Lots and lots of town walking but we both love rearfacing... So which pushchair?

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

I walk 4 miles a day due to school run and ds2 sits in the pushchair for this. I've been using the M&P pliko switch for yonks but lately I've been wondering whether I could find a pushchair that copes better with uneven pavements, lots of up-and-down on the curbs, and lots of daily pushing. The snag is that I'd like to stay rearfacing.

Are inflated and/or bigger wheels better for the distances I do? Would a three wheeler be better?

Does anything fit the bill? Cost is a major issue though so it would be used only.

We have a similar walking routine to yourself, and after trying many options the bugaboo cameleon works best for us. Maybe try to get one second hand off ebay even a bugaboo frog. They're supposed to be equally good.
The bugaboo cameleon works very well. Nice to manouver and great suspension. Very nice to push. Lightweight. Loads of room for shopping in the basket. Large hood keeps rain off.

Bigger wheels do tend to be better for a lot of walking, I think it gives a smoother push and balance out rough bits so much.

Huack Infinity is great and are often available for under £100 second hand. Similar to Bugaboo but not as pricey.

Herqules Raptor - this is a BARGAIN! These are made by Emmaljunga who IMO make the best made pushchairs around. It is quite large and chunky but they wheels will make it seem light as a feather when pushing.

I've recently discovered the original Britax Vigours that have air tyres...I bought a 3 wheel version but at heart i'm a 4 wheel person so bought a Vigour 4+...It has solid tyres though, so i put the air tyres on from the Vigour 3...It's great to push, only slight downside is that the basket's not that big, well it's very low at the front...Most seem to sell for around £50-60 on eBay.

I second the Bugaboo. I have a Frog and love it. It was in perfect condition on ebay. I won it for £140

Thanks for the replies and ideas.

Bugaboo - how would you say that works in terms of seat size? Ds2 has just turned 2. I like the general look of them but haven't really peered in too closely to see how much spacetheh have.

Hauck infinty - yes, I'd spotted that they rear face so will look again at them. Probably a lot of used out there too.

Herqules - wow! They look like they could handle anything! Also on the possibles list.

Suzie - why do you prefer 4 wheels over 3? Do you find it easier on pavements? Interested to hear your thoughts.

Upyourdiva - I had a feeling big wheels would help. Thanks for confirming :-)

Personally 3 wheels just look strange...To me buggies, pushchairs and prams have 4 wheels...To be honest the Vigour 3 seems to handle as well as any 4 wheeler and i don't feel it tipping going up or down curbs...Only time it felt wobbly was when i was lifting it over the many obstacles in our house.

I have a BSmart 3 (the new version of the vigour). It doesn't have air tyres, but I don't think it affects the handling. Although, I've never tried air tyres so I wouldn't know what to compare it to.

I love mine to bits. It's done so many miles in the last 10 months, it's just so easy to push everywhere. Up and down hills, cobbled streets, grass, wonky pavements, gravel, up and down kerbs. I really really love it.

It's got a big seat, and a massive hood (which zips open again to guard against the low sun). The seat lies completely flat which is a bonus as DD prefers to be lying down to sleep rather than propped up or in a bucket seat.

It's not brilliant for my car boot though, I have to take a wheel off. And it doesn't fold while it's rearfacing, but turning it around is simple enough. Although this won't be a problem for you if you are only walking with it.

I have a Bertini which is the most unrated pram ever and my favorite I use it more than the Stokke and Bugaboo Bee, absolutely love it - £45 off ebay.
Emmaljunga's are similar.

I've got a Petite Star Kurvi Abstract Nature, Its brill :-). Its the best looking pushchair i've ever seen.
On top of looking great it does have air tyres (which I would strongly recommend) and that means its really comfy both for me and my DS whatever the terrain.
Basket is large enough, and the handle adjusts so even my partner (who is pretty tall) can use it.

Got a footmuff and a change bag free with it which is a bonus :). You can have it rear facing, front facing or lying down in pram mode.
I really can't sing its praises enough. Im a big fan.
www.petitestar.com/Product.aspx?view=info&prodid=6
Also on this facebook page i am on:
www.facebook.com/pages/wwwNurseryValuecom/158144484309
They are doing it at 40% off today! My best friend ordered hers this morning. - we'll be pushchair buddies hehehe!

Kurvistar looks good. Thanks for links.

Mamatomany - I had a similar looking one to that, a mybaby brand I think, when ds2 was a baby and really wonder whether I should have kept it for all the walking! It was very very very big though!

Dancing - the besmart sounds good although I think I'd have to wait a while for the used prices to be in my range! Nice though.

Got my eyes on a used hauck jeep with big air wheels in the back. It's reversible and perhaps the bigger wheels would help the journeys. Anyone tried one of these?

I love my Hauck Infinity - am using it with carrycot at moment.
Was v cheap second-hand (£70 with carrycot and delivered).
Easier to push than Maclaren and P&T. Not so ridiculous looking as Quinny Buzz and cheaper than icandy cherry (have had lot of buggies!)

Is that basically the same as the hauck jeep, adair? Does yours have the big back wheels?

Ah, just got my asnwer through googling! Do you use it on pavements a lot? How does it do? Heavy or light to push? Bumpy?

Yup, i use it for walking/school run etc. Am in East London. Is a bit heavy to push up kerb (with buggy board on) but a dream to push. Rubbish on bus though, and no space for shopping (in pram mode anyway).

Sounds good... Hmm, tempting!
No buses so that aspect not a problem but a really shame about the shopping as I try and gat mostof the weekly shopping on way to/from school. Will have a look at some pics online to get an idea of how different it is to the storage on the m&p I have at the mo. Thanks so muchfor you thoughts - I might well have found the right one here!

Oh no, terrible typos. Sorry!

If you're still about, adair, do you mind if I ask what the seat is like size-wise? How would it work for a 2 yr old?

Yup, seat is big. My nearly three yr old fits in no probs.

Brill, thanks