I'm so sorry to start a new pram thread, but...

[hopefully]

I think I have realised that the pram I wanted is not what i want!

I had planned on a Quinny Speedi travel system, as I do a lot of beach/off road walking. However, I've just realised that it doesn't have a rear facing option once the baby is sitting. I think I may be asking the impossible from my hypothetical pram!

• MUST be able to go offroad, on all kinds of conditions. I do a lot of walking, both on pavements and on the beach, in fields, on footpaths, anywhere!
• be suitable from newborn
• be able to face backwards and forwards when baby is sitting up
• Travel system would be nice, but the world isn't going to end if I don't have it, as I only use the car a couple of times a week - am sure baby will cope with being lifted!
• Can afford to spend in the region of £500. Would like that to include car seat and everything, but if it has to be on top I'll try to avoid stamping my foot.

Is there a pram out there to meet my needs? I suspect the answer may be no...

try looking on lullabys website I found a stoke xplory there it is a bit more but does everything.. I am picking mine up saturday! I have got the package and it will last her all her pram needing life!

otherwise they have a great selection so have a look anyway

Oh, and sorry if i don't reply to any suggestions for a couple of hours, just on my way home. Will read any ideas in a couple of hours. Look forward to someone solving all my problems!

I have a Jane pro slalom - 3 wheeler - matrix system - would recommend it if you do lots of walking - we've done miles and miles, bit big for in the town but great off road - nice big wheels.

I have a Stokke Xplory and love it and would fit all of your requirements I think but I haven't ever taken it on the beach so can't comment on that!

Bugaboo cameleon! Meets all your requirements, you'd get a better price on Ebay, loads of good new ones on there.

They are great off road and on sand too.

We looked at Silvercross 3D travel system specifically because of the rear facing seat. Had to ditch it I'm afraid as it was too heavy for me and my poorly back. Bought a Jane Carrera rebel pro travel system instead as very light, and good reviews for us walkers BUT forward facing seat. Think you can get the Silvercross 3D for about £400 if I remember correctly. may be a bit less as we were looking at a carrycot also. Sorry being a bit vague try looking at kiddicare.com or ladybugs, both much cheaper than shops

Ignore me - those damned pregnancy hormones again. It was the Silvercross Linear freeway travel system we looked at not the 3D. Definitely saw it on ladybugs, but they also stock it in mothercare if you want to try it out. Missingmyheels, loved the Stokke Xplory, so light & manouvrable but was too expensive for me .

Has anyone used the Stokke off road? It looks like the centre of gravity would be pretty high, as well as the wheels being quite small. I do love it though.

Likewise with the bugaboo - I know they're theoretically ok for off road, but they look quite flimsy...

I haven't looked at the Jane pushchairs, hoping to go somewhere to try them on the weekend. Same with the Huack.

Anyone else got any thoughts?

I tried out the bugaboo in mothercare (warning! another poorly back whinge) and found that the prammy bit/seat/cot - the bit where the baby sits, was really low down in comparison to others, involving a proper stoop/bend rather than a lean over to see to baby. But I am tall & long bodied (with bad back) and may be oversensitive to these things. Only wheeled the Stokke round the shop I'm afraid and the height was the attraction for me. Don't think any of the Jane's have rear facing seats, but if your prepared to compromise on that, I'd recommend them. The slalom particularly good for off roading, and have good reviews. But, the wheels are v big and therefore it doesn't fold down quite as small as others. no problem if you have a decent sized car boot. HTH.

the mothercare MY3 looks pretty good - and it may well meet all your needs. Worth having a look.

I too was looking for pretty much the same things..

I bought a Cosatto Mobi

faces both forward and rearwards, has the carrycot so baby can lay flat. The Carseat can attach to the frame, everything is washable which is great for messy babys and its got a 4yr Warranty!

Its about £500 in Mothercare with the carseat but we bought ours for £350 with carseat from an ebay babyshop.

Mutsy urban riders are great for off roading. Never did the beach in it but the Woods and rocky roads were a doddle. Would reconmend the swivel wheels for in town use though. and is a bit on the heavy side but they are very robust.

Forward and rear facing and can be travel system, tons of extras available.

I can second the Cosatto Mobi - I love mine!

The bugaboo is so NOT flimsy!

Have to say I agree with a bugaboo frog, cam or even gecko

i heart my bugaboo but nooo

you need a mountain buggy for beach etc

There is nothing for it. I am dragging DP to the nearest monstrous pram warehouse I can find on the weekend and examining every single pram they have there! Have kind of narrowed it down to:

Bugaboo Chameleon
Mountain Buggy
CosattoMobi
Mutsi Urban Rider

But fully expecting to find another million or so that I like when we get to the showroom... I always thought pram shopping would be so easy

Stoke is good off road and the 2 wheel ability is great for hills and stairs too!

I would recommend the i2i Maxx from babies'r'us. It comes with the pram and a seat unit which can be used either forward or rearward facing for £300 and you can purchase the car seat for it as an extra. We found it to be extremely sturdy and manouverable on most terrains and I really wish i had never sold mine!!

It really has to be a bug cam. I also had a mountain buggy as I am a runner and would go on the cycle paths, through the fields, on the beach etc but hated dd not facing me. Went through quite a large selection of prams (pliko prammette, quinny buzz, zapp, zia, ziko, amonst others) as did not want to spend so much on a bug but gave in and it is worth every penny.

The only thing I find is it's a pain to get in and out of a car so I have a buggy type to leave in the back of the car.

A very close second would be a m and p skoot, very similar with large and swivel wheels and a flip over handlebar, the m and p factory ebay shop very often has them at a snip around 60 pounds. I nearly bought one as so cheap and so happy with my m and p moove to sling in back of the car. There is also one called (I think) jane hello bit only know it looks like bug cam not sure how similar it actually is!!!

i too had decided on the speedi but didn't like the fact that once the baby was out of the carrycot it would only be forward facing. like you i needed one that would go over all terrain.

found teutonia spirit s3 online and went to see it. brilliant, guy in the shop said it was their most popular 3 wheeler and in the last year they didn't have one returned with any problems. was really light and very easy to push-much easier than the speedi or jane slalom.

ordered it online from ping pong a german company-they were really helpful and got the pram with carrycot and other accessoris for just over £500.

i had a bugaboo for childminding but didn't like it off road as i found the small wheels used to get clogged up with muck/leaves etc.

hth.