Travel systems and height/backache issues

[2ndDestiny]

Tried posting similar about the icandy cherry in pushchairs but no response, thought I'd try here as have seen a few discussions of pushchairs etc.

I'm 5'6"ish and really don't want a pushchair/pram that I have to bend forward and get backache to push. Ended up with terrible backache pushing my friend's baby in his buggy recently (don't remember what it was, something old, secondhand and cheap). Also need something lightweight and not too bulky as I use London public transport and we rarely drive. Have narrowed it down to:

icandy cherry (current favourite)
bugaboo bee or frog (but put off by limited underseat storage space)
maxi cosi streety
silver cross linear freeway
mothercare my choice

Problem is I can't get out to the shops/showrooms to test them out in the near future and want to buy online (maybe secondhand/ebay). Has anyone about my height had height issues with any of these? Or any other problems with them for that matter? Any thoughts / recommendations welcome. First baby and feel overwhelmed when people keep asking if I've 'bought everything' (have bought nothing yet...)

Thanks

I am 5' 9 and really found handle height to be a problem. The only buggy that suited me in the end was the Maclaren XT as it's handles go to 110 cm high which was comfortable. Not really a newborn buggy though.

Bugaboo Bee has fairly high handles, the rest not so sure. I definately needed something higher than 107cm to feel OK. You're slightly smaller than me though so could get away with it maybe.

The Linear Freeway is about 105 cm high handles as is the My choice I think. Not long enough for me. The i candy I think looks quite bulky.

If you go on lots of sites they give the measurements of the handle height sometimes.

I have the Cherry and I'm 5'5" and DP is 5'8" and neither of us have a problem with it (I have a lower back problem too). It is lovely and light to push, very manoueverable, and not really bulky. The seat is also reasonably high so don't have to bend down too far to get kids in and out. Ours has lasted 3 years and is on DC2 now, still looks fine. My 3 year old still goes in it very occasionally and she fits fine - she still likes to be rear-facing!

The only problem with it I would say is if you want to use it on public transport - because it doesn't fold in one piece. I can't imagine trying to get on and off buses with a baby and having to fold it up. I have taken it across London using the tube though, it's fine on escalators, and becuase it is light I haven't felt so guilty when folks have helped me carry it up stairs!

Maclaren XLR has high handles liek the XT and goes flat for newborn. I am 5'11" and it was fine for me. Its umbrella fold so packs down nicely. you can get Recaro car seat to fit into it and you can get a carry cot to slot into it if you want rear facing early on.
I'm a big fan!

Yes forgot about the XLR which is great for a newborn, very portable and not too heavy. I do think the carry cot is a bit of a faff to fit on and off though so not sure it you would have time to fold it if taking on public transport. Could still use it front facing though.

Thanks for all the tips. By the sounds of things I may be able to get away with something slightly smaller than you, fifitot, but I think the streety is ruled out (only 94.5cm) and not sure about the cherry, think it's only 100cm but if your DP managed it Lionstar maybe it will be ok. Am going to check out this Maclaren XLR. My head is spinning from all this pushchair malarkey...

Have you looked at the Stokke Xplory at all?

DH is 6'5'' and I am 5'5'' the handle height is fully adjustable and the only pushchair/pram we could find that was suitable for DH's height. The seat/carrycot is also high up so you don't have to bend over to pick up the baby.

It is bulkier than some of the ones you mention but has a small footprint and turning circle and feels much lighter to push than other buggies I tried.

It has a function where you can collapse the front wheels to pull the pushchair easily up/down a flight of stairs (although I personally find it quite scary but DH finds it ok).

The only thing I would say is that it would probably be fine for train or tube but I'm not sure about how it would be on a bus. I'm in an area where we don't really use public transport so don't have much experience of using it in this way (we live near town so mainly walk or put it in the car for long journeys).

We just bought the Oyster travel system by Babystyle and it's fantastic - I know you haven't shortlisted it, but we had narrowed it down with the bugaboo bee and the iCandy Cherry too, so definitely in the same league. My DH is 6'2" and the adjustable handles mean that he will have no trouble at all pushing it - and he has a history of back issues too, so we were particularly careful when choosing. I'm 5'4" and the lowest setting is perfect for me so we're both happy. Plus it has a huge shopping bit at the bottom, is lovely and narrow for our terrace house hallway and is easy to fold/carry. I am a total weed and have no trouble lifting it so reckon its def worth a look at the very least - we're delighted with ours. Best of luck.

The MyChoice has adjustable handles. I've used a friend's (with her baby) and it was fine for both of us - she's about 5'9 and I'm only 5'2.