Does this pram exist?

[AnEcumenicalMatter]

First baby due in June and I am clueless about all things pram related. I have tried looking in shops but there are just so many that I get overwhelmed with the choice and terminology so I end up leaving more baffled than I was when I went in.

This is what I think we need from a pram/puschair:
Needs to be able to off-road as we have dogs that will be walked on grass/forest trails etc.
As I live near town, I will also do a lot of pavement pounding/shopping so light, compact and manouverable would be good.
I travel by bus a lot so easy to fold would be a massive bonus.
Should be able to parent-face.
Height adjustable for very tall DP and very short me.
Suitable from birth to 3+

We also need a car seat.

We have quite a large car already so boot space not such an issue. However, I hate the Quinny Buzz with a passion (friend has one) and anything that heavy and bulky is a no-no.

Am I going to be able to find all of this in one pram/travel system or should I be looking at 2 separate things - one off-roader and one light and compact puschair for around town?

I would suggest a lightweight stroller (from birth) such as the Maclaren XLR (comes with a lie flat carrycot, so baby can face you) lasts till you no longer need a pushchair. Will be nippy onto and off buses, height adjustable handles for your DH and folds umbrella style.

I'd then get a sling for dog walking - keeps your hands free for leads if needed, and so snuggly for the baby.

What about a micralite? I had one when DS1 was little - it was sling style and not parent facing - but I believe the new model can be swivelled? Very very easy to push even one handed, large rear wheels for 'off road'. Could attach a maxi-cosi car seat. Easy to fold (not tiny because of the size of the back wheels) and I dunno about height adjustment, but both me and DH could push it fine (I'm 5,5 - hes 6 ft)

think you have answered your own question you need 2 pushchairs!!!!
i would look at a mountain buggy for off roading they are built for this and have an adjustable handle, but are forward facing only, but you can get a carrycot for them, or a jane slalom reverse can be pf or ff
for the rest of the time shopping buses etc i would look at a bugaboo bee [but buy new, they have had wheel issues among other things and your warrenty could be worth it weight in gold] or an oyster, i would say a baby jogger but the handle will be too tall for you or a b agile but then the handle would be too low for your dp both only ff though
baby jogger have some new ones due out this year and the gt may work off road it will have an adjustable handle, but ff and the verso would work for shopping, but i have no idea how the handle is, think its adjustable but not sure, but it ff and pf

ok just checked and the new(ish) micralite (toro) is not parent-facing unless you get the carrycot too which is, but it does tick all the other boxes.

I've got mother care urban detour I walk everywhere it's great easily manoeuvrable and easy to fold u do need a car seat for it to be parent facing that comes with it is a but heavy to lift when folded though but I absolutely love it have used it for my 2 sons

Oh, lots of options to research there. Thanks :)

Much as I love the idea of one-pram-does-all, it looks like nothing really exists that fits the bill.

A friend has very kindly offered to lend me a Jane Nomad. She freely admits that she hated it (so hardly used it and bought an alternative) because it was too big and bulky for her needs but that it should be a good off-road option. Any thoughts on it? Then I could just buy a more compact puschair for around town.

For dog walking on my own, I'll probably use a sling anyway as I'll need to have hands free for the leads but at weekends, DP and I like to do long walks together with the dogs so we'd probably use a pram then.

I have very similar needs to you I also hate the Quinny, my SIL has one.
I love the Bugaboo Cameleon.
I find it great in townalthough it is a large pram it is easy to push,
it's really good off road, I bought the snow wheels but it still works well with the big wheels at the front and the little ones locked at the back,
it faces either way,
adjustable handle, I am 5 4" DH is 6 4",
carrycot is great for newborns, can be used for overnight also,
DS2 is only 13 months but I have seen big toddlers looking comfy in Cams,

The only issue might be the bus, I only take a quiet bus to the doctors once in a while and have never had to fold the Cam for that.
If I need to go on an unknown route then I take DS1's battered old Maclaren.

