muddy footpaths. We have a lot of hills and cobbled roads around here so it would need to handle this. DS will be in it for more than an hour at a time as we are very active and have lots of days out as we have older DCs, so it needs to handle different terrain quite well and lots of miles. It will be frequently in and out of the boot.
Other requirements:
. A buggy one person can easily bump up and down steps, I imagine bigger wheels are good for this?
. Must be parent and forward facing (ds screams when he can't see us and prefers shopping trollies to the nipper.)
. Big enough canopy to keep sun out of eyes.
. Must be able to fit in a tall toddler. Ds is over the 99th percentile.
. Must have an adjustable handle as I am short and DH is tall, again, must be comfortable for both of us to push.
. Not too heavy as I'm not particularly strong, as said, I didn't really enjoy lifting a folded Quinny Speedi out of the car multiple times a day. If it is heavy it should at least be compact and designed to be easy to lift one handed or by someone with short arms and small hands!
. Excellent suspension for a smooth ride over cobbles/canal paths etc.
. Really easy to push one handed (like the Out N About Nipper, I love this aspect of it.) and feel very light and manoeuvrable with a good turning circle.
. Doesn't scratch or damage too easily.
. Durable as there will daily use.
. Wheels that can go for miles before replacing.
. Relatively simple to collapse.
. Folds up fairly compactly (doesn't have to be tiny, just smaller than the quinny!).
. Big sturdy shopping basket for supermarket trips.
. Can handle a tall heavy child.
I'm open to the idea of getting another one when DS is 2/3 so I'm looking for a buggy that would suit a 9 month until 2 year old, but perhaps that could go on longer too.