Looking for second lightweight buggy. Should I really look no further than McLaren???

[peachsmuggler]

ok, here's the deal. DD is almosyt 9 months old. We have a Jane powertrack 360 travel system which we love but think we need a second smaller buggy for travelling and need your recommendations.

Here are the criteria

1. Must be lightweight, umbrella fold, easy to carry with one hand

2. Must be comfortable, as have been told by a few people that once you get a lighter buggy you end up using it sometimes at home (we live in a flat so can imagine this will probably happen for nipping out to the shops) so ideally it should lie back a bit to allow DD to sleep

3. Must be less than £100

Keep hearing McLaren XT. Is this the way to go?

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Hello,

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Yes! Go for a McLaren!

It's over your budget anyway, but don't buy a Quinny Zapp!! They're flimsy, light-weight, don't recline and don't have a basket.

I have Maclaren and it meets all your criteria! I put a 'wanted' ad on ivillage and bought one 2nd hand for £80, it was like new! Very pleased.

Yep Maclaren. No need to go for the XT really, the Triumph or Quest would both be fine. I travel down to see family on the train a lot and found the Triumph to be perfect as it folds really small and has a strap so you can sling it over your shoulder. The Quest has a carrying handle on the side iirc.

Maclaren is the way to go.

I have a Triumph for DS (aged 2) and a Quest for DD (age 7m). The Truimph is simpler, reclines enough for sleep (not anywhere near flat, but fine for a baby of that age). My truimph was only about £49 but I got it on special offer at kiddicare - they currently have triumphs for £85. I'd go to mothercare or similar and sit her in some.

Peach. It's not true. Babydan have one that doesn't tip over, apparently knockc spots off the Mac, I haven't tried one but they are way cheaper as well.

Not so aesthetically pleasing maybe but worth more publicity than they've got!!

Just to throw another thought into the mix - we have a M&P Pulse and it's fab. Reclines, folds easily, nice and lightweight and pushes along really well.

worth a look

We have a MacLaren Techno, bought second hand from one of DSs workmates for £50.00. It is utterly fantastic and has seen a lot more use than the expensive M&P travel system or the heavy 3 wheeler Urban Detour that we also bought.

M&P pulse is good. bigger wheels than the Mc so a better push, bulkier than many when folded tho ( my best friend has one).
Mclarens are sooo common tho that you may find one 2nd hand cheap or free still in decent nick. We were given our quest by a friend who likes shopping and decided to get a new buggy when baby 2 was on the way.
I washed it,had new back wheels put on by buggy shop ( 20 quid) and it was good as new.

I bought the Quest from John Lewis at £99 - best thing I ever did, its been brilliant and I can lift it one handed!!!

Think you might be right crokky about trying her out in some.

So, the Quest is one up from the Triumph is that right?

I bought a maclaren quest in march and for me it was a bit too lightweight, tipping up etc. Also I am tall so found it hurt my back as the handles aren't very high. XP loves it though so is having it and I've got myself a Jane energy from ebay, I paid £40 for it (its second hand)but I think you an get them new from £80 ish in the ebay shops. I prefer it as it feels sturdier but I know most people love their maclarens and they are light and easy to fold which is great.

maclarens really aren't all that.
you can get buggies that are just as good (if not better) for a lot less money.

I have a m&p nipi which I got for £50 and it's been really good, much nicer than the maclaren equivalent.

the brakes on the smaller maclarens (ie quest and triumph) are really crappy

Maclaren XP has adjustable handles so you can alter the height to suit. Better than the quest.

Ooops, sorry I mean XT

but she only has £100 to spend. XT's are more than that

We have one from Woolies that cost 15 quid, it doesn't recline but ds slept in it fine from 9 months (it's suitable from 6 months) and always looked comfy. Really, really light and so cheap, a complete bargain. Called "Scallywag" I think. You can get them at Woolies anyway...still using it now at age 2.5yrs.

oooh so much choice. Wouldn't it be easier if we were all given a government issue buggy, surely!

Yeah, XT is too expensive. I will have a look at the Quest and Triumph and maybe the Jane too, as love the Jane travel system so much. Guess it will all depend on how easy they are to collapse and carry.

peachsmuggler- LOL at goverment issue buggy. round here it sometimes looks that way- so many people have Mclarens with grey seats they all look alike. I made a flece liner in bright blue and yellow for ours so I can always spot my buggy in a crowd.
ryhme time at teh library is dreadful, up to 40 buggys in teh lobby.

I just bought a lightweight buggy at the weekend. I ended up in John Lewis and bought the Silver Cross Pop. I also did not want to spend more than £100. The Maclaren Quest was a little over that and did not recline as far. I did not like it to be honest. So far, I am happy with the Pop.

In the past, I had a Mamas and Papas pulse (for previous child). I really liked it. It reclined further than any of the Maclarens. It was a great buggy. I would happily have bought it again this time, but John Lewis don't sell it anymore (though that is where I got it last time).

Just a stray thought, but do you ever need it to go in a car? We were going to get a light weight buggy for travelling, but then found that you can't get an umbrella fold buggy in the boot of our car (unless it goes in diagonally and takes up ALL the space). May well not be an issue for you, but just in case...

peachsmuggler.i might be able to help.can you CAT me?

Britax vista (nOT sure if they still make it it?)
We bought ours 2.5 years ago whe we gave up on the m&p monstrosity. Ddd is almost 3 now, and ds is using it. Best baby buy ever!
Got it then on kiddicare for about £60 - best money spent.
Reclines and has basket. Great tread on wheels -maclaren does not.
HTH

I was reluctant to follow the herd & get a Maclaren as our second basic buggy. We have a Graco Aerosport as our main buggy that we have used since birth & is fabulous to handle & great for doing the shopping round the town as huge storage. DD loves the snack tray & mum gets one too. Unfortunately takes up most of the boot. I tried allsorts of basic buggys trying to find a lightweight one for holidays & sticking in the boot. Found M&P still rather heavy, Chicco tricky to fold, those that claimed to recline awkward to change position, some of the really cheap ones have fixed front wheels. I ended up getting a Maclaren Volo off ebay (well within your budget new)and it is great as a second buggy. Folds small & light, has shoulder strap, fits on back shelf off our Civic leaving full boot available when going away or doing a big shop. Easy to handle so DD & I find it comfy. Ours doesnt have a hood but you do get them (think standard extra now) but didnt feel the need & less easy to fold when on. We do have a framed rain cover which is necessary. DD calls it the little buggy & the Graco the big buggy. DP & I think of them as the SUV & the Smart car .

cheese - I am not set up on CAT. Will have a look at it when I get a mo. Have you summat skilful to sell?

It will need to go in a car, but not often as we don't have one, so would only be when visiting the rellies!

Have spent the last 2 days eyeing up people's buggies in the street. Not accosted anyone yet but very tempted. The more you look you realise EVERYONE has a grey MacLaren XT. They practically are government issue!!!

Notice Mothercare have one model of the Quest for £95 so may have a look at that one.