How about keeping your eye on the Easywalker June. We don't know when exactly it is due out yet, but its not supposed to be too far away, (March???) but it would probably do everything you want in one package.
Equally look at the Baby Jogger City Mini GT due at the same time. It would do everything you have asked except parent face but it does take a carrycot and car seat which both do parent face.
Another option could be the Mutsy Urban Rider. The big wheels are brilliant off road and there is the option of swivel wheels for about town. However it is big and heavy and not one to fold on a bus.
The Bugaboo Chameleon is excellent too. There is the option of all terrain wheels for the front if you wish. They would probably be easier to swap between than the Mutsy but as the PP has said its not one to fold on a bus, but it is small and neat.

Loving the look of that Easywalker June Tiggy. That is defintely one to watch I think, along with the new Baby Jogger.

There is another option but its late in the year, so dont wait for it, but you may wish to make do and swap later because I think most of the pushchair addicts here will do so too! Its the Baby Jogger Versa which looks awesome. I was given a set of photos with the GT tyres on (which shouldn't be on) and everyone went "WOW!". A retailer has investigated and apparently the GT tyres can be bought as an extra for £130 which would make an absolutely awesome off roader with an easy fold. It would probably be THE pushchair to beat if Baby Jogger don't stop you adding the GT wheels to it!

I was about to suggest the Easywalker June, Cameleon and the Mutsy 4 Rider. The 4 Rider (not the Light version) has 4 air tyres and can face either way so will probably do well going off road. It's about 63cm wide, which isn't the narrowest around but is still narrow enough for bus use. And you can get an absolutely huge second basket that attaches to the back of the seat for big shopping trips.

Ooooh, Tiggy....I am loving the sound of that BJ Versa! Just watched a demo of it online and, as you say, as long as you can add the GT wheels, it looks ideal! Do you know the estimated release date? The video clip on Youtube said Spring 2012 but it was American so probably will be later in UK? If I thought it was worth waiting for I'd make do with the Jane Nomad from my friend until I could get my hands on it.

Chameleon - I like (and love my friend's Bee) but the bus route I use is a busy one so inability to easily fold is a definite downside. Then again, once baby is here, I'm likely to be using buses at quieter times of day than my usual rush hour commute so may not be such of an issue. I'll add it to the short list for now.

Off to do a bit of research on the Mutsy 4 Rider as it's getting a fair few recommendations and is one I've never even heard of.

Does anything?

Emmaljunga has everything you need and you can turn it into a twin when dc 2 comes along. Fantastic prams IMO

Can I suggest looking on ebay before you fork out ? I was shocked to discover you can spend £500 on a pushchair/travel system ! I have so many friends who have bought the all singing, all dancing thing, had to change cars to accommodate the blessed thing in the boot of the car, and then as soon as baby could sit up, they go and buy a nice small buggy.

You can get a lightly used item on ebay - most them of them sold by my friends.... In fact, you could probably get a couple of them for the same amount of money...

@ Hullygully. Unfortunately, I'm better at existential musings after a few wines so I'll get back to you on that in several months.

didi, I fully intend to investigate second hand models where possible. However, I'd be happy if I could get what I need for around £500. I fell in love with an iCandy initially but got a bit of a reality check when I was quoted £965

I think that is the beauty of the Versa or even the June. Both are not huge pushchairs that you would want to swap for something lighter. I am sure the pram addicts who are lurking here would come out of the woodwork and say that most of them would like one or the other and would recommend either as that one off, smallish folding pushchair that does everything you could possibly want.
Yes both could well cost you circa £500-600 but I see a pushchair as a rental. Buy well, keep the box, use it and look after it, and you will recoup a good chunk at the end. Its better to buy a quality pushchair than something cheaper that will simply end up in the bin. With price increases it is very possible to make a profit over the course of 2-4 years!

Meanwhile Here is the Versa with GT wheels on. One retailer did quote £130 for the GT wheels but like I said it depends if Baby Jogger change the wheels as to whether they will still fit when the final model appears.

The Baby Jogger Versa with GT wheels and the Easywalker June are, on paper, the most perfect pushchairs ever! If they could take a second seat I'd be even more giddy with excitement! The Versa would probably be slightly better because of the fold, but it's likely to be quite a bit more expensive with the cost of the whhels. Also, the June is due out earlier than the Versa. I'm normally a second hand bargain pushchair sort of person, but I'm very seriously considering a June